A good Christmas cookie exchange party comes down to variety. You want a little chocolate, a little spice, something fruity, and at least one holiday cookie that looks almost too pretty to eat.
This collection of Christmas cookie exchange recipes covers all of these and more, from classic Christmas cookies like snickerdoodles, spritz, and chocolate crinkles to popular recipes like peppermint mocha cookies and Italian baci di dama.
These cookie swap recipes were chosen because they travel well and are sturdy enough to stack and share. Many are simple enough for a relaxed weekend of holiday baking, and the slice and bake pinwheels can be prepped ahead and frozen until you need them.
Plus there are gluten free and vegan options too, so everyone at the swap goes home with something for their holiday cookie tins.
They’re also some of the best Christmas cookies for gifting beyond the party. Mix and match a few for easy Christmas cookie box ideas, or wrap a stack in cellophane for homemade food gift ideas that always go down well.
If you love Christmas baking recipes, you may also like these dark chocolate pistachio cookies, these cute Christmas cupcakes, or this raspberry white chocolate fudge.
Christmas Tree Cookies
Buttery cut out cookies studded with dark chocolate and walnuts, shaped like little christmas trees and threaded with twine to hang as edible ornaments. Dust with powdered sugar and pack them for a cookie swap.
Get the recipe: Christmas Tree Cookies
Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
These chocolate pinwheels are one the easiest Christmas cookie exchange recipes you can make at home. Freeze the log ahead, then slice, bake, and finish with a chocolate drizzle and festive sprinkles before sharing at a cookie exchange party.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
Christmas Kiss Cookies
Soft, festive sprinkle-coated cookies with a chocolate kiss pressed into the center. These Christmas cookies look adorable on a holiday platter and are easy enough to bake with kids on a busy December afternoon.
Get the recipe: Christmas Kiss Cookies
Holiday Spritz Cookies
These pressed butter cookies come out in pretty shapes straight from a cookie press. Tint the dough, add sprinkles, and you have a tin of tender Christmas goodies that look bakery-made.
Get the recipe: Holiday Spritz Cookies
Soft Molasses Cookies
Warm spices and rich molasses give these classic Christmas cookies a cozy, old-fashioned flavor. Rolled in sugar for a sparkly crackle on top, they stay soft for days, which makes them ideal for a cookie exchange.
Get the recipe: Molasses Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Rolled in powdered sugar before baking, these brownie-like cookies crack into a snowy pattern in the oven. Rich, chewy, and impressive on a dessert tray, they are one of the most popular Christmas cookie exchange recipes and never last long at a cookie swap.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies
Bring something a little different to your next Christmas cookie exchange with these gingerbread thumbprint cookies. They stand out and pack well into tins and boxes, making them one of the best Christmas cookies for a swap.
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies
Iced Gingerbread Cookies
Spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, these gingerbread cookies hold their shape for decorating. Pipe on simple icing details and you have a festive batch of holiday treats that tastes just like Christmas.
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Cookies
Chocolate Chip Shortbread
A hint of espresso deepens the flavor of this crumbly shortbread, while chocolate chips add sweetness to every bite. Coffee lovers will be reaching for seconds before the tin is even closed.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Chip Shortbread
Holiday Linzer Cookies
Tender cookies sandwich a layer of jam, with a little festive cut out window to show off the filling. A dusting of powdered sugar makes them look elegant enough for any holiday gift box.
Get the recipe: Linzer Cookies
Cherry Christmas Cookies
Bright pieces of candied cherries dot these slice and bake cookies with cheerful red color. They bring a sweet fruity twist to your holiday spread and look gorgeous stacked in a tin for gifting.
Get the recipe: Cherry Christmas Cookies
Orange Cranberry Cookies
Orange zest and tart cranberries brighten these holiday cookies, and a sweet glaze ties it all together. They add a lovely burst of citrus to a cookie lineup that leans heavily on chocolate and spice.
Get the recipe: Orange Cranberry Cookies
Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
The chocolate mint combo is such a holiday classic, and these chocolate cookies with a ganache and peppermint center look so pretty lined up in a cookie box.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
Snickerdoodle Cookies
Rolled in cinnamon sugar and baked until puffy with crackly tops, these snickerdoodles have a soft, chewy middle and are a simple crowd favorite every cookie swap needs.
Get the recipe: Snickerdoodle Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies
These tiny Italian sandwich cookies pair a ground hazelnut cookie with a smooth chocolate center. Their Italian name, baci di dama, means lady’s kisses, and they make a charming, elegant addition to any holiday tray.
Get the recipe: Italian Christmas Cookies
Ginger Crinkle Holiday Cookies
Bold ginger and warm spices shine in these chewy holiday cookies rolled in sugar for a crackled finish. Pair them with a mug of hot tea or coffee for a cozy December treat everyone will love.
Get the recipe: Ginger Crinkle Cookies
Gingerbread Snowball Cookies
Gingerbread spices meet melt-in-your-mouth snowball texture in these bite-sized Christmas treats. A generous roll in powdered sugar gives them a snowy look that fits right in on a winter dessert table.
Get the recipe: Snowball Cookies
Simple Shortbread Cookies
Just three pantry staples combine to make this tasty shortbread with almost no effort. They come together quickly, making them one of the best cookies for cookie exchange parties when you need a big batch in a hurry.
Get the recipe: Simple Shortbread Cookies
Discover more easy cookie exchange recipes in this collection of Christmas cookies.
Peppermint Mocha Cookies
Chocolate, coffee, and peppermint come together in a cookie inspired by the favorite holiday latte. Packed with festive flavor, they are great for packaging in gift bags and holiday cookie tins.
Get the recipe: Peppermint Mocha Cookies
Holiday Butter Cookies
Simple and tender, these butter cookies have that classic bakery-tin flavor that everyone loves at Christmas. Decorate them with sprinkles or a chocolate dip to match your holiday theme and watch them disappear.
Get the recipe: Holiday Butter Cookies
Cinnamon Shortbread Cookies
Cinnamon adds a festive warmth to buttery shortbread cookies in this easy holiday bake. Cut them into festive shapes or simple rounds, and package in your Christmas food baskets for a cozy afternoon treat everyone will love.
Get the recipe: Cinnamon Shortbread Cookies
Choc Mint Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate dough with a cool hint of peppermint bakes into crinkle cookies dusted in powdered sugar. They taste like a candy cane met a brownie, and they look stunning in a Christmas cookie tin.
Get the recipe: Choc Mint Crinkle Cookies
Festive Kitchen Sink Cookies
Packed with chocolate, candy, and all kinds of festive mix-ins, these chewy cookies are a great option when you need Christmas cookie exchange ideas the kids will love. Every bite is a little different and totally delicious.
Get the recipe: Kitchen Sink Cookies
Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Buttery shortbread loaded with chocolate chunks gets a sprinkle of flaky salt for the perfect sweet and salty balance. Bake a batch when you want an elegant cookie that feels a little grown up for your Christmas cookie swap.
Get the recipe: Salted Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Chocolate Cherry Cookies
A candied cherry nestles inside each chocolate cookie under a glossy fudge topping, just like the classic candy. These retro favorites are rich, festive, and made for sharing at holiday parties.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Lemon Curd Cookies
Buttery cookies with a spoonful of tangy lemon curd are a fresh, citrus treat to add to your cookie box. They are a refreshing change from the usual chocolate and spice, and they add a cheerful pop of yellow to your tray.
Get the recipe: Lemon Curd Cookies
Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies
Your favorite chewy chocolate chip cookie gets a holiday upgrade with red and green M&Ms. Quick to bake and easy to love, they are a reliable hit with kids and grown ups alike.
Get the recipe: Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Each simple thumbprint cookie gets a little well filled with jam that bakes into a jewel-like center. Use raspberry, apricot, or a mix of flavors for a colorful batch that looks lovely gifted in tins.
Get the recipe: Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Candy Cane Cookies
Cool peppermint flavor and festive red and white color make these cookies look like they came straight off the tree. They are a playful bake to make with kids and add instant cheer to a holiday tin.
Get the recipe: Candy Cane Cookies
Vanilla Crescent Cookies
These traditional Austrian vanilla crescents are made completely plant-based, with nutty dough and a generous coat of vanilla sugar. Delicate and tender, they are a treat everyone can enjoy.
Get the recipe: Vanilla Crescent Cookies
Hot Cocoa Cookies
All the comfort of a mug of hot chocolate baked into a rich, gluten free cookie. They make a thoughtful addition to a cookie swap so friends with dietary needs can join in on the fun.
Get the recipe: Hot Cocoa Cookies
