Years ago Jeanne started the tradition of sharing her Cookie Exchange Party ideas on QVC. Here’s a short clip of Jeanne during her December 2010 show. We hope you enjoy it!

The Holidays are here! Did someone say “COOKIES?” Between all the hussle and bustle of shopping, wrapping, and decorating… why not “Host A Cookie Exchange Party”— and you’ll have all the baked goods you need for your holiday festivities, gifts and more! We’ll show you HOW…right NOW!

As many of you know, our beloved Jeanne Bice was the “Queen”of all things Cookies and Christmas. We’d like to say she coined the phrase “The Cookie Exchange Party,” but that may not be entirely true— so, let’s just say she definitely “Embellished” the idea, much like she “Embellished” all her Quacker designs.

She added a dash of Sparkle, a tablespoon of Shine… Fun and Fabulous touches… to what grew to be an annual tradition that she loved hosting year after year!

We are tickled Pink (Red & Green) to share her ideas and more… of how to Host your own Cookie Exchange!

Ok- so your first task is to come up with a guest list of your bestest friends that you would like to invite (maybe 8 or 10) and select a date that is mutually convenient for everyone. Jeanne held her parties in early to mid- December so the cookies would last until Christmas.

Next, send out invitations with these important details to ensure your party is a delicious success!

1) Tell everyone to bake their favorite “homemade” cookie. Maybe it’s a recipe passed down through generations, or a cookie they invented themselves! Also, ask them to create recipe cards, one to hand out to each guest.. 

For convenience, they can attach them to their bag or box they are using to bring the baked goods.

2) Dressing for your Cookie Exchange is half the fun! It puts everyone in a festive mood and we all know that being stylish for the season, or anytime… is a girl’s favorite pastime. So include a statement in your invitation about Holiday attire so everyone will look and feel fabulous!

3) Of course Quacker Factory can certainly help in that area…take a glance at our 2017 Holiday Collection. CLICK HERE, you will look smashing!

4) When your guests RSVP, ask them what type of cookie they are baking so you don’t have duplicates. Then tell how many cookies to bake.  For example, if 8 friends are attending, they should each bake 48 cookies. Make 6 per person, and bag them separately.

5) Remember to include yourself in the count so if you invite 8, it would actually be 9 people altogether; therefore 56 cookies baked by each person.        

(How do you like those pretty Nutter butter snowman cookies that Patrick made… one of Jeanne’s favorite!) . 

6) There are also some really creative ways you can wrap the cookies you bake for your guests. Try a colorful tin, a glass container, a gift bag with tissue, or a decorative mug. You can also use a sparkly Chinese cookie box or even a Holiday mailing tube that fits your size cookie. The ideas are endless and add to the FUN!

 7)  To prepare for your party, have a few appetizers and munchies along with some fun holiday drinks for everyone to enjoy. Hint— Apple Martinis, Sparkling Cider or a holiday (spiked) punch can look very pretty and colorful on your decorated buffet or dining table!  Be sure your table has plenty of space for everyone to display their cookies. Sampling the baked goods throughout the evening is a definite MUST!  

You should try these Snickerdoodle cookies…they’re simply scrumptious! What’s your most favorite cookie recipe? We’d love to know!

CLICK HERE to see the Snickerdoodle recipe and to share your own!

To make your party even more memorable, there are some fun games you can play. Jeanne created a few of her own that we would like to share. One  of them is “Pin the nose on the Snowman,” much like “Pin the tail on the Donkey.”

First, buy a large piece of poster or foam board and then find a fun snowman picture and attach it to the board. Or buy a snowman from a craft store. Then, buy some orange construction paper and a Santa Hat. Using the construction paper, cut out shapes that resemble carrots for the nose of your snowman, one for each guest.  

Blindfold each guest using the “Santa Hat,” and pull it down over their eyes so they can’t see.

Then spin them around! Point them to the snowman and have them try to pin the carrot nose closest to where they think it should go. The person that gets the closest… wins! (You can buy a few token gifts to hand out for the winners of your games. (i.e., an ornament, scented holiday candle, pretty stationary, etc.…)                  

Another fun game involves making a bell bracelet or candy cane necklace for each guest. You can buy the bracelets with bells on them and/or make a necklace using a piece of wide ribbon or a sash, big enough to fit over your head, and tie a candy cane to it.  

Hand them out when your guests arrive and tell them NO ONE is allowed to say the word “Cookie” during the party. If one person hears another using that word, that guest steals the person’s bracelet/necklace. Whoever collects the most at the end of the night wins another prize!

One of Jeanne’s favorite traditions was to have a “Hot Chocolate Bar.” Can you imagine how tasty it was to sip on warm cocoa in the middle of a cold winter in Wisconsin, while sitting around a fireplace mingling with all your guests?  

To make the hot chocolate really enticing, use an assortment of toppings!  

She used crushed candy cane pieces, chocolate  pirouettes, marsh- mellows, cherries, whip cream, sprinkles, and chocolate kisses! The list can go on and on! Use your IMAGINATION!  

So treat yourself and your friends to a night you will all remember. Host a Cookie Exchange this Holiday season! It’s a great way to have already prepared yummy cookies, catch up with good friends, eat and play!

To download your own Quacker Factory recipe card click the button below.

CLICK HERE to see the Snickerdoodle recipe and to SHARE YOUR OWN!

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