By Emith Smith
(CNN) — Haul out the cookie tins – ’tis the season for baking! In honor of December 4, National Cookie Day, here are some tips for the ever-popular cookie exchange:
– Form a group of participants. Make sure the people swapping cookies are committed to doing so. (It’s not as much fun otherwise!)
– Establish a date for the swap as early as you can, before the holidays get hectic.
– Consider a sign-up sheet so that you don’t end up with 10 dozen Snickerdoodles.
– You could also assign each person a country and have them make a cookie that represents their designated foreign land. Think Lebkuchen from Germany, or Madeleines from France.
– Set a few ground rules: How many cookies is each person bringing to eat at the exchange? How many cookies is each person bringing to actually exchange and send home with others? Usually a half dozen per person to exchange, and a full dozen to eat on the day works well.
– If you’re hosting, try to find a cookie tin for each participant so they can take their loot home easily.
– Consider baking an extra dozen to donate to a local bake sale or shelter.
– Make sure to take allergies into account – nothing ruins the holidays like a trip to the ER. Cookies can be lactose-, nut- and gluten-free.
– Don’t forget recipe cards so attendees can recreate their favorite cookie.
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