21 Show-Stopping Cookies for Your Holiday Cookie Exchange

The holidays are the best time to load up on cookies that bring out the cheer in every bite. From peppermint-packed treats to chocolate-drenched delights, these cookies are made for cookie swaps, dessert tables or cozy nights by the tree. You’ll find nostalgic favorites alongside fresh ideas with festive colors and fun shapes. If you’re looking to fill your cookie tray with something fun, these bakes are worth trying.

Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

These cookies are quick to make and require no oven time at all. Chocolate and oats blend together into fudgy rounds that set up as they cool. The texture is chewy with just the right amount of crunch. Great for last-minute cookie needs.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

These are packed with cocoa powder and extra chocolate chips for a rich bite. They’re thick, soft, and stay fudgy in the center. If you’re into chocolate, these are a solid go-to. They pair well with a cold glass of milk.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Swirls of red and green dough make these cookies stand out on the dessert table. The buttery sugar cookie base is crisp on the edges with a tender bite. They’re rolled, sliced, and baked to reveal a festive pattern. Great for gifting or stacking in tins.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Mrs. Claus Cookies

These are soft, frosted cookies with sprinkles that look like something straight from Santa’s kitchen. The dough is flavored with vanilla and almond for a gentle sweetness. Once baked, they’re topped with a smooth layer of icing. They’re made to bring a smile.
Get the Recipe: Mrs. Claus Cookies

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Crushed candy canes and chocolate chips are folded into soft dough for a cookie with crunch and meltiness. They have a cool minty taste in every bite. The contrast between peppermint and chocolate works well here. Ideal for fans of that winter combo.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hershey Kiss Sugar Cookies

Classic sugar cookies get dressed up with a single chocolate kiss in the center. The cookie base is soft with just enough chew. These bake up round with a bit of sparkle from sanding sugar. Always popular at holiday parties.
Get the Recipe: Hershey Kiss Sugar Cookies

Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies

These slice-and-bake cookies have bits of candy cane baked right in. The buttery shortbread has a crumbly texture and a clean finish. With their pale base and red specks, they look just as festive as they taste. These hold up well for mailing.
Get the Recipe: Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies

Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Rich cocoa dough is rolled in sugar and topped with a chocolate kiss. They bake into a slightly cracked surface and a soft center. The sugar coating adds a nice texture against the smooth chocolate. A great choice for chocolate fans.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Peppermint Chewy Chocolate Cookies

These cookies have a soft chocolate base with chopped peppermint candies mixed throughout. They’re chewy in the middle with crispy edges. Each bite gives you a cool burst of mint. Great for those who love bold flavors.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Cinnamon Lattice Cookies

Delicate strips of spiced dough are woven together for a pretty effect. The cinnamon flavor is warm and fragrant. They bake up crisp and golden with a dusting of sugar on top. These stand out visually on any cookie plate.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Lattice Cookies

Grinch Cake Mix Cookies

Made with green cake mix, these are soft, chewy, and bright in color. A heart-shaped sprinkle in red gives them a playful nod to the Grinch. They’re easy to make and always grab attention. Kids especially love these.
Get the Recipe: Grinch Cake Mix Cookies

Reindeer Cookies

These cookies use pretzels for antlers and candy eyes to create a cute face. The base is usually a peanut butter or sugar cookie. They’re more about the fun than the fuss. Ideal for baking with kids.
Get the Recipe: Reindeer Cookies

Christmas Blossom Cookies

Like a traditional blossom cookie but made with festive colored sugars. A chocolate kiss sits at the center of each round. The coating adds a crunch and seasonal color. They’re cheerful and simple.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Blossom Cookies

Grinch Cookies

Soft green cookies with a little red candy heart mixed in. These typically have a sugar cookie texture and a hint of almond or vanilla. They’re themed around the classic character for a fun touch. Great for cookie decorating parties.
Get the Recipe: Grinch Cookies

Christmas Cookies with MMs

Colorful M&Ms are pressed into the tops of soft vanilla or chocolate cookies. These bake up thick and chewy. The candies add crunch and color. A staple that’s always a hit.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Cookies with MMs

Easy Lemon Blueberry Cookies (With Fresh Fruit)

Fresh blueberries and lemon zest add brightness to these soft cookies. They have a cake-like texture with bursts of fruit. A drizzle of glaze on top makes them stand out. Light and fragrant, they offer something different from the usual holiday fare.
Get the Recipe: Easy Lemon Blueberry Cookies (With Fresh Fruit)

Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies

These are a dark twist on the classic blossom, with chocolate dough and a chocolate kiss. Rich and sweet, they bake into soft pillows with a fudgy bite. The sugar coating gives them a little sparkle. A good one for serious chocolate lovers.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Snowflake Cookies

These sugar cookies are cut into snowflake shapes and decorated with icing. Each one looks unique thanks to piping and sanding sugar. They’re crisp, clean, and look like winter on a plate. Best for showing off your decorating skills.
Get the Recipe: Snowflake Cookies

Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies

Cocoa cookies meet peppermint-flavored kisses in this holiday treat. The contrast of cool mint and rich chocolate makes each bite interesting. They hold their shape well and look festive. A solid cookie for themed trays.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies

Chocolate Chip Hershey Kiss Cookies

This mashup includes both chocolate chips and a Hershey kiss on top. The base is soft and chewy with melty pockets inside. Once cooled, the kiss adds another layer of flavor. A hybrid cookie that’s always welcome.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Hershey Kiss Cookies

Glazed Sugar Cookies

These are cut-out cookies with a smooth icing poured over the top. They can be decorated with sprinkles or left plain. The glaze sets to a shiny finish that stacks well. Soft inside with a bit of crunch on the edge.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Sugar Cookies