C is for Cookie…Swap

For me, the holidays begin when the dough starts coming together. With the days getting shorter and the nights getting colder, my mind has become increasingly preoccupied with the thought of cookies:

Spritz. Peppermint crunch. Molasses crinkle. Gingersnaps.

Need I go on?

I know someone who would make thirty dozen each of ten different cookies, and then arrange assortments on huge platters and make deliveries throughout the neighborhood. Obviously, this was a hugely popular tradition, and I always admired the dedication and patience it took to make that many.

Of course, most people don’t have the time or freezer space to make this many holiday cookies, but that doesn’t mean that they need to do without a wide cookie assortment this season. Usually, people know how to make at least one kind of cookie, and property managers can use the built-in community inherent in residential complexes to host a cookie swap, where residents bring several dozen of one type of cookie and then exchange with other residents.

The guidelines for an event are straightforward:

1. Pick a date and time: Find a sweet spot between too early (the cookies won’t last to the holidays) and too late (people get busy).
2. Decide the rules: Strictly homemade only, or can cookies be made using store-bought dough? Do they have to be holiday-themed? Are nuts allowed, or no?
3. Get the word out: Put up flyers in common areas, or send emails through Resident Connect. Include a sign-up sheet in an office or main common area so that not everyone brings chocolate chip. Encourage people to bring cookies that mean something to them, so that they can share the stories at the event.
4. Remind the residents: About a week or so in advance, remind your residents about the event, and let them know how many dozens to make. Depending on the amount of people coming, plan on between six and twelve cookies per person to swap. So, if eleven residents sign up, then each should bring twelve dozen cookies, including cookies for snacking on during the swap. Also encourage residents to bring copies of the recipes to exchange.
5. Swap: Set up large tables so that people can display their cookies, and have bags or bakery boxes on hand so that each person can take home their stash. It may also be a good idea to have some “real” food on hand, so that residents don’t go into sugar comas during the holiday party.

Cookie swaps can easily be customized for the needs of your community. Have a lot of kids? Include a cookie decorating station where children can create designs on blank sugar cookies. Tons of foodies? Inspire competition by voting on the best, most unique, or unusual cookie. Many people with health restrictions or concerns? Host a low-sugar-only or vegan-only swap.

At the end of the day, each resident will have their own assortment of holiday treats, with only a fraction of the work of making each one themselves, not to mention a great party filled with fun and good food. Sweet!