Finally Win Fan Favorite At The Cookie Swap This Year With These 17 Recipes
Okay, so even if most cookie swaps aren't actually competitions, we all still want to be the winner, right? We can agree that all cookies are good cookies, but being the person who gets asked most for their recipe, or who end up getting mauled for extras while everyone's packing up their take homes? Now that's the true meaning of Christmas.😉 To guarantee this year is finally the year you'll take the gold, we've pulled together this list of our winningest cookie recipes. There's everything from classics (they're called that for a reason!) like chocolate chip or peanut butter, to more out-there recipes like our Nutella-stuffed snowballs or our pan-banging confetti cookies, there's something here for everyone and every type of exchange this season. Now go get 'em!
Chocolate Turtle Cookies
It’s really hard to beat the combo of chocolate and caramel in a chocolate turtle, but these cookies might just take the crown. The crunchy pecans add such a nice texture to the soft cookies and chewy caramel, you may never want to return to a basic chocolate cookie again.
Get the Chocolate Turtle Cookies recipe.
Gingerbread Cookies
Ready to create a new holiday tradition? Decorating these Christmas cookies is the ultimate holiday activity everyone can get involved in, and they make for the sweetest homemade food gift to give to friends and family. Their crisp edges with a tender, soft middle always wins at cookie swaps too!
Get the Gingerbread Cookies recipe.
Panettone Cookies
To think a fluffy, enriched bread like panettone can somehow translate into a buttery cookie might seem preposterous, but don’t stop reading! These cookie are the perfect base for the orange peel, currants, dried apricots, chocolate, and almonds you love about the original, with half the work.
Get the Panettone Cookies recipe.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
We've made our fair share of variations on chocolate chip cookies, from chewy to brown butter, but this recipe takes the cake: They’re the most classic, least-fussy version—exactly what you want when you’re looking for a no-frills, soft, and fudgy cookie. Trust us; never boring, these are ALWAYS a hit.
Get the Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Candy Cane Cookies
Only have the energy to make the cookies, but not decorate them? Enter: candy cane cookies. The festive twists of red and white
sugar cookie dough save you the step of needing to frost the cookies or add any extra decoration. Peppermint extract means they also taste like candy canes (but you can skip if you want!).
Get the Candy Cane Cookies recipe.
Eggnog Snickerdoodles
We personally LOVE eggnog, but ahem, don’t always enjoy having to buy a big container of it that no one else will drink. Enter: these eggnog snickerdoodles. They take the beloved cookie recipe and add a little extra festive, but not overwhelming, depth that everyone will enjoy. These are practically guaranteed to be the star of your Christmas cookie spread.
Get the Eggnog Snickerdoodles recipe.
Inside-Out Red Velvet Cookies
Red velvet stuffed with a cream cheese filling that tastes like cheesecake? We're obsessed, and everyone at the cookie swap will be too.
Get the Inside-Out Red Velvet Cookies recipe.
Pfeffernüsse
This German treat combines seasonal spices and molasses to create an extra chewy cookie that gets a boost from a homemade cardamom glaze. Step aside gingerbread—these holiday cookies are getting the spotlight at the cookie swap this year.
Get the Pfeffernüsse recipe.
Cookies 'N' Cream Millionaire Shortbread
Just when we thought a millionaire shortbread couldn’t get richer, we switched up the classic recipe to feature layers of chocolate shortbread, chocolate caramel, and an added bonus of a cookie 'n' cream filling.
Get the Cookies 'N' Cream Millionaire Shortbread recipe.
Santa's Trash Cookies
These Christmas cookies will put you on everyone's nice list. We packed ours full of festive Christmas sprinkles, chocolate chips, pretzels, and potato chips for the sweet and salty combo of our dreams. But these cookies are so easy and adaptable, you can really add in whatever you please!
Get the Santa's Trash Cookies recipe.
Pan-Banging Confetti Cookies
Wanna get into the holiday spirit? Make these pan-banging sugar cookies. Loaded with colorful sprinkles and sparkling with sugar, these exuberant cookies promise to bring out the kid in all of us all season long.
Get the Pan-Banging Confetti Cookies recipe.
Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies
Move over peanut butter blossoms and regular ole jam thumbprints, there's a new flavor in town. You’ll fall in love with hazelnut flour once you realize how nutty it makes these gianduja-inspired cookies. Melted chocolate adds extra cocoa punch to the dough, while rich and creamy Nutella tops them off.
Get the Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies recipe.
Nutella-Stuffed Snowball Cookies
Nothing signals Christmas quite like a snowball cookie. The nutty, shortbread-style cookies can come in several iterations, typically with different types of nuts. You can usually find snowballs made with walnuts or pecans, but this version opts for hazelnuts as well as everybody’s favorite hazelnut-based spread: Nutella.
Get the Nutella-Stuffed Snowball Cookies recipe.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These extra fudgy and chewy chocolate cookies are just as beautiful as they are delicious. Hot tip: the best ways to guarantee your crinkles stand out? Chill your dough and roll it in powdered sugar twice.
Get the Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe.
Cuccidati
If Fig Newtons had a grown-up, glamorous sister, she would be cuccidati. Packed with a sticky-sweet, spiced fig filling and showered in rainbow sprinkles, these bite-sized Italian cookies are more than ready to shine at any and all cookie exchanges.
Get the Cuccidati recipe.
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
These pinwheel cookies are beyond mesmerizing, but are also SO easy to make. Make a batch of our easy sugar cookie dough, then dye one half red. Then simply roll them together to create the swirl. The sprinkles are optional but they add so much extra fun!
Get the Christmas Pinwheel Cookies recipe.
Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut butter cookies are salty, sweet, and more rich than a chocolate chip cookie ever could be. We're suckers for the classic fork crosshatch look, but you can totally skip it. (Ready for the next level? Make peanut butter STUFFED cookies.)
Get the Peanut Butter Cookies recipe.
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