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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 to bring to a cookie swap? ›

—so it's a good idea to have some little noshes and bites. Put out some prep-ahead snacks like puppy chow, candied pecans, and Christmas chex mix. Or, since there will be plenty of sweet cookies on hand, go the savory route with goat cheese balls, a few party dips, or a big, festive charcuterie wreath.

How do you explain 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 bring to a cookie exchange? ›

Remember, the party is about tasting and sampling the cookies but also about each guest bringing some home to enjoy with the rest of their family later. 2 dozen per guest is a good minimum so everyone has a few to bring home. 6 dozen is a good maximum if everyone wants lots of cookies to take home.

How do you package cookies for cookie swap? ›

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.

What is a cookie answer? ›

Cookies are small files of information that a web server generates and sends to a web browser. Web browsers store the cookies they receive for a predetermined period of time, or for the length of a user's session on a website. They attach the relevant cookies to any future requests the user makes of the web server.

What is cookie secret? ›

Cookie Secret is the secret used to encrypt and sign session cookies. If you don't provide a cookie secret, Pomerium will generate one for you.

How can I crush cookies? ›

You can put them in a zipper plastic bag and crush with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin. Or use a food processor or electric chopper if you have one.

How do you get a chewy cookie? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

What do you serve at a cookie swap? ›

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 much should a cookie sell for? ›

Many simple cookies sell for between $2.00 and $5.00 each, but it's not uncommon to see a dozen cookies cost $55 or more depending on the time and ingredients that went into making them. Some people charge $10 or more per cookie because of their decorative, custom designs.

How many cookies for 5 people? ›

And let's say you're bringing them to a potluck where at least one other person is also bringing a dessert. A good estimate is 3-5 one tablespoon scoop cookies per person.

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 can I use to gift cookies? ›

The easiest way to package cookie gifts is using the method like they use to wrap candy. You simply take a piece of cellophane, put the cookies in and twist the ends.

How do you package cookies for resale? ›

Plastic containers are a versatile and cost-effective option for packaging cookies. They come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from simple plastic clamshells to compartmentalized containers. Plastic containers offer several advantages, including durability, easy stackability, and visibility of the cookies inside.

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