Do you love Christmas cookies? Me too. I’ve gathered a delicious selection of treats perfect for a Christmas cookie exchange, holiday parties, potlucks, and gifts—especially when wrapped with a pretty ribbon or a cloth napkin.
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Dessert treats and nibbles
This cookie exchange collection covers everything you might want on a holiday dessert tray—cookies, candies, fudge, and more festive confections. Browse and enjoy the assortment.
If you’re searching for something specific, let me know. I’m happy to take requests and can often point you to other bloggers with the recipe you need.
Happy holidays
These cookies and candies are ideal to share with neighbors, teachers, family, and friends. This curated collection makes it easy to plan what to bake and share during the season.
The holiday cookie season
When the holidays arrive everything speeds up—shopping, gatherings, and parties. One thing stays steady: cookies. To save you time, I collected many of my favorite cookie and candy recipes in one place. You’ll find easy everyday cookies, ornate decorated cookies, classic favorites, and no-bake candies that are perfect for a cookie exchange.
Christmas Cookie Exchange
Organizing a cookie exchange is a fun way to celebrate the season. Invite friends, swap recipes, and sample a variety of treats. Encourage attendees to share recipes so everyone can recreate their favorites at home.
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Cookie Recipes
Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookies
Rich, nutty brown butter cookies finished with a sprinkle of sea salt—utterly delicious.
Peanut Butter Cup Christmas Trees
A fun holiday project to make with kids—festive peanut butter cup trees that double as decorations.
Oatmeal Cookies
Classic oatmeal cookies with crispy edges and a chewy center—comforting and crowd-pleasing.
Kolache Cookies
Delicate cream cheese cookies filled with your favorite jam—light and lightly sweet.
Blackberry Muffin Cookies
Soft buttery cookies bursting with fresh blackberry flavor and swirls of jam.
Chewy Almond Cloud Cookies
Light, chewy, almond-flavored one-bowl cookies that are naturally gluten-free.
Almond Meltaways Cookies
Melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies topped with a delicate almond glaze—ideal for gift trays.
Candy Cane Cookies
Buttery twisted sugar cookies flavored with peppermint and topped with crushed candy cane.
Cannoli Cookies
Crispy cookie shells filled with sweet ricotta for all the beloved cannoli flavors—without deep frying.
Soft Pumpkin Cookies
Soft, cake-like pumpkin cookies with a tender texture and comforting flavor.
Brown Sugar Fudge
Old-fashioned brown sugar fudge with warm caramel notes—perfect for holiday trays and gifting.
No Bake Butter Mint Candy
Simple no-bake butter mints that make a festive and refreshing addition to holiday dessert trays.
Polar Bear Paw Print Cookies
Cute and simple Polar Bear Paw Cookies that are perfect for winter gatherings and kids’ parties.
Peppermint Mocha Candy Cookies
Minty, chocolaty no-bake cookies with oatmeal for a praline-like holiday candy cookie.
Grandma’s Old-fashioned Cream Caramels
Classic chewy, creamy caramels—rich, buttery, and nostalgic.
Lemon Bars
Crumbly shortbread crust topped with a sweet-tart lemon filling—balanced and bright.
Peppermint Magic Bars
Layered bars with a chocolate cookie crust, chips, peppermint bark, coconut, and almonds for a festive, textured treat.
Chocolate Cookies with Mocha Frosting
Soft dark chocolate cookies topped with a rich coffee-chocolate frosting—decadent and dreamy.
Snickerdoodle Cookies
Classic snickerdoodles rolled in warm cinnamon sugar—a timeless family favorite.
Mocha Fudge
Rich, creamy fudge with bold espresso and chocolate flavors—great for gifting.
Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Cookies
Soft chocolate cookies hiding a creamy peanut butter center—a delightful surprise.
No Bake Chocolate Candy Cookies
A no-bake praline-like chocolate cookie that’s quick and easy—more candy than cookie in texture and flavor.
Pecan Bourbon Balls
No-bake pecan truffles coated in chocolate and topped with a toasted pecan—Southern-style holiday candy.
Cut Out Cookies
Soft, light cut-out cookies that hold their shape and are perfect for decorating.
Peppermint Brownie Sandwich Cookies
Chocolate brownie cookies sandwiched with marshmallow crème and coated in crushed peppermint.
2 Ingredient Coconut Macaroons
Super easy coconut macaroons made with just two ingredients—great for school potlucks and simple gifting.
Two Ingredient Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge
Easy, creamy two-ingredient fudge that’s peanut buttery and chocolaty—perfect for quick treats.
Lime Meltaway Cookies
Tart lime shortbread cookies rolled in powdered sugar that literally melt in your mouth.
Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel Bark
Quick five-ingredient candy bark with salty-sweet caramel, chocolate, and crunchy pretzels—an inexpensive and tasty gift idea.
Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies
Chewy cookies packed with graham crumbs, condensed milk, coconut, almonds, and chocolate chips.
Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
Comforting oatmeal cookies sandwiched around a creamy sweet filling.
Tropical Pacific Cookies (Samoas)
A homemade version of Samoas—coconut, caramel, and chocolate for fans of the Girl Scout classic.
Chinese Almond Cookies
Dense, sandy, and slightly crunchy almond cookies with a lovely nutty flavor.
Berliner Kranz Cookies
Norwegian “Berlin Wreaths” traditionally shaped like wreaths and decorated with festive sugars.
No Bake Peanut Butter Cookie Truffles
Easy no-bake peanut butter truffles that are rich, sweet, and always a hit.
Peppermint Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies
Soft oatmeal cookies filled with vanilla-peppermint frosting and rolled in crushed candy canes.
Lemon Fudge
Sunny lemon fudge that balances sweet and tart—an uplifting addition to a dessert spread.
Lemon Sugar Cookies
Light lemon sugar cookies that are easy to eat and always popular at gatherings.
Coconut Macaroons
Crunchy on the outside and chewy inside—these coconut macaroons are truly heavenly.
Almond Biscotti
Crunchy almond biscotti that are perfect for dunking in coffee.
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Five-ingredient no-bake peanut butter bars that are quick, easy, and satisfyingly sweet.
Chocolate Marshmallow Moonpies
Soft chocolate cookie rounds filled with marshmallow fluff and finished with a mocha glaze.
Some things you may need for making cookies
Notes: these are suggested tools and supplies to make baking easier.
Cookie baking sheets
Air-permeable baking sheets (good for convection ovens)
Mixing bowls
Cookie dough scoops
Parchment paper
Silicone baking mats
Cooling racks
Measuring cups and spoons
