When I lived in Jacksonville, baking cookies with Jeff’s family was a holiday ritual. We’d make batches together, bring extras, and end the day swapping a mountain of treats. Since moving to Atlanta, I’ve missed those annual cookie swaps, so I convinced my teammates Cori and Jess to recreate one for a fun team-building day. We partnered with Uber to keep things easy and safe—and because none of us had to worry about driving, we made spiked hot chocolate, cranked up Christmas music, and baked almost all day. It was a blast, with a few kitchen mishaps that only added to the memories.
Cookie recipes we made: star-shaped shortbread cookies (we used a simple shortbread recipe), classic chocolate chip, mini peppermint cupcakes, and gingersnaps adapted from a tried-and-true recipe. There were a few other kinds too—so many that I can’t remember them all. I also brought a selection of fancy pastries for snacking while we baked, just in case we needed a little savory or flaky break between sweets.
After baking, we packaged everything in hand-stamped muslin bags and hand-painted pink and green bakery boxes. Cute packaging makes a cookie swap feel extra special—add a ribbon or a little ornament for a finished look.
Spiked hot chocolate (super easy): If you want a boozy hot chocolate without fuss, use a good-quality pre-made hot chocolate mix. Heat milk according to the mix directions but hold back the last 2 oz of milk. Finish the drink by adding 2 oz of Kahlúa or Baileys Irish Cream instead of that final 2 oz of milk. Top with marshmallows. That’s it—quick and delicious for a party when you don’t want to be tied up with a complicated recipe.
Once we finished baking and decorating, we assembled the gingerbread houses and admired our creations. We also used the Uber app’s multiple destinations feature to get everyone home in a single uberXL—perfect for groups who want to leave together and stay safe after a few spiked drinks. It was the first time I used that feature and it made coordinating pickups effortless, especially since parking around the studio can be a holiday headache. I even handed our Uber driver a few cookies as we got out—because we had far too many sweets.
How to use Uber’s multiple destinations: Open the app and tap the “Where to?” box. Tap the plus sign to add additional stops, press done, and confirm your vehicle (uberX or uberXL). It’s an easy way to include stops for teammates on the same ride home.
Have you ever organized a cookie swap? How did you manage the baking list, packaging, and avoid a total sugar crash by the end of the day? I definitely felt it when the baking marathon wrapped up—so lots of water in between treats is a good rule of thumb.
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