Looking for the best cookie recipes for a party or cookie swap? These easy cookie exchange recipes will please your sweet tooth without taking a lot of time to make.
You’ll also like 20 Festive Holiday Appetizers and 25 Sweet Bread Recipes for Breakfast or Dessert.
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This post contains affiliate links. Learn more and read our full disclosure policy here.
Best Cookie Swap Cookie Recipes for a Cookie Exchange Party
The holiday season is time for people we love — and treats we love! We like to bring both the people and the treats together in a Christmas cookie exchange party.
What is a cookie exchange party?
A cookie exchange party (or a cookie swap) is a fabulous way to get to try dozens of new treats without having to spend hours in the kitchen baking. A cookie swap is one of the easiest Christmas party ideas, too! (Though you can host a cookie exchange any time of year.)
The idea simple:
- Each party attendee is asked to bring a few dozen of their favorite Christmas cookies plus the recipe.
- Then, guests get to mingle and take home a sampler plate of all of the goodies that everyone has contributed.
It can really be that simple — just an hour with cookies and socializing! All you provide is take-home plates and ambiance.
Or you can have other activities to go along with it (like simple paper Christmas decorations to make).
What should I bring to a cookie exchange?
When you participate in a cookie exchange, you’ll need to bring
- Cookies on a platter or packaged
- The cookie recipe
- A plate or container to bring cookies home
How many cookies should you bring to a cookie exchange?
Your cookie exchange host should specify how many cookies to bring based on the number of attendees, but if the invitation doesn’t say, it’s a safe bet to bring 8 dozen cookies. (Most cookie swaps ask for 5-8 dozen per attendee.)
Worried about making enough cookies for the cookie exchange? It’s totally acceptable to make mini cookies instead of regular sized cookies. You’ll likely still have to make a couple of batches of cookies, but bite-sized cookies are great for sampling.
We strongly suggest getting a set of cookie scoops — it will make the process so much faster and ensure all the cookies are the same size!
How do I package cookies for a cookie exchange?
Your cookie party host may specify if cookies should be plated or packaged individually or in small groups. Whether the cookies are on a platter or in a cellophane bag, it’s nice to label with the cookie name and any allergens, including dairy, nuts, and gluten.
How do you organize a cookie exchange?
A cookie exchange is an easy holiday party to host, but it does take a little bit of planning. Here’s how to be the best cookie swap organizer ever:
- Decide who you’ll invite. This could be your work team, your neighborhood, or you book group. A group of 6-10 is best, but larger or smaller groups can work, too.
- The number of people who participate will determine how many cookies each person needs to bring. Do you want each person to take home one of each type of cookie, or 4, or a dozen?
- Send invitations 2-4 weeks before the party exchange date. In addition to the date, time, and place of the cookie swap, the invitation should include:
- How many cookies to bring
- (Optional) What kind of cookies to bring — as host you can assign a type of cookie or let guests sign up for certain types of cookies to ensure a good variety.
- How to submit the recipe (and a deadline) — if you want to have a recipe booklet at the party, be sure party goers get you their recipes in time to be included. If you’ll distribute the recipes after the party, they can just bring the recipe to the party with them.
- Any cookie exchange rules — Do cookies need to be homemade? Should they be Christmas cookies?
- How to package cookies for the party — should cookies be on a platter/plate, or packaged individually or in a small portion?
- RSVP information, so you can plan on a correct number of attendees.
- Plan the rest of the party and menu.
- Decor & Ambiance: A few holiday decorations, a festive table set with a tablecloth and some cake stands or trays, and some Christmas music make the party easy and fun.
- Food: You’ll want some kind of drink, whether that’s a holiday wassail or milk or hot chocolate. You might also want some other non-sugary snacks like a veggie tray or cheese plate.
- Party Activities: This can be a simple mix and mingle party, or you can plan additional activities like games or a craft. Making paper Christmas ornaments is cheap and easy!
- At the cookie exchange, you’ll run the show and make sure people understand the “rules” of the cookie exchange. It’s nice to provide labels or place cards so people can see what cookies they are getting, as well as any allergens. Be sure to have extra platters, plates, or containers for guests who forget to bring a container for their cookies.
Whether you’re hosting or attending, a Christmas cookie exchange is a great place to share an old classic or a new cookie recipe.
Here are all our favorite Remodelaholic tried and true cookie recipes that will be the talk of the cookie swap party!
Easy Drop Christmas Cookie Recipes
Drop cookies are soft and delicious, from a classic chocolate chip cookie or an easy cake mix cookie to healthy banana zucchini cookie. Drop cookies are also quick to make a bunch, making them some of the best cookie exchange recipes!
Grab a cookie scoop to make these easy cookie exchange recipes even faster.
Semi-Homemade Red Velvet Cookies
Using a mix makes these semi-homemade cookies so fast and easy! They’re delicious and festively colored, and you can change the color to fit any holiday theme you like.
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Double the chocolate in these delicious classic cookies! Add red and green M&M candies to make them perfect for Christmas.
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Chewy Chocolate Cookies with Peppermint Chips
These easy chocolate cookies get a holiday flavor twist with peppermint chips! Perfect for mint chocolate lovers.
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Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Get the flavors of gingerbread without chilling dough or rolling it out! These soft gingerbread cookies are chewy and easy to mix up and drop on a cookie sheet for holiday baking.
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Chocolate Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocoholics, here’s your cookie! The goodness of an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, but with added cocoa.
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Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
For a different take on oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, add a banana! Perfect for when you have one ripe banana left sitting on the counter. The addition of cinnamon chips takes this soft cookie over the top!
Rainbow Sprinkle Funfetti Cookies
Nothing says holiday fun like sprinkles! Make these cake-style funfetti cookies from scratch (no cake mix needed). Swap the rainbow sprinkles for red and green jimmies or non-pareils to make these fun cookies for Christmas.
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Chocolate Chip Banana Zucchini Cookies
These banana zucchini chocolate chip cookies have the same texture as pumpkin chocolate chip, but with added veggies!
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Healthy Oatmeal Apple Raisin Cookies
These yummy oatmeal apple raisin cookies will satisfy your sweet tooth while not interfering with your healthy eating goals. Perfect for a midday office snack or an after school snack, too!
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Easy Lemon Drop Cookies
Make easy lemon cookies using a cake mix! These lemon drop cookies are extra lemon-y thanks to added lemon juice, lemonade powder and/or lemon zest. The powdered sugar on the outside makes them crisp and sweet, with a tangy center — just like a lemon drop candy!
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Peanut Butter Rolo Cookies
Like peanut butter kisses, but with added caramel! Hide a chocolate caramel surprise inside these perfect peanut butter cookies.
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Award Winner Chewy Chocolate Cookies
Like peanut butter kisses, but with added caramel! Hide a chocolate caramel surprise inside these perfect peanut butter cookies.
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Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Healthy replacements make these vegan chocolate chip cookies better for you while still tasting amazing!
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Gluten Free Chocolate Walnut Cookies
Flourless chocolate cookies plus walnuts equals holiday deliciousness! Swap the walnuts for macadamia nuts, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or whatever mix-in you’d like.
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Homemade Sandwich Cookie Recipes
Sandwich cookies are the best cookie exchange recipes when you want a filling bite of both cookie AND filling! These creative recipes will have everyone wanting the recipe.
S’mores Cookies
For the outdoorsy (or NOT outdoorsy) folks — the taste of childhood summers, no campfire needed! A gooey broiled marshmallow between two graham cracker chocolate chip cookies is a crowd pleaser!
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Homemade Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Cookies
These homemade peanut butter sandwich cookies are actually even BETTER than Nutter Butter cookies! If you love peanut butter, you’ll love these (mini) chewy oatmeal peanut butter cookies with a delicious creamy peanut butter filling.
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Nutella and Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies
We turned one of our favorite fall and winter flavors (pumpkin spice) into a perfectly soft and easy cake mix cookie and then matched it with easy nutella filling OR cinnamon spice frosting. Delicious homemade whoopie pie sandwich cookies!
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Thumbprint Christmas Cookie Recipes
Thumbprint cookies are like filled cookies, but way easier! These soft cookies are some of the best cookie exchange recipes because they’re quick and easy to make, but still look festive and fun (oh and taste amazing, too).
Candy Cane Crinkle Cookies
These mint chocolate candy cane cookies are a lightened up version of cake mix cookies! Just mix the cake mix cookie ingredients, then roll in brown sugar and add a bit of candy cane to the center for a chewy cookie with a minty crunch.
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Cream Cheese and Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies
These homemade peanut butter sandwich cookies are actually even BETTER than Nutter Butter cookies! If you love peanut butter, you’ll love these (mini) chewy oatmeal peanut butter cookies with a delicious creamy peanut butter filling.
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German Chocolate Cake Cookies
A soft German chocolate cake cookie gets topped with classic pecan coconut frosting and a drizzle of chocolate. All the best parts of a German chocolate cake in just one bite sized morsel!
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Raspberry Jam Shortbread Cookies
This buttery vanilla almond shortbread cookie is complimented perfectly with your favorite raspberry jam on top.
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Frosted & Cutout Cookie Recipes
If you’ve got a little bit of extra time, here are out best cookie exchange recipes that are frosted, dipped, and cut out into fun holiday shapes.
Frosted Eggnog Cookies
For eggnog lovers — your favorite drink, in cookie form! These frosted eggnog cookies have the special ingredient in both the cookies AND the frosting.
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Chocolate Dipped Brown Butter Cookies
This crispy brown butter cookie can be dipped in chocolate for an extra sweet treat, or left on its own as a delicious treat with your hot chocolate.
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Colorful Cut Out Kool-Aid Cookies
Kool-Aid cookies are like sugar cookies, but with a little extra flavor and color thanks to an unsweeted drink mix! We made them as Valentine conversation hearts; change these for the winter holidays by making green Christmas trees to decorate, or by cutting the cookies in an ornament shape. You could even insert ornament hangers and put them on the tree for a fun family tradition!
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Bar Cookie Recipes
Bar cookies can be the best cookie exchange recipes when you’re looking to make a bunch and quick — just pull out the sheet pans!
Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars
Cranberry is one of the most versatile flavors of the holidays, and combined with white chocolate chips drizzle, a buttery cookie bar, and a cream cheese frosting, it’s heavenly!
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Raspberry Granola Bar Cookies
The crunch of granola with the sweetness of jam, and don’t forget the chocolate chips! These granola bar cookies are a hearty filling snack.
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Healthy Baked Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Oats and applesauce make this chocolate chip cookie bar healthy and filling.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
Need a quick no-bake cookie? These chocolate peanut butter Cheerios treats are great for a cookie exchange party or a fast after school snack.
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No Bake Cookie Recipes
Best no bake cookie exchange recipes? Coming right up! These are fun and easy for kids to help bake, too.
No Bake Holiday Mint Thins
These easy no-bake chocolate mint cookies taste just like the Girl Scout version!
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Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
A quick and easy classic no bake cookie.
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Easy No-Bake Cookie Pops
Use pre-made cookies and caramel bits to make a bunch of these easy and delicious holiday cookie pops, in a hurry. Swap our Valentine candy toppers with your favorite Christmas candy or sprinkles for a festive treat.
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No Bake Trail Mix Cookies
All the best parts of trail mix and chocolate no bake cookies, together in one!
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Creative Christmas Cookie Recipes
Waffle Iron Sugar Cookies
Make a crispy cookie bite without using the oven! Make sugar cookies in your waffle iron for a great dippable cookie.
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Protein Snowman Cookies
This snowman cookie is a fun take on a protein bite! Great for gifting or for an after school snack.
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Strawberry Meringue Cookies
Are meringues really cookies? This light fluffy bite-sized dessert is delicious, so it will be a hit at your cookie exchange no matter what you call it. Easy to change up the colors, flavors, and chocolate chip mix-ins to fit different holidays, too.
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Sweet and Spicy Chocolate Cookies
These chill and slice chocolate cookies are a little sweet with a little bit of spice!
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For more holiday recipes, check out these:
- 25 Best Holiday Appetizers
- 25 Best Ways to Use Leftover Turkey and Ham
- Never Fail Gingerbread House Recipe
Cassity Kmetzsch
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Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.
