Is it just us, or have holiday party invitations already started to roll in? Suddenly, there’s no shortage of cocktail hours, gift-wrapping parties, and cookie swaps that usually come with the need for a baked good or two. Thankfully, we have more than 2,000 cookie recipes on our site—and so we sifted through them all for the best recipes for swapping, gifting, and eating this season.
We of course included the classics like thumbprints, spritz, and gingerbread, but we’ve also included some new recipes that are guaranteed to be the stars of any gathering, big or small. Not only are these treats crowd-pleasers, but they’re also make-ahead friendly, easy to transport, and perfect for batching—whether you’re swapping dozens or just keeping a few for yourself. Trust us, you’ll want to bake these whether or not you’ve got a party on the calendar.