With everything from swirly peppermint pinwheels (easier than you think) and stellar peanut butter chocolate chip cookies to gluten-free meringues and almond crescents and even adorable gingerbread cutouts and lemony iced stars, we want to set you on a path to a spectacular cookie swap! It's not only a fun excuse for gathering with friends and family as the holidays draw near, but also a great way to swap recipes, try a variety of cookies, and end up with an array of treats.
Christmas Cookies: Festive Slice-and-Bake Peppermint Pinwheels
A swirl of color, the sparkle of sugar, and a hint of peppermint make these festive cookies perfect for the holidays. They look like they are difficult to make, but as long as you can roll out cookie dough, then you can make these.
![Peppermint Pinwheels](http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/12/peppermint-pinwheels-finish.jpg)
Christmas Cookies: Gluten-Free Chocolate-Dipped Almond Crescents
Chewy almond crescents are loaded with toasty nutty flavor and then dipped in melted dark chocolate for a real holiday treat, and they are gluten-free.
![Chocolate-Dipped Almond Crescents](http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/12/crescents-dip-chocolate3.jpg)
Christmas Cookies: Gingerbread People, Snowflakes and Xmas Trees
These darkly sweet, spiced cookies are the epitome of what the holidays should taste like... and they make your house smell pretty darned good when they are baking too. Plenty of ginger gives them a little bite and dark molasses and dark brown sugar add sweetness with lots of flavor.
![Decorating a gingerbread person with royal icing.](http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/12/gingerbread-icing3.jpg)
Christmas Cookies: Lemony Lemon Iced Sugar Cookie Stars
Lemon sugar cookies topped with a lemony icing are great any time of year, but cut into stars they become perfect for the holidays.
![Lemon Iced Sugar Cookie Stars](http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/12/stars-final.jpg)
Holiday Cookies: Gluten-Free Chocolate Meringues
Light and airy, crispy-chewy, and with two kinds of chocolate—both cocoa and finely chopped bittersweet chocolate—no one will think these cookies are any less extraordinary than their floury friends.
![Gluten-Free Chocolate Meringues](http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/12/chocolate-meringue-finish.jpg)
Holiday Cookies: Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies
These are the cookies you make when you don’t have a ton of time, don’t want a lot of fuss, and don’t want to use any specialty ingredients...chances are, you have all of this in your pantry already. They also make a great addition to a holiday cookie platter or cookie exchange.
![Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies](http://ww2.kqed.org/bayareabites/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2015/12/peanutbutter-wirerack.jpg)