Not all tea parties have to be sit down affairs. You have probably heard of cookie exchanges for the holidays. Each person brings cookies to share with others, thus cutting down the kitchen time while still having a variety of goodies to share with family and friends. Sometimes these can be working events, such as volunteering to pack cookies for gifts for shut-ins, college kids, deployed military, fund-raisers, and such. In fact, they can be organized for any sort of celebration. The area around northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania are famous for cookie tables for wedding receptions. For this type of “cookie collecting'” bring enough for both the wedding reception and “thank you gifts” for each of the bakers and/or bridal party to take home.
For a cookie exchange, tea and a couple of those cookies (maybe the ones that got broken) are the rewards for the work done. Scones and sandwiches are optional for this type of afternoon tea. Follow along for some ideas on how to do this type of event.
Cookie swaps are easy on the hostess, as parties go. Determine the purpose. Is it for a few friends to help with holiday baking, or is it for a bigger project? Look at your home and determine if it can be done at your home or whether you can use a community room or church hall. Set the date. Send the invitations as far in advance as possible (phone calls, emails, texts, or set the date at your club/group meeting.) Once you have the number of attendees confirmed (hopefully a week or two in advance), inform those attending of the number of cookies to bring. It can be a half dozen to a dozen per attendee plus a few for consumption at the party if for an exchange among the attendees for holiday giving or a set amount if for a gift to the afore mentioned groups or for a fund-raiser. Try not to burden with too large a number. Everyone will go home with the same number of cookies they brought, except for those consumed at the party if this is for an exchange among friends.
In advance of the party (even a day or two, if held in the home), set up a beverage station for tea, cocoa, and/or coffee. Prepare the hot tea, coffee, and/or cocoa right before guests are expected. Or have hot water, ice water, and a variety of tea bags and cocoa mix on hand, along with sugar, sugar substitute, milk, lemon, and marshmallows. (Wine or other “adult” beverages come after the work is done, if desired or allowed.)
Plates, napkins, utensils and such should be set out for food. Save space for the cookies to be eaten during the event. Counter or dining table space will become a precious commodity, so if you have room for a “card table”, as my grandmother called it, or a folding table as it is called now, that will be a big help. If you have enough reusable tableware for everyone, great, otherwise make sure the paper or plastic plates and cups are sturdy. Of course, other needed item will be the tins, boxes, or bags that the cookies will be placed in, along with plastic wrap, ribbons, tags, and scissors. Party favors and decorations are optional but add a nice touch. And, if this is an exchange among friends, ask the attendees to bring along copies of the recipes for everyone. You can either use your own trays, cake stands, and baskets for display of the cookies, or ask each person to bring a tin full of cookies for exchange and a second one for collecting the cookies they will take home. You might even want little table place setting cards so they can write the name of the cookies on them.
Create a checklist for yourself to make sure you have everything you need. Weeks in advance, reserve space at a venue if you cannot hold it in a home. Two to four weeks in advance (the more notice you can give, the better) send out your invitations, keep a list of what everyone plans to bring so if someone asks, you can help them avoid overlap. Be sure to check with any stragglers so you can firm up numbers. RSVP seems to be ignored more and more. Order any items you can’t get locally. One week in advance double check with the guests, confirm their cookie choices and the number they are to bring, and remind them about the recipe cards if they are being exchanged. If you are serving more than cookies, plan and shop for the ingredients, as well as the non-perishables for your cookies. Mix and freeze your cookie dough. You might also want to put together a playlist or have a holiday movie showing.
Three days in advance, do your perishable shopping, wrap any favors and prizes, make sure you have enough supplies for the cookie exchange. A day before the event, bake your cookies and store in airtight containers once cooled. Be sure you have made copies of the recipe. Set up the tables and stations as mentioned above. Be sure to have seating for everyone and leave space for their baskets and plates of goodies.
On the day of the swap, prepare any non-cookie food you are providing, make sure you have all the cups, plates, napkins, and swap materials in place. An hour before the event, put on the music, arrange and set out the eats, set out your own cookies and check yourself in the mirror for any crumbs, flour, touch=ups needed to your appearance. And have fun at your party.
During the event begin with a few minutes to prepare their beverages, arrange their cookies, and chat. Appetizers can be set out at this time. Once everyone is settled and has enjoyed some refreshments, it is time to do the exchange, or packing. Have them gather at the table and either walk around collecting the cookies or send the tins or bags around assembly-style. If there are those that are concerned about germs, gloves can be provided. No storing cookies in pockets or mouths. Once the cookies are divided, they can wrap, tag, and chat. Then it’s time for more beverages and food.
Another option on the recipes is to have everyone email theirs to you or a designee and a little cookie cookbook can be made for each guest, either in print or as a digital file. If the event is repeated, the cookbook can grow. This can be a thank you for a job well done. It would also make a great gift for the bride.
Have fun, don’t stress, divide the duties of preparing for the event if you don’t think you have time to do all of the decorating, shopping, and assembly of materials for the event. Make it as simple or fancy as you want. You even think of other foods to exchange. Maybe each person does a soup mix, or breads, or jams and jellies. It is up to you.
Tea at the Unicorn Wine Guild 