Would Christmas really be the same without the annual Cookie Exchange? Well, not in this family! I guess there's really no reason why you couldn't have one any time of the year, but it's so traditionally Christmas for us that we only do it when Christmas is approaching.

Do you love cookies, but hate the thoughts of spending several days trying to get different kinds of cookies made for your family? Then it sounds like you need to plan a Cookie Exchange Party! It's a really EASY party to plan, and you'll probably want to plan one year after year once you've hosted your first one!

So let me explain a Family Cookie Exchange, and then give you a few "do's & don'ts" to help make yours a success.

I guess I have to give my sister Linda the credit for the origins behind our annual Exchange. She used to buy really good Christmas cookies. "BUY?" I almost screamed. "I've never BOUGHT a Christmas cookie in my life. Where's the fun in THAT?!" Looking back, I might have been a little too critical of Linda's baking abilities. She certainly never lacked in holiday spirit.

So all the chicks in our family met together for a real Christmas Cookie Exchange Party. That first one was a real "thrown together effort", but we pulled it off and the rest, as they say, is history. It's now as traditional as having a lighted tree in the living room!

Now let's get YOU started on this wonderful holiday tradition! Everyone has their own way or even their own set of "rules" for hosting a Cookie Exchange. I can only tell you what works for me, and that it's been a huge success that has grown in number over the years. It started out that first year with just my Mom and sister, and has now grown to spread out to our friends, as well.

First of all, this party is one of those "chick things". By that, I mean, NO GUYS! No husbands and no children. In fact, this would be a good night for some of that "Daddy-Kiddie bonding". Just send them on their way. But the guys DO get the benefits of our party, because the cookies are "exchanged" to take home. So instead of munching up all your efforts, have a buffet of appetizers and drinks set up. Christmas tea, punch and (of course!) hot cocoa.

There are a few things you, as hostess, will need to do to prepare. But don't panic! This is also part of the "fun stuff".

First, you'll need to make sure your house is decorated early, because we do our cookie exchange the first weekend of December (it's far too hectic if you wait to have it closer to Christmas). So that means that Steve has to drag out all those boxes of decorations over the Thanksgiving weekend. AND he has to hunt for all our Christmas CD's because you certainly can't have the party without the proper "mood music", now can you? And don't forget those scented candles!

Planning is really important for this party, so you need to "make a list and check it twice"! The first step is sending out the invitations. I usually make one on the computer.

On your invitation, tell everyone to bake twelve dozen cookies -- one dozen for each of the other guests. Also tell them to bring one written copy of their recipe, because you'll have recipe cards on the table for them to copy any recipes they'd like to have. Maybe your gals wouldn't even mind bringing twelve copies of their recipes just to save time at the party. Of course, you could ask them to e-mail their recipe to you and then create a little "Cookie Exchange Cookbook" for each of them to take home. It's a terrific party-favor! Run them on card stock, cut them out, hole-punch the upper left corner and bind them together with one of those silver key-ring style rings. It would be great to hang your entire collection of books from past years on a peg in my kitchen year around!

Also remind each of the guests to bring a container or two to take their cookies home. Some will forget, so have paper plants on hand for them to use.

Stress that the cookies should be homemade ONLY (absolutely NO store- or bakery-bought ones). The Keebler Elves are NOT invited to this party!!!

Encourage everyone to dress in Christmas attire. It's fun, and looks terrific in the pictures you'll be taking.

Ask each guest to RSVP. This is really important because if for any reason someone couldn't make it, you'd need to think of another to invite to get your even dozen. Also, they need to tell you which cookie they're bringing so that you don't have several bringing the same thing.

One the guests have arrived, take their cookies and arrange them on a table set up just for the exchange (Christmas table cloth and all). After you and your guests have chatted for awhile, the exchange begins. Everyone takes their containers and gathers their one dozen of each type of cookie that has been brought. As you move to each different cookie, the baker of that particular one shares a little story about her cookie. Sometimes it's the origin of the cook, or where the baker learned how to make them, or something about the person who gave her the recipe.

A cookie swap is the perfect way to begin your holiday festivities. Who can resist a freshly baked cookie and a hot cup of cocoa!

It's nice to hold your Exchange on a Sunday after everyone gets home from church and has had lunch. That way, all the guys cab gather at one house with all the kids and while the little ones are playing, the guys can stare at uninterrupted football games all day!

A Cookie Exchange is almost a day-long event. With the holidays fastly approaching, it's the last chance for all the girls to sit down together for any length of time. So make the most of it!

Obviously, it wouldn't take long for twelve ladies to pick up twelve dozen cookies each, so wyou needed something more at your exchanges. I like to come up with a different "theme" each year. Some can be pretty elaborate!

There's crafting days, with everyone working on a particular item (covered photo albums, counted cross-stitch bread covers, and hand-decorated Christmas ornaments among them). Or try "Christmas Movie Day" and show old classic films, like The Bishop's Wife, and It's a Wonderful Life. If you're into quilting, work on a quilt for someone who needs a little "lift" over the holiday season. Or maybe make make things to take to a childrens hospital or Veterans hospital.

Of course, all these things I have shared are just ideas and suggestions. Be creative and come up with new ideas and traditions for your own Cookie Exchange Party! But most of all, remember what's really important ...

Now here's some cookie recipes, just in case you need something new for for YOUR Cookie Exchange!

PECAN TASSIES

Look and taste like miniature pecan pies.

3 oz cream cheese, soft
1/2 c. plus 1 T. butter, soft
1 c. sifted flour
1 egg
3/4 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tsp. vanilla
Dash salt
2/3 c. chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325-degrees. Combine cheese, 1/2 cup butter & flour. Mix thoroughly and chill, covered, 1 hour. Divide into 24 small balls and press into sides and bottom of 2 ungreased minature muffin pans. Combine egg, brown sugar, vanilla, salt & remaining 1 tablespoon butter; beat until smooth. Sprinkle 1/3 cup pecans equally into 24 tart shells. Divide egg mixture equally among 24 tarts, pouring on top of pecans. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup pecans on top of tarts. Bake 20-25 minutes until pastry is golden brown. Makes 24.

ITALIAN PIZZELLES

6 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 c. butter, melted
7 c. flour
4 T. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. anise flavoring

Beat eggs and sugar until mixed add cooled butter. Sift together dry ingredients and add to make a stiff dough. Drop by teaspoons onto pizelle maker. Store in airtight container, makes about 60.

CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

This is the BEST recipe for sugar cookies and great to use with cookie cutters!)

1-1/3 c butter
1-1/2 c sugar
1 tsp. grated orange peel
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
8 tsp. milk
4 c. sifted flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream shortening, sugar, orange peel & vanilla add egg & beat til light & fluffy, stir in milk. Sift together dry ingredients & blend in cream mixture. Divide dough in half, chill one hour. Roll out, not too thin. Cut out with cookie cutters. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 375-degrees. Cool and frost; decorate with sprinkles or colored sugar. Yield: 6 dozen

Icing:

1 lb. confectioners sugar
Pinch of cream of tarter
Enough milk to thin
Red and green food coloring (or use plain white, too)

Slowly pour and stir, until you get the desired consistency.

SNICKERDOODLES

1/2 c. butter
1-1/2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
2 T. sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

In a mixing bowl beat butter with a mixer on medium to high speed for 30seconds. Add about half of the flour, the 1 sup sugar, the egg, vanilla, baking soda and cream of tartar. Beat till thoroughly combined. Beat in remaining flour. Cover and chill 1 hour. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Combine 2 tbspn. sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls in sugar-cinnamon mixture.

Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375-degrees for 10-11 minutes or till edges are golden. Cool cookies on wire rack. Makes about 3 dozen.

HAZELNUT CAPPUCCINO COOKIES

(This cookie has a crispy shortbread texture and a wonderfully sophisticated taste. It’s the perfect gift for the gourmet coffee connoisseur.)

1-1/2 c. hazelnuts, toasted & skins removed
1-3/4 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. butter, soft
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1 T. instant coffee granules
1/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Pre-heat oven to 325-degrees. Place hazelnuts in a food processor. Process until finely chopped, set aside. Sift flour and salt together, set aside. In a large bowl, beat together butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and instant coffee granules. Stir in flour mixture and hazelnuts until blended. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Flatten dough to 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch with bottom of glass. If glass starts to stick to dough, dip bottom of glass in granulated sugar.

Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool 2 minutes on baking sheet, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Place chocolate morsels in a small microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high 30 to 90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted. Place melted chocolate in a small resealable plastic bag, then snip off a very small corner of the bag. Drizzle chocolate over cooled cookies; allow chocolate to set until firm.

Store in airtight containers at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. These cookies ship well if packed carefully. Makes about 30 cookies.

Note: To remove skin from hazelnuts, toast them in a 350-degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and while still hot, place the nuts in a rough dish towel, then rub them briskly with the towel. Most of the skin will easily flake off; it’s OK to leave the rest.

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