In our house, Christmas is a big deal. We buy new Christmas ornaments wherever we travel. We turn on the carols before the Thanksgiving turkey is out of the oven (sometimes sooner, if I’m being honest). We love Christmas so much that my husband and I got engaged at a Christmas-tree farm, literally in the snow underneath the tree we were about to cut down.

One of the things I look forward to the most about the holidays is my annual cookie swap. It’s one of the few times a year I’ll invite all of my girlfriends over for an evening of catching up and cookie tasting.

250+ Christmas Cookie Recipes

I decided to do something a little drastic: I hosted a vegan cookie swap. I was nervous that some friends might revolt. But it turned out, everyone was ready to embrace the challenge. They enjoyed finding new Christmas cookie recipes to try-or tweaking old classics withvegan ingredient substitutes. We were all surprised at the delicious variety. But best of all: everyone could participate in the swap and the taste test. Which is really the whole point: getting together and sharing a delicious experience. (Plus, my kids got to enjoy them too.)

If you’ve never hosted a cookie exchange, here are some suggested guidelines to follow. Feel free to tweak and make it your own. You’ll want to include these guidelines in your invitation:

Tips for an Allergy-Safe Exchange

When you invite your guests, find out if anyone has allergies or dietary requests. If a guest has a food allergy or special diet, let them know that you want to accommodate them as much as possible. Take the time to understand your guests' needs. Is it a food allergy or a preference? What does vegan actually mean? What exactly is a tree nut?

Avoid cross-contamination.For food allergies, cross-contamination is a big concern. That means that if you have a friend with celiac disease, she can’t eat gluten-free cookies that are on the same tray as cookies made with wheat flour or she’ll get really sick. For guests with food allergies, it could trigger an allergic reaction. You’ll need to make sure to keep “safe” cookies completely separate from everything else. You might also suggest that guests be careful to avoid cross-contamination when they’re baking and bake on parchment paper to be safe.

Include recipe cards.Swap your cookies along with a recipe card so your friends can enjoy these cookies all year long. Not only does it provide a nice keepsake, but it allows guests to know all of the ingredients in each cookie.

Try to be inclusive.But keep in mind that for someone managing a food allergy, a potluck situation poses a lot of unknown, unsafe variables. Friends with allergies may choose not to participate in the swap, but they will still really appreciate your efforts. Make sure they still feel welcome to come anyway. They can have a drink and enjoy the company-even though they can’t eat all of the sweets.

Crazy-Good Gluten-Free Cookie Swap Ideas

Watch: How to Make Meringues

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The day before

Party Day!

Cranberry Crumble Bars: These cranberry-orange bars freeze well. Make a batch on a free afternoon and pop them in the freezer so you’ll always have a healthy dessert on hand when company calls.

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