Best Cookies for a Cookie Swap

Cookie Exchange Parties are a fantastic way to celebrate the season, mingle with friends, and, of course, indulge in some delightful baked goods. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a newbie in the kitchen, choosing the right cookie can make your contribution the talk of the party.

Here's a roundup of the best cookies for your next cookie swap. We have tons of delicious cookie recipes that travel well and are perfect for a swap. Here are our favorite portable, swappable, giveable cookie recipes. There’s something here for everyone. And even if you don't see one below you love, we have 300+ more cookie recipes to choose from!

3 Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can never go wrong with this timeless favorite. Soft, chewy, and packed with chocolate chips, they’re a guaranteed hit. For a fun twist, we've added in three different kinds of chocolate chips, plus crispy rice cereal for an added crunch. 

Snickerdoodles

These sugary, cinnamon-coated delights are soft in the middle and slightly crispy on the outside. Every mouthful of these thick, Soft-Baked Snickerdoodle Cookies is a comforting blend of softness, warmth, and a touch of spice, making them a timeless favorite for many cookie lovers.

Red Velvet Hershey's Kiss Crinkle Cookies

A festive choice, especially for the holidays. These cookies have the classic taste of red velvet cake but in cookie form, and the powdered sugar crinkles give them a snow-covered look.

Danish Butter Cookie Thumbprints

What's better than a traditional Danish Butter Cookie? One with a sweet jam center! Buttery, soft, and filled with fruit spread, these versatile cookies allow you to showcase various jams or jellies in the center. Whether you go for raspberry, apricot, or any other flavor, these are sure to stand out.

Candy Cane Shortbreads

These buttery shortbread bars take less than 10 minutes of hands-on time before baking, and then another 10 minutes to drizzle on the chocolate and crushed peppermint. This cookie is rich and buttery, and it pairs perfectly with the sweet chocolate and cool peppermint bits.

Hot Cocoa Gingerbread Cookies

What's more fun than making gingerbread men during the holidays? Making gingerbread men with hot cocoa baked right into the cookie! If you're feeling a bit "extra", package them with a packet of hot cocoa mix. 

Pinwheel Cookies

Pinwheel Cookies have been a holiday favorite since the Depression Era. Chef Eddy's Date Pinwheels are a perfect blend of rich, chewy dates and buttery pastry, all rolled into an adorable pinwheel shape. Give a nostalgic nod to the past with this roly-poly recipe. 

Meltaway Lemon Cookies

Buttery Meltaway Lemon Cookies have a soft center and are topped with a lemon sugar glaze. These small and zesty lemon cookies are tart, lightly sweet, and just melt in your mouth. 

Salted Caramel Sugar Cookies

There's nothing more classic than sugar cookies. Here, we take them up a notch. Giant, bakery-style, sweet sugar cookies are filled with chewy salted caramel and topped with sparkly, flaky sea salt. 

Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

This quick and easy Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookie recipe is the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Soft peanut butter cookie outside, warm and gooey chocolate peanut butter cup inside. Win-win!

Almond Orange Biscotti

This one is for the crisp cookie lovers out there. Chef Eddy's Almond Orange Biscotti Is an Italian cookie with a delectable crisp and buttery texture. Perfect for dunking in a cup of coffee or hot tea. 

Mocha Meringues

Airy, light and chewy, meringues are sweet and light cookies will melt in your mouth. For a unique twist, we've added coffee to these meringues, which brings a subtle kick and a pleasing aroma. When you bite into them the airy crunch and the creamy chocolate create a dance of textures and flavors, making it a delightful treat for both coffee and chocolate lovers.

Pecan Crescent Cookies

A classic recipe beloved by generations, these Pecan Crescent Cookies are a fan favorite for good reason. These simple, 6-ingredient buttery cookies are sprinkled with just a dusting of powdered sugar as to not overwhelm their nutty flavor.

Chocolate Cookies

Nothing satisfies a chocolate craving better than these decadent Chocolate Truffle Cookies. Fudgy, with a brownie-like texture, Chef Eddy's Chocolate Truffle Cookies have both chocolate chips and a chocolate bar melted right into the dough. Then they're topped with even more chocolate chips. Chocolate heaven!

No Bake Cookies

If you're pressed for time or want to skip the oven, no-bake cookies are a tasty and quick option. As an added bonus, these No Bake Salted Caramel Coconut Macaroons are gluten-free!

Low Sugar Cookies

While we all love a good indulgent treat, cookies don't always have a high sugar content to be delicious - as exampled with these Kolacky Cookies. These two-bite low-sugar cookies have been made by mothers and grandmothers for generations. The cream cheese in Chef Eddy's recipe adds a delectable tang to this traditional recipe. Fill with your favorite jam and start your own tradition!

Brown Sugar Spice Cookies

Sugar, spice and everything nice! Every bite of these soft brown sugar cookies contains all the wonderful flavors of fall: ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and hints of molasses. Drizzled with a cinnamon sugar glaze, this is the perfect cool weather cookie. 

Perfect Butter Cookies

Craving a deep-flavored pure butter cookie? Chef Eddy's Pure Butter Cookies are unapologetically buttery, with a pure and rich taste that's slightly vanilla-infused. The exterior is lightly golden, while the inside remains pale, soft, and almost shortbread-like. This is a cookie for those who appreciate understated yet deeply satisfying treats.

Linzer Cookies

Linzer Cookies are sandwich cookies composed of two buttery, hazelnut-enriched shortbread-like rounds. The top half is a decorative cut-out showcasing the glistening jewel-toned jam nestled in the middle. The cookie's surface is dusted with a snowy sprinkle of powdered sugar, making it not only a treat for the palate but also a visual delight.

Savannah Snowballs

Savannah Snowballs are a vintage shortbread cookie recipe from our archives. Similar to a Russian Tea Cake or a Mexican Wedding Cookie, Savannah Snowballs have been a customer favorite for generations. 

Whatever cookie you bring, bake it with love, and it's sure to be a hit!

Thinking of hosting your own Cookie Exchange Party? Check out our How to Host a Cookie Swap article for tips.

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