The Best Christmas Cookie Exchange Recipes (2024)

I love cookie exchanges. Whether you are organizing or participating in a cookie exchange with family or friends or for a women’s church get together, these cookie recipes will give you some inspiration to try something new or try an old-fashioned favorite.

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At our Christmas cookie exchanges we always brought extra cookies to put together plates to deliver to local fire stations. Combine the cookie exchange with outreach to your local community! After all, Christmas is the season for giving.

Andes Mint Cookies

I started making these Andes Mint cookies a couple of years ago, and my kids just love them. Every December they ask me when I am going to start making them. All you need for this recipe is a box of chocolate cake mix and a couple of boxes of Andes Mints. Easy!

Brownie Christmas Trees

These brownie Christmas trees are a fun treat to make during the holidays, either for your family or to exchange at Christmas cookie exchange. You just cut your brownies into triangles and decorate them like Christmas trees. Easy, and very cute! They always get lots of comments from people.

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

Our family has always been a fan of Hershey’s Kiss cookies. These candy cane cookies are similar but the dough is not peanut butter like it is for the Hershey’s Kiss cookies. This cookie has a plain dough and you use candy cane kisses in the place of chocolate kisses. The two cookies go great together on a cookie tray.

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Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

These chocolate covered cherry cookies are a fun cookie to make for the holidays. If you like chocolate covered cherries then you will love these chocolate covered cherry cookies. They are really cute and fun and easy to make.

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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These chocolate crinkle cookies are also great for chocolate lovers. They look like they are sprinkled with snow.

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

These chocolate no bake cookies are great for any time of year. This is the no bake cookie recipe you had as a kid that maybe your mom or grandma made. I always go back to these when I need a quick cookie for a church gathering or Christmas cookie exchange.

Funfetti Cookies

These funfetti cookies are really cute. They are made from a cake mix and cupcake sprinkles. Easy if you are looking for a quick holiday cookie recipe.

Ginger Snap Cookies

If you are looking for an old-fashioned cookie recipe, then you will definitely want to try these gingersnap cookies. They always remind me of cookies that grandma would make.

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Gum Drop Cookies

Gum drop cookies are another old-fashioned cookie recipe. They are actually kind of addictive if you aren’t careful. I mean, who can resist a cookie with gumdrops in it??

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

These iced oatmeal cookies remind me of a cookie your mom would have made you to put in your school lunch. If you haven’t tried these before, you should give them a try. They may become a new family favorite.

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Jello Cookies

These jello cookies are really easy to make. If you want to add a bit of color to your holiday cookie assortment, you can use any kind of Jello to flavor your cookies and give them a bit of color.

Melted Snowman Cookies

These melted snowman cookies are fun to make. There are different ways to decorate them, but you can follow these easy tips to make a cute decorated cookie that kids are sure to love.

Milky Way Cookies

If you like candy bar cookies, then you will like these Milky Way cookies. They are similar to chocolate chip cookies in consistency, but with the caramel / chocolate flavors of Milky Way candy bars.

Mint Snowball Cookies

These mint snowball cookies are very festive. They are little green balls of mint chocolate chip goodness with a dusting of powdered sugar. They are one of my most popular recipes for cookie exchanges.

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Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

These peanut butter no bake cookies are a variation of the traditional chocolate no bake cookies. It is basically the same recipe but doesn’t have any chocolate in it. If you like peanut butter then you will love the rich peanut buttery taste of these cookies. They are very rich.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

This is another candy bar cookie recipe. These peanut butter cup cookies are a peanut butter flavored cookie with peanut butter cups in the center. They are very easy to make and delicious.

Peppermint Candy Sugar Cookies

These peppermint cookies are similar to the Lofthouse cookies you buy at the grocery store. They are very soft and wonderful to bite into. You can make these any time of year. They are also great for Valentine’s Day.

Peppermint Oreo Truffles

If you like truffles then you will love this peppermint oreo truffle recipe. They are made with cream cheese and crushed oreos…what’s not to like?

Pinwheel Cookies

These pinwheel cookies are very old fashioned looking, I just love the pinwheel pattern in them. They are a little more challenging to make, but if you are feeling adventurous, I’d definitely give them a try.

Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles are another old time favorite cookie recipe. They are a great cookie for any time of the year. If you are looking for the perfect snickerdoodle recipe, then look no further, this recipe is sure not to disappoint.

Thumbprint Cookies

In the old days, thumbprint cookies were a great way to show off homemade jams like this amazing cherry jam or this apricot jam. They are delicious little cookies and fun to show off at your holiday cookie exchange.

Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies

This was a new cookie recipe that I tried this year. I love gingerbread cookies and wondered if these gingerbread crinkle cookies taste similar. These cookies do taste just like gingerbread, with a little powdered sugar dusted on top.

Kris Kringle Cookies

I wish I had known about these Kris Kringle cookies or white chocolate cranberry cookies a long time ago. It’s one of those things where you wonder, “where have these been all of my life??” These cookies are an amazing combination of white chocolate and cranberries. You definitely need to give these cookies a try.

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The Best Christmas Cookie Exchange Recipes (1)

The Best Christmas Cookie Exchange Recipes (2)

The Best Christmas Cookie Exchange Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What do you serve at a Christmas 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.

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.

What food to serve at a cookie exchange? ›

You want guests to take some cookies home, not eat them all during the party, so you'll want to offer other snacks for your loved ones to graze on. Set out some savory appetizers, curate a cheese board, offer finger sandwiches, put out a festive party mix, or create a veggie and dip station.

How to decorate for a cookie exchange? ›

Decorations can be as simple as a table runner and some ornaments. Use cake stands, tiered trays, and festive platters to display the cookies in an appealing way. Height and levels add visual interest to your table setup.

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 to pack cookies for cookie exchange? ›

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.

What is the ideal number for a cookie exchange party? ›

Christmas cookie swap parties usually work best with groups of 8-12 guests. You'll want to keep your guest list modest so it's easier to keep track of who's bringing what. Think of all the bakers, foodies, and festive friends in your group when creating your guest list.

What is the cookie exchange tradition? ›

Cookie exchanges are a centuries-old tradition dating back to medieval times. The classic idea is of a holiday party in which guests bring a selection of homemade cookies to trade with one another.

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.

How many cookies to give as a gift? ›

Decide how many cookies or pieces of fudge will make up a gift. Four is a good number to start with for an individual. Many cookie recipes, including my Hershey Kiss Cookie recipe, make 48 cookies. That's 12 potential gifts right there!

How do I host a Christmas 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

What do you put on a cookie platter? ›

Always include the classics

According to Bakeable member Peggy Daczewitz-Hamlin, every cookie platter needs to include the holiday cookies that everyone is craving. For Peggy, someone who's been baking cookie platters for 40 years, that's sugar cookies, almond crescents and chocolate-dipped butter cookies.

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

Tip: Guests attending a cookie exchange should bring a gift for the party host.

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