Photos of Cookie Exchanges

Here are photos of some FANTASTIC cookie exchanges. These ladies cookie exchange parties are full of appetizers, treats and games.

Find out what guests are bringing before hand so that you can make cards for each tray to identify the cookies and who brought them.

Some hostesses prefer to have all cookies prepackaged for the number of guests. If you are having an appetizer bar then have guests package all cookies into packs of 6. Six cookies should fit well in small cookie boxes, tins, ceramic containers, decorative bags or plates. Give an award for the most creative cookie packaging. (as well as an award for most attractive or festive cookie and best tasting cookie) With many who have allergies these days the prepackaged cookies can be a good option to prevent cookie from mixing.

If you are having appetizers for snacks make that table as attractive as the Cookie Exchange area. Include Christmas decor, some plate racks as towers for your finger foods and find a spot for a punch bowl or a bucket of cold sodas.

This is one awesome appetizer station!!!

Now... aren't you inspired to try it?

Your Parties: Girlfriends Dinner Party, Mary Francks

This insert was included in the invitation asking guests to bring 10 items of their favorite things (10 of the same, not different things) not totaling $25. Later in the party there will be a gift exchange and all guests will go home with a gift bag.

We invited 6 friends to the party so there were 8 of us total. We started off with appetizers and punch while we played a little "get to know you better game". Okay, okay, I'll tell the truth, we started off with Alisha using my blender without putting the bottom of it on and then having quite the mess when she tried to take the blender off of the stand, after that our guests started arriving and we enlisted there help in some last minute food prep. THEN we enjoyed Creamy Mushroom Phyllo Triangles, Veggie Pizza, Shrimp Dip and Frothy Pink Grapefruit Strawberry Drink while we played the "get to know you better game". Four of the girls won prizes which were either a bag filled with foot scrub, lotion, a pumice stone and pedicure kit, or a bag of chocolate covered pretzel rods rolled in toffee bits.

Then it was onto dinner. Alisha made the lime tower centerpiece and had extra berries left over that I used along with some ribbon and a tag to tie the napkins with. We served Christmas Salad, Barbequed London Broil with Vermont Cheddar Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes, Crunchy Green Beans, Orange Rolls, and the most delicious and beautiful Island Fruit Cups you have ever seen (Alisha has an amazing gift for food presentation).


After dinner we did our dessert exchange. Everyone brought a fun holiday dessert on a new serving tray to give away! Here is a picture of them, I took individuals but most of them were blurry. Alisha made the Black Forest Cake, I made the tall cupcakes, Tanya made the Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Torte, Tina made the cutest snowman cupcakes, Kelly made her famous Peppermint Fudge Truffle Cake on a pedestal that I REALLY wanted, Lori made her own recipe of Ooey Gooey bars in this super cute candy cane tray, Heidi brought her favorite wassail recipe in this cute teapot, and Celeste made her famous cathedral cookies. Everyone was so excited to take their treats home to their families.




For the dessert that we actually got to eat Alisha made Double Chocolate Souffles.with Warm Fudge Sauce. And OH. MY. GOODNESS. Heaven in a bowl. Seriously a must try!