It probably is a similar recipe! I keep frozen cookie dough on hand to bake a few cookies at a time for dessert when we have people over. I only bake a full batch of cookies if we are going to a party or if I am giving them away for the holidays.
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I made those lemon cranberry cookies posted above thanks to someone on here who shared it. They looked great and tasted wonderful.
My favorite cookie that makes a lot is this one. I do the original recipe.
https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/cowboy-cookies-recipe
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Here is another list of easy Christmas cookies:
https://food52.com/story/26749-easy-christmas-cookie-recipes-with-few-ingredients
I’ve made these several times before and they’ve always been a hit:
Of course there are a million recipes for sugar cookies
I always use 2 sticks of butter in my cc cookies
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There are some excellent cookie recipes being posted here…but please…if you are going to a Christmas cookie exchange…make Christmas cookies.
I was in charge of a Christmas cookie exchange where I worked. We stopped having it because folks were bringing brownies, blond brownies, chocolate chip cookies, PB cookies, etc. and some folks started to bring store baked cookies. It started being all Christmas cookies…and when it evolved into everyday cookies folks asked that we just stop.
Another suggestion is Thumbprint Cookies. Very easy and look beautiful on a Christmas cookie platter.
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Whenever I’ve been to Christmas Cookie exchanges, the only rule is you have to bring cookies. Doesn’t have to be Christmas. Guess it depends on the group.
That said, I’ve only been to cookie exchanges at Christmas..
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Who’s to say what makes a cookie a Christmas cookie? It’s like is Die Hard a Christmas movie! Depends on perspective.
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I don’t have a recipe for you, but if you’re trying to make them impressive, I find that if I use an old fashioned ice cream scoop, or a melon scoop, that keeps the size consistent (if you’re making a cookie that’s appropriate for).
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Agreed! And icing and fancy sprinkles go a long way in making even basic cookies feel special.
We made these cookies one year but instead of sprinkling them with regular sugar, we rolled the edges in red and green sprinkles and they looked really good! Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
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Why are thumbprint cookies Christmas cookies but my mom’s chocolate chip cookie recipe isn’t? What says holiday about thumbprint cookies? I do not like iced sugar cookie cutouts and those are the only ones besides gingerbread men that really say holiday to me. I would be sad and not want to go to that cookie party if that’s all it was.
I made my mom’s recipe last year and some lemon ginger cookies I winged and folks loved them. Neither one had any icing that said “merry christmas” on them, but people took them gladly and asked me for the recipes, which was a little tricky since I kinda just riffed on the lemon ginger ones and adapted several recipes and added my own twist and didn’t write anything down.
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Not to mention that “Christmas cookie” = Christian holiday. Plenty of other delicious “cookies” to celebrate other December holidays like Hanukkah, Kwanza…..
For ME, while I prefer not to get Lofthouse cookies at a cookie exchange, if there is someone who can only participate due to whatever limitations and that person brings store bought peanut butter cookies, I’ll deal with it. They will/can be SO pleased to have the other varieties of cookies and still have the social exchange of it all.
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I am not the best baker so I often bring these to my annual cookie swap:
Crockpot White Chocolate Pistachio Cranberry Clusters » Homemade Heather Crockpot White Chocolate Pistachio Cranberry Clusters » Homemade Heather
Sugared Curried Pecans - Sisters and Spice…and everything nice Sugared Curried Pecans - Sisters and Spice...and everything nice
Easy Fudge Recipe - Simple Joy https://share.google/UoIor1VZrEECEoWJa
I sometimes will add peppermint extract to the fudge and top with crushed candy canes.
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I just want to post another sincere thank you. SO MANY GOOD LOOKING COOKIES! I have no idea how I will pick! 
I think @thumper1 may have meant “festive” cookies rather than everyday cookies like chocolate chip. I’m thinking a holiday cookie exchange should look something like this:
But I don’t do exchanges, so no horse in this race.
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If that whole table was chocolate chip cookies I’d be happy!
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Agreed! I was going to suggest rugelach, as my cinnamon walnut rugelach is probably my family’s favorite Christmas (well, Holiday) cookie. But I can’t say it falls in the “easy to make” category. It is a bit of a production.
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I’d be all over Nanaimo bars or rum truffles!
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Yes…and folks, I didn’t mean to offend anyone here. If you want to make chocolate chip cookies for a holiday cookie swap, go ahead. It’s just my experience that a more festive looking cookie is what people are looking for.
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My bookclub hosted a Christmas cookie exchange for a number of years with invited guests. Fun for the first few years, but then not so much. A few of us really did beautiful, “festive” cookies–one member did gorgeous individually decorated cookies that looked professionally made. I made decorated cut out cookies ala my Scandinavian heritage. What brought it to an end??? 1) those of us whole put a lot of time and effort into our cookies, would then end up with some less than “festive” cookies. (My family wanted my pretty holiday cookies!) 2) Some guests ignored the request to only bring cookies, not bars, crack, etc. 3) with 14-16 participants, making that many dozen just got to be onerous. 4) many were becoming empty nesters and didn’t necessarily want those extra calories added to our menopause aprons…
We switched to hosting a Christmas WIne and Cheese party (we supplied all the holiday cheer and food) and everyone was much happier!
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To me, the most festive cookies out there are chocolate chip because they are my favorites over any other kind!
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