Wedding Cookie Table Community Aims for World’s Largest Cookie Exchange

The Wedding Cookie Table Community attempted to set a record for the World’s Largest Christmas Cookie Exchange on December 3, 2023, at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. With a total of 33 teams participating in person and an additional 35 teams joining from various locations, including New Zealand, the event blended festive spirit with community engagement.

Participants donned Christmas-themed outfits and exchanged cookies at the fairgrounds. Organizers and bakers estimated that the 10-member teams baked around 80,000 cookies as part of the event, which also serves as a fundraiser for the Monongahela Area Historical Society. Laura Magone, the founder of the Wedding Cookie Table Community, expressed gratitude for the participants, stating, “You all should be proud of yourselves. What you’ve done today is amazing.”

Inside Kringle’s Kitchen, the atmosphere was vibrant with holiday decorations and festive cookie displays. Teams showcased their creativity through themed presentations, including “Yule Love Our Cookies,” the Steelers-inspired “Flour Power,” and the Hawaiian-themed “Jingle Leidis,” which featured a Christmas tree crafted from pineapples and decorated with sunglasses.

Bakers came together through social media, with many meeting for the first time. Stacey Adger, captain of the team “Baking Up A Blizzard,” highlighted the sense of community, saying, “We all share a love of baking, a love of carrying on family traditions.” Adger, who prepared Russian tea cakes and cranberry pistachio shortcake cookies, noted the excitement of meeting fellow bakers who responded to her outreach on Facebook.

For Catherine Gruda, captain of “The 12 Days of Blingmas,” the event marked a festive start to the holiday season. Her husband, John Gruda, contributed by composing a special song for the occasion, enhancing the team’s Christmas spirit. “This is the perfect beginning to the holiday season,” she remarked, emphasizing the teamwork involved in executing their theme.

Founded a decade ago by Magone, the Wedding Cookie Table Community has grown to over 381,000 members globally. The group previously set a Guinness World Record in 2019 for the largest wedding cookie table, baking 88,425 cookies to celebrate Monongahela’s 250th birthday. Throughout the years, they have participated in various charitable initiatives, including providing cookie tables for first responders and communities affected by tragedies.

The exchange featured a diverse array of baked goods, from traditional pizzelles and lady locks to modern interpretations like peanut butter blossoms and baklava. Team “Flour Power” even included vegan and gluten-free options, highlighting the inclusive nature of the event. Team captain Kelly Elliott Dine expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “We’ve made amazing new friends. It has been a real collaboration and a total team effort.”

Visitors to the event had the opportunity to sample cookies, purchase baked goods, and explore a vendor fair that showcased local businesses. A pre-order cookbook featuring recipes from the cookie exchange was also available. Each team exchanged a dozen cookies with one another, ensuring that all participants took home a delightful assortment.

While the atmosphere was friendly, there was an element of competition, as attendees voted for their favorite cookie table. The winner will be announced in the coming days, adding an exciting conclusion to the festive gathering.

Magone emphasized the event’s significance in uniting those passionate about baking and maintaining traditions. “It was interesting to me that a lot of the bakers had not met until today,” she noted, reflecting on the connections formed throughout the day. “I am happy that all of these folks came to Washington County, many for the first time, and get to see how beautiful our county is. And I am happy that it will benefit the Mon Valley Historical Society. We accomplished a lot today.”