I absolutely love Cookie Exchanges because you get to enjoy all different kinds of treats as well as get new recipes to make for other holiday parties! That’s what I call a win-win! :) Bethany Gist of Auntie Bea’s Bakery did an awesome job setting up this Cheerful Christmas Cookie Exchange for her and her friends. If you want to try out any of the yummy looking treats from this party, make sure to check out Bethany’s site for all of the recipes!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Awesome holiday cake pops (could double as yummy hot cocoa stirrers) + intricate snowflake cookies
• Gingerbread house cookie decorating (I just love the spin on this classic holiday tradition)
• Gumdrop Christmas tree, holly-topped bon bons & an adorable cookie cutter wreath
• Super cute gingerbread cookie garland + a delicious looking hot cocoa bar (pass me the caramels please!)

PARTY DETAILS as told by Bethany…

When I think of Christmas, I think of sweets. When I think of sweets I think of COOKIES, lots of COOKIES! Growing up, Christmas was always about baking, gathering in the kitchen, laughing and having a good time, and then getting to share our treats with friends and family. This is what I wanted my party to be, a gathering of friends and family sharing joy and love… and cookies.

When it came to the party itself, I chose a Cookie Exchange party so everyone could share their favorite Christmas cookies and treats. Everyone brought enough cookies to eat and take some home as well. So all the mommies could visit and share, I set up a Cookie Decorating Table and a Hot Cocoa Bar for the girls. Cookie decorating was a big hit, the girls loved making their own gingerbread house cookie (and then eating it)!

I wanted this mommy & daughter party to be bright and cheery! I brought in pops of lime green with traditional red and white. For décor, all I could think about was sweets! Cookies, peppermints, gumballs, lollipops, gumdrops, everything sweet! My friend Glory and I made candy trees made of gumdrops and gumballs. I adorned the backdrop with a cookie cutter wreath I made from Christmas cookie cutters. Everything was very simple but very sweet!