Back to NFM Home StoriesBaking with Kendell & Lindsay
Prepared by Kendell and Lindsay | Published on September 30, 2026
If you’ve never hosted a Cookie Exchange Party before, this is for you.
Getting your friends together during the holidays and asking everyone to bring a batch of their favorite homemade cookies is the starting point for a new tradition to look forward to each year. Many of us have family baking traditions, or at least love to try others’ baked goods! - and a cookie exchange party is a great way to get into the holiday spirit and get everyone involved!
The big idea is baking and togetherness. Holiday entertaining does not have to be complicated or expensive to feel special. Your friends are craving a time to connect with others, some nostalgia, they appreciate pretty, little thoughtful details and the excuse to get together.
A cookie exchange is exactly this and more. Everyone contributes and you end up with a beautiful assortment without the timely task of having to bake 12 difference recipes yourself. Our favorite part of this party may actually be the baking.
Pull out your stand mixer, mixing bowls, measuring cups, baking sheets, cookie dough scoop and cooling racks and make an afternoon of it. Better yet - bake with your bestie because the process is even more fun with a side of silly and a lot of laughing.
Cookie Exchange Must-Haves
How to host without going crazy:
Don’t make your cookie exchange party so complicated that you, as the host, don’t get to enjoy it.
● Ask each guest to bring 2-dozen or so cookies
● Choose one thing to be the “star” - in this case, it’s the beautiful display of cookies.
● Keep food and drinks simple. A signature drink and simple charcuterie go a long way.
● Set things up so guests can help themselves: for a cookie exchange party this means an area designated for boxes that guests can load up with the cookies they want to take home, a self-serve drink station on a side table or buffet, napkins and small plates on hand for those who want to nibble during the party
● Most importantly: don't spend the entire party taking care of everyone else. Relax.
Setting up for the party!
Cover your table with a festive tablecloth and runner, some garland and lights and then unroll some butcher paper. This feels casual and cute, but makes clean-up a breeze. Plus, grab a sharpie and write right on the paper the names of all the cookies. Arrange some battery candles and tree decor on your sideboard where you’ll have your drink station, and near the area you have the cookie boxes.
Make sure there are comfortable places for people to sit and talk. Your dining or kitchen table will be homebase for the cookies, not really for hanging out.
Remember when you’re setting up, you want to create an atmosphere, not a production. Focus on a few festive decorations, a great playlist and turn on your lamps for warm, calm lighting.
Festive Decorations
Enjoy the Cookie Exchange!
There’s nothing better than a flow of friends around a dining room table visiting together, sharing the backstory on the cookie they brought, asking for tips and tricks to recreate the ones they love the most in their kitchen for next year. People will fill their boxes with cookies, smiling and sampling their way around and you get the best feeling you’ve felt all year. Take a moment to soak in this moment that you’ve created. This special snapshot in time of a party you’ve created overflowing with joy, friendship, creativity and love.
Nebraska Furniture Mart has your back so you, too can plan and host a cookie exchange party with your people this holiday season. People are craving connection and togetherness - whether you’re baking cookies, hosting Christmas dinner or having friends over for popcorn and a movie, we love creating a home that feels cozy and magical. You can shop the pieces referenced in this post on NFM.com, or in your neighborhood NFM. All the links we think you’ll need, and more! - can also be found below.
Happy Hosting!
Meet Kendell & Lindsay
As a classically trained restaurant Chef, Kendell strives to bring his professional knowledge into his daily life. From nightly dinners for his family in his multigenerational home to the countless Kreations he shares online, the creativity is always flowing. Be it a Chef’s secret, or how to achieve a stunning bakery style cookie, Kendell shares his wealth of knowledge in hopes of making every moment in the kitchen count!
Lindsay is the personality behind the lifestyle and design community she’s nicknamed, “The Bright Side of the Internet” where she inspires us to be unboxable, encourages us to design a life that lights US up and reminds us that today is the special occasion. Wear something fabulous, host the party, make your space magical and feel the positive energy and happiness around you. Lindsay’s philosophy is simple: we can’t wait for the perfect moment and we must live out our dreams. She insists we see the bright side, root for others, invite people in, and celebrate what’s right in front of you.