If you're looking for holiday baking inspiration, I've got you covered with this mouthwatering round-up of the best Christmas cookie exchange recipes and tasty ideas for throwing an epic holiday party!
I've always loved attending and/or hosting a Christmas cookie exchange each year. I wanted to share an abundance of delicious recipes with you to inspire your next holiday party or give you some new dessert ideas for your holiday menu. I've either had a neighbor that hosted a cookie exchange or hosted one myself, but I've been doing one every year since my kids were babies. My Nana started the family tradition of holiday cookie baking, and I continue to carry on this tradition in her honor. She would bake hundreds of assorted Christmas cookies to package up and send out to the family during the holidays. It was such a special treat to get that tin of cookies in the mail. I, honestly, don't eat a lot of sweets, but I still LOVE to bake during the holidays. It just feels like an appropriate rite of passage to carry on her special baking tradition. Even though I'm mostly focused on healthy recipes, this is one time of year that I always make an exception.
Cookie Exchange Menu Ideas
Of course, it's not a party without lots of delicious food! Here are some of my favorite recipes for holiday entertaining:
Spinach and Artichoke Pinwheels, Apricot Baked Brie, Hot Artichoke Dip, Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates, Southern Style Jalapeño Pimento Cheese, Artisan Meat & Cheese Trays, Shrimp Cocktail, Fresh Fruit Trays, Smoked Salmon Shooters, Christmas Sangria, Non-Alcoholic Cranberry Holiday Punch, and this elegant Raspberry Ginger Fizz cocktail made with Prosecco.
If you make any of these cookie recipes, don't forget to tag us on Instagram!
White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
A festive holiday cookie recipe made with rolled oats, white chocolate chips, dried cranberries and pecans layered in a jar for a homemade holiday gift.
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Peppermint Icing Thumbprint Cookies
These delicate cookies have a great mix of textures. The mildly sweet butter cookie is a wonderful contrast to the sweet peppermint buttercream icing. *Recipe from 101 Christmas Recipes by Gooseberry Patch
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Homemade Apricot Tarts
Tender, flaky tart dough filled with homemade sweet apricot filling. These tarts are perfect for dessert and make a great addition to holiday cookie platters.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups are peanut butter cookie tarts stuffed with chocolate peanut butter cups. These decadent cookies are simple to make and a chocolate lovers dream!
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Walnut Crescent Christmas Cookies
These walnut crescent Christmas cookies are a delicate holiday cookie made with unbleached flour, ground nuts, butter, vanilla and sugar.
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The Best Frosted Orange Easy Cake Mix Cookies
This might be the best cookie you've ever eaten. They're that good! These frosted orange cake mix cookies are easy to make and disappear fast!
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Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
This Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies recipe is easy to make, with no need to chill the dough. The cookies are perfectly soft and chewy, with just the right amount of spices and molasses – the ultimate fall and holiday cookie!
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The Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
The Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe! They are soft, chewy and hold their shape perfectly! Plus an easy sugar cookie frosting that tastes great and hardens with a beautiful shine!
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Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies with Sea Salt Caramel Rum Raisin Filling
These Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies with Sea Salt Caramel Rum Raisin Filling are absolutely scrumptious. Soft, moist, and delicately spiced, they’re a delicious holiday treat!
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Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
The easiest festive cookies that you can make in under 30 minutes! These chocolate peppermint cookies are soft, chewy, and the chocolate chip peppermint combo is amazing!
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Maple Pecan Potato Chip Shortbread Cookies
These Maple Pecan Potato Chip Shortbread Cookies feature a deliciously balanced salty/sweet flavor profile and are easy to make! They’re a fun addition to a festive holiday cookie tray.
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Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies
Enjoy a big batch of these easy and festive Christmas pinwheel cookies. These bright and colorful peppermint sugar cookies are guaranteed to make the Grinch's heart grow three sizes.
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Peppermint Twist Macarons
Peppermint Twist Macarons are a fabulous addition to any holiday cookie tray or exchange. Delicate, light and delicious!
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Pistachio Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Melt in your mouth Pistachio Whipped Shortbread Cookies are crumbly, soft, buttery and slightly sweet. There’s a hint of flavor from the liqueur, an added richness from the white chocolate chips, and a nice crunch from the pistachios.
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Swiss Chocolate Almond Cookies
Basler brunsli are a traditional Swiss Christmas cookie made with almonds, chocolate, and a touch of spice. These cookies are easy, naturally gluten-free, and deliciously good.
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Easy Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies
Top a classic gingerbread cookie with a few simple goodies to create an adorable reindeer! Kiddos and adults alike will love these!
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Eggnog Madeleines
Eggnog Madeleines are filled with eggnog and all the seasonal warm spices. Soft, and with all the holiday feels.
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Gluten-Free Almond Cookies
These 5 ingredient Almond Cookies are so simple to make and truly delicious. Best of all, they're both gluten and dairy-free. They travel and keep well!
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Homemade Oreos
Give your friends the gift of a grown-up Oreo cookie! These decadent fudgy cookies are filled with a cream cheese icing and are sure to put smiles on faces!
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Shortbread Cookies with Pecans
Shortbread cookies are a holiday classic. These tasty cookies are easy to prepare and perfect for sharing.
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Moravian Molasses Cookies
These Moravian Molasses cookies are the perfect cookie for an exchange. They are a traditional Czech cookie served all over Eastern Europe during the holidays.
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Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft and chewy, just like a chocolate chip cookie should be--these Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies are your new favorite Christmas Cookie! Take these to the cookie exchange--or save them for yourself--loaded with candy canes and lots of chips, they will make Santa extra happy!
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Angel Cookies
A soft and chewy vanilla cookie topped with a gorgeous sugar glaze.
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Chocolate Ginger Crinkles
Chocolate Ginger Crinkles are soft, spicy and beautiful, and work great as a homemade gift. These are the perfect Christmas cookies!
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Raspberry Linzer Cookies
These linzer cookies use a simple shortbread cookie recipe, and are filled with delicious raspberry jam. They definitely make a statement with the peekaboo cutout, and they will be a hit when you serve them for dessert!
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Star Cookies with Pistachio Cream
If you love pistachio flavors, then these pistachio star cookies are for you! Made with a simple cookie recipe, and filled with pistachio cream, they're always a hit for the holidays.
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Copycat Thin Mints
A perfect girl scout thin mint copy cat recipe. It's easy to make and everyone loves them!!!!
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Gingerbread Man Cookies
Gingerbread man cookies are a delicious holiday tradition! Use this treasured recipe for bakery-style gingerbread men. They’re super easy to make! Decorate these Christmas cookies with a 3-ingredient, royal icing recipe.
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Meyer Lemon Greek Butter Cookies
Meyer Lemon Greek Butter Cookies are easy, buttery Greek kourabiedes with a refreshing citrus twist. They’re perfect for your holiday baking!
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Thumbprint Caramel Pecan Turtle Cookies
An EASY caramel pecan turtle cookies recipe that looks and tastes impressive! No one will believe these thumbprint cookies are sugar-free & gluten-free.
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Cardamom Spritz Cookies
Cardamom Spritz Cookies ~ these easy Scandinavian Christmas cookies are so quick to make, stamp them out by the dozen, and then watch them disappear!
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Snickerdoodle Cookies
Soft Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe with golden, chewy edges and buttery, fluffy centers. Learn how to make everyone’s favorite gooey and delicious cinnamon sugar cookie recipe!
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Thumbprint Cookies
Thumbprint cookies are a soft, but firm cookie with a jam-filled center that are deliciously popular, especially during the holidays.
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Snow Cookies
Prize-winning snow cookies will be a fast favorite in your cookie exchange! So easy to make, too!
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German Christmas Cookies
German Christmas Cookies: Lebkuchen. Authentic recipe of the most popular German cookies: spicy, soft and incredibly flavorful. Give them as gifts to your family and friends!
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Hi, I'm Amee and I'm completely obsessed with all things fitness, recipe makeovers, and creating tasty, time-saving, recipes. Born and raised in South Carolina, I have a deep love for southern food culture. I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Cancer Exercise Specialist, recipe developer, and freelance content creator. I believe that anyone can be an amazing home cook, and there's nothing better than family time around the table!
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Alexandra
Such a mouthwatering collection of ideas - I spy so many I will try soon. Thank you so much for including my GF Almond Cookies also 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Amee Livingston
Thank you for sharing Alexandra and Merry Christmas to you, too! 🙂
Christina Conte
Fabulous collection of Christmas cookies! I see a few I just have to make! Thanks for including my Snow Cookies! 🙂
Amee Livingston
Thank you for sharing your great recipe Christina!
Brenda Score
Yum! Thank you so much for including me. Just pinned! Merry Christmas!
Amee Livingston
Thank you Brenda! Merry Christmas!