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A festive, cozy, and deliciously fun holiday tradition! There’s something magical about gathering friends around a table filled with homemade cookies. A cookie swap brings everyone together for a night of celebration, delicious cookies, and easy entertaining. Below you’ll find simple tips, cookie recipes, and a no-stress dinner menu so you can host the ultimate holiday cookie swap this season.
When it comes to Christmas, I think we all know… this is my time. It’s not just Christmas Day for me — it’s the entire month of December. It’s the season! I truly believe every day is worth celebrating and that we can bring a little holiday magic to everyone around us.
I really do believe it’s the most wonderful time of the year!
This season, I asked the people around me what they love most about the holidays. My cousin Maggie had the best answer! She told me that one of her favorite nights of the year is the annual cookie swap she and a few girlfriends do every December. She hosted last year, and this year her friend is hosting.
When she walked me through the details, it sounded like such a simple, fun, cozy night. I knew I wanted to recreate the party myself and share the idea!
Bringing this to life was so much fun — and surprisingly easy to pull together. I put together one of my favorite holiday dinner menus, picked a few go-to cookie recipes, set the invite list, and the party came together instantly.
Sharing everything I did below! I hope this helps you plan your own cookie swap this year!
1. Set the Mood
Create a cozy, warm, and festive night
- light candles, turn the fire on, or use soft twinkle lights
- put on your favorite holiday playlist.
- set the table with a mix of simple dinner plates and holiday plates
- use cookies as your centerpiece
2. Invite Guests to Bring One Cookie Recipe
Ask for:
-
one or two dozen cookies per guest
-
tell guests if they’d like to share the recipe to either print it out or email it. Make it easy for everyone. If they use store-bought cookies, that works too!
3. Create a Pretty Cookie Display
Use:
- Cake stands
- Trays (1, 2, 3) and boards
- Small bowls or plates for candies and sprinkles
- blank labels or festive cards so guests can write which cookie is theirs
Fun Idea: Holiday Card Notes
Set out a stack of pretty holiday cards and invite each guest to write a short, heartfelt note for everyone at the table. It’s like a tiny love-letter circle — thoughtful, festive, and filled with Christmas cheer.
Have guests tuck their cards into the take-home cookie boxes, and tell everyone to read them once they’re home. It’s the sweetest surprise and adds a little burst of holiday magic to end the night!
4. The Dinner Menu
Winter Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Pull-Apart Garlic Butter Bread Wreath
Peppermint Espresso Martini
Pull-Apart Garlic Butter Bread Wreath
Peppermint Espresso Martini – sharing this recipe soon!
5. The Cookies
Soft Gingerbread Latte Cookies with Brown Butter Icing
Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Truffles
Salted Caramel Pretzel Snickerdoodles
6. Offer Take-Home Packaging
Set out:
- pastry boxes, tins, bags (another option), parchment, or wax paper sheets (options 1, 2, and 3)
- festive ribbon
- name tags
Guests can build their own cookie boxes to take home
6. Offer a fun Take Home Gift
Recreated my Christmas Cookie Decorating Kit as a fun take-home gift for the girls! This might be the cutest little party favor, and it’s honestly so simple to put together. And I definitely don’t expect you all to be gifting stand mixers! The idea is that you can create the Decorating Kit itself — it’s easy to assemble, festive, and everyone loves it.
Final Tips for a Fun and Festive Night
- Prep your cookie(s) the day before
- Set the table + packaging station early
- Make the dinner menu simple and comforting
- Have fun—this is meant to feel easy and joyful!
Everyone made this special holiday evening come to life!
Photography by Johnny Miller
Props by Sarah Smart
Creative Producer/Styling by Jess Damuck
Wardrobe by Caitlin Harvey
This post was originally published on December 5, 2025
Go, Red, go!!!! So excited to see Red compete. What an awesome life that must be. I don’t know how to snowboard, but I love watching it! Hope you guys keep posting pictures of him and his adventures
Thanks a bunch, Lindsay! We are so excited and proud of him, thanks for watching and cheering Red on!
Have a great weekend!
Cookie swaps are usually simple and cozy and fun, this photoshoot is fancier than most peoples Christmas dinners! I wish in the future you would just tone it down and do more down to earth party ideas.
Thanks for sharing your feedback and suggestions, Piper! Hope you have a great weekend!
I love this! Was this shot at your home or one of your friends in the pictures homes-it is beautiful! You and your friends look like you had such a great time at the cookie swap you hosted!
Hey Macy,
Thanks a lot! This was not shot at my home:) We had a wonderful time! Happy Holidays!
Instead of doing a photoshoot for these things have you or your team ever thought of you just actually hosting with your friends or family and having a photographer there to document candid photos. I know hosting is one of your hobbies, but these fake parties just seem not genuine. I would just love some candid photos of you actually hosting your friends and family.
Hey Molly,
Yes!! We have definitely talked about doing this:) Thanks for the suggestion and feedback!
Happy Holidays!
I’m confused about the salad place setting, did you serve salad at the cookie exchange? I didn’t see it mentioned anywhere above.
Hi Emma,
Yes, I shared the dinner menu above, the salad is included in that:)
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays!
How fun! But I’m confused. Did anyone come besides Caitlin? It looks like you made all the cookies? I thought everyone who comes is supposed to be bake a dozen cookies, then everyone swaps so they go home with a cookie assortment of each other’s cookies. Can you clarify? I so want to do this next year!
Hey Rachel! I had 4 friends attending! Just not everyone felt comfortable being on camera.
We had so much fun! Everyone brought 1 cookie!
Happy holidays!
This is a great idea
Thanks so much, Mandy!
Fun idea! Do you have any pictures of how you did the decorating kit this year? I see the stand mixer but as that seems pretty different from your past link, I am not sure if that is the kit you’re referring to.
ALso do you have links to all of the cookies? There are a few that I am not seeing. Thanks in advance!
Hey Allison,
Sorry, I only have the photos of the decorating kit from previous years. You can find that here:
https://fett-weg.today/christmas-cookie-decorating-kit/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Is there a specific cookie that you were looking for? Please let me know!
Happy Holidays!
Surprised to see you in black instead of festive outfits!!
Hey Cheyenne,
I think black can also be festive by dressing it up with accessories:) Thanks for reading today!
Loved seeing Red on the tv!! His success is incredible & it’s amazing to see how he’s built so much on his own! You must be such a proud big sister!! 🥰
Thanks so much, Diane!! Yes, we are all super proud of him, he is such a hard worker and deserves it all!
Have a great weekend!
In the pics, which cookie is the chocolate one with chocolate on top and the gold flakes? I didn’t see it in the cookie recipes linked. Thanks!
Hi Amber,
Here is the recipe for those cookies:
https://fett-weg.today/chocolate-espresso-thumbprint-cookies/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
This is PERFECTION. I am loving these “how to host” posts — you’ve taught me more about cooking/baking/hosting over the years than most people’s mom’s ever could haha. Thanks for raising me 😉
Thank you, Kari:) I appreciate your kind message. Thanks for following along for so long!
Have a great weekend!
This looks like it could have easily be done in your beautiful home state, Colorado. Why do you travel so far for shoots? Were you unable to find a venue and assemble a team in Colorado? Seems like it’d be much more convenient. It would be a great way to use your platform to showcase local creatives.
Hey Nic!
For sure! I like to travel and change it up! I find new inspiration in different locations.
We will be doing more in Colorado soon but I have fun traveling too!
Happy holidays!
Beautiful, festive, and fun! Great idea for this holiday season.
Thanks so much, Sue! I appreciate your kind message! Happy Holidays!
This looks like such fun! It’s not really a thing here in UK, but I’d so enjoy a cookie swap. Xx
Thanks so much Kelly-Jane! Let me know if you try hosting one this year, could be a fun tradition to start!
Happy Holidays!