The holiday season is upon us, bringing with it the delightful tradition of cookie exchanges. Imagine a table brimming with a variety of cookies—each one unique, each one a piece of joy wrapped in sugar and spice. Hosting a holiday cookie exchange is a fantastic way to bring family and friends together, allowing everyone to sample an array of treats while filling up their own cookie jars for the holidays.
Ready to get started? Gather your ingredients, invite your friends, and begin the joyful process of baking these delectable treats. Whether you’re hosting or attending, these cookies are sure to be a hit, spreading holiday cheer one bite at a time.
1. Chocolate-Peppermint Whoopie Pies
These soft, cakey sandwich cookies are perfect for the holidays; chocolate and peppermint are a classic combination, or swap vanilla extract, or use a jar of marshmallow crème in place of the frosting. The cookies are delicious on their own, too – like chocolaty muffin tops.
2. Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies
No holiday cookie exchange is complete without classic sugar cookies. These cookies are quick and simple to whip up, and really fun to decorate with the whole family.
3. Sweet and Savoury Mustard Cranberry Cookies
This recipe creates a cookie packed with energy. Change up the fruit mixture to accommodate your likes.
4. Gingerbread People
These Gingerbread people are a mixture of spicy and sweet.
5. Chocolate Mint Crinkle Cookies
The perfect addition to your holiday baking repertoire, these brownie-like cookies are made with melted chocolate for an extra fudge-like texture.
6. Olde Fashioned Gingersnaps
Gingersnaps are a quintessential holiday cookie, beloved for their warm spices and satisfying crunch. These cookies are a wonderful addition to any cookie exchange, offering a nostalgic flavour that evokes fond memories of holidays past.
7. Jam Jam Cookies
A Jam Jam is a baked sandwich cookie made with two cakey cookies with jam sandwiched in between. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of variations of Jam Jams and one of the hottest topics amongst bakers is the use of molasses. Many outside the Atlantic provinces and Eastern Quebec, where molasses is a pantry staple, opt to use brown sugar instead of the white sugar-molasses combo they do on the East Coast.
Curious about the rich history of Jam Jams in Canada? Dive into their sweet story here!
