21 Award-Winning Christmas Cookie Exchange Recipes

Planning your holiday baking? Browse this festive collection for ideas to share, gift, or add to the dessert table. Each recipe name below opens the full recipe with its ingredients and instructions.

  1. Grinch Heart CookiesGrinch Heart CookiesGrinch Heart Cookies

    Grinch Heart Cookies with measured ingredients, cut-out shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.

  2. Blackberry Jam Pocket CookiesBlackberry Jam Pocket CookiesBlackberry Jam Pocket Cookies

    Blackberry Jam Pocket Cookies with measured ingredients, drop shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.

  3. Brown Butter Espresso Chocolate CrinklesBrown Butter Espresso Chocolate CrinklesBrown Butter Espresso Chocolate Crinkles

    Browned butter, espresso powder and dark chocolate chips build a deep chocolate flavor beneath the white crinkle coating.

  4. Austrian-Style Cranberry Orange Linzer CookiesAustrian-Style Cranberry Orange Linzer CookiesAustrian-Style Cranberry Orange Linzer Cookies

    Almond cut-out cookies sandwich a tart cranberry-orange filling, with sugar-dusted windows on the top halves.

  5. Caramel Kiss Peanut Butter BlossomsCaramel Kiss Peanut Butter BlossomsCaramel Kiss Peanut Butter Blossoms

    Caramel Kiss Peanut Butter Blossoms: sugar-rolled peanut butter cookies with a chocolate center, with measured ingredients and a complete batch method.

  6. Italian Ricotta CookiesItalian Ricotta CookiesItalian Ricotta Cookies

    Soft vanilla cookies with ricotta, a light lemon glaze and festive sprinkles.

  7. Italian Rainbow CookiesItalian Rainbow CookiesItalian Rainbow Cookies

    An Italian-American home version of red, ivory and green almond cake cookies, layered with apricot jam and dark chocolate.

  8. Salted Caramel Chocolate Ganache ThumbprintsSalted Caramel Chocolate Ganache ThumbprintsSalted Caramel Chocolate Ganache Thumbprints

    Cocoa shortbread cups hold thick caramel under a small spoonful of dark chocolate ganache and flaky salt.

  9. Christmas Wreath Spritz CookiesChristmas Wreath Spritz CookiesChristmas Wreath Spritz Cookies

    Christmas Wreath Spritz Cookies: buttery Christmas spritz cookies with title-specific flavor, shaping and finishing details.

  10. Classic Pecan Snowball CookiesClassic Pecan Snowball CookiesClassic Pecan Snowball Cookies

    Small buttery pecan cookies receive powdered sugar while warm and again after cooling for a snowy finish.

  11. Spritz Cookies for Cookie ExchangeSpritz Cookies for Cookie ExchangeSpritz Cookies for Cookie Exchange

    Spritz Cookies for Cookie Exchange: buttery Christmas spritz cookies with title-specific flavor, shaping and finishing details.

  12. Orange Clove Sugar-Rimmed Shortbread CoinsOrange Clove Sugar-Rimmed Shortbread CoinsOrange Clove Sugar-Rimmed Shortbread Coins

    A delicate orange-clove dough gets a sparkling rim of coarse sugar, sliced from a chilled log into crisp, giftable coins.

  13. Chewy Ginger Molasses SandwichesChewy Ginger Molasses SandwichesChewy Ginger Molasses Sandwiches

    Chewy Ginger Molasses Sandwiches with a measured filling, portion-by-portion assembly and storage guidance.

  14. Old-Fashioned Ohio BuckeyesOld-Fashioned Ohio BuckeyesOld-Fashioned Ohio Buckeyes

    Old-Fashioned Ohio Buckeyes: peanut butter balls partially dipped to leave a pale top, with measured ingredients and a complete batch method.

  15. Copycat Crumbl Red Velvet White Chip CookiesCopycat Crumbl Red Velvet White Chip CookiesCopycat Crumbl Red Velvet White Chip Cookies

    Copycat Crumbl Red Velvet White Chip Cookies with measured ingredients, drop shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.

  16. Hot Cocoa Cookies with Marshmallow CentersHot Cocoa Cookies with Marshmallow CentersHot Cocoa Cookies with Marshmallow Centers

    Chocolate drop cookies are topped with a soft marshmallow half and a thin chocolate-cream glaze.

  17. Cranberry Pistachio Slice-and-Bake ShortbreadCranberry Pistachio Slice-and-Bake ShortbreadCranberry Pistachio Slice-and-Bake Shortbread

    Buttery shortbread slices show a mosaic of dried cranberries and pistachios, with orange zest in the dough.

  18. Cranberry Crumble Christmas Shortbread BarsCranberry Crumble Christmas Shortbread BarsCranberry Crumble Christmas Shortbread Bars

    Fresh cranberry filling sits between a pressed shortbread base and a loose buttery crumble of the same dough.

  19. Brown Butter Pecan Pie ThumbprintsBrown Butter Pecan Pie ThumbprintsBrown Butter Pecan Pie Thumbprints

    Browned-butter shortbread wells hold a spoonful of chopped pecans in a brown-sugar cream filling.

  20. Stained Glass Sugar CookiesStained Glass Sugar CookiesStained Glass Sugar Cookies

    Vanilla sugar-cookie stars with jewel-colored transparent candy windows baked into their centers.

  21. Nutella Stuffed Chocolate CookiesNutella Stuffed Chocolate CookiesNutella Stuffed Chocolate Cookies

    Nutella Stuffed Chocolate Cookies with a measured filling, portion-by-portion assembly and storage guidance.