Chocolate Thumbprint Cookie Recipe for Cookie Exchanges (2024)

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I love Christmas Cookies and Cookie Exchanges around the holidays are one of my very favorite Christmas traditions. Here are loads and loads of awesome Cookie Exchange Recipes!

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookie Recipe for Cookie Exchanges (1)

I love cookies year around but I love how much baking goes on this time of year so I’m so excited to join up with a bunch of other bloggers for an awesome virtual Great Cookie Exchange.

What is a Cookie Exchange?

I hadn’t gone to a cookie exchange until a couple of years ago and I think they are just brilliant. If you’ve never been to one its a super fun way to get a variety of cookies without having to whip up batches and batches of cookies. How it works is the host invites a bunch of friends. Each attendee brings a few dozen cookies, sometimes the printed out recipe and then a box to bring your cookies home in.

The exchange which can be a quick and dirty gathering, or a more drawn out party with your favorite party foods or even a tasty soup and fresh bread diner. When guests arrive everyone sets their cookies out. But these aren’t for eating at the party.

When directed by the host everyone goes around and adds a few of each cookies to their take home container. This allowed everyone to go home from the cookie exchange party with a box full of different sorts of cookies. It is a blast!

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookie Recipe for Cookie Exchanges (2)

Tons of Cookie Exchange Recipes

Even if you won’t be attending or hosting a cookie exchange this year hear are loads of delicious cookie recipes that you can make. My favorite tip for when you want a variety of holiday cookies without all the work is to save dough throughout the year.

For example, I love to make Halloween cookie gingerbread skeleton. But I don’t really need dozens of gingerbread cookies at Halloween so I’ll save some of the dough in the freezer and use it for Christmas gingerbreads when it’s time.

Most cookie dough can be frozen and used like this!
Chocolate Thumbprint Cookie Recipe for Cookie Exchanges (3)

It is so fun to find new recipes and trade and swap a few batches of one kind for a great assortment of different delicacies!

Here are 40+ delicious cookie exchange recipes so you can find the perfect cookie to take to the party this holiday season! Scroll down to get links to each of the recipes!

Christmas Thumbprint Cookie Recipe

Before I get to all the recipes here is my cookie contribution to the virtual cookie exchange. These easy Christmas Thumbprint Cookies are so festive and are a great make ahead option.

I just love the sprinkle detail on the side. They are fun and festive and perfect for making with the little ones!

Ingredients for Thumbprint Cookies

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cream of tartar
  • Christmas non-perils
  • 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons light corn syrup

How to Make Thumbprint Cookies

There’s some refrigeration time for these beauties so make sure to plan ahead. You could even do some them spread over a few days. Just make sure to allow some time for the dough to soften a bit if you do.

  1. Mix flour, baking soda and cream of tartar in a small mixing bow.
  2. Cream sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, almond extract together.
  3. Add dry ingredients and mix well.
  4. Divide dough into two logs between wax paper; refrigerate at least 1-2 hours. Slice dough into disks roll in Christmas sprinkles. Press your thumb to form an indention in the middle of each.
  5. Bake at 375 F for 7-8 minutes. Allow to cool.
  6. Microwave the chocolate and corn syrup for 30 seconds and stir. Zap for an additional 10 seconds and stir. Repeat until the chocolate is 80% melted and finish by stirring to melt completely.
  7. Spoon a generous amount of chocolate mixture in and allow to cool and set.

Don’t forget about all the other awesome cookies and be sure to follow along on the Cookie Exchange Pinterest board for year round cookie recipe inspirations!Follow Reasons To Skip The Housework’s board The Cookie Exchange on Pinterest.


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So many creative recipes right!? I’m a sucker for cookies year around. In fact they are one of my treats of choice!

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Chocolate Thumbprint Cookie Recipe for Cookie Exchanges (2024)

FAQs

How to present cookies for a cookie exchange? ›

Cookie Exchange Rules
  1. All cookies should be homemade.
  2. Please bring at least 2 dozen cookies (or more if you'd like!).
  3. Print out copies of the recipe to share.
  4. Arrange cookies in a basket or platter (be creative!).
  5. Bring a large container to carry away your cookies.
  6. Christmas attire is encouraged.

How many cookies to make for a cookie exchange? ›

How many cookies should they bring? Generally six dozen is a reasonable amount. You can either exchange five dozen and have one dozen out for eating at the party or exchange all six dozen. Regardless, everyone leaves with the same amount they brought.

What are the rules for a cookie exchange? ›

The Etiquette Of The Cookie Swap
  1. Remember: It's not a competition. ...
  2. Coordinate ahead of time. ...
  3. Make enough for everyone. ...
  4. Bring something homemade. ...
  5. Yes, you should still bring a host gift. ...
  6. Label your cookies for allergens. ...
  7. Bring cookies and a story. ...
  8. Hold off on seconds.
Jan 5, 2022

How to do a cookie exchange with a large group? ›

Ask each woman to bake 100 cookies (8.3 dozen) Pre-bagged, 4 cookies per baggie. (The bags should be clear so people can see to choose what they want to take.) Divide the group of 100 woman into four groups.

What can I bring to a cookie exchange? ›

While cookie exchanges typically involve batches of homemade cookies, you can incorporate other delicious treats into your evening. Consider making peppermint brownies, reindeer brownies, or chocolate peppermint bark. You can also include pecan date bars or peanut butter chocolate bars to mix things up.

How do you present cookies attractively? ›

5 Beautiful Ways to Package Homemade Cookies and Treats
  1. Stack on coasters. Coasters make perfect decorative little plates. ...
  2. Wrap in individual serving dishes. ...
  3. Wrap like candy. ...
  4. Place in egg cartons. ...
  5. Stack in mason jars.

Can you bring store-bought cookies to a cookie exchange? ›

Some cookies you can even bake and freeze ahead of time, and they will do just fine — just remember to give them plenty of time to defrost. If you've got a recipe where that works, double WIN! For goodness sake, don't walk into to a Cookie Swap with store-bought cookies and think you are going to fool anyone!

What do you eat at a cookie exchange party? ›

You want guests to take some cookies home, not eat them all during the party, so you'll want to offer other snacks for your loved ones to graze on. Set out some savory appetizers, curate a cheese board, offer finger sandwiches, put out a festive party mix, or create a veggie and dip station.

What is the ideal number for a cookie exchange party? ›

Christmas cookie swap parties usually work best with groups of 8-12 guests. You'll want to keep your guest list modest so it's easier to keep track of who's bringing what. Think of all the bakers, foodies, and festive friends in your group when creating your guest list.

How many cookies do I need for 30 guests? ›

How to Estimate the Number of Cookies Per Person? The general rule of thumb suggests calculating 2-3 cookies per person if other desserts are available. If cookies are the primary sweet treat, consider increasing the count to 4-6 per person.

What is the most popular cookie in America? ›

America's favorite cookie and the one dubbed “the American cookie” is the Chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate chip cookie is simply tantalizing both in flavor and in texture.

What is the cookie swap tradition? ›

Cookie exchanges are a century-old tradition in which participants bake dozens of their favorite cookie, then take them to a party where guests trade their cache and wind up with a variety of cookies from everybody else.

How do you organize a bake exchange? ›

Whether you're hosting or attending a holiday cookie swap, here's a step-by-step checklist for hosting a cookie exchange.
  1. Get organized. Set a date for your swap party—aim for two to three weeks before the holiday rush. ...
  2. Think about quantity. ...
  3. Don't forget the packaging. ...
  4. Keep parchment paper handy. ...
  5. Have fun.
Nov 1, 2023

Is it a cookie exchange or cookie swap? ›

A Christmas cookie exchange is a holiday season get-together, sometimes called a “cookie swap.” Each guest brings a different type of homemade cookies to swap with each other. Cookie exchanges can be as simple or as elaborate as you like and can include games, activities, and socializing.

How to box cookies for gifts? ›

Line the bottom and sides of a square or rectangular airtight tin with corrugated paper. Fold short lengths in half for dividers. Envelop your cookies in tissue paper, buffer them with corrugated paper tubes, or protect them using accordion-folds of paper. You can also tie a stack of cookies with baker's twine.

How do you present cookies at a party? ›

As each guest arrives, offer to take the cookies so you can arrange them nicely on your main table. Find tiered cookie trays to display everyone's cookies. It will make for a beautiful holiday table. Have each guest print out his or her recipe on card stock to pass around at the party.

How do I host a cookie exchange for kids? ›

Invite friends.

Figure out your guest list of who your child would like to invite to the party. Send a paper or digital invitation. Ask each guest to bring one dozen cookies – 6 for a platter of cookies to share, and 6 for kids to take home. Be sure to include yourself in the count of guests.

How do you present cookies on a plate? ›

After the planning and baking is done, it's time to put it all together! Start by grouping each batch of cookies together to add some visual organization and keep the plate looking neat. Then, place each group in order around the plate, ending with your favorite, most beautiful cookies in the center.

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