Holiday Gifts

Food52’s Holiday Swap Is Back—Here’s How to Sign Up

Exchange a box of goodies with a Food52 friend.

by:
October 31, 2023
Photo by Rocky Luten

The Food52 Holiday Swap—our beloved gift exchange for food lovers—is back in partnership with our friends at Shipt. Connect with a shopper that can same-day deliver everything you need for the Swap.

The Food52 community is one of the most generous pockets of the internet. You see this kindness every day on our Hotline, where you can ask any cooking question and receive an answer from an expert in our community. It’s apparent in the comments of our recipes, where home cooks share their substitutions and tweaks. But it’s around the holidays that our community’s generous spirit really shines, during Food52’s Holiday Swap. This gift exchange for food lovers has been a beloved Food52 tradition since 2011—and now, after a one-year hiatus, I’m excited to announce that the Holiday Swap is back!

Let me back up a minute for those who have never participated. The Food52 Holiday Swap is a delicious gift exchange that we help facilitate. You sign up to send a small, food-filled gift to a fellow Food52er, we match you with a community member who agrees to do the same, and then you mail each other a box of goodies. Homemade cookies, preserves, tasty souvenirs from your travels or the farmers’ market are all fair game—we just ask that your gift be unique and thoughtful (and within the $25 range). Originally organized by community member enbe, who came up with this brilliant idea, the Swap this year will be managed by myself in partnership with our Contributing Editor, Nicole. As a longtime Food52er, I organized a small exchange of my own among community members last year and am excited to take the reins this year.

There are some slight differences in the way this year’s Holiday Swap will run, which I’ll detail below. But at its core, the premise remains the same: to connect with others around our shared love of food, invite a little surprise into our lives, and hopefully spark new friendships.

Join The Conversation

Top Comment:
“IG seems to only show the top posts even though it has over 1400 posts. Is there a way to see more? I don't think my swap partner posted anything or maybe didn't tag me on it. Oh, well it is still a super fun swap! ”
— teresa
Comment

We can’t wait to see what this year’s Swap will bring (be sure to post your gift wrapping and making with the hashtag #food52holidayswap). Read on for how to join.


How to Join the Food52 Holiday Swap

UPDATE: The sign up period has ended, and the fun part has begun—preparing your gift. If you registered before Nov. 17, you'll receive your Secret Swapper's information by Nov. 27 .

By signing up for this swap, you are promising to send a gift. You’ll also be notifying your Swap partner when your gift is in the mail (no later than Dec. 11).

What gift should I give? We encourage you to spend or make a gift equal in value to $25—not including the shipping costs. These could include homemade cookies, jams, nuts, candies, or unique treats you purchase and that can be easily mailed. (Here are some ideas.) When you sign up, you’ll be able to note any allergies or restrictions, so your Swap partner will know what not to send. Just imagine what you would like to receive and send that to your Swap partner.

Drop your package in the mail before or by Monday, Dec. 11 and send an email to your Swapper when you do. We hope everyone who signs up follows through with their promise to send a gift. Based upon past Holiday Swaps, most do. But if you do not receive a gift, be patient (you may just receive your gift later than you anticipated) and compassionate (we’re all human and not everything in life goes according to plan).

Get a package in the mail from your Secret Swapper and open with glee! Take pictures before you dig in and share them on Instagram or TikTok with the tag #f52holidayswap.

Thank your Swapper by email. (We can't say enough how essential this step is, so try not to forget, please!)

What happened to the charitable aspect? In years’ past we had a charity component to the Holiday Swap. We plan to coordinate charitable donations for another special holiday event this season, so stay tuned!

How did the Holiday Swap begin? In 2011, F52er Noëlle (aka, enbe) suggested a simple, food-centered gift exchange on our Hotline. Our community jumped at the chance and a tradition was born. She then facilitated the swap year after year—no small endeavor for one person. In 2018 alone, she made sure 1,107 people from 15 countries around the globe took part in the fun. (It was such a feat, The New York Times covered it!) We're looking forward to carrying the torch—and hearing about all your sweet gifts.

More entertaining inspiration from Food52

Excited for the return of the Swap? Have questions on how it works? Tell us below!
Food52's Automagic Holiday Menu Maker
View Maker
Food52's Automagic Holiday Menu Maker

Choose your holiday adventure! Our Automagic Menu Maker is here to help.

View Maker

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

Alexandra

Written by: Alexandra

Eater, baker, cocktail shaker

22 Comments

Nicole D. October 21, 2024
For everyone who participated last year, or didn't get a chance to sign up in time, 2024 Swap is now open and registration runs through Nov. 17! https://food52.com/blog/28496-food52-holiday-swap-2024
 
teresa December 26, 2023
IG seems to only show the top posts even though it has over 1400 posts. Is there a way to see more? I don't think my swap partner posted anything or maybe didn't tag me on it. Oh, well it is still a super fun swap!
 
Kathy C. December 23, 2023
This sounds wonderful. How can I make sure I get information on the 2024 swap…assuming it will happen again….
 
[email protected] December 2, 2023
How did I miss this? Is it too late to join?
jules2gems
 
Alexandra December 2, 2023
I'm sorry, but the sign-up has closed.
 
marnie.warner.7 November 30, 2023
I haven’t received my swappers info yet.
 
Alexandra November 30, 2023
Hi, Marnie. I just forwarded you the original email containing your match info!
 
Alexandra November 27, 2023
Hello Swappers! Please note that all matches for this year's Swap have been made and participants notified. If you signed up for the Swap and have not received your match information, please take a look in your junk/spam folders. If you still can't find it, please email me at [email protected] and I'll sort it out.
 
Greyson@08 November 27, 2023
I can not believe I missed the sign up 😢. Been waiting for this to return and now I am heartbroken!! My email was buried deep in Black Friday sales email and I just saw!! Also it was only received 3 days before cutoff so not much of a turn around even if I had seen it. So disappointed this year especially since it had been stopped for a few years!! Hopefully next year we get a a little further warning.
 
Nicole D. November 28, 2023
Hi Greyson! I'm so sorry you didn't see the emails until now—we did post on the Hotline about it and here on the site but we'll try to make sure the emails next year go out sooner.
 
Mama D. November 18, 2023
Hi Alexandra,
I was helping my mom sign up and just got her account set up but now the form says too late to submit. Sorry for waiting til the last few hours. If it’s possible to sign up, please let me know. Thank you! (This is her account).
 
Alexandra November 18, 2023
Hi there! I am so sorry, but the participation forms closed at 11:59pm EST on November 17. We aren't able to add participants after the fact. I'm really sorry for any disappointment.
 
Grace L. November 17, 2023
did anyone get a confirmation email? i just want to make sure my sign up went through
 
Alexandra November 18, 2023
You are signed up, Grace. There were no confirmation emails. Thanks!
 
Grace L. November 18, 2023
Thank you! Super excited!
 
Savanna (. November 15, 2023
HOORAY!!! I'm so glad to see The Swap has returned. It's become part of my holiday traditions, and last year it was a bit sad.
 
abbyarnold November 14, 2023
I really love both giving and receiving in this swap and I'm so glad it's back! Please be sure to send a thankyou note of some kind. One year my gift was not acknowledged and I was sad. On the receiving end I always enjoy the wonderful treats, lovely packaging, and local specialties that have been included in the swap that arrives at my door.
 
DBotterell November 10, 2023
Very excited for the return of the swap! Admin question - should we expect a confirmation email after filling out the form? I didn’t get one and want to be sure that i’m signed up. Thanks!
 
Alexandra November 11, 2023
Hi, @DBotterell! No, you will not get a confirmation email after you submit the form. As long as you make it to the final page of the form that says "Thank you for your response! It has been collected and you will hear from us with your swap assignment on or before November 27!" you are good to go!
 
Celia R. November 14, 2023
I have the same question
I tried to submit my form a few weeks ago and don’t recall if I received a message on the last page.
Is there any way I can check?
 
Alexandra November 14, 2023
No, you will not get a confirmation email after you submit the form. As long as you make it to the final page of the form that says "Thank you for your response! It has been collected and you will hear from us with your swap assignment on or before November 27!" you are good to go!
 
Nicole D. November 17, 2023
Celia, I see your name on the form! You're all set!