Cookie Exchange 2025
One tradition that I picked up from my time in the YOOP was an annual cookie and ornament exchange party. Our times were filled with conversations, smiles, laughter, good food (and drinks), and new friendships. Although my time up north was short, it was an event that I looked forward to each winter.
This year, I decided to bring the tradition to Wisconsin for myself and my people. Shortly after Halloween I decided to take the first weekend in December off from work and dedicate it to hosting my very own Cookie Exchange. I kept most of the inspiration from the parties I had attended in Michigan the same AND added my own little bits of whimsy here and there too.
Pre-Party Prep
I started with a basic document where I determined the who, what, when, and where details. After that I dove deep into my FAVORITE part of the party planning– deciding the food, drinks, decor, activities, and anything else fun that happens at your standard girls’ gatherings. I tried to keep everything super simple this year since it was MY first time hosting something like this, thankfully the fam helped me with Christmas decorations the weekend prior when they were visiting for our Thanksgiving celebration.
Once I got all of my main details figured out, I created a Facebook event and listed out what everyone could expect for our festive day. I had everyone prepare to bring a half dozen cookies per person who RSVPed, a wrapped ornament for a mini gift swap and opened up the food menu to let everyone, who wanted to, bring a dish to pass.
Food + Bevvies
The week leading up to our big event was a full one for me. I was adjusting to a new work schedule and starting club volleyball practices. So I set my alarm for early in the morning to check off a lot of my to-do list before everyone arrived. Cleaning and grocery shopping were at the top of my priorities. We had my family recipe BBQ sandwiches, fruit and veggie trays, and a charcuterie board with our drink of choice being homemade hot chocolate with a little hot cocoa bar on the menu! One of the girls, Kaiti, came early to help wash and prepare most of our food and hot chocolate while I got my BBQ going, put together a little host gift to all of the girls and baked my cookies.
Arrivals
Just in time for our first arrivals, we got everything on my checklist crossed off! One by one, my favorite people walked through MY door with cookies and gift bags in hand and BOY was it nostalgic and magical to see the pile of shoes by the front door again. It took me right back to having sleepovers and birthday parties at my parents’ house growing up.
Everyone got acquainted so quickly- bonding over motherhood, careers, marriages, home lives and so much more. It was something I was most nervous about, being that some of them had not met each other before. A childhood best friend, a college bestie / teammate / roommate, a current coworker bestie, and some of her friends that I have met and gotten to know too since moving to Appleton. One is my coworker bestie’s highschool best friend and another, significant others’ spouse turned close friend (thank you Abbrielle for introducing some incredible girls into my life!). It’s always so incredible to bring new people together. We shared stories, played games, and exchanged our ornament gifts.
Host Gift to Guests
Once everyone arrived, I handed out the little gifts I had put together earlier that morning. Conveniently, the day of the gathering was St. Nick’s day so I tied it into my guest gifts. I found cute matching hot cocoa mugs and filled each one with a “cheers” ornament, a hot cocoa stirrer, candy canes and an aquaphor chapstick. It was a great little touch to add in that “St. Nick stopped by last night” before handing them out too (a little extra magic).
Cookies to Close!!
Right before it was time for some guests to make their way out, we all took turns gathering around the kitchen island filled with cookies and created our own little cookie platters from everyone’s contributions. Peppermint crunch cookies, cinnamon roll cookies, chocolate kiss cookies, red velvet and sugar cookies. It was a fun and SWEET filled day and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends to gather. I can’t wait to see what this tradition grows into.
