Tips

Cookie exchange parties, like HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates, are a tradition for many and provide a fun-filled reason for friends and family to enjoy each other’s company and fill up their cookie trays.

For those looking to create the ultimate cookie exchange, the experts at HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates and HERSHEY’S Kitchens offer the following tips to turn any party into a sweet success:

• Invite guests at least two weeks in advance to make sure they have time to prepare, and ask each to RSVP with the recipe they plan to make. For those invitees who don’t have a favorite recipe, keep plenty of suggestions on hand or consider including a unique recipe on every invitation.
• Remind each guest of the total number of guests, and ask each to bring one dozen cookies for everyone. If the group is large, consider reducing this quantity to a half-dozen – more than 10 dozen cookies may overwhelm some guests.
• Encourage all participants to bring plenty of printed recipe copies so the recipe exchange can begin, along with an empty, sealable container to take home new treats.
• Be sure to offer refreshments, but keep it simple. Consider making something the night before that can be reheated for the party. Plan to serve a seasonal beverage, such as hot HERSHEY’S Cocoa, warm apple cider or lemonade, along with standard beverages such as coffee, tea, juice and milk.
• For added fun, turn the cookie exchange into a cookie gifting party. Set out gift tags, gift bags, ribbons, and festive HERSHEY’S KISSES Chocolates wrapped in seasonal-colored foils, and invite guests to make sweet gifts for co-workers, neighbors, teachers and friends.
• Supply extra plastic bags or containers for guests to transport their cookies home. There are bound to be some participants who forget to bring their own.
• For a perfect party favor, consider asking guests to provide their recipes in advance, and print them out on decorated paper to compile homemade recipe books.