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Get ready for your cookie exchange with this list of recipes, featuring everything from easy classics to show stopping creations.

Best cookies for cookie exchange roundup graphic.

Alright, let’s get you ready for that cookie exchange! It’s the best time of year, filled with festive vibes and a hint of friendly competition. The question is, do you play it safe with a go-to classic you’ve made a million times, or do you swing for the fences with a totally new, crazy-impressive cookie recipe?

Either way, we’ve done the hard work for you and put together a list of recipes that are guaranteed to make you the star of the swap. We’ve got all the bases covered, from easy, no-fail classics to jaw-dropping creations that will have everyone begging for the recipe.

So go ahead, grab your apron and your favorite playlist, and get ready to bake something that not only tastes amazing but looks fantastic. Happy Baking!

Always include a small recipe card so recipients know what they are and can replicate your success in future swaps.

PRO TIP: Pin or bookmark this list so you’re ready with cookie recipes all year long!

Table of Contents

Top 10 Most Loved Cookies for Exchanges

These universally loved cookies are sturdy, reliable, and always a welcome addition to any swap.

1 Hershey Kiss Cookies Recipe

Hershey Kiss Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
Chewy peanut butter Hershey Kiss cookies can be enjoyed in just 15 minutes with this beloved and simple cookie recipe.
5 from 74 votes
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2 Gooey Butter Cookie Recipe

Gooey butter cookies stacked on each other on white plate.
Gooey Butter Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
Made easy with a yellow cake mix, these gooey butter cookies are prepped in 5 minutes and have a perfectly addictive chewy texture!
4.99 from 442 votes
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3 Snowball Cookie Recipe

Snowball cookies on a plate.
Snowball Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 24 minutes
Buttery pecan snowball cookies rolled in powdered sugar are melt-in-your-mouth holiday favorites that are easy, classic, and so delicious.
4.97 from 52 votes
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4 Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Homemade Chocolate Crinkle Cookies on wood board.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
These homemade chocolate crinkle cookies are rich, fudgy, and chewy inside with a soft powdered sugar coating that creates the perfect crackled look.
5 from 16 votes
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5 Funfetti Cookies

Funfetti Cookies
Total Time: 16 minutes
Frosted funfetti cookies make every day a celebration. With only 3 ingredients, they are quick, simple, and a kid favorite!
5 from 19 votes
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6 Andes Mint Cookies

Andes Mint Cookies
Total Time: 11 minutes
Our 4 ingredient Andes Mint cookies start with a cake mix base and are filled with crushed candies for chocolate and mint perfection!
5 from 12 votes
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7 Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Total Time: 55 minutes
Soft and decadent peanut butter cup cookies are stuffed with a Reese's center for a sweet and salty bite in under 30 minutes!
4.94 from 47 votes
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8 Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
Our ALL-TIME favorite frosted sugar cookies are so soft and have the best, creamy frosting with hints of almond!
4.97 from 229 votes
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9 Turtle Thumbprint Cookie Recipe

Turtle Thumbprint Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 26 minutes
With chopped pecans on the outside, a caramel filling and chocolate all around, these Turtle Thumbprint Cookies are hard NOT to love!
4.96 from 22 votes
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10 Gooey Rolo Cookies Recipe

Gooey Rolo cookies stacked on a white plate.
Gooey Rolo Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
Bake gooey Rolo cookies, soft chocolate cookies with a melty caramel center, quick to make and perfect for parties, bake sales, and family treats.
5 from 20 votes
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Chocolate Lovers

Big cocoa energy! These choc-filled faves are the first to vanish. This list has everything from classic chips to gooey brownies and macarons that feel fancy but are totally doable.

11 Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Best chocolate chip cookie recipe stacked on white plate.
Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
Our best chocolate chip cookie recipe is soft, chewy, delicious and perfect for any occasion making them an all-time favorite.
4.99 from 332 votes
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12 Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Total Time: 12 minutes
Decadent chocolate chunk cookies are studded with both milk and semi-sweet chocolate bits for the perfect bite every time!
4.89 from 17 votes
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13 Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
Bite-size mini chocolate chip cookies are made with SPLENDA Naturals Stevia making them delicious "skinny" version of a classic indulgence.
5 from 8 votes
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14 Chocolate Chip M&M Cake Cookies Recipe

Chocolate Chip M&M Cake Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 17 minutes
Chocolate Chip M&M Cake Cookies. So soft and yummy!! Ingredients include chocolate box cake mix, hershey syrup, chocolate chips, & m&m’s!
5 from 2 votes

15 Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites Recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
Chewy chocolate chip cookies bites are mini, but pack a flavor punch! They are filled with creamy chocolate for the perfect bite.
5 from 4 votes
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16 Brownie Cookie Recipe

Brownie Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
Fudgy Brownie Cookies combine the best of dessert worlds to make one delicious "brookie" filled with loads of chocolate chips AND flavor!
5 from 17 votes
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17 Texas Sheet Cake Cookies Recipe

Texas sheet cake cookies stacked together on white plate.
Texas Sheet Cake Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 24 minutes
Texas Sheet Cake Cookies bake soft and fudgy, then get a warm, glossy chocolate icing poured on top, an easy crowd pleaser for any occasion.
5 from 29 votes
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18 Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies Recipe

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 12 minutes
Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies are soft, chocolate cookies topped with a marshmallow and delicious chocolate frosting.
5 from 4 votes
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19 Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
Classic soft and chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies bake up in minutes and taste great with a glass of cold milk!!
5 from 4 votes
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20 Nutella Cookies Recipe

Nutella Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
These Nutella Cookies are the most sinfully delicious chocolate cookies. They will become a new favorite in no time!
4.84 from 6 votes
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21 Chocolate Hershey Kiss Cookies

Chocolate Hershey Kiss Cookies
Total Time: 15 minutes
There's no such thing as too much chocolate when it comes to these easy, decadent chocolate kiss cookies!! They whip up in minutes!
5 from 18 votes
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22 Chocolate Macaron Recipe

Chocolate Macaron Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 47 minutes
Crispy, chewy, chocolate macarons are delicious. These delicate little french pastries are filled with chocolate buttercream for a perfect bite!
5 from 7 votes
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Peppermint & Holiday Sparkle

Minty, merry, and made for December! Think creamy peppermint, cranberry pops, and light-as-air meringues that look gorgeous on a festive platter.

23 Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Recipe

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 18 minutes
Decadent chocolate peppermint cookies are oozing with chocolate and topped with crunchy crumbles for an easy holiday treat!
5 from 3 votes
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24 Peppermint Crunch Cookies Recipe

Peppermint Crunch Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 18 minutes
White chocolate dipped Peppermint Crunch Cookies are sprinkled with candy cane bits for double the peppermint and holiday charm.
5 from 8 votes
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25 Peppermint Meltaways Recipe

Peppermint Meltaways Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Soft and butter-y Peppermint Meltaways are a delicious holiday cookie topped with a peppermint glaze and crushed candy canes!
5 from 13 votes
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26 White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie Recipe

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 12 minutes
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies are sweet + tangy for a perfectly chewy bite. These easy cookies are fan favorites!!
5 from 5 votes
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27 Vanilla Meringue Cookies

Easy meringue cookies on a blue plate.
Vanilla Meringue Cookies
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Light, airy meringue cookies made with just 5 ingredients are crisp, sweet, and perfect for holidays, showers, or gifting!
5 from 9 votes
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Spiced & Fall Favorites

Cozy spices and pumpkin perfection, coming right up. These crinkles, gingers, and soft pumpkin cookies taste like a warm hug and they’re perfect with hot cocoa.

28 Ginger Cookies

Ginger Cookies
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
These chewy and soft ginger cookies are especially delicious, and one we always make during the holidays!
5 from 6 votes
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29 Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe

Molasses Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 22 minutes
Old Fashioned Molasses Crinkle Cookies are perfectly spiced. They are simply delicious, and great for sharing!
5 from 3 votes
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30 Mexican Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Mexican Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Rich dark chocolate Mexican crinkle cookies are a cinnamon-spiced twist on a classic, all coated in a crackly powdered sugar shell.
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31 Iced Pumpkin Cookie Recipe

Iced Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
Iced Pumpkin Cookies – these soft and spicy cookies are a fall favorite! An easy cinnamon glaze makes them simply irresistible.
4.91 from 11 votes
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32 Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Total Time: 1 hour 57 minutes
These delightful pumpkin cheesecake cookies combine two irresistible desserts into one irresistible bite, perfect for fall!
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33 Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe

Mexican wedding cookies stacked on top of each other on white plate with almonds sprinkled around.
Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 26 minutes
Mexican Wedding Cookies are buttery, tender, and packed with almonds, then rolled in powdered sugar for a classic melt-in-your-mouth bite.
5 from 29 votes
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Buttery Shortbread & Classics

Melt-in-your-mouth, buttery bliss! Simple, pretty, and dependable for gifting or stacking high.

34 Butter Cookies Recipe

Butter Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 18 minutes
Soft and crunchy Butter Cookies are a delicious classic must-make for any holiday party and are delicious plain or frosted.
5 from 27 votes
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35 Spritz Cookie Recipe

Spritz Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 21 minutes
Buttery Spritz Cookies hold crisp shapes, bake tender and pale, and decorate beautifully, perfect for gifting, parties, and cookie exchanges.
4.99 from 201 votes
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36 Drop Sugar Cookies Recipe

Three Drop sugar cookies stacked on top of each other with a bite taken out of the top cookie.
Drop Sugar Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
Drop sugar cookies will satisfy that sweet tooth in under 30 minutes with no rolling pin required – just drop and bake for delicious cookies!
4.96 from 44 votes
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37 Copycat Swig Cookies

Copycat Swig Cookies
Total Time: 18 minutes
Make Swig's famous sugar cookies at home! These copycat Swig cookies are THICK and delicious, topped with a creamy frosting.
4.95 from 37 votes
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38 Almond Cookie Recipe

Almond Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 23 minutes
Tasty almond cookies are soft and a bit chewy. They are easy to make, FULL of flavor, and are sure to be a family fav in no time.
4.90 from 28 votes
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39 Lace Cookies Recipe

Lace Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
With simple ingredients and a few minutes, create these deliciously delicate lace cookies. They are perfectly crisp and crunchy!
5 from 9 votes
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40 Ricotta Cookies

Ricotta Cookies
Total Time: 28 minutes
Ricotta cookies are soft and cloud-like in texture, topped with a light almond frosting they're a delicious Italian classic!
5 from 1 vote
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41 Cake Mix Cookies

Cake Mix Cookies
Total Time: 55 minutes
Our favorite shortcut – cake mix cookies use just 6 ingredients to create a quick and easy ooey gooey treat!
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Hearty Mix-Ins & Big Bites

Chunky, chewy, and loaded with goodies. If you love cookies with “a little of everything,” these crowd-pleasers bring the big bites and bigger smiles.

42 Cowboy Cookies Recipe

Cowboy Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 28 minutes
Cowboy Cookies are loaded with coconut flakes, chopped walnuts, and oats giving them a variety of flavors and textures!!
5 from 13 votes
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43 Monster Cookie Recipe

Monster Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
Bake up a batch of these monster cookies for any occasion. They are chewy, crunchy, and hard to eat just one!
5 from 37 votes
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44 Oatmeal Scotchies Recipe

Oatmeal Scotchies Recipe
Total Time: 27 minutes
These oatmeal scotchies are soft and chewy with pops of butterscotch morsels. They are everything you want in an oatmeal cookie!
4.98 from 35 votes
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45 Caramel Cookies Recipe

Caramel Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 22 minutes
Soft and chewy caramel cookies sprinkled with a little bit of sea salt. The perfect combination of sweet and salty in one delicious cookie!
5 from 26 votes
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46 Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe

Brown Sugar Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 19 minutes
Brown sugar cookies are sweet, soft, and ultra chewy. They are a TASTY twist on a much-loved classic cookie.
5 from 16 votes
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Citrus & Fruity

Fresh, zesty, and just the right amount of sweet. Lemon, orange, berry, and coconut add a sunny pop to balance all the chocolate and spice.

47 Lemon Crinkle Cookie Recipe

Lemon Crinkle Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Simple Lemon Crinkle Cookies are a perfect balance of sweet and tart. They are bursting with bright lemon flavor and are easy to make!
5 from 13 votes
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48 Orange Cookies Recipe

Orange cookies stacked on top of each other with bite taken out.
Orange Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
Bright and citrusy orange cookies are topped with a fragrant orange glaze for a heavenly bite made in minutes!
5 from 2 votes
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49 Strawberry Cookie Recipe

Strawberry Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
Soft and chewy strawberry cookies are filled with jello, pudding, and white chocolate chips, making them irresistible!
4.97 from 56 votes
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50 Coconut Macaroons Recipe

Coconut Macaroons Recipe
Total Time: 23 minutes
Deliciously chewy coconut macaroons are a simple, classic cookie. This best-loved recipe is sure to be a hit!
5 from 3 votes
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51 Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 23 minutes
Beautifully delicate thumbprint cookies are quick, easy, and melt-in-your-mouth tasty! They are a best-loved classic cookie.
5 from 6 votes
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No-Bake & Stovetop Treats

No oven? No problem! Quick to mix, fun to shape, and perfect for last-minute trays.

52 No Bake Cookie Recipe

No bake cookies stacked on each other on white counter.
No Bake Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 9 minutes
Easy No Bake Cookies mix up fast on the stovetop with chocolate, peanut butter, and oats, chewy and fudge like for quick cravings and sharing.
4.98 from 78 votes
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53 Haystack Cookies

Haystack Cookies
Total Time: 20 minutes
Four-ingredient haystack cookies whip up in 20 minutes for a quick no-bake treat packed with peanut butter and butterscotch flavor!!
5 from 8 votes
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54 Avalanche Cookie Recipe

Avalanche Cookie Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
Avalanche cookies are crispy, crunchy, and filled with peanut butter, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. They are no-bake and such a fun recipe to try with kids!
5 from 11 votes
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55 Butterscotch Cornflake Cookies

Butterscotch Cornflake Cookies
Total Time: 13 minutes
The kids LOVE making these No Bake Butterscotch Cookies – they're simple, quick and yummy! Cornflakes mixed with melted peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips.
5 from 11 votes
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56 White Chocolate Crackles Recipe

White Chocolate Crackles Recipe
Total Time: 12 minutes
White Chocolate Crackles are studded with nuts and white chocolate for a simply tasty cookie that everyone will love!!
5 from 3 votes
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57 Cornflake Wreath Cookies

Multiple Christmas wreath cookies on wax paper.
Cornflake Wreath Cookies
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Indulge in nostalgia with these easy no-bake Christmas wreath cookies – fun, kid-friendly goodies, perfect for Christmas!!
4.98 from 36 votes
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Red Velvet & Festive Color Pops

Pretty as a present and just as fun to share. Red velvet, white-chocolate drizzles, and sprinkle-studded favorites bring instant party vibes to your platter!

58 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies Recipe

Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 48 minutes
Whether studded with white chocolate chips or dusted with powdered sugar, these festive Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies are delicious!
5 from 9 votes
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59 Red Velvet Cookies Recipe

Red Velvet Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 49 minutes
Luscious red velvet white chocolate chip cookies are rich yummy. They are loaded with white chocolate chips and under baked to perfection!
4.95 from 17 votes
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60 Santa Cookies

Santa Cookies
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Santa cookies are a festive favorite – simple drop sugar cookies with a hint of peppermint, perfect for the big guy!
5 from 1 vote
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61 White Chocolate Dipped Snickerdoodles Recipe

White Chocolate Dipped Snickerdoodles Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
Super soft white chocolate dipped snickerdoodles are chewy and full of cinnamon. They are one of our favorite cookies!!
5 from 13 votes
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62 Sugar Cookie Blossoms Recipe

Sugar Cookie Blossoms Recipe
Total Time: 17 minutes
Sugar Cookie Blossoms are a chewy, soft sugar cookie rolled in sugar and topped with a Mint Meltaway candy. They're simple and delicious!
5 from 15 votes
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About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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