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Last Updated on February 9, 2021 by Chenée Lewis
Happy Holidays! I think it’s well established that I love baking cookies. And this is my favorite time of year because I have a great excuse to make lots of them! So when I reached the last day of my 12 Days of Christmas Cookies series yesterday, I couldn’t let it end just yet! Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite recipes from some of the best food bloggers and recipe developers around to make sure that you’ve got all the cookies you need for your cookie exchange!
1. Chocolate Shortbread Sandwich Cookies by Bakes by Brown Sugar
These chocolate shortbread cookies melt in your mouth and are filled with a dark chocolate ganache combined to create a rich buttery sandwich cookie.
2. Coconut Palmiers by Chenée Today
These crispy, flaky French puff pastry treats are filled with shredded coconut and crunchy turbinado sugar. They’re such easy cookies, and they’re perfect for your cookie exchange!
3. Gingerbread Cookie Bars by Big Delicious Life
These gingerbread cookie bars are soft and chewy and topped with cream cheese frosting and all the holiday sprinkles. The perfect alternative to making cutout gingerbread shapes!
4. Oatmeal Raisin Marshmallow Cream Pies by Britney Breaks Bread
These Oatmeal Raisin Marshmallow Cream Pies are a fun recipe to make with your family! They’re gooey, chewy, sweet and perfect for any occasion!
5. Gluten-Free Thumbprint Cookies with Raspberry Jam by Good Food Baddie
Vegan – Gluten-Free – Refined Sugar Free
These gluten-free thumbprint cookies with Raspberry Jam come together in less than 20 minutes! These decadent cookies are the perfect Christmas treat that everyone will enjoy!
6. Chocolate Laced Triple Ginger Cookies by Collards Are The Old Kale
Nothing indicates the holidays are here like gingerbread and chocolate. So, these Chocolate Laced Triple Ginger Cookies are destined to become your new favorite way to celebrate.
7. Salted Caramel Cinnamon Thumbprint Cookies by Chenée Today
These soft, cinnamon-sugar cookies filled with a gooey salted caramel filling are a guaranteed hit for your cookie exchange!
8. Serkerpare – Turkish Semolina Cookies by Global Kitchen Travels
After being baked, these Turkish Semolina Cookies are coated with an orange syrup. The perfect cookie for any time of year!
9. Light, Airy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies by Samiah Nicole
Vegan Recipe
These vegan chocolate chip cookies are chewy and light and full of flavor. They are certainly some of the best cookies for a cookie exchange, and to leave for Santa to enjoy as well!
10. Candy Cane Cookies by Dash of Jazz
Jazzmine’s candy cane cookies are an annual tradition her family never lets her forget! Almond vanilla cookie dough meets cool crushed peppermint and the result is highly addictive.
11. Pie Crust Cookie Twists by Chenée Today
These pie crust cookies are the easiest and best cookies for cookie exchange swaps! They’re made with store-bought pie crust and just a few more ingredients, and come out crisp, buttery, and flaky and swirled with cinnamon and sugar! Plus, the recipe includes instructions for a vanilla icing AND a salted caramel dipping sauce!
12. Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Cookies by Gristle & Gossip
Vegan – Gluten Free
These gluten-free snickerdoodle cookies are pillowy-soft, cinnamony sweet, and perfect for your cookie exchange, or to share with your family and friends this holiday season.
13. Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies with Royal Icing by Sense & Edibility
Gingerbread is a must during the holiday season. Not only are these reindeer cookies cute, their spiced dough and sweet royal icing decorations make them a great gift.
14. Perfect Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies by Sweet Tea and Thyme
These Christmas Sugar Cookies are simple, soft, and buttery! They bake up perfectly shaped, stay soft and tasty for days, and are fantastic to cover in sweet icing. These sugar cookies are perfect for your cookie exchange and to give away as gifts for the holidays!
15. Stout Gingerbread Cookies with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting by Chenée Today
Truly classic, yet unique cookies for cookie exchange swaps! These soft, richly sweet, deeply spiced gingerbread cookies are based on Claudia Fleming’s iconic stout gingerbread cake recipe from Gramercy Tavern. This bite-sized cookie version is made with Guinness stout and topped with a nutty brown butter cream cheese frosting.
16. “Chocolate” Plantain Chip Cookies by Heal Me Delicious
AIP – Vegan – Paleo
These ‘Chocolate’ Plantain Chip cookies are thin, light, crispy, and so addictive. They’re the perfect chocolate wafer with a sweet and savory twist and they’re also AIP, paleo and vegan!
17. Double Chocolate Pecan Cookie Bars by Baum Ass Foods
Vegan Recipe
These Vegan Double Chocolate Pecan Cookie Bars are made chocolate dusted pecans that are folded into a chocolate chip batter and then baked to perfection! A perfect vegan holiday treat!
18. Browned Butter Skor Toffee Cookies by The Seasoned Skillet
These Browned Butter Toffee Cookies are delightfully soft and chewy, made using browned butter, skor toffee bits and a hint of vanilla; which make for a very irresistible treat! These are the best cookies for cookie exchange parties because they’re deliciously addictive, and the perfect treat to share with family and friends!
19. Christmas Cookie Charcuterie Board by Chenée Today
Now that you have the recipes for the best cookies for cookie exchange parties, you need to know how to showcase them! This post guides you on how to make a Christmas treat charcuterie board from start to finish! You can use any of the amazing cookies from this list, or any of the recipes from my 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Either way, you can make an EPIC grazing board to display treats and cookies for cookie exchange parties all season long!
Happy Holidays!
I hope you enjoy these cookie recipes, and that you are able to try some of these cookies for cookie exchange swaps this year! To me, cookies are a sweet symbol of the love and support we try to show each other this time of year — the effort and attention that comes through in every bite really lets our loved ones know how much we care.
So thank you so much for including these recipes in your traditions this year. It’s my hope that all your holiday cooking and baking finds you and your family happy, healthy, and surrounded by love and comfort this holiday season!
Equipment you may need
Ingredients
Cookies
Christmas S'mores
Candies and Fruits
- ½ cup holiday m&ms
- 7 candy canes
- 1 cup sugared cranberries - (see note)
Toppings and Dips
- 2 tbsp jam
- ¼ cup sprinkles, nonpareils, and/or sanding sugar
- ¼ cup Frosting
- Dried citrus or rosemary - for garnish
Instructions
- Place cutting board or serving tray in the spot where you plan to serve your Christmas charcuterie board.
- Place bowls and dishes containing candy, jams, frostings, and sugared cranberries on board.
- Add cookies and other larger treats in groups.
- Fill in gaps with smaller items like crackers, marshmallows, and pretzels.
- Garnish as you like, and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
PIN these cookies for cookie exchange parties coming up!
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I can’t wait to make these cookies in preparation for Christmas!!! So many amazing recipes in this roundup!
Thanks!! I love these recipes too!
What a fantastic roundup! I can’t wait to try them all!
Me too! They all look great!