After everyone has eaten and socialized a bit, I call the swap to order and we herd into the dining room where the cookies have been laid out as people arrived. The table looks beautiful with all the colors, fragrance and arrangements of the cookies. We take turns and everyone introduces themselves and their cookies and any story that might accompany the cookie. When the actual cookie swap happens, we all get elbow to elbow with our empty container that we remembered to bring, and we slowly go around the table clockwise. Everyone grabs 3-5 cookies from each plate, depending on how many are in each dish.
Some recipes yield a lot, some a little.
Some people have split their cookies into two different recipes. I am not going to sit and count cookies. Everyone goes home with approximately the same amount. I have never ever heard a complaint from anyone about how we do this. Send the invitations out a month before the party.