Part of what makes the holiday season so special is spending time with family and friends.Year after year families gather together to exchange Christmas presents and share holiday memories. Maintaining old traditions plays an important role in the festive season, but creating new traditions is just as important.

This year invite your friends and family to a Christmas cookie exchange. These wonderful little get togethers are simple and easy to plan. Instead of having each guest bring dozens of cookies to the party have each guest prepare a single tin of cookies.

Cookie tins are inexpensive, usually available at any dollar store, and come in a large array of designs. Place a festive colored napkin in the bottom of your tin, layer in the homemade cookies, and fold the napkin gently over the top. Remind you guest to include their name on their cookie tin. Because you will not yet be eaten any of the cookies your guest brought, you should prepare a light party snack. Assemble a nice platter of cheeses and deli meats accompanied by some pickles. A fruit tray or vegetable tray with dip, and a small variety of drinks. A nice bottle of wine or fruit punch is an excellent choice. Prepare two decorative tables, a dining table for your guests to enjoy their party snack, and one small table to place the cookie tins on. Your dining table could include, a festive colored linen table cloth, red taper candles, and an attractive Christmas themed center piece. Holiday music is a must, choose something low key and keep the volume at a minimum.

As your guest arrive, invite them to arrange their cookie tin offerings on the small, previously decorated table. Enjoy your party snacks with a glass of wine, or a nice fruity punch. When the party is over and your guests are departing for the evening, have each choose a cookie tin as a delightfully delicious parting gift. Earlier I mentioned including your name on your cookie tin, this insures that no one gets their own cookies back and also allows friends and family to ask for and share their wonderful cookie recipes.

Creating your Christmas cookie tin for the exchange should not be a chore. Just be creative and have fun with it. There are a huge variety of cookies, tins, and decorative Shortbread cookies:

Peanut Butter cookies:

Chocolate chip cookies:

Double chocolate sable cookies:

Chocolate peanut butter bonbons:

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