Creative Cookies For A Christmas Cookie Exchange
One of the best things about Christmas (aside from spending time with those you love of course) is being able to dig into delicious food and treats! A Christmas cookie exchange party is a fun way to get together with friends and sample deliciously baked treats. Better yet, you get to take home an assortment of festive cookies too. These cookies will surely stock your pantry or freezer so that you have delicious homemade baked goods on hand for the whole holiday season.
Whether you’re hosting or attending a Christmas cookie exchange this year, you’re going to need enticing cookie recipes. We searched the web to find you the most delicious (and festive) cookies that will surely be a hit at the party! From no-bake Christmas cookies to classics like gingerbread cookies and even a few unique recipes too, there is certainly something for everyone!
1. Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
Everyone’s favorite holiday treat, candy canes can now be enjoyed with delicious chocolate cookies! These dark chocolate cookies are decadent and perfectly chewy.
Once the cookies have cooled, dip them in melted white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. These impressive cookies look like they came straight from the bakery and will surely be a hit.
https://livforcake.com/dark-chocolate-candy-cane-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPES HERE: LIV FOR CAKE2. Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies are a Christmas classic and this recipe will not disappoint. They’re soft in the middle, crunchy on the outside, and have the perfect spiced molasses flavor we know and love.
It’s important to chill the cookie dough before making your gingerbread shapes so be sure to give yourself enough time with this recipe! Once the cookies have cooked and cooled, you’ll be able to decorate them to your liking.
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-gingerbread-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: SALLY’S BAKING ADDICTION3. Christmas Pinwheel Sugar Cookies
These Christmas pinwheel sugar cookies will surely be an eye-catcher! With a simple sugar cookie recipe and a few drops of food coloring, you’ll be able to have these festive cookies ready in no time.
The cookies require just 10 minutes of prep time, and 10 minutes to bake, however, the dough will need to chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before baking. The time and effort will be well worth the wait!
https://www.bakedbyrachel.com/christmas-pinwheel-sugar-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: BAKED BY RACHEL4. Christmas Shortbread Cookies
These shortbread cookies truly melt in your mouth and they look pretty too. You’ll also love that the cookies are made from just 5 simple ingredients.
This recipe comes equipped with instructions to make a homemade mint glaze as well as a buttercream icing. You’ll also be provided with a few tips and tricks on how to ice these cookies effortlessly.
https://thecafesucrefarine.com/christmas-shortbread-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPES HERE: THE CAFÉ SUCRE FARINE5. Eggnog Cookies
These cookies may not look fancy, but they’re full of impressive flavor! They’re infused with your favorite holiday drink, egg nog and will surely be a hit!
You’ll need a few simple ingredients, most of which you’ll already have on hand! To provide the cookies with the impeccable eggnog flavor you will need cinnamon, nutmeg, and of course, eggnog.
https://www.recipegirl.com/eggnog-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: RECIPE GIRL6. Snickerdoodle Cookies
Snickerdoodles are a classic cookie and can be enjoyed all year round but they would be an excellent cookie to share at a Christmas cookie exchange too! Snickerdoodles are soft, buttery, and loaded with cinnamon sugar.
This recipe provides you with important tips to ensure your cookies turn out perfect every time. Some of these secrets include ensuring that you use real butter (for flavor), and room temperature eggs (for texture).
https://houseofnasheats.com/best-snickerdoodle-cookies-recipe/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: HOUSE OF NASH EATS7. Easy Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are one of the most popular Christmas cookies! This is because you can cut them into fun shapes and then decorate them to create beautiful edible masterpieces.
This recipe is a little unique in comparison to other sugar cookie recipes as this cookie dough doesn’t require any chilling time. Yet, they still turn out perfectly soft and chewy!
https://cookingwithkarli.com/perfect-sugar-cookie-recipe/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: COOKING WITH KARLI8. Chewy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These chocolate crinkle cookies are soft, fudgy, and truly decadent. They’re also beautiful to look at too! It’s important to coat the cookies in powdered sugar, not granulated sugar as this will make the crinkle pop perfectly.
You’ll also enjoy that these cookies require simple ingredients, most of which you’ll already have on hand. Be sure to check out the important baking tips that will help you perfect the cookie dough, the cookie size, and the baking time.
https://www.savorynothings.com/chewy-chocolate-crinkle-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: SAVORY NOTHINGS9. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
Red velvet cookies are popular all year round but they would make a wonderful Christmas cookie because of their festive color! These red velvet crinkle cookies are crimson red and snowy white — perfect for the holidays.
As a bonus, these cookies are vegan-friendly but rest assured, you won’t even taste the difference! Aside from the chill time, these cookies can come together in about 20 minutes.
https://www.mydarlingvegan.com/red-velvet-crinkle-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: MY DARLING VEGAN10. Chocolate Covered Oreos
Finally, a recipe that doesn’t require any intense baking skills! This no-bake Christmas cookie recipe dips Oreo cookies in delicious melted chocoalte.
To add a festive spin, simply decorate the cookies with red and green sprinkles or any festive sprinkles of your choice. They’ll certainly be an eyecatcher and a hit at the Christmas cookie exchange.
https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/chocolate-covered-oreos/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DINNER AT THE ZOO11. Hot Chocolate Cookies
These hot chocolate cookies are unlike other chocolate cookies as these taste like a warm cup of hot cocoa. To achieve the authentic hot cocoa flavor, this recipe uses hot cocoa mix in the cookie dough.
The cookies are also filled with chocolate chips and Mallow Bits. After all, what is hot chocolate without the toppings, right? The cookies have a quick chill time of just 30 minutes and come together quickly.
https://www.lovefromtheoven.com/hot-chocolate-cookies/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: LOVE FROM THE OVEN12. Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups
This recipe puts another fun spin on a hot chocolate cookie. Instead of making the cookies taste like hot cocoa, these cookies look like hot cocoa!
Made with a simple sugar cookie cup and filled with a decadent chocolate filling these will certainly capture everyone’s attention. You’ll also love that these fun little cookies can come together in 40 minutes or less.
https://tipbuzz.com/holiday-chocolate-cookie-cups/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: TIP BUZZ13. Gingersnap Oreos With Cream Cheese Filling
These gingersnap cookies are full of fragrant flavor that you are really going to love. Some of the flavors you’ll enjoy are cinnamon, ginger, molasses, as well as a secret spicy ingredient.
What sets these cookies over the top is the sweet cream cheese filling. The filling is made from butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and heavy cream, however, if you love eggnog you can swap the cream for eggnog for more festive flavor.
https://www.modernhoney.com/gingersnap-oreos-cream-cheese-filling/ PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: MODERN HONEY14. Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Candy cane kiss cookies are bright, bold, and festive! Not only that, but they have the perfect peppermint flavor thanks to peppermint extract and Candy Cane Hershey Kisses.
To prevent the Hershey Kisses from melting, be sure to allow the cookies to cool for a couple of minutes before pressing them into the cookie. Further, this recipe is incredibly easy to make and yields 48 cookies!
https://www.hotbeautyhealth.com/food/candy-cane-kiss-cookies-recipe/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=849976160_36146726_31059 PHOTO AND RECIPE HERE: HOT BEAUTY HEALTH15. Chewy French Toast Cookies
You’ve surely enjoyed breakfast for dinner but have you ever thought about enjoying breakfast for dessert? These unique and delicious cookies will surely be a hit at the party.
These French toast cookies are full of vanilla, maple, cinnamon, and nutmeg flavor. Don’t be surprised when your friends start begging you for the recipe!
https://www.accidentalhappybaker.com/chewy-french-toast-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: ACCIDENTAL HAPPY BAKER16. Christmas Lights Cookies
These Christmas light cookies are perfect for beginners because they’re so easy to make. Keep in mind this recipe yields about 12 cookies so you may need to double or triple the recipe depending on how many people are participating in your Christmas cookie exchange.
You’ll start by making an easy sugar cookie dough recipe. Once the cookies have cooled you’ll decorate them with a simple homemade royal icing, a tube of blacking icing for the string and mini M&Ms for the lights.
https://www.dessertfortwo.com/christmas-lights-cookies/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: DESSERT FOR TWO17. Salted Caramel Cookies
Salted caramel cookies are seriously drool-worthy. They start with a classic soft sugar cookie and then are filled with chewy salted caramel!
The caramel topping is made from melted Werther’s Chewy Caramels and milk. Finish the cookies with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, and watch these cookies disappear at the party!
https://thenovicechefblog.com/salted-caramel-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE NOVICE CHEF18. Funfetti Christmas Cookies
Funfetti Christmas cookies are delicious, festive, and are incredibly easy to make. With just 5 simple ingredients, you’ll have these funfetti cookies made in no time.
The secret ingredient in these cookies is a box of white cake mix. Along with that, you’ll need eggs, oil, and festive sprinkles. While these cookies will certainly be great for the cookie exchange, you can also make these all year round and simply swap the sprinkles to match the holiday or occasion you are celebrating!
https://www.the36thavenue.com/christmas-cookies-funfetti-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: THE 36TH AVENUE19. Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies
Raspberry almond shortbread thumbprint cookies start with a buttery shortbread cookie and are filled with a sweet raspberry jam filling. What sets these cookies over the top is the luscious almond glaze.
This recipe provides several tips and tricks to ensure your cookies turn out perfect each time. These cookies are addictive and you may find yourself craving them every holiday season!
https://www.cookingclassy.com/raspberry-almond-shortbread-thumbprint-cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: COOKING CLASSY
20. Candy Cane Cookies
How adorable are these candy cane cookies? Not only do these cookies look like candy canes but they’re flavored with peppermint extract too.
These cookies are actually quite easy to make! You simply have to divide the dough and add red food coloring to one half. Then by rolling the dough into ropes, you’ll be able to twist them together to create the perfect candy cane shapes.
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/candy_cane_cookies/ PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: SIMPLY RECIPES
