Host a Cookie Swap Party With Ease! (GIVEAWAY!)

Hosting a cookie swap may seem really stressful and intimidating, but it doesn't have to be! This was my first year hosting a cookie swap, and here is what I learned to make things a little easier. 

I was provided samples from Kruteaz brand to help facilitate this post. 

A cookie swap party is a great way to get a plate of yummy cookies, without spending weeks in your kitchen. Each person focuses on one kind of cookie (or candy), and at the party everyone swaps out a dozen or so cookies from each kind and takes home a variety. 

Previously, I use to spend from December 1st clear up until December 23rd baking batch upon batch of cookies. Chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter, sugar cookies, no-bakes, fudge, and more were being baked in my kitchen daily. At one point, you get tired of seeing cookies. Hosting a cookie swap this year, I've come to realize how much easier it is to focus on one kind per person and just trading off cookies and recipes. Especially since it's much easier to double or triple one batch of the same kind than it is to make a difference recipe for each cookie. 

Want to know how I figured out an even easier solution? I used premade mixes. Shhh! I know typically you swap homemade cookies, but hear me out. You can take a regular mix, and add things to it to make it unique. Think of the cookie mixes as a base for a more spectacular cookie. 

For example, Krusteaz Snickerdoodle can easily be turned into apple cinnamon cookies by adding some apple bits to the mix. I took the sugar cookie mix, added 1 cup of chopped cherries and a teaspoon of cherry jell-o mix to make cherry cookies. Add cocoa to sugar cookies to make chocolate sugar cookies. Also, a huge time saver was using Country Crock's new buttery sticks that require no softening. You just pull them straight out the refrigerator and throw the, right in the mix. 

Our first cookie swap ended up being a huge success and we've already decided to make this a tradition. Knowing that I don't have to spend days in the kitchen and sending my husband to the store 12 different times for more ingredients I always run out of, makes it a lot less stressful. I can stock up on Krusteaz cookie mixes, and add my personal touches to them. The best part is that no one notices that they aren't homemade because they are so good! 

And just in case you aren't sure what kind of cookie to make for your next cookie swap, Krusteaz makes it even easier with their Holiday Cookie Helper; a fun quiz to help you choose the perfect cookie recipe for your swap. Take the quiz and not only receive a coupon for a Krusteaz cookie mix, but 10 lucky cookie fans will win a $100 grocery gift card! 

*Disclosure: This product was received as a sample in exchange for an honest, unbiased, review. The reviews and or opinions on this blog are 100% my own. No monitory compensation was received and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsement and Testimonials in Advertising.