Cookie exchange calculator: how many cookies to bake
Tell it how many people are baking and how many cookies each guest should take home. It works out how many cookies and batches every baker makes, adds a tasting plate if you want one, and prints a note for your guests. Free, no sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
1. Your swap
Most drop-cookie recipes make 3 to 4 dozen a batch.
2. What each guest takes home
Your cookie exchange
Run the whole swap from one sheet
This tool does the maths once. The planner keeps the guest list, who is baking what, allergies and labels together, and recounts when someone drops out.
RSVPs, cookie sign-up, how many to bake, nut, gluten and dairy flags and printable labels in one spreadsheet.
See it on Etsy Details
Guest list, menu, drinks and a run sheet for the rest of the party.
See it on Etsy Details
Baking with kids this year? Twelve Little Joys is a family Christmas countdown app with a free demo.
Cookie exchange questions
How many cookies should each person bring to a cookie exchange?
Each baker brings one batch of a single kind, enough for every guest to take some home. If every guest goes home with half a dozen of each kind, each baker bakes six cookies for every baker at the party, themselves included: 8 bakers means 48 cookies, or 4 dozen.
Do I count myself?
Yes. You take your own cookies home too, so the calculator counts every baker, the host included. Set it to the number of people who are bringing a batch.
What is the tasting table?
Many hosts ask each baker for a few extra cookies to set out during the party, so guests can try everything without dipping into the take-home boxes. Set it to 0 if you are skipping it.
How many is too many?
Past about 10 dozen per person, baking becomes a weekend job. With a big group, ask for fewer of each kind, or split into two smaller swaps.
Does this save anything?
No. The numbers are worked out in your browser and nothing is stored or sent. Print the note for your guests before you close the page.