• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Shop

Baking 101: The Cookie Swap

December 12, 2019 by Joy the Baker 18 Comments

Y’all. I’m not doing a gift guide this year.  There are enough people on the internet telling you to buy a lavender stand mixer or a set of rocks glasses for your father in law.  Enough is enough.  I’m taking it easy in the gifting department and leaning full body into cookies.

The Bakehouse is quiet this month.  I decided not to hold any workshops and instead, take it a little slower this holiday season to leave room for reflection and ya know…. attending a holiday party or two on my own.  Last year I found myself trying to recover from a doozy of a surgery, hold a holiday market at The Bakehouse, and travel to see my family in California,  I kept repeating “I’ll be fine” to myself but I honestly wasn’t sure if I was telling the truth or not.  I was fine. Obviously.  But it was dicey there for a few weeks.

This year the only event at The Bakehouse is a good, old-fashioned cookie swap for friends.

Do you know the wonders of a cookie swap?  The true joy of heading home with a tin of homemade cookies to maybe share or maybe eat straight off your chest while watching The Family Stone? It a pleasure reserved for exactly this time of year and I don’t think any of us should miss it.  Large or small – get together and exchange cookies. It really is the sweetest.

Here’s what you’ll need for a cookie swap: 

•  Cookie tins – I like these plain white 7 3/4 in diameter medium cookie tins.  They aren’t the cheapest option but they’re classy and looks so nice finished with a festive bow.

•  Cookie boxes are a more affordable / fast shipping option that works really well if you’re expecting a lot of guests.

•  Good wired holiday ribbons because we deserve a good bow.

•  Large cupcake papers to hold each cookie type within the box or tin.  Nothing is willy nilly.

Want some cookie ideas?  OF COURSE YOU DO! 

Confetti Holiday Shortbread – they’re like the popcorn of cookies. Buttery, crisp, festive, and you can totally eat them by the handful.  One batch makes a hearty amount and four are very sweet piled into a cookie tin together.

Chewy Ginger Cookies – a classic holiday cookie that’s spiced and full of earthy molasses. It’s a must.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Kiss Cookies aka my reason for getting up in the morning every day of December. The best holiday cookie of all.  A soft peanut butter cookie (this one rolled in vanilla bean sugar) topped, while warm, with a Hershey’s kiss. There is no more perfect cookie and that’s that.

Ginger Almond Dark Chocolate Bark – this is absolutely irresistible please believe me. It’s almonds so it’ basically health food.

Gingerbread Topped Marshmallows – using these gingerbread spiced marshmallows topped with a tiny gingerbread person cookies.

Brown Sugar Cookies simple, chewy and absolutely delicious. If you wanted to add some warming spices (like a hint of cinnamon) that would take them to a very festive place.

Blueberry Thumbprint Cookies would be a wonderful addition with cranberry sauce instead of blueberry jam.

Other cookies that would be absolutely wonderful: 

Iced Oatmeal Cookies from A Cozy Kitchen!

Spumoni Cookies from The Candid Appetite!

Bakery-Style Butter Cookies from Smitten Kitchen!

Here are a few savory and drink options to round out your swap: 

I love these Winter Gin and Tonics and Sharp Cheddar Cheese Crackers.

I hope this brings you some warm holiday inspiration this year. Be kind to yourself and the people around you. Let’s make it feel good this year.

My love to you!

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Baking 101, Chocolate, Christmas Cookie Recipes, Holiday

Previous Post: « Butter Braised French Onion White Bean Dip
Next Post: Sweet Little Pastry Cream Pumpkin Buns »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Floranet

    December 31, 2019 at 2:54 am

    Your work gives immensely positive energy!! Good Job

    Reply
  2. Carly

    December 30, 2019 at 9:43 am

    That recipe for peanut butter kiss cookies is dynamite. I used dark chocolate kisses and made a few where I put the kiss in the middle instead of on top. (Sort of a fun surprise, but less pretty.)

    Thanks for the constant inspiration! Very merry.

    Reply
  3. Meryl

    December 12, 2019 at 5:49 pm

    AMEN to no gift guide—if one more person tells me to buy a $100 scarf for my second cousin, I swear ?

    Reply
  4. Mimi

    December 12, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    Many thanks, Joy for your kindness and generosity.

    Which recipe did you use for the gingerbread men?

    Holiday cheer to you!

    Reply
  5. Mimi

    December 12, 2019 at 3:02 pm

    Many thanks, Joy for your kindness and generosity. Which recipe did you use for the gingerbread men?

    A very merry to you!

    Reply
  6. Liz

    December 12, 2019 at 2:21 pm

    Are the little round ones in the pic just round versions of the confetti cookies or something else? Love the idea of the wrappers to keep things from falling into one another.

    Reply
  7. Lizzie

    December 12, 2019 at 1:42 pm

    Eating a tin of cookies off my chest while watching The Family Stone is my exact definition of holiday joy.

    Reply
    • Kenzie

      December 12, 2019 at 7:58 pm

      Looooove that movie. And that mood.

      Reply
  8. Paige Cassandra Flamm

    December 12, 2019 at 11:53 am

    This is so fun! I totally want to do something like this with friends this year!

    Paige
    https://thehappyflammily.com

    Reply
  9. Briel K.

    December 12, 2019 at 11:07 am

    Great idea! I’m so tired of gift guides. They can be helpful at times but they can also make a person think she needs to buy more than she does (for presents or for herself).

    Reply
  10. Marsha

    December 12, 2019 at 7:24 am

    Thank you so much for these recipes. I’ve pinned several and will be making for sure. My granddaughter likes to help. She is 7 years old and I hope we are making some memories!!!

    Reply
  11. Sati

    December 12, 2019 at 6:52 am

    Cookies swaps are what I live for in the winter! We just attended a big one with one of our homeschool groups yesterday and it was amazing. Thanks for all these recipes, I’m looking forward to trying a few! (Also, there’s no link to the marshmallows and I bet that would be my favorite one…)

    Reply
  12. Zo

    December 12, 2019 at 6:49 am

    Omg I adore this idea! My friends and I sometimes do soup swap and this is such a festive version of that ?

    Thanks for sharing the gift of time spent doing something you love, and sharing that with people you love. And remembering to show your self a bit of care along the way. To the truly sweet life!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      December 12, 2019 at 11:22 am

      I love the idea of a soup swap! I must do that this winter!

      Reply
      • Annalissa

        December 12, 2019 at 2:09 pm

        Doubling down on the soup swap love- cozy and warm and you get just enough of a mix that you’re not just having carrot-curry soup for two weeks straight!

        Reply
    • Florence

      December 13, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      A soup swap sounds awesome…

      Reply
  13. Chelsea Traina

    December 12, 2019 at 5:58 am

    Thank you for this! We Have been trying to do a bake-off in my family for a couple of Christmases. We aren’t exactly sure how to Execute so we usually just wing it. I think this year, we will just do a swap and call it a day. :) I have been inspired, once again, so thank you!!

    Reply
  14. Suellen

    December 12, 2019 at 5:12 am

    Those blueberry thumbprint cookies! All cookies are making me smack my lips. Excuse me, but I’ve got a milk run to do??

    Happy holidays to you, Joy. Thank you for your wonderful recipes and blog.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Holiday

Oscars 2023 Party Menu

Since I was raised on movies, the Oscars ceremony is my Super Bowl. I look forward to it all year long and always try to watch all the contenders. Of course I’m in it for the films, the celebs, and the clothes. But I also love a good theme party—who doesn’t? My ideal Oscars party…

Read More

A New Orleans King Cake baked in a cast iron skillet
My 10 Best King Cake Recipes

A King Cake recipe for every year I’ve lived in New Orleans – cinnamon-scented, pecan-filled, with yeast or without, super simple to make or deliciously complex. Whether you want your King Cake sweet or savory, your perfect recipe is here.  I love dancing in the street every Mardi Gras season but Mardi Gras is also…

Read More

overhead shot of Mardi Gras toast on individual vintage plates
King Cake-Inspired Easy Bostock

This Bostock toast is a delightful marriage of toast and almond croissant. Toast turns pastry.  We’re topping these toasts with orange marmalade and sliced almonds inspired by my favorite almond-filled french King Cake. It’s Mardi Gras, friends!  The big BIG weekend and Fat Tuesday are just days away and who would I be if I…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Jump to Recipe

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Jump to Recipe

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

Jump to Recipe

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

Jump to Recipe
joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

Jump to Recipe

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Jump to Recipe

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.

Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

cowboy cookies close up showing texture.

Cowboy Cookies with salted cereal brittle

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
Second coffee: the perfect way to re-start the day Second coffee: the perfect way to re-start the day. 
✨Beignet Café au Lait✨⁣
⁣1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk⁣⁣
Splash of vanilla extract⁣⁣
½ cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks⁣⁣
2 cups fresh brewed strong coffee⁣⁣
½ cup toasted cinnamon cereal, lightly crushed⁣⁣
Powdered sugar for topping⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Place sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in a small bowl. Add half of the whipped cream and fold to combine.  Add the remaining half and fold until you have a fluffy sweet cream. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Divide brewed coffee between two mugs. Spoon dream on top.  Sprinkle cinnamon cereal between the cups.  Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy immediately.
Life Skill No. 458: How to Make 1️⃣2️⃣ Cup Life Skill No. 458: How to Make 1️⃣2️⃣ Cupcakes with just 1️⃣ Stick of Butter⁣
⁣
Full recipe linked in my bio! xo
Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a baking show stat. Here’s our very best chocolate chip cookies and all the little tips that make them perfection. ✨🍪 Find the full recipe linked in the profile!
We’re baking the classics on Joy the Baker this We’re baking the classics on Joy the Baker this month and up next, my very favorite Lemon Bar recipe with fresh lemon juice and the tiniest hint of coriander. ⁣🍋🌼✨
⁣
Find the full recipe linked in the profile and bust out the white chocolate and macadamia nuts for next week’s bake! ⁣
⁣
#lemonbars #easybaking #bakedfromscratch #joythebaker
Day in the Life: out in the woods writing a little Day in the Life: out in the woods writing a little cookbook about camp food. 💖🏕️🙋🏻‍♀️
Homesick Banana Bread. Recipe linked in the profil Homesick Banana Bread. Recipe linked in the profile (and you don’t have to be homesick to make it). #bananabread #sundaybaking
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up