Throw a Woodland Inspired Cookie Swap

Bring the outdoors in with this whimsical cookie swap theme.

Make your invitations with a birch background keeping the woodland theme with a modern twist. Add small twigs with twine for extra charm. Determine who will come and how many cookies you want from each guest. What number you choose is the number of cookies each guest will take home. If you will be making cookies at the party be sure to include that on the invitation. Ask guests to bring extra tools or ingredients as necessary.

With your invitations, send along blank recipe cards printed with your party theme for your guests to fill out with the recipe of the cookie they will bring. Alternatively, ask guests to email the information to you and print the cards yourself to pass out at the party.

Use a mailing tube to create a birch branch take home box for your party.

Cut the tube to taller than 11 inches using a box saw. 

Use birch printed paper from a craft store or make your own birch inspired print on white card stock. Cut the paper to the height of your tubes.

Use tape to secure the wrapper to the tube in the very center.

Wrap the wrapper around the tube and secure with double stick tape.

Keep plenty of water on hand to wash down all the delicious cookies. You can make simple birch wrappers by printing a birch pattern on card. Print and cut the wrappers. Remove the existing wrappers and replace with your printed wrappers secured with double stick tape on the back. Keep plenty of other beverages on hand. Consider a hot cocoa station with all the necessary garnishes. For a more adult party, you may want to include a few liqueurs to add to hot cocoa such as irish creme or kahlua.

Use this template or create your own for the bottle wrappers.

Be sure to prepare a signature cookie of your own to share. Make plenty so there are lots to eat and some to send along with guests. This cranberry white chocolate is a very festive and seasonal option. You will need:  3 cups flour/ 1 teaspoon baking soda/ 1 teaspoon salt/ 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature/ 1 cup sugar/ 1 cup light brown sugar, packed/ 2 eggs/ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract/ 1 cup white chocolate chips/ 1 cup dried cranberries/ 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature/ 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, melted/ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract/ 2 cups powdered sugar/ 1 cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped.

Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar in a medium bowl on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time and mix. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla and mix. Reduce speed and add dry ingredients. Mix just until incorporated. Add 1 cup white chocolate chips and 1 cup cranberries. Mix just until blended. Cover dough and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Use a medium cookie scoop to place cookies on parchment lined baking sheets with 2-3 inches of space between. Refrigerate for 15 minutes before baking. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned at edges. Remove cookies from the oven and allow to cool for 1 minute on tray. Transfer cookies to wire cooling rack to cool completely before icing. Make icing by beating the cream cheese and melted white chocolate on medium speed. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and beat until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add powdered sugar. Beat for 30 seconds and then return speed to medium. Beat until smooth. Ice cooled cookies and top with a sprinkling of chopped dried cranberries while icing is still soft. Allow icing to set before serving.

Bring in the outdoors and add it to your display. Place bird nests and other woodland inspired items like a pine-cone tree and moss balls on cake stands to showcase them along with your baked goods.

Along with your woodland theme, decide on the dishes you will use. Keep it simple so as not to compete with the overall look. White and glass is a simple and clean approach.

Use cake stands of varying sizes to create tiers of treats. This will add dimension and height to your table.

Use small glasses buried within cookies to present dipped pretzel sticks or tall cookies. These have a stick-like appearance and add to the overall theme.