I make these:

https://www.crazyforcrust.com/moms-russian-tea-cakes/

https://onehotoven.com/pecan-tassies/
I also make a version of that with raspberry jam and coconut instead of pecans.

https://www.cookingclassy.com/stained-glass-cookies/

And a version of rum balls for my Irish whiskey loving DH:

https://www.pookspantry.com/irish-cream-whiskey-balls-recipe/

Anonymous wrote:If you’re looking for something a little different, I just made these and they are so addictive: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/marshmallow-crispy-cookies/comment-page-2/

These are on my list to try, though I doubt I’ll get to them in time for the holidays.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Aren't you bothered by your circle's possibly less-than-hygienic practices?

Cookie exchanges don't sit quite right with me.

Jesus Christ its not like they stick their hand in a cookie jar and rub each cookie.

It's set up like a cookie buffet, there are tongs to pick,up cookies and containers to brinf them home

We always had everyone bring half a dozen for each guest in a container. While not the reason for it, no one touches any cookies other than the ones they packaged and brought. The buffet is just a small sampling of each person's variety.

I make hot Cocoa cookies (chocolate cookie with chocolate and marshmallow half added halfway through baking). They're easy but festive. You can do a peppermint chocolate or add colored sugar sprinkles too.

Anonymous wrote:If you’re looking for something a little different, I just made these and they are so addictive: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/marshmallow-crispy-cookies/comment-page-2/

Thank you! These sound delicious. I've never browned butter. For some reason it intimidates me. Maybe I'll finally attempt it.

I make snowballs (basically a Mexican wedding cookie with a hershey's kiss in the middle) and kolaches.

We just had an exchange and the biggest hits were rosemary shortbread cookies, macarons with egg nog filling, and a fudgy truffle rolled in cocoa powder. But agree wtih upthread PP that rum balls are a great one to see on the spread.

Anonymous wrote:
Aren't you bothered by your circle's possibly less-than-hygienic practices?

Cookie exchanges don't sit quite right with me.

Then don’t participate. It’s really okay. People can enjoy different things. No need to try and convert everyone to a paranoid anti-good lifestyle

This year I made turtle cookies.

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/chocolate-turtle-cookies/

How many of you buy and put the container on the cookie table (No personal kitchen made)?

Everyone at my exchange loves Alison Roman’s salted butter chocolate chunk shortbread

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm Italian-American and I bring these...

https://www.tastingtable.com/cook/recipes/italian-rainbow-cookie-recipe

I love these and they are so pretty!

I want to be part of your exchange! I love these but I made them one year and they were too much work for me.

I usually do ginger cookies, but sometimes do chocolate with mint holiday M&Ms.

Anonymous wrote:2025
What cookie will be in your cookie exchange this year?

I made sally's baking addiction lace cookies as a practice run and because my kids had never had them. As everyone knows these are very dependent on weather/humidity! They came out so very delicate so I added her next step which was melted chocolate and sandwiched to give them a little stability. They were still very fragile and too difficult to make for yield, but my family loved them and we now have a new favorite home cookie for the tray.

PS- brownies with broken lace cookie "crisp" sprinkled on top are also good.

I am going to something adjacent to a cookie exchange tomorrow and made linzer cookies with a “holiday” filling: I used the 1/2 batch of cranberry sauce I had thrown in the freezer a month ago and mixed in a pint of raspberries and some extra sugar. It came out great! So tasty.
Also made the the NYT ginger cheesecake cookies which are good, but the cheesecake part is not worth the effort. The ginger cookie portion is great, though.

If you’re looking for something a little different, I just made these and they are so addictive: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/marshmallow-crispy-cookies/comment-page-2/

2025
What cookie will be in your cookie exchange this year?