How to Throw a Cookie Bake Christmas Party

Baking cookies and other festive Christmas treats ranks high on most people's long holiday to-do lists. Why not turn this task into a party?

Invite five or six friends over and ask them each to bring a few things. If you have more room you can certainly include more guests, but for this kind of party we recommend keeping your list on the shorter side.

Supplies you'll need include:

1 or 2 favorite cookie recipes
Hand mixers
Cookie sheets
Ingredients that your recipes require
A container for taking home cookies

Preparation

Get ready for your party by hitting up a bulk discount store and stocking up on common cookie ingredients like flour, sugar, butter and eggs. Be sure to let your friends know what you’ll have on hand so they know what to bring along. 

Clear a space for everyone to work in your kitchen. If you need more space than your kitchen provides, you can spread out on a table in another room as well.

Purchase a plastic tablecloth to place over the table for easy clean up. If your guest list includes kids, you may want to put a plastic tablecloth under the table as well. 

Party Time!

Turn up the Christmas music while everyone works together.

Group cookies for baking based on various cooking temperatures. For example, prepare and bake all the cookies requiring 350 degrees first, then bake cookies requiring 400 degrees and so on. All bakers can help each other to maximize the group's efficiency.

Don't forget to have some have some fuel on hand for all the bakers. Choose a menu that will allow your guests to help themselves to food whenever they are ready and be sure set up the food station outside of the kitchen, so you don’t waste precious workspace.

Some easy menu ideas are a make-your-own-sandwich bar or a pot of soup kept warm in a slow cooker served with corn bread muffins or French bread. You won’t need to serve dessert – there will be plenty of yummy cookie dough to go around!

After the oven is off and all the dishes are washed, divide up all the goodies among guests to take home. No other party favors are needed!

After this Christmas party, you can cross a time-consuming task off your holiday to-do list. Your friends and neighbors who receive your cookies will be blown away by the variety - that is if you can bear to part with any of them!