Day 8: A Cookie Recipe Exchange

Swap your favorite cookie recipe and add some new treats to your table

Welcome to Day 8 of the Outsourced Optimism Digital Advent Calendar. Click here to learn more about this small seasonal series and to unwrap all the gifts in the archives

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I love a good Cookie Swap, but also, I’ve never actually been a part of one. I know that might sound very shocking, considering I was raised in the midwest, basically born with a cookie dough spoon in my mouth, and have a Gilmore Girls’ sized sweet tooth.

But it’s true.

Which is why, when I read about about

Joanna Goddard

‘s Annual Cookie Swap, I got really excited. Well, actually, first I got very envious and then I got inspired, which turned into excitement. Because…

This year, I am hosting MY VERY FIRST COOKIE (RECIPE) EXCHANGE!

I feel a little bit like an eight year old inviting you to my first group activity birthday party, but…YOU’RE INVITED! IT’S GOING TO BE FUN! I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Here’s how it works:

1. Share a link to (or copy/paste) your favorite cookie recipe in the comments (you can also email me: outsourcedoptimism@substack.com)

   Feel free to add a sentence or two about why you like it or recommendations/ substitutions. Things like…My great-grandma’s recipe! or I make this every year! or Add extra cream cheese to the frosting!

2. I will gather and link all the recipes every Friday at the bottom of this post, like a virtual treat table, so you can take home what you like.

I know it’s not quite as delicious as having a plateful of real cookies you can take home with you, but on the other hand, you don’t have the pressure of baking something amazing (or the obligation of taking home a pile of desserts you won’t actually eat).

Just like if I was hosting this shindig in person, my hope is we can all discover some new recipes and make some new friends. Desserts can be very bonding.

And with that, I’ll kick us off.

1. Mrs. Wiley’s Sugar Cookies from

   Tami Carey

   “This recipe was inherited from one of my favorite high school office administrators who used to make them at Christmastime and on Valentine’s Day for her office runners (a highly sought after job for a few select students who had a free period and wanted to be helpful while also having complete freedom to roam the halls and deliver personal notes to friends who were in class) If you like soft, pillowy, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies, you will love these!”

2. Ice Box Cookies from

   Jan McCarthy

   “These are my favorite Christmas cookies! They are really great too because it is so easy to have fresh delicious cookies when friends drop by. Keep in mind, we made these cookies looooooooong before easy slice and bake cookies lined the shelves in the refrigerator section of the grocery store. But of course, homemade is always better!”

3. Santa’s Little Walnut Helpers from

   Nithya John

   “I am not a big cookie person, but these cookies blows me away every year my dear friend, Morgen, delivers them on my doorstep around the holidays. Cinnamon, walnut deliciousness that tastes like it has been infused with pure love.”

4. Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from

   Dani Kreeft

   “I can’t find Anna Jones recipe online (it’s in her cookbook), but this one is remarkably close. It’s the perfect chocolate-on-chocolate cookie.”

5. Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies from

   Tamzin

   “I made these recently and though I always adjust the recipe a bit, they were damn good!”

6. Pistachio Drop Cookies from

   Mariah

   “These yummy pistachio cookies are great for the holidays!

7. Epic Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies from

   Ali Griffin Vingiano

   “As a Celiac I love Rachel Mansfield’s recipes. I have an IRL cookie exchange on Monday night, and am planning to make these!”

8. Butter & Jam Cookies from

   Margaret Suddarth

   “This recipe comes from the mayor of my city! She is a wonderful person and shares some of her favorite recipes in the quarterly city newsletter.”

9. Mike’s Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies from

   Carol

   “My husband used to make Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies, which is one of my favorite flavor combinations. This is his recipe.”

10. Peanut Butter Temptations II from

    Christina Pugh

    “Obsessed with this recipe. It's a must for any Reeses lover!”

11. Stacey’s Raspberry + Almond Thumbprint Cookies from

    Stephanie Hansen

    “These jam thumbprints have been part of our cookie exchange for 20 years. I love the almond raspberry combination and they look pretty on a tray.”

Your turn! Come join the fun!

Don’t have a recipe to share? Tell us what kinds of cookies you like. Maybe someone has the recipe you’ve been looking for!