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Entertaining - So many recipes. So many ideas. So many excuses to throw a party.
Cookie Exchange and Gingerbread Baking

Host a cookie exchange that goes beyond holiday cookies. After exchanging the cookies, everyone bakes and decorates a Gingerbread Birdhouse Ornament to take home. Be sure to write BYOA (for “bring your own apron”) on the invitations!

Gingerbread Ornaments & Decorations

Holiday Cookie Exchange Party Menu

Cookie Recipes
The Ultimate Spritz
Holiday Cutouts
Florentines 
Candy Cane Cookies 
Orange-Almond Biscotti 
Sparkling Star Cookies 
Holiday Rounds 
Peppermint Snowball Cookies 
Snowflake Cookies
Marzipan Cookies
Gingerbread Birdhouse Ornaments (party activity) 

Party Menu
Hot Spiced Cider
Cappuccino Nog 
Reindeer Snack
Holiday Tree-Shaped Cheese Ball 
Assorted crackers, candies and nuts*

*Recipe not included


Make It Special! 

Make Cookies and Tags
  • Everyone makes one of the recipes, baking enough cookies so each participant gets one dozen of each kind of cookie. Print out cookie tags with cookie names to attach to each tray of cookies.
Wrap and Decorate Cookie Trays
  • Purchase inexpensive large plastic or metal holiday trays for cookie collecting (one for each guest). Set the trays out on a table. Guests can divide and arrange their cookies among the trays. Wrap the trays with red or green plastic wrap, and attach a cookie tag to each. Add a colorful ribbon if desired.
Make Birdhouse Ornaments
  • Before the party, make the dough and frosting for the Gingerbread Birdhouse Ornaments. Supply a rolling pin, cookie cutters, straws and cookie sheets for baking the cookies. Have pretzels, powdered sugar, holly candy decors, tubes of green decorating icing and gold string available for guests to decorate and hang the baked birdhouse ornaments.

Preparation Guide

Up to 1 Month Before

  • Make Holiday Tree-Shaped Cheese Ball

Up to 2 Weeks Before

  • Make Reindeer Snack

The Day Before

  • Make your assigned cookie recipe.
  • Make the dough for Gingerbread Birdhouse Ornaments

About 40 Minutes Before

  • Make Cappuccino Nog through step 2.
  • Make Hot Spiced Cider

About 30 Minutes Before

  • Make the Easy Creamy Frosting for the ornaments; cover tightly with plastic wrap.

About 15 Minutes Before

  • Set out snacks. Finish and serve beverages.



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