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Cookie exchange games

In my experience a cookie swap runs fine without games, because tasting and trading is the event. I'd add one when guests don't know each other, or when there is a gap between arriving and the swap. Below are six games, what each one needs, and a bingo card you can print.

What the guides suggest

The guides I opened name games and leave out the rules. A Deseret News list of 12 tips suggests a sugar cookie decorating contest and then names Name that Cookie, Cookie Bingo and Cookie Memory, with no instructions. The Cravory lists a decorating contest where guests vote on the best cookie, cookie trivia, a Secret Santa gift exchange, and a recipe exchange where guests bring copies of their recipes. The rules in the table are my own way of running each one.

Six games compared

Players and times are my estimates for a swap of 8 to 12 guests.

Cookie exchange games by number of players, time, supplies, best setting and how to run them
Game Players Time Supplies Fits How to run it
Cookie bingo (printable card below) 4 or more 15–20 min Printed card, pen Home and office Each square is a trait. Find a cookie on the table that fits, write its number or baker in the square, one cookie per square.
Name that cookie 6 or more 10–15 min Paper, pens, a helper who knows the cookies Home Cut or break a few cookies into taste pieces. Guests taste and write the name or main flavor. Most right guesses wins.
Cookie memory 4 or more 5 min Paper, pens, a cloth Home and office Guests look at the table for one minute. Cover it. They write every cookie they remember. Most correct entries wins.
Cookie trivia 4 or more 10 min 8–10 printed questions Home and office Read a question, guests write answers, swap papers and score. Questions about the cookies on the table keep it short.
Decorating contest 4 or more 30–45 min Plain sugar cookies, icing, sprinkles Home Give everyone the same plain cookies and toppings. Guests vote on the best one.
Recipe swap Any No extra time Recipe copies Home and office Each guest brings printed copies of their recipe and leaves them next to the plate.

Home swap or office swap

At work, a game has to fit in a lunch break, so pick bingo, memory or trivia, which need only paper. Skip the prizes there, since a ranking can leave shy bakers out. A decorating contest needs a table and cleanup, and Name that Cookie needs someone to cut cookies into pieces, which is easier at home. For the swap itself at the office, see office cookie exchange.

At home, if a game ends with a winner, keep the prize small. Ideas and ballot sizes are on the voting and prizes page.

Printable cookie bingo card

The squares describe cookies, so the card works for any swap and needs no list of names. Guests walk the table and write the cookie number or the baker's name in a square. A cookie can fill only one square, which makes each guest's finished card different. The first full row, column or diagonal wins. Taste before you write, since a square marked from the plate label alone is a guess.

The gluten-free and nut squares depend on what the baker tells you. Check the allergen line on the label before anyone eats.

Cookie bingo

Name: Write a cookie number or baker in each square. One cookie per square. First full line wins.

Has chocolate
Has nuts
Rolled in sugar
Has a filling
Uses a spice
Has icing
Dipped or drizzled
Needs a cutter
Is gluten free
Has fruit
Has a candy on top
Is crisp, not soft
Has coconut
Has oats
Is a bar
Is a family recipe

Get the cookie list first

Memory and Name that Cookie both work better when you know what is on the table. A swap link here collects each guest's cookie and allergens, and prints the list and plate labels. Read the cookie exchange rules before the day.

Start a cookie swap

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