Inside My 1st Cookie Exchange | Paiges December 2025

Hosting is one of my love languages, and this year’s cookie exchange might be my favorite party I’ve ever thrown. It was festive and cozy, full of nostalgia (and sugar!!), and somehow felt both effortless and intentional— the sweet spot I always try to hit when I have friends over.

If you’re planning to host this season, here’s everything I did to make the night feel special, easy, and SO much fun (like we’re all already talking about what cookies we’re making for next year’s exchange!)

Why I Love a Cookie Exchange

The concept is simple: everyone brings two dozen cookies and we share. Some guests leaned into nostalgia with old fave family recipes (I made Nanna’s sugar cookies and my German butterspritz— scroll for the recipes), others brought their reliable crowd-pleasers, and a few went full experimental (looking at you, lemon rosemary shortbread!). Since I was mixing friend groups, it gave everyone built in common ground and made conversation flow effortlessly while I hosted.

The Setup That Made Everrrrything Easier

I rolled butcher block paper across the entire table and labeled each cookie with water-soluble markers. Why it worked:

Safe around food (Sharpies seem icky near food to me). Looked cute and intentional. Everyone got to name their cookie and stake their claim. And best of all… at the end of the night, I literally rolled the whole thing up — melted chocolate, sprinkles, crumbs — and tossed it. Zero cleanup.

This alone felt like the hosting hack of the year.

Everyone Leaves With Cookies

I set out prebuilt cookie boxes so everyone could pack up an assortment to take home. I’ve never asked my guests to bring anything at all so I wanted to make sure everyone left feeling like they came out on top (also got many accolades from the husbands and boyfriends at home lol).

My Cookie Recipes

I made three kinds — two childhood favorites and a snickerdoodle. Again, I wanted to be sure each person felt like they were going home with a massive HAUL. Here are two of my family recipes (we make these EVERY Christmas!)

Nanna’s Sugar Cookies

Ingredients for cookies:

3 eggs

Milk (about 1/3 cup but see instructions)

1 pound butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

5 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

Pinch of salt

Ingredients for frosting:

3 tbsp meringue powder

3 cups sifted powdered sugar (about 1 lb)

6 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

optional: food coloring / vanilla vodka to thin

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then whisk in the milk to measure 1 cup (typically about 1/3 cup depending on the size of the eggs). Set aside.

2. In a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the vanilla.

3. With the mixer running on low, pour in the egg–milk mixture and blend until fully combined.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer in two additions, mixing just until a soft dough forms.

6. Divide the dough into 2–3 portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours (or up to overnight) until firm enough to roll.

7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to your desired thickness and cut with cookie cutters.

8. Bake at 350°F for 10–15 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. Let cool on a rack.

9. Once cool, prepare the frosting by beating all ingredients at a low speed for 7-10 minutes until icing forms peaks. Color if desired or dilute food dye with a bit of vanilla vodka to paint the cookies.

Christmas Butter Spritz (recipe from a 1960’s booklet!)

I originally typed up this recipe to reshare with you, but it felt more nostalgic to share it with you the way my mom and I see it every holiday season. It’s a miracle this recipe book from the 1960s is in such great shape and not more covered in butter and flour (ha!)

The tradition I’ll include in every holiday party

To wrap up the night, I brought out an apple pie and a stack of sticky notes. I asked each friend to write one thing they were proud of themselves for in 2025. We turned them into tiny flags, added them to the pie, and took a moment to cheer each other on. It was honestly the sweetest part of the night— friendship really is cheering one another on through the highs and lows and it was such a beautiful way to end the night. Highly recommend this at any party before the year’s over!

Let me know if you have any questions! Hope this helps and happy hosting (or baking if you’re just here for those recipes!) x