It’s hard not to feel nostalgic during the holiday season, and nothing will put you in the spirit more than listening to Christmas music and baking a batch of cookies. Whether it’s Grandma’s gingerbread or Aunt So-and-So’s thumbprint treats, baking cookies is a big part of our festive family traditions, especially since so many of our recipes have been passed down for generations.
With cookie cravings top of mind, I remembered one of my favorite types of holiday parties: a cookie swap. At these fun events, guests are encouraged to bring a batch of their favorite holiday cookies to share. Then everyone gets to sample and take home a taste.
This month, we conducted our own cookie swap of sorts. We asked 225 readers to send in their favorite holiday cookie recipes, and narrowed the list down to three that are full of classic holiday flavors, including one from my daughter, Maggie. Each could be the star at your next cookie swap with friends—or add a sprinkle of joy to your home this season.
