Cookie Exchange – Rules & Recipes

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Christmas cookie exchanges are such a fun way to get friends and family together during the holiday period. It’s a great way to get everyone in the festive spirit and enjoy some yummy cookies! Get my top tips to plan a cookie exchange along with 19 tasty and easy cookie recipes for you all to enjoy!

If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate the holiday season and share the joy of baking, a cookie exchange is the perfect event. But you may be wondering if there are cookie swap rules (there are) and how to do a cookie exchange that will accommodate all your guests in a fun, creative, and delicious way. The good news is that everything you need to know about hosting a cookie exchange is in this post. Including a list of 19 delicious Christmas cookie exchange recipes!

Why do a Cookie Exchange

• Try a variety of treats: A cookie swap allows you to enjoy a diverse selection of homemade treats without having to bake an entire assortment yourself. Plus, you get to taste cookies that you might not have tried otherwise.
• Fun quality time: The holiday season is all about sharing memories, building connections with loved ones, and embracing a sense of togetherness. A cookie exchange is a fun and delicious way to do just that – bringing friends, family, and communities together.
• Gets you into the holiday spirit. Exchanging cookies represents the spirit of giving and sharing, spreading joy and warmth during this season. What better way to do that than over cookies? Wear your favorite Christmas sweater and get ready to spread some sugary holiday vibes!

Tips for a Cookie Exchange

1. Have 8-12 people participate. You get a great selection of cookies that everyone can try and plenty for your guests to take home to share with their families. Invite people that you know love baking and will be happy to attend!
2. Timing matters. I like to throw a cookie exchange in the week leading up to Christmas. And because that time of the year is busy for everyone – I keep it short and sweet. A good cookie exchange should last about 2 to 3 hours. Enough to sample the cookies, mingle with friends, and pack up a goodie box to take home.
3. Be mindful of allergies. If possible, request your guests to include information about common allergens in their cookies, such as nuts, dairy, or gluten. This can be included on the place card and the recipe card so other guests are aware.
4. Prepare for extra guests. Make a few extra batches of cookies in case someone forgets or more guests attend than expected.
5. Consider donating cookies to charity. To extend the holiday spirit beyond your guest list, consider donating your cookies to a local shelter, hospital, senior care home, or another community organization that can brighten someone’s day and make the festive season more meaningful.

How To Do a Cookie Exchange

Hosting a cookie exchange is easier than you think. Follow these steps to host a successful cookie exchange that will leave you and your guests with a variety of delicious treats and warm hearts full of precious memories.

1. Invitations and planning. Send out invitations (I like to do this via email) indicating the date, time, and location of the cookie exchange. Encourage your guests to RSVP with the type of cookie they plan to bring to avoid double-ups. I also include cookie swap rules in the invites so everyone is on the same page.
2. Setting up the cookie display. I set up our large dining table with a runner and festive holiday decor along with a variety of cake stands and platters to showcase the cookies. Add place cards for each cookie next to the recipe and make a note of any allergy or dietary information.
3. Swapping and sharing. As guests arrive, have them set their cookies on the display. Mingle with your guests and have everyone sample the cookies. You can even consider having a voting session for the most creative, tastiest, or best-decorated cookie. Perhaps offer small prizes to winners, adding an element of friendly competition.
4. To-go boxes. Have a smaller area with to-go cardboard boxes or tins, tissue paper, and ribbons. This designated spot makes it easy for guests to pack cookies in the containers to take home. Make sure they don’t forget the recipe cards that go with the cookies.

Cookie swap rules

• Cookie type: Either have your guests select the cookie or assign them yourself so you have a good variety and prevent duplicates. My favorite cookies for a cookie swap are shortbread, iced, gingerbread, sugar cookies, chocolate, stuffed or sandwich, fruit, thumbprint, and butter cookies.
• Homemade cookies only: All cookies must be homemade, not store-bought. Additionally, a cookie exchange doesn’t have to be limited to cookies only. You can include brownies, bars, and scones.
• Amount of cookies: I encourage people to bring 36-48 cookies to ensure everyone receives a fair share of treats and prevent anyone from feeling overwhelmed. You want plenty of cookies for your guests to take home. I don’t think you can ever have too many cookies!
• Print recipes: I ask my guests to send me their recipes a few days before the exchange so that I can print them out for others to take home. You can also have your guests bring a few copies of the printed recipe so you’re not overwhelmed.

What else to serve

Although everyone is here for the cookies, I always serve a small selection of savory snacks and seasonal drinks. Easy finger food appetizers like stuffed mushrooms, a cheese board, and crostini with roasted tomatoes are all perfect. if time permits, make a Christmas wreath charcuterie board or Christmas tree vegetable platter to stay with the holiday theme. I also have a batch of vegan hot chocolate ready to serve.

Christmas Cookie Exchange Recipes

What’s a cookie exchange without cookies? You can never have enough cookies, and this collection of these sweet treats will leave you and your guests delightfully satisfied. Check out these Christmas cookie exchange recipes for you and your guests to make.

Christmas cookies

• Holiday Sugar Cookies – These festive cookies are quick and easy to make. Crispy on the outside and perfectly chewy in the middle, with fun crushed peppermint on top.
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – With rich, chocolatey interior and a beautiful snow-like exterior, these crinkle cookies strike the perfect balance of a fudgy brownie and a classic cookie. Plus, that dusting of powdered sugar makes them extra fancy!
• Gingerbread Cookies – This classic Christmas cookie is an absolute joy to make and even more fun to eat. Infused with a blend of warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, this cookie is a beloved treat during the holidays.
• Lofthouse Sugar Cookies – Wanting that classic store-bought sugar cookie, but the invite says homemade cookies only? Make your own soft-baked cookies with this copycat recipe. They’re incredibly soft with a melt-in-your-mouth texture and sweet frosting.
• Peanut Butter Blossoms – Delicious peanut butter cookies are topped with a Hershey’s kiss for a treat that has just the right amount of sweet, slightly salty, creamy, and chocolatey.
• Italian Christmas Cookies – These cookies are lightly sweetened with anise flavor shining through. Add some lovely glaze and red and green sprinkles for cookies that are a hit at any gathering.
• Maamoul – This Middle Eastern treat is made with semolina flour and two classic fillings: creamy dates and crunchy walnuts. What sets these cookies apart is their intricate designs that resemble snowflakes.
• Ginger Snap Cookies – Quick and easy to make, these ginger and molasses-infused cookies are bursting with flavor. They’re easy to make and have a soft and chewy texture that’s so irresistible.
• Biscotti Cookies – These elegant cookies are a classic and a delicious way to mix things up! And you have four flavors to choose from: almond, chocolate chip, pistachio lemon, and cranberry orange.

All other cookies

• Thumbprint Cookies – With a shortbread base and sweet jam-filled center, this crowd-pleasing dessert is fit for a party like a cookie exchange. Learn how to make jam so you can fill the cookies with your favorite flavors.
• Cardamom Cookies – These spiced cookies are perfectly soft with rich flavors of molasses and lemon in every bite. They are simple to make and make a great cookie contribution to a cookie swap night.
• Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies – Take your beloved peanut butter cookie and dip it in chocolate to make it extra festive for the holidays without much effort. Soft and chewy with a delicious chocolate coating adds a special touch.
• Date Cookies – Rich, buttery, and chewy, these Mediterranean-inspired cookies have a pretty simple cookie base but are jazzed up with naturally sweet dates and crunchy pecans. The result is an irresistible cookie perfect for a cookie exchange.
• Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies – Crunchy around the edges and deliciously chewy on the inside, with chocolate chips and fresh cranberries in every bite.
• Chocolate Chip Cookies – A good, classic, made-from-scratch chocolate chip cookie is hard to beat. This one has the perfect balance of sweet, a little salty, and rich with chocolate chips wrapped up in a treat that’s crispy around the edges with a chewy center. Every cookie exchange needs a classic chocolate chip cookie!
• Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies – Chewy and rich with Nutella flavors, these cookies take just 5 minutes to prep and 4 ingredients. They are perfect to share with family and friends to help them get their chocolate fix.
• Snickerdoodles – This simple and humble cookie has been a favorite, and for good reason. The cinnamon-sugar coating crackles ever-so-slightly as you take a bite revealing the soft, chewy interior. Everyone loves these comforting treats.
• Pistachio Cookies – These cookies are made with almond flour and rolled oats so they are gluten-free. And the pistachios add a lovely flavor and green tinge to the cookies, making them festive and delicious!
• 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies – These flourless cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, and most importantly fuss-free. They’re easy to make with basic pantry staples making them a perfect last minute cookie option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you know how to do a cookie exchange, what are you waiting for? I hope these tips, tricks, and cookie swap rules are helpful as you get ready to host a cookie exchange party. And if you are a guest to one, I hope you found a few new cookie recipes to try! Most importantly, I hope you can create a memorable and enjoyable cookie exchange where everyone leaves with delicious treats and heartwarming memories.

Full List of Recipes

Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipes cards to take you directly to those recipes.

For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Festive New Years Recipes, Healthy Appetizers for Holidays, Easy Christmas Morning Breakfasts, and Cozy Winter Recipes.

If this guide on how to do a cookie exchange has helped you, or you have anything to share with me, be sure to leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experiences! And if you snapped some shots of you cookies share them with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!