23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (2024)

Hosting or attending a cookie exchange (or swap) party is a time-honored holiday tradition. You bake a few dozen of your favorite cookies and get to take home several different types of treats in return. Gathering friends and family together for one of these parties is also a great chance to catch up, build community, and get creative in the kitchen.

Whether you are a veteran of the cookie swap or a first timer, there are a range of recipes in this collection right for you. Those who are going to their very first cookie exchange should know the unwritten rule of these swaps: First and foremost, the cookies should not only taste good, but they need to have a polished presentation, too. Save the homely-looking cookies for Santa's plate and go for the gold with any of the recipes here.

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Stained-Glass Sugar Cookies

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You'll dazzle your cookie swap recipients with these surprisingly easy sugar cookies which can be created in several stained-glass-inspired colorways.

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Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Caramel Cereal Bars

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Different and delicious, these bar cookies look like a million dollars but are easy to make—and no-bake to boot. The base is crispy rice cereal and marshmallow; then comes a layer of peanut-butter caramel and a chocolate-shell topping.

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Tropical Fruit Biscotti

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A departure from traditional Italian biscotti, this twice-baked treat has bright pockets of papaya and candied ginger that flavor every crunchy bite.

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Noel Nut Balls

23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (4)

Whether you call them snowballs, Russian tea cakes, Mexican wedding cookies, or noel nut balls, no cookie collection would be complete without this melt-in-your-mouth confection.

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Bacon Potato-Chip Chocolate Cookie

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With bacon and potato chips in the mix, these sweet-and-salty treats really need no further introduction and will be the talk of this year's cookie swap.

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Meyer-Lemon Shortbread Wreath Cookies

These wreath cookies look spectacular arranged on a platter. The best part? This on-theme Christmas cookie is made from buttery shortbread dough and is painted with a bright lemony glaze.

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Hazelnut Tri-Color Cookies

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Do you love a good baking project? Look no further than these festive layer cookies inspired by the rainbow cookie. Containing three layers of raspberry, pistachio, and hazelnut cookies, there's no denying that they'll take most of an afternoon to make—but the payoff is worth it.

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Iced Chocolate Waffle Cookies

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Is your waffle maker underused at the moment? Spread this cinnamon-spiked chocolate batter on the grates and wait for it to turn into crisp cookies with a design that will make people wonder how you pulled it off!

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Lamington Thumbprint Cookies

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These modern thumbprint cookies have a chocolate-dipped bottom and a cheery jam center. Needless to say, they'll please a lot of different palates.

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Martha's Tahini Cookies

23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (10)

For a nut-free treat that offers seriously good flavor, try these sesame-laced tahini cookies. The seeds add extra crunch and a nice presentation, while the tahini paste in the dough works to infuse the cookies with its signature flavor.

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Cacao Cookies

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If you are a fan of the subtle flavor of milk chocolate, you'll love these lightly spiced cacao cookies. They're decorated with a coconut milk glaze and toasted coconut.

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Snowmen Shortbread Cookies

23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (12)

Move aside, gingerbread people! These snowman shortbread cookies will steal the show with their pretty powder-white coating and tender, buttery crumbs.

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Gingerbread-Espresso Crinkle Cookies

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Espresso powder and a mix of both fresh and dried ginger work together to expertly spice every bite of these deliciously caffeinated cookies.

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Crushed Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

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It couldn't be easier to decorate these sweets. All you need is crushed up peppermint candies. The cookies have a rich, deep-chocolate flavor thanks to Dutch-process cocoa powder.

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Lime Sandwich Cookies

23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (15)

These unique treats deliver a burst of sunshine through the lime custard that is sandwiched between two tender sugar cookies.

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Fruitcake Cookies

23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (16)

Unlike most regular fruitcakes, these classy cookies won't be accidentally left in the cupboard. Studded with candied cherries and dried papaya, then dipped in a dark chocolate fondant and garnished with edible gold, they are unforgettable.

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Gingersnap Palmiers

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Easy, but impressive, too, these snappy spiced cookies use store-bought puff pastry for the dough. To jazz up the plain puff, a homemade ginger syrup and spiced sugar are painted on before baking.

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Peppermint Spritz Cookies

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Spritz cookies are a fun, easy, and festive way to get into the holiday spirit. With a peppermint-flavored dough and a wreath-shaped cookie press, these treats will look especially cute in a tin with other holiday-themed spritz.

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Pecan Linzer Cookies

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They're like ruby red jewels—and these gems will definitely stand out on a crowded cookie table. The buttery pecan dough that is used to sandwich the jam in these cookies is as memorable as their decorations.

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Brussels Cookies

23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (20)

These cookies are a homemade (not to mention gourmet) dupe for Pepperidge Farm's Brussels cookies. The dough yields a crisp, buttery cookie studded with hazelnuts and oats, which are then sandwiched between melted bittersweet chocolate.

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Coconut Chip Cookies

23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (21)

This recipe yields a thin, crisp, and buttery cookie that will become an instant favorite in your repertoire. The whopping 4 cups of rich, coconut flakes melds wonderfully with the buttery brown sugar cookie dough.

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Crisp Sugar Doily Cookies

23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (22)

If you are an experienced baker who loves to make intricate cookies, this is the recipe for you. It's a fun project that calls for punching intricate shapes out of the dough with aspic cutters.

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Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

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Is it the combination of fresh and ground ginger or the chunks of semisweet chocolate that make this cookie a favorite of our food editors? Maybe it's both—and the subtle flavor of molasses, all spice, cinnamon, and cloves in this egg-free, irresistible treat.

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23 Delicious and Impressive Recipes to Make for Your Next Cookie Swap (2024)

FAQs

What do you do for a cookie swap? ›

The idea is simple: Everyone brings a big batch of (hopefully homemade) cookies and distributes roughly 6 - 12 cookies each to the other attendees. So at the end of the event, you and your guests will each have your own delectable assortment.

How many cookies should you make for a cookie exchange? ›

A good rule to follow is for every guest to bake a half dozen cookies per each attendee. So, if 10 people attend, each guest would bring five dozen cookies to share. We've put together a chart to help you figure out just how many cookies to ask your guests to make.

How to do a cookie exchange with 10 people? ›

Keep it as simple as you'd like.
  1. All cookies should be homemade.
  2. Please bring at least 2 dozen cookies (or more if you'd like!).
  3. Print out copies of the recipe to share.
  4. Arrange cookies in a basket or platter (be creative!).
  5. Bring a large container to carry away your cookies.
  6. Christmas attire is encouraged.

What is the most loved cookie? ›

Chocolate chip cookies

What is the most popular type of cookie? It might just be this one. Ever the crowd-pleaser, the chocolate chip cookie is renowned for its balance of richness and sweetness.

What is the cookie swap tradition? ›

Cookie exchanges are a century-old tradition in which participants bake dozens of their favorite cookie, then take them to a party where guests trade their cache and wind up with a variety of cookies from everybody else.

What do you eat at a cookie exchange party? ›

While cookie exchanges typically involve batches of homemade cookies, you can incorporate other delicious treats into your evening. Consider making peppermint brownies, reindeer brownies, or chocolate peppermint bark. You can also include pecan date bars or peanut butter chocolate bars to mix things up.

What is the formula for the cookie exchange? ›

Formula: # of cookies divided by # of guests = total number of cookies to take from each guest. Example: If you have everyone make 12 dozen cookies and you are planning on 20 guests you will take 12 dozen multiplied by 12 cookies= 144 cookies; then divide by 20 guests = 7.2 cookies of each variety for each guest.

How do I package cookies for cookie exchange? ›

Make sure you have containers, cookie tins, boxes, or bags readily available, or you can request that your party guests bring their own. Have plenty of Reynolds Kitchens® parchment paper or wax paper on hand to line the containers, separate layers of cookies, and keep the cookies from sticking to each other.

How many cookies is an appropriate gift? ›

How many cookies should you gift?
Party sizeNumber of guestsNumber of cookies
Little party5 to 1015-30 cookies
Medium party10 to 1530 – 45
Big party20 – 5075 – 150

How do I have a fun cookie exchange party? ›

Tips for hosting a fun cookie swap party
  1. Create your guest list. ...
  2. Make the rules. ...
  3. Decide on a theme. ...
  4. Send out the invites. ...
  5. Check RSVPs. ...
  6. Bake the cookies. ...
  7. Share the recipe. ...
  8. Prepare some snacks and drinks.
May 23, 2023

How many people does a 12 cookie feed? ›

A 12 inch diameter chocolate chip cookie cake means roughly 113 square inches - enough for 6 to 12 servings.

How many large cookies per person? ›

It varies. On the most conservative side, plan for four to five cookies per person. On the more generous side, up to a dozen-and-a-half. “We've had big Italian and Polish weddings, where we're looking at a dozen or a dozen-and-a-half cookies, and that's not even batting an eyelash.

What is the #1 cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the #1 cookie in the US? ›

Nearly 93% of all American households serve and enjoy cookies as treats or after meals. However, it's the chocolate chip cookie that's the most popular in the U.S. and around the world. How much do youknow about chocolate chip cookies?

What is the #1 cookie in the United States? ›

1 Chocolate Chip Cookie (No Further Description Necessary)

America's favorite cookie and the one dubbed “the American cookie” is the Chocolate chip cookie.

How do you wrap cookies for a swap? ›

Stack up several cookies right in the center of a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Fold the paper around your cookies like a gift package and tie it with a colorful ribbon. It's a festive way to wrap your cookies as gifts or to store them neatly in a container.

Do you bring a hostess gift to a cookie exchange? ›

Typically, the hostess with provide wine, take home goodie bags, boxes or tins {I loved these boxes from Hobby Lobby}, along with 1-3 types of cookies to kick off the swap. Each guest will bring her own tin or platter of her favorite cookie she'd like to share with the group.

How does the cookie challenge work? ›

Have you heard of The Cookie Challenge? The rules are simple, but winning is difficult. To start, tilt your head back and place your favorite cookie on your forhead. In less than 60 seconds, can you navigate the cookie down your face and into your mouth - without using your hands.

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