1.   Combine a tree-trimming party with the cookie swap, or turn the annual cookie exchange into a fund-raiser for a favorite charity.

2.   For a cookie swap, each guest brings a batch of favorite homemade cookies and a copy of the recipe for each guest.

3.   The holidays are one big cookie swap.

4.   To give a cookie swap a global character, ask guests to bring cookies from specific countries or regions.