A Holiday Cookie Swap | Cup of Jo

Last week, I invited a bunch of ladies — and a few guys — for a cookie swap. My first one was 13 years ago (with tiny baby Toby), then I hosted one last year, and now it’s an annual tradition…

My friend Liz brought wine with a giant bow!

How delicious do these cookies look? Erin’s birds are beautiful.

We all hung out and chatted…

…and Adam wore a pitch-perfect sweater.

Since Amanda’s cookies crushed it last year, people were looking forward to seeing her again. But when she didn’t arrive at 7 p.m. sharp, the crowd began to fret. “Is she coming?” they asked me, en masse. “When? Are you sure? Do you think she’ll bring the same cookies?” When she finally walked in the door, everyone cheered. She was the prom queen of the cookie swap.

Although a cookie swap is really just a cookie swap, 13-year-old Toby decided to make it a competition, appointing himself as sole judge. “The ones with alcohol get an automatic zero because I can’t try them,” he announced, to Jenny’s dismay (she brought rum balls).

Soon Toby’s other results came pouring in. Some got a middling ‘4 out of 10.’ Others, like ginger cookies or Rice Krispie treats, garnered a solid 8 or 9. Finally, Toby announced a three-way tie: Adam’s chocolate cookies, Erin’s iced birds, and Mo’s sugar cookies! Their winning scores? 18 out of 10!

How sweet are these faces? Nothing better than gazing at your friends gazing at your children.

It was such a fun night. Thank you to everyone for coming — can’t wait til next year. Have you been to a cookie swap this year? What’s your favorite recipe? xoxo

P.S. The best slice-and-bake cookies, and how to host an articles club.