Finally Win Fan Favorite At The Cookie Swap This Year With These 17 Recipes

1Chocolate Turtle CookiesPHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

It’s really hard to beat the combo of chocolate and caramel in a chocolate turtle, but these cookies might just take the crown. The crunchy pecans add such a nice texture to the soft cookies and chewy caramel, you may never want to return to a basic chocolate cookie again.

Get the Chocolate Turtle Cookies recipe.

2Gingerbread CookiesPHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Ready to create a new holiday tradition? Decorating these Christmas cookies is the ultimate holiday activity everyone can get involved in, and they make for the sweetest homemade food gift to give to friends and family. Their crisp edges with a tender, soft middle always wins at cookie swaps too!

Get the Gingerbread Cookies recipe.

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3Panettone CookiesPHOTO; ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST; MAKINZE GORE

To think a fluffy, enriched bread like panettone can somehow translate into a buttery cookie might seem preposterous, but don’t stop reading! These cookie are the perfect base for the orange peel, currants, dried apricots, chocolate, and almonds you love about the original, with half the work.

Get the Panettone Cookies recipe.

4Chocolate Chip Cookies

We’ve made our fair share of variations on chocolate chip cookies, from chewy to brown butter, but this recipe takes the cake: They’re the most classic, least-fussy version—exactly what you want when you’re looking for a no-frills, soft, and fudgy cookie. Trust us; never boring, these are ALWAYS a hit.

Get the Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

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5Candy Cane CookiesPHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Only have the energy to make the cookies, but not decorate them? Enter: candy cane cookies. The festive twists of red and white

sugar cookie dough save you the step of needing to frost the cookies or add any extra decoration. Peppermint extract means they also taste like candy canes (but you can skip if you want!).

Get the Candy Cane Cookies recipe.

6Eggnog SnickerdoodlesPHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We personally LOVE eggnog, but ahem, don’t always enjoy having to buy a big container of it that no one else will drink. Enter: these eggnog snickerdoodles. They take the beloved cookie recipe and add a little extra festive, but not overwhelming, depth that everyone will enjoy. These are practically guaranteed to be the star of your Christmas cookie spread.

Get the Eggnog Snickerdoodles recipe.

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7Inside-Out Red Velvet CookiesPARKER FEIERBACH8PfeffernüssePHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: DUNCAN FITZPATRICK

This German treat combines seasonal spices and molasses to create an extra chewy cookie that gets a boost from a homemade cardamom glaze. Step aside gingerbread—these holiday cookies are getting the spotlight at the cookie swap this year.

Get the Pfeffernüsse recipe.

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9Cookies ‘N’ Cream Millionaire ShortbreadPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE10Santa’s Trash CookiesLindsay Conchar

These Christmas cookies will put you on everyone’s nice list. We packed ours full of festive Christmas sprinkles, chocolate chips, pretzels, and potato chips for the sweet and salty combo of our dreams. But these cookies are so easy and adaptable, you can really add in whatever you please!

Get the Santa’s Trash Cookies recipe.

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11Pan-Banging Confetti CookiesPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER12Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint CookiesAndrew bui

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13Nutella-Stuffed Snowball CookiesPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON14Chocolate Crinkle CookiesPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER

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15CuccidatiPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If Fig Newtons had a grown-up, glamorous sister, she would be cuccidati. Packed with a sticky-sweet, spiced fig filling and showered in rainbow sprinkles, these bite-sized Italian cookies are more than ready to shine at any and all cookie exchanges.

Get the Cuccidati recipe.

16Christmas Pinwheel CookiesEmily Hlavac Green

These pinwheel cookies are beyond mesmerizing, but are also SO easy to make. Make a batch of our easy sugar cookie dough, then dye one half red. Then simply roll them together to create the swirl. The sprinkles are optional but they add so much extra fun!

Get the Christmas Pinwheel Cookies recipe.

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17Peanut Butter CookiesParker feierbach

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