It is Christmas cookie exchange time! If you are looking for some simple yet delicious cookie ideas you have come to the right place. I’ve collected over 50 cookie exchange recipes for you to check out.

The Christmas season is definitely the busiest time of year: buying gifts, decorating the house, visiting relatives, and holiday baking. I definitely enjoy seeing relatives, thinking of gift ideas and coming up with DIY ways to decorate the house.
Baking? I enjoy it, but this time of year seems to involve way too much time spent in the kitchen and I would rather spend time with the family.
Join or Start a Cookie Swap
One way give yourself more time is to get involved with a Christmas cookie exchange. How does this save you time? You only need to make one cookie recipe instead of the 5 – 10 you may usually like to have on hand.
This means less prep and clean up time is needed. Plus, you can include friends and family in the cookie swap so this counts as some holiday time with the family!
I’m not going to go into detail about how to host a cookie exchange in this post. Instead I am going to concentrate on recipes you might like to choose for your cookies this year.
If you’d like more information about hosting a cookie exchange, I have free printables and a DIY Christmas cookie exchange favor bag on my Mod Podge blog.

Okay, lets get to the good part – Christmas cookie recipes! Since cookie exchanges don’t need to be solely about cookies, I’ve also included some alternatives such as bars, truffles, fudge, and other fun treats!
For the easy recipes that have only a few ingredients or only take a little time, I’ve included that in the description so keep an eye out for that. Go ahead now, scroll down to see the delicious recipes I’ve collected for you.
Cookie Exchange Recipes
Looking for something to make for your cookie exchange or swap? Here are 50+ recipes including cookies, truffles, bars, fudge and other treats. Many have only a few ingredients or take very little time. Take a look at my go-to cookie exchange recipes.
Cookies
Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies
These red velvet thumbprint cookies are so rich and fluffy with the perfect amount of creamy cheesecake filling. They are perfectly festive and delicious!
Peanut Butter Balls Buckeye Balls
This classic buckeye balls (peanut butter balls) recipe is a family favorite no bake treat to make during Christmas time! It's probably my number one favorite at Christmas cookie exchanges.
Cranberry Walnut Cookies
These cranberry-walnut cookies with white chocolate chips are the perfect combination of tart, sweet, and crunchy. This is my FAVORITE cookie recipe.
Vanilla Shortbread Cookies
This healthier shortbread cookie recipe has an optional glaze and makes a perfect holiday wreath! They're vegan, too.
Pudding Cookies with Peppermint
These delicious Christmas pudding cookies are loaded with yummy chocolate and would be perfect for a cookie exchange or bake sale!
Apricot Cookies
Combine sweet fruit with crunchy almonds and rich dark chocolate - you have the perfect, decadent apricot cookies for year-round indulging! Makes 3 dozen.
Snowball Cookies
A classic holiday cookie for a reason . . . they are awesome! This recipe only has six ingredients and is always a hit cookie exchange recipe.
Snowman Cookies
Decorate store bought sugar cookies and they look homemade. Impress your fellow Christmas cookie exchangers with very little effort!
Chocolate Mint Sandwich Cookies Recipe
These chocolate peppermint cookies are soft and chewy and filled with peppermint cream frosting. They’re perfect at Christmas and they’re great year round! You’re going to love them
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
What makes regular chocolate chip cookies even more delicious? Oatmeal!! This is the BEST oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe you'll ever have. So easy to make, so tasty!
Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies
Learn how to make the most delicious chocolate chip bacon cookies. This recipe is easy, and you're going to love the combination of sweet and salty!
Soft Gingerbread Cookies
These soft gingerbread cookies are a must for the holidays. They’re perfectly spiced with soft centers and the perfect gingerbread taste. The best gingerbread men I’ve ever tried!
Chocolate Almond Pillow Cookies
Inside these puffy little gems is a pocket of chocolate almond delight. This pillow cookie recipe is stuffed with almond paste and chocolate in the center!
Chocolate Cinnamon Stars (Zimtsterne)
Zimtsterne is a classic German cinnamon cookie. This recipe takes it up a notch with the addition of chocolate.
Cherry Pie Cookies
These pretty (and delicious!) shortbread style cherry pie cookies are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges or special occasions! Your guests will never guess how easy they are to make.
Lower Calorie Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
A classic cookie exchange recipe with a lightened up twist. Less calories means you can eat more, right?
Reese's + Butterfinger Cookies
Two of the best candies ever come together to make these delicious Reese's and Butterfinger cookies! Which, you can use this recipe to combine any types of candies and make your favorites!
Paleo Shortbread Cookies
These delicious paleo shortbread cookies only have 1 g net carb per serving! Perfect for Whole30 and ketogenic diets. So tasty!
Crinkle Cookies
This is an easy crinkle cookie recipe since it uses cake mix as one of the 4 ingredients! Save yourself some time and effort but don't lose the taste.
Chocolate Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
These chocolate candy cane kiss cookies are rolled in red and white sugar and then topped with a candy kiss. They will be one of the first cookies to disappear off your holiday cookie tray!
No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies
If kids want to get in on the Christmas cookie action, these are perfect for them! You'll love the no-bake aspect, and children can easily decorate too.
Ferrero Rocher Christmas Cookies
A flaky crust surrounding a delicious Ferrero Rocher candy and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Only five ingredients needed!
Blizzard Cookies
Made with half a brick of cream cheese in addition to butter, these winter-sprinkle infused cookies studded with white chocolate chips are super soft cookies that belong in your yearly Christmas cookie rotation.
Ginger Molasses Cookies
Learn how to make this delicious, old-fashioned ginger molasses cookies recipe! These are so soft and tasty - you've never had a cookie like this before.
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies get the Christmas upgrade with candy canes and white chocolate! These will definitely be a hit amongst the other cookie exchange recipes.
Butterscotch Cookies with Popcorn
These buttered popcorn and butterscotch cookies are a unique twist on a tradition favorite! They are sweet, salty, chewy, and delicious - and the recipe is very easy to make.
Vanilla Meringue Cookies
The easy to follow steps and tips provided make these four-ingredient cookies really simple to achieve! These cookies will melt in your mouth.
White Chocolate Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles are a holiday staple! Here's a way you can take the classic recipe to the next level by adding a little white chocolate and toffee.
Cardamom Shortbread with an Orange Glaze
Cardamom shortbread cookies boast an exotic warm flavor, balanced with a sweet, citrusy orange glaze. The cookies are buttery, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Rolo Cookies
Rolo cookies are quick, easy, and delicious! Follow this simple Rolo cookie recipe (only requires five ingredients) to make this incredibly tasty, chocolatey, and gooey dessert! Great for a bake sale or Christmas cookie exchange.
Almond Flour Cookies
Buttery soft on the inside and crisp on the outside, these four-ingredient, highly-rated cookies are sure to be a family favorite. Especially if you sandwich some chocolate spread between them!
Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
These chocolate oatmeal no bake cookies without peanut butter are a quick and easy twist on the classic. Six ingredients make this a super easy recipe for a Christmas cookie swap!
S'mores Cookies
This semi-homemade recipe will remind you of sitting by the campfire. With only 5 ingredients, you can make these in no time!
Shortbread Tea Cookies
Learn how to make delicious shortbread tea cookies using some basic ingredients you probably already have on hand. These tea biscuits are good with tea (of course), but also hot chocolate during the Christmas season.
Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macaroons are an old school Christmas cookie exchange recipe that everyone loves! Quick and easy to make and absolutely delicious, they will take you right back to your childhood. Light, fluffy and seriously yummy, you can make a batch of these in under 20 minutes. They are also freezer friendly.
Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
These delicious dark chocolate chip cookies include white chocolate butterscotch M&M's and yummy pecans. The perfect way to jazz up a plain cookie recipe!
Jell-O Cookies
Make these easy sugar cookies using red and green Jell-O for the holidays! Kids will love the bright colors and can help with the baking process.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
Peanut butter cookie 'tarts' stuffed with mini peanut butter cups! Amee also provides an alternative time-saver recipe hack you may want to try.
Bars
Marshmallow Pretzel Bars with M&Ms
Looking for a delicious holiday treat you can make in just a few minutes? Try these M&M marshmallow pretzel bars! No baking required.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Six ingredients and no baking required! That means all of the kids can help. Side note: these are amazing topped with ice cream.
Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
This rice krispy treat recipe makes the cutest Christmas trees ever! Perfect for the holidays, tasty, and the whole family can join in to make them.
Holiday Marshmallow Bars
Marshmallow bars meet fudge in this incredible no-bake holiday treat. Soft and scrumptious, these are a favorite with everyone! These Christmas bars only have five ingredients.
White Chocolate Cereal Bars
Your choice of cereal plus four more ingredients! These white chocolate bars are a great combination of sweet and crunchy, and perfect for a Christmas cookie exchange.
Brown Butter Blondies
Brown butter gives these an almost caramel flavor that is perfect with the chocolate chips. Only seven ingredients needed.
Truffles
Beijinhos de Coco
Beijinhos are Brazilian coconut truffles that are incredibly easy to make - they only take 4 ingredients, and are amazingly sweet and delicious!
Biscoff Truffles
No bake and only three ingredients required? Sign me up! If you are a fan of Biscoff cookies, you will love these truffles.
Brigadeiros
Learn how to make delicious brigadeiros - they are Brazilian chocolate truffles that will melt in your mouth. And they are so easy!
Healthy Salted Caramel Truffles
This healthier truffle uses dates and honey for the sweetness and are topped with just a touch of salt.
Oreo Balls
This is a bit different from some Oreo Ball recipes you have seen in the past. No cream cheese needed!
Fudge
Candy Cane Fudge
If you want an easy fudge recipe for a cookie exchange, try this delicious candy cane version! You can use the same base and customize with other ingredients to make it your own.
Tiger Butter Fudge
Quick and simple tiger butter fudge is made with only three ingredients! Made using the microwave oven this is one of the easiest fudge recipes you will ever make. It looks pretty, tastes delicious and is creamy smooth too.
Chocolate Mint Fudge
Use green food coloring and call these 'Grinch Fudge' for the holidays. This 2-layer fudge has a chocolate base and a mint top layer. Best part? This is a no-sugar added recipe!
Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge
This delicious and smooth peanut butter fudge recipe uses marshmallow creme and chocolate for some added tastiness!
Treats
Saltine Toffee (aka Christmas Crack)
Irresistible, buttery goodness! This Christmas Cracker toffee recipe is easy and delicious, and one of the cookie exchange recipes you always except to see.
Cuban Lunch Squares
This is a copycat recipe of an old favorite candy in western Canada. It is the perfect blend of dark chocolate and peanuts.
Rolo Pretzels
Rolo pretzels are easy to make! Although these Rolo turtles have a Valentines twist, you could dip them in white chocolate and add red and green sprinkle touches for Christmas.
Cranberry & Pistachio Bark
Cranberry and pistachio white chocolate bark is so festive and it’s perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges! It’s like almond bark but with pistachios rather than almonds. This easy holiday treat recipe is so simple to make and if you are like me, a fan of white chocolate, cranberry and pistachio, you’ll love it.
Chocolate Hedgehog Slice
This is a fast, simple, no-bake recipe that everyone will enjoy! Only six ingredients needed. It's very easy to slice and perfect for handing out during exchanges.
What cookie exchange recipe will you be making this year? Did I leave your favorite off of the list? Let me know in the comments below. I’d also love for you to visit the following posts:
Joss
Thursday 2nd of December 2021
What a fun post! So many good treats on this list. Bookmarked.
Amy
Thursday 2nd of December 2021
Thank you so much Joss!