cookie swap

I'm a sucker for seasonal specials at the supermarket, and the other day I picked up Martha Stewart Holiday Cookies. Normally I make sugar or gingerbread cookies, but since this magazine has over 101 inspiring recipes, I'm thinking I'll try something new. Jam filled cream cheese cookies? Smoky bacon ginger cookies? Chocolate caramel pecan clusters? The possibilities are deliciously endless!

What kind of cookie do you plan on making this holiday season?

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it's time to turn our attention to the remaining Winter holidays! A recipe that you'll want to have on hand is this one for classic gingerbread cookies. These crowd-pleasing cookies are chewy, moist, and delicious. Thanks to freshly grated ginger, they have a rich and intense ginger flavor.

The simplest way to make them is to shape the dough into balls, dunk in sugar, and bake. However, feel free to roll the batter out, cut it into festive shapes, and decorate after baking. My favorite use of these cookies is to turn them into an ice cream sandwich with vanilla ice cream — or for a Christmasy twist, egg nog ice cream. To enjoy these cookies, get the recipe.

When I was at Martha Stewart's Milk and Cookies party at the Food Network's New York City Wine and Food Festival, I picked up a great tip from the cookie decorating experts. To keep frosting clean and organized, the staff at Martha Stewart Living fill disposable clear frosting bags with different colors of icing. Then they place each one in a glass tumbler. That way your kitchen table won't get covered in oozing frosting. To ensure that the frosting doesn't plop out the back of the bag, they seal each one closed with a rubber band. The next time I'm decorating cookies, I'm definitely doing this!

Do you have a tip for making the perfect cookie? Share with us below!

Host the cookie swap in the biggest, most open room of your house. You'll need two tables: one for displaying the cookies and another to act as a packing station. On the large table, place platters, serving trays, and napkins. Don't forget name cards for the cookies, these are essential — you wouldn't want a guest who is allergic to peanuts accidentally nibbling on a peanut butter cookie. Place paper boxes, takeout containers, tissue paper, ribbon, and scissors on the smaller table. Light candles and fill a vase with festive flowers. When guests arrive help them find a place for their cookies, then offer them a drink.

Have you hosted or attended a cookie exchange party? Please share your experience and tips below!

At a cookie swap, it's a good idea to have an assortment of refreshments, especially if hosting the party in the afternoon. Some people will want alcohol and others will not. Set out pots of coffee and tea and a pitcher of sparkling water with cranberries. Fill a bucket with ice and place individual cartons of milk inside. Pour sparkling wine and offer one signature cocktail. Avoid serving a libation that's too sweet; instead opt for a tart-refreshing concoction like a grapefruit sparkler. This drink is basically a mimosa with grapefruit juice. To get the easy recipe, read more

With Thanksgiving over, it's good-bye pumpkin pie, hello cookies. Right now — that window of time before the holiday party rush — is the ideal time to host a cookie exchange. As if on cue, an exciting new book landed on our doorstep: Cookie Swap: Creative Treats to Share Throughout the Year ($14) by Julia M. Usher. I took it as an auspicious sign — but did the book live up to its enticing title? Find out when you read more.

The cookies are the star of a cookie exchange, so if you're hosting one, be sure to set out plenty of platters. When guests arrive, give them a serving tray and have them arrange their cookies, placing cards with the name of each cookie nearby. Also stock up on takeout containers and cardboard boxes so everyone has a place to put their newfound treats. I recommend selecting a recipe that produces a large batch of popular cookies like these chocolate-espresso snowcaps coated in powdered sugar. Crunchy peanut butter cookies and spicy ginger cookies are a crowd-pleasing classics, while lemony almond coconut macaroons are chewy and delicious. To check out these favorite cookie recipes, read more

During December, many people host cookie swaps. Organizing a festive cookie party is a great way to cut back on your holiday baking. Instead of making a million cookies, you and your friends each bake a different cookie. Then you get together and trade cookies; everyone walks away with an assortment of treats. To ensure that you don't end up with 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies, ask your guests what type of cookie they will bring. Throw the party on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon in between lunch and dinner.

Don't worry about serving a bunch of appetizers, but do offer a couple of easy nibbles like mixed nuts, cheese, and homemade savory cookies. Thyme, lemon, and sea-salt shortbread is crisp and buttery, while blue cheese pecan crackers are rich and addictive. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to see my suggested sweet cookie recipes, but you can learn the techniques for the salty shortbread and cheesy crackers when you keep reading.