The Best Holiday Cookie Recipes

Spread the holiday spirit with sugar, spice, and plenty of icing: We present the best cookie recipes from chefs.

Gingerbread Man Cookies

Kick off the holiday season—and sweet cookie season—with Alex Guarnaschelli's gingerbread men, flavored with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Recipe: Gingerbread Man Cookies

Sugar Sandwich Cookies "Hearts"

This is the most versatile dough for holiday cookies. It's important to mix the dry, wet, and oily ingredients separately before combining.

Recipe: Sugar Sandwich Cookies "Hearts"

Giant Christmas cookies

This saucer-sized monster cookie contains all your favorite holiday ingredients: green and red candies, peppermint candies, salted pretzels, and white chocolate chips. If you're leaving this giant treat out for Santa, be sure to leave a large glass of milk nearby.

Recipe: Giant Christmas cookies

Classic shortbread cookies with icing

These are familiar cookies with crisp edges and a slightly soft center. Ultrafine sugar gives them texture. Add a little baking powder to help them rise slightly without losing their shape.

Recipe: Classic shortbread cookies with icing

Homemade shortbread cookies with jam

Traditional cookies with jam remain a favorite holiday treat, great to serve with tea or to enjoy while relaxing.

Recipe: Homemade shortbread cookies with jam

Snowball Cookies

The secret to these melt-in-your-mouth cookies is powdered sugar, which easily combines with almonds in a food processor. Thanks to rum, bourbon, and nutmeg, these little "snowballs" taste like a favorite Christmas drink. Let's drink to that!

Recipe: Snowball Cookies

Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Giada De Laurentiis infuses tender ricotta cookies with citrus flavor by adding fresh lemon zest to the dough and a sweet glaze.

Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Almond cake "Italian Tricolor"

Valerie Bertinelli makes this classic Italian dessert the same way her mother used to during the holiday season.

Recipe: Almond cake "Italian Tricolor"

Homemade Snickerdoodle Cookies

Sprinkle the cookies with sugar and cinnamon and bake until set but still soft in the center.

Recipe: Homemade Snickerdoodle Cookies

Peppermint Cookie Christmas Tree with Frosting

Arranged in a row on a plate, these cute cookies will create a truly festive atmosphere. They're delicate but hold their shape when baked (you'll end up with real "Christmas trees," not just lumps of dough). Add mint to make them extra special.

Recipe: Peppermint Cookie Christmas Tree with Frosting

Gingerbread

For a more interesting and sophisticated gingerbread cookie, add a spicy kick with cayenne pepper.

Recipe: Gingerbread

Gluten-free gingerbread men cookies

For a gluten-free version of traditional gingerbread, Melissa De Arabian uses white rice flour, buckwheat flour, and tapioca flour. Because the dough is gluten-free, there's no need to worry about its texture being ruined when cutting out shapes.

Recipe: Gluten-free gingerbread men cookies

Coconut macarons

Aina's coconut macarons are simple and elegant, and they're easy to take on the go in a cookie jar.

Recipe: Coconut macarons

Curd cookies with snowballs

What makes these fluffy cookies special is the cream cheese frosting, which is added to the dough. We topped them with lime zest and crushed cranberries, but they're perfect with a variety of toppings—try your favorite cheesecake toppings.

Recipe: Curd cookies with snowballs

Peanut butter cookies with jam and chocolate

Use double the peanut butter in Nancy Fuller's traditional cookies. Fold the peanut butter into the dough smoothly, then fold in the peanut butter chips. The intense nutty flavor pairs perfectly with the chocolate candy in the center.

Recipe: Peanut butter cookies with jam and chocolate

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Quick and Easy Peppermint Toffee

Ree's treat is made with just three ingredients in 5 minutes and chills in the refrigerator—perfect for any occasion. Sprinkle it with crushed mints to make it a holiday dessert.

Recipe: Quick and Easy Peppermint Toffee

Apricot rolls with raisins and nuts "Rugelach"

Photo of the dish - Apricot croissants with raisins and nuts "Rugelach"

Celebrate Hanukkah with Ina Garten's delicate dessert, filled with apricot jam, cinnamon sugar, and yellow raisins.

Recipe: Apricot rolls with raisins and nuts "Rugelach"

Classic 4-ingredient shortbread cookies with variations of 1 extra ingredient each

Make basic shortbread cookies, masala chai spice cookies, and roasted pecan cookies—one easy recipe with just 5 ingredients.

Recipe: Classic 4-ingredient shortbread cookies with variations of 1 extra ingredient each

Crunchy Peanut Butter S'mores

Peanut butter, chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows come together in a compact dessert that fits in a cookie jar: perfect for takeaway or gifting!

Recipe: Crunchy Peanut Butter S'mores

Toffee Cereal Bars

Your favorite treats—oatmeal cookies, cheesecake, and blondies—all rolled into one delicious dessert.

Recipe: Toffee Cereal Bars

Curd cookies "Citrus trio"

These simple butter cookies are livened up with orange, lemon, and lime zest. Make them even more special by serving them with chocolate or caramel sauce for dipping.

Recipe: Curd cookies "Citrus trio"

Spiced gingerbread cookies

Aaron Sanchez's Mexican-inspired cookies are spiced with a touch of cayenne pepper. Chopped almonds and dulce de leche cream make a delicious addition.

Recipe: Spiced gingerbread cookies

Linz cookies with chocolate-hazelnut paste

Aida Mollenkamp makes a delicious version of the traditional cookie using two types of filling: blackberry jam and smooth chocolate cream.

Recipe: Linz cookies with chocolate-hazelnut paste

Sugar cookies with royal icing

Facebook followers have named this classic, versatile cookie their favorite. Make a few batches of dough and bake them three ways: into balls, simple rounds, or fancy, decorated cookies.

Recipe: Sugar cookies with royal icing

Lemon Clementine Bar Cake

These lemon bar cookies are decorated for Christmas with clementine juice and Sicilian orange slices.

Recipe: Lemon Clementine Bar Cake

Finnish cookies

These Scandinavian sandwich cookies are made with brown butter and a tart fruit jam filling. Their elegant shape is achieved by scooping out the dough with a teaspoon.

Recipe: Finnish cookies

Classic shortbread cookies with a citrus twist

This quick and easy version of a classic holiday dessert refreshes crisp shortbread cookies with a citrusy twist.

Recipe: Classic shortbread cookies with a citrus twist

Chocolate Cheesecake with Caramel Candies

This chocolate chip cookie bar with caramel candies combines features of brownie and cheesecake and always gets rave reviews.

Recipe: Chocolate Cheesecake with Caramel Candies

Three Chocolate Cookies with Carnations

These cookies are a chocolate lover's dream: a gooey center, a crispy top, and lots of white, semi-sweet, and bittersweet chocolate.

Recipe: Three Chocolate Cookies with Carnations

Traditional cinnamon stars "Zimtsterne"

These cinnamon "stars" are a classic German cookie. Almost every German home makes them for St. Nicholas Day. This gluten-free dessert is a cross between a macaron and a meringue, with a spicy, nutty flavor.

Recipe: Traditional cinnamon stars "Zimtsterne"

Nanaimo Peanut Butter Cookies

There are several theories about the origin of these cookies. They are believed to have originated in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada (hence the name), and gained widespread popularity in the 1950s. Whatever their origin, we love them. For a simple, delicious no-bake cookie that's kid-friendly and freeze-safe, we've added peanut butter.

Recipe: Nanaimo Peanut Butter Cookies

Australian Melba Toast with Pistachios

These pistachio biscotti-like cookies are an Australian adaptation of the Eastern European and Jewish Mandelbrot cookie.

Recipe: Australian Melba Toast with Pistachios

Polvoron - cookies with ground walnuts

These delicate Mexican wedding cookies are delicate, nutty, and the perfect dessert to accompany your dinner.

Recipe: Polvoron - cookies with ground walnuts

Chocolate Mint Swirl Cookies

For holiday cookies, Alton rolls out two types of dough together, chocolate and mint.

Recipe: Chocolate Mint Swirl Cookies

Festive shortbread cookies with fruits and nuts

Melissa De Arabian embellishes classic holiday shortbread cookies with a fruity topping.

Recipe: Festive shortbread cookies with fruits and nuts

Festive peanut butter cookies with strawberry jam filling

Sunny's classic peanut butter cookies are rolled in sparkling turbinado sugar and filled with strawberry jam.

Recipe: Festive peanut butter cookies with strawberry jam filling

Turtle cookies made from wholemeal flour

With just 5 ingredients, Claire makes caramel-chocolate cookies that taste similar to American Turtles candies.

Recipe: Turtle cookies made from wholemeal flour

Biscotti with almonds and dried cherries

Crispy, sweet, and nutty, Ann's Italian biscotti make a great gift or dessert for dinner.

Recipe: Biscotti with almonds and dried cherries

Chocolate and gingerbread cookies with garam masala spices

Aarti Sequeira adds a subtle spicy note to gingerbread cookies using garam masala spice blend.

Recipe: Chocolate and gingerbread cookies with garam masala spices

Tarallucci with salted caramel

Photo of the dish - Tarrallucci with salted caramel

Anne serves her version of Italian taralucci cookies (sometimes called taralli) with caramel dipping sauce and warns that it's a dessert that's hard to stop eating.

Recipe: Tarallucci with salted caramel

Crumbly shortbread cookies "Day and Night"

During the holidays, Aina's favorite thing to make is shortbread cookies. The same dough allows for a variety of variations: serve the cookies half-dipped in chocolate, or add pecans to the dough.

Recipe: Crumbly shortbread cookies "Day and Night"

Gingerbread cookies with fresh ginger

These crispy, spicy cookies are irresistible, but even Alton doesn't know why. "I don't know why I love them so much, but once I start eating them, it's really hard to stop," he says.

Recipe: Gingerbread cookies with fresh ginger

Holiday biscotti cookies

Photo of the dish - Festive biscotti cookies

Jada loves these crispy, half-white chocolate-covered cookies because they can be enjoyed all day, not just as a dessert. "My favorite thing is dipping them in coffee," she says.

Recipe: Holiday biscotti cookies

Sandwich cookies with cherries, white chocolate and almond filling

Jeff's cookies are inspired by a dessert his wife, Sarah, makes. And since he makes everything into a sandwich, his version features an almond-butter filling between two cookies.

Recipe: Sandwich cookies with cherries, white chocolate and almond filling

Meringue with almonds

Anne's cookies are guilt-free to enjoy. She says of her fluffy meringue: "The recipe basically calls for just egg whites and almonds, so it's actually healthy!"

Recipe: Meringue with almonds

Amazing chocolate chip cookies

For Bobby, the perfect chocolate chip cookie is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, perfect for any time of year, especially the holidays. This recipe is just the ticket.

Recipe: Amazing chocolate chip cookies

Coconut and Macadamia Nut Cookies

Sandra dreams of every holiday cookie being as easy to make as this tropical-inspired dessert, which uses store-bought sugar cookie dough. "The hardest part is not eating all of them!" she says.

Recipe: Coconut and Macadamia Nut Cookies

Whoopie Pie Chocolate Biscuit Cookies with Almond Cream

These soft sandwich cookies evoke memories of childhood for Alex: "We didn't eat much chocolate during the winter holidays, so I love making desserts like these during the holiday season. Lemon zest and cinnamon—to me, that's the flavor of the holidays."

Recipe: Whoopie Pie Chocolate Biscuit Cookies with Almond Cream

Dark Chocolate Blondie Cakes

Guy likes to include the Blondie dessert in his holiday cookie list because it's not expected to be on the Christmas table. Plus, everyone loves the play on words in the recipe's name.

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Blondie Cakes

Apple Cider Snickerdoodle Cookies

When we asked our Facebook followers what cookie recipes they'd like to see, the majority chose Snickerdoodles. Our cookies have the same chewy texture as the classic ones, but with an apple flavor.

Recipe: Apple Cider Snickerdoodle Cookies

Shortbread cookies with icing, almonds and dried cherries

Tart dried cherries and toasted almonds come together in Giada's sweet holiday cookies.

Recipe: Shortbread cookies with icing, almonds and dried cherries

Peanut butter cookies

Use lump-free peanut butter for a classic cookie that pairs perfectly with chocolate milk.

Recipe: Peanut butter cookies

Sugar cookies with icing

Make festive sugar cookies by cutting out fun Christmas shapes and decorating them with colorful icing.

Recipe: Sugar cookies with icing

Tartlets with cream cheese and nut filling

Trisha's pecan cookies taste like pecan pie.

Recipe: Tartlets with cream cheese and nut filling

Dark chocolate truffles

Tyler makes the perfect chocolate truffles that can transform any holiday dessert into something special. "It's a little piece of chocolate that allows you to truly appreciate the flavors and nuances that make a truffle unique and special for the holidays."

Recipe: Dark chocolate truffles

Chocolate chip cookies with caramel

Sunny's cookies have a dense, chewy texture. "The ginger and cinnamon in the pumpkin pie spice blend pair beautifully with the mint and chocolate. These spices are a great addition to any chocolate chip cookie for a warm, rich flavor."

Recipe: Chocolate chip cookies with caramel

Gingerbread sandwich cookies with ice cream

Photo of the dish - Gingerbread sandwich cookie with ice cream

Make a sandwich with gingerbread cookies and vanilla or any other ice cream.

Recipe: Gingerbread sandwich cookies with ice cream

Pignoli, Italian cookies with pine nuts

Pignoli are a type of cookie made in all Italian bakeries. But they're incredibly easy to make at home: the dough is mixed in one bowl, and the cookies bake in less than an hour. Anne Burrell also adds a touch of honey.

Recipe: Pignoli, Italian cookies with pine nuts

Three Chocolate Cookies

Bobby's rich cookies are a chocolate lover's dream. They're made with bittersweet, semisweet, unsweetened, and even white chocolate.

Recipe: Three Chocolate Cookies

Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

Every Christmas, Trisha hosts a cookie party with her friends. "Everyone comes with their favorite recipe, we bake all day, and then everyone comes home with a wonderful assortment of holiday cookies. My sister, Beth, adapted this recipe from a church cookbook. I like to chop the nuts and cranberries very finely so there's a variety of flavors in every bite."

Recipe: Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

Blondie Cakes with Peanut Butter and Fruit Jam

Jeff prefers blondies to brownies. "I always add peanut butter to the dessert whenever possible. This crunchy, nutty dessert with a fruity twist will be a standout at the holiday table!"

Recipe: Blondie Cakes with Peanut Butter and Fruit Jam

Sponge cookies with dried fruits

"Years ago, the wonderful food writer Lee Bailey asked me to make 270 kilograms of these cookies for sale in his shop, and I still love the recipe," says Ina. "Not only is the dessert delicious (it's like a fruitcake in cookie form), but the dough can be rolled into rolls, refrigerated, and then simply sliced and baked during the holidays."

Recipe: Sponge cookies with dried fruits

Vanilla Croissants

Jeffrey starts the holiday season with these cookies. "My wife always bakes bagels for the holidays, so the aroma of them coming out of the oven immediately reminds me of the wonderful attributes of celebration: the tree, delicious food, and Christmas morning."

Recipe: Vanilla Croissants

Chocolate-coconut candies

Alton says, "Can just five ingredients create true holiday spirit? Yes, when they're chocolate, coconut, macadamia nuts, condensed milk, and almond extract! Treat someone special: hide a couple of these in a cookie jar under the tree."

Recipe: Chocolate-coconut candies

Classic Gingerbread Cookies "Krinkle"

Photo of the dish - Classic Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies

Jamie Dean shares her favorite traditional recipe. "These cookies have a deliciously chewy texture and a crispy crust. The vegetable shortening and butter give them a wonderfully soft texture. When this dessert bakes, the whole house smells like Christmas!"

Recipe: Classic Gingerbread Cookies "Krinkle"

Christmas cookies

For Ree, these are a favorite cookie from childhood. "The dough is tender, with a slight citrusy note from the orange zest. The cookies are great for decorating. Mom would make different colored yolk icing in small glass bowls, and we would cover the cookies with various shapes. The icing would set during baking, slightly reminiscent of stained glass. Then, with white frosting, we would draw patterns on the cooled cookies and outline the edges. It's a delightful, old-fashioned dessert."

Recipe: Christmas cookies

Cheese, Cranberry, and Pistachio Cookies

Photo of the dish - Cookies with cheese, cranberries, and pistachios

These savory cookies are crispy and crumbly. Make them ahead of time and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Recipe: Cheese, Cranberry, and Pistachio Cookies

Curd rolls with dates

Photo of the dish - Cottage cheese croissants with dates

Make Ron Ben-Israel's bagel filling by blending dates with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and apple juice, then stirring in walnuts.

Recipe: Curd rolls with dates

Curd rolls with raspberry jam

Photo of the dish - Cottage cheese croissants with raspberry jam

For Ron's bagels, use seedless raspberry preserves or jam (cherry preserves will also work) and classic cream cheese crust.

Recipe: Curd rolls with raspberry jam

Three Chocolates Chocolate Chip Cookies

These sweet cookies contain bittersweet, milk, and white chocolate. For a crunchy texture, add pecans, walnuts, or almonds.

Recipe: Three Chocolates Chocolate Chip Cookies

Festive Gingerbread Cookies

Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and molasses infuse these cookies with holiday flavors.

Recipe: Festive Gingerbread Cookies

Shaped cookies

What makes sugar cookies even more delicious? How about cocoa powder and melted semisweet chocolate?

Recipe: Shaped cookies

Mint Chocolate Truffles

Ree's chocolate truffle spread is so delicious, you'll probably want to eat it with a spoon. Melted milk chocolate gives the truffles a smooth surface, and a pinch of decorative sugar adds a touch of crunch to each bite.

Recipe: Mint Chocolate Truffles

Linzer Sandwich Cookies Stars

Photo of the dish - Star Linzer Sandwich Cookies

Alex sandwiches raspberry jam between two star-shaped butter cookies. This festive treat will take center stage on your dessert table.

Recipe: Linzer Sandwich Cookies Stars

Biscotti cookies with pistachios

Tyler's crispy cookies contain just 8 ingredients and are easier to make than they seem. The dough is baked in a log shape until set, then cut into 2.5 cm slices and returned to the oven until done.

Recipe: Biscotti cookies with pistachios

Gluten-free chocolate meringue

Ron's chocolate chip cookies are made without flour. Stir chocolate into the meringue, and the finished cookies will have a shiny crust and a gooey center.

Recipe: Gluten-free chocolate meringue

Macarons with toasted coconut

Alton's easy macarons are ready in just half an hour with just four ingredients. Bake until golden brown; the insides are still slightly moist.

Recipe: Macarons with toasted coconut

Italian Spumoni Cookies

Spumoni is a traditional Italian frozen dessert made with layers of ice cream, nuts, and candied fruit. Jeff makes his own version of the classic recipe as cookies with chocolate chips, pistachios, and dried cherries.

Recipe: Italian Spumoni Cookies

Classic gingerbread cookies

Photo of the dish - Classic gingerbread cookie

Ina's perfect cookies contain a multitude of spices: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger, plus bits of crystallized ginger. Coat the cookies with sugar before baking to create a crispy crust.

Recipe: Classic gingerbread cookies

Super delicious oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips

Photo of the dish - Super delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Anne loves dark chocolate, so she chopped it up with walnuts for these cookies. Sprinkle the dessert with a pinch of sea salt for a special touch.

Recipe: Super delicious oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips

German chocolate cake flavored cookies

Sunny starts with a basic cookie recipe, then adds cocoa powder, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans to recreate the flavor of German chocolate cake. This simple treat is ready in just half an hour.

Recipe: German chocolate cake flavored cookies

Almond cookies with ganache cream

This dessert is reminiscent of everyone's favorite peanut butter cookies—a more grown-up, yet equally delicious version. These cookies will stay fresh if refrigerated in an airtight container.

Recipe: Almond cookies with ganache cream

Chocolate and Rosemary Cookies

Melissa adds a pinch of fragrant rosemary and chocolate chips to her shortbread cookies. The sweet, buttery dough acquires a delightfully flaky texture.

Recipe: Chocolate and Rosemary Cookies

Blondie Cakes

Bobby adds chocolate and toffee chips and toasted almonds to the dessert base. The caramel and molasses flavors from the two types of brown sugar, along with the toffee chips, contrast beautifully with the chocolate and nuts. Don't overmix the dough, or the dessert will be too dense.

Recipe: Blondie Cakes

Polvoron (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

Walnuts are the base of these melt-in-your-mouth cookies, dusted with powdered sugar. It's important to maintain the crisp texture, so if you make the cookies ahead of time, chill them before storing them, otherwise they'll become soggy.

Recipe: Polvoron (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

Puffed rice shortbread cookies

Photo of the dish - Shortbread cookies made from puffed rice

For this festive treat, Sunny uses colorful puffed rice cereal (she prefers Fruity Pebbles). The cookies expand in the oven, so leave plenty of space between them. The result is a dessert that's crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Recipe: Puffed rice shortbread cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

This is Trisha's favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but she substituted applesauce for the egg—it gives the same wonderful flavor, just without the raw egg. Freeze the dough balls before dipping them in the chocolate-almond glaze to help them set faster. If using regular milk chocolate, add a little coconut oil for the same effect.

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

Millionaire's Cake

Mark Murphy gives shortbread cookies a completely new twist: he adds a layer of dark chocolate and homemade cookie paste to the traditional recipe. Garnish the glossy bars with flaky salt before serving.

Recipe: Millionaire's Cake

Gingerbread cookies with eggnog and caramel

Alex loves these cookies because they "have the flavor of eggnog without the actual drink." Sandwich the cookies with cream, drizzle with caramel, and sprinkle with spiced sugar.

Recipe: Gingerbread cookies with eggnog and caramel

Molasses cookies

Ann's soft and chewy cookies are slightly spicy and exotic. Roll the cookies in turbinado sugar for an extra-sweet and crunchy texture.

Recipe: Molasses cookies

White chocolate bar with whole pistachios, dried cranberries and dried apricots

Making candy seems like a complicated task, so Aina loves making chocolate bars—they're much easier. Temper white chocolate in the microwave: an easy, time-saving method. Pour the chocolate onto a baking sheet, add your favorite toppings, and let it set. Aina chose ingredients that look beautiful and go well together: pistachios, cranberries, and dried apricots.

Recipe: White chocolate bar with whole pistachios, dried cranberries and dried apricots

Thumbprint Cookies with Peanuts and Jam

Kathy Lee's cookies can be made entirely in a food processor. Grind unsalted roasted peanuts with oats for a crumbly crust that tastes like your favorite sandwich—just add jam after baking.

Recipe: Thumbprint Cookies with Peanuts and Jam

Coconut macarons with pineapple and chocolate glaze

Photo of the dish - Coconut macaroons with pineapple and chocolate glaze

The chefs have created a versatile cookie: sweet, tart, chocolatey, and gooey all at once. The combination of homemade pineapple jam and bittersweet chocolate makes this dessert the star of your party.

Recipe: Coconut macarons with pineapple and chocolate glaze

Kentucky Pecan Pies

Damaris Phillips combines all the flavors of pecan pie in a compact cookie. Freshen up the sweet flavor of honey and brown sugar with orange zest.

Recipe: Kentucky Pecan Pies

Spiral cookies with cherry and pistachio filling

Photo of the dish - Spiral cookies with cherry-pistachio filling

Make a cherry, pistachio, and brown sugar filling for Jeff Mauro's colorful cookies, topped with festive sprinkles. The cookies can be made ahead of time, then sliced and baked just before guests arrive.

Recipe: Spiral cookies with cherry and pistachio filling

Cookies with macadamia nuts, pistachios and almonds

For crispy, buttery cookies, Nancy mixes white chocolate chips and cranberries into a macadamia nut batter. After baking, press red and white striped candies into the center of each cookie while still warm.

Recipe: Cookies with macadamia nuts, pistachios and almonds

Chocolate Mint Whoopie Pie Cookies

"My grandmother made sponge sandwich cookies only for special occasions," says Katie. "I always got so excited when I saw them in her kitchen! These cookies are inspired by her recipe and decorated for the holidays with caramel candies. By changing the type of candy and flavorings, these cookies can be adapted for any season. Be creative and experiment. They also make a great gift."

Recipe: Chocolate Mint Whoopie Pie Cookies

Festive cookies made from dry biscuit mix

These soft, fluffy cookies are made with a dry cake mix and topped with a chocolate-cream frosting—no wonder they look and taste like a cupcake topper.

Recipe: Festive cookies made from dry biscuit mix

Chocolate brownie cookies with nuts

If you prefer brownie bits that stick to the edges of the pan, these cookies will fulfill your dream: crispy edges with a soft center. If you prefer slightly unbaked chocolate, bake the cookies in the oven until they're just slightly shiny. You can also make cookie sandwiches with ice cream.

Recipe: Chocolate brownie cookies with nuts

Oatmeal cookies with dried apricots and white chocolate

"My mother loved dried apricots and white chocolate, and when she passed away, I decided to come up with a holiday recipe that would remind me of her. This is one of those recipes that creates a feeling of comfort," says Marcela.

Recipe: Oatmeal cookies with dried apricots and white chocolate

No-Bake Caramel Date Balls

This easy-to-make treat is inspired by the classic British dessert, toffee pudding. Instead of garnishing with polished sugar, roll the balls in powdered sugar mixed with a generous pinch of cinnamon.

Recipe: No-Bake Caramel Date Balls

Chocolate chip cookies

These soft, crackly cookies are very popular in Italian bakeries. Espresso powder subtly complements and enhances the chocolate flavor. Alternatively, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract to the dough.

Recipe: Chocolate chip cookies

Hermit Cookies

"These are my favorite holiday cookies because they combine two of my favorite treats: soft chocolate chip cookies and gingerbread," says Jeffrey.

Recipe: Hermit Cookies

Gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

These gluten- and dairy-free cookies are quite easy to make. And since there's no flour or butter, the peanut butter flavor remains vibrant! You can also make these cookies without chocolate if you prefer.

Recipe: Gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

Pecan Crescent Cookies

Photo of the dish - Crescent Pecan Cookies

"These little sugar and nut cookies have been a Christmas staple in my house since the late '70s," says Jeff. "They were practically impossible to sneak away before the holidays: take a bite and you'll have powdered sugar all over your kitchen, your face, and your shirt!"

Recipe: Pecan Crescent Cookies

Almond shortbread

For a beautiful presentation, bake these shortbread cookies in a tart pan.

Recipe: Almond shortbread

Gingerbread cookies with molasses

"This is my version of a favorite spiced cookie from my local bakery, Naidre's, in Park Slope, Brooklyn," says Sunny. "It's perfect with cold milk. If you're ever in the area, give it a try; in the meantime, you can bake your own!"

Recipe: Gingerbread cookies with molasses

Magic Cookies

What makes these cookies so magical? The bottom layer is made of crushed graham crackers and condensed milk, and the top is filled with chocolate chips, toffee, pecans, and coconut.

Recipe: Magic Cookies

Mint meringues

These mint meringues with pink stripes are easy to make thanks to one trick. Use food coloring to draw lines on the inside of a pastry bag, then fill it with meringue—each serving will be a different color. This trick can also be used to decorate cupcakes.

Recipe: Mint meringues

Oatmeal sandwich cookies with raspberry filling

Oatmeal, raspberry jam, and a hint of pumpkin pie spice make Sunny's cookies wonderfully sweet and gooey. "I love ordering these cookies from a place in Sherman Oaks, California," she says. "I love figuring out how to make things at home that I can't always buy. They're so easy to make and are sure to be the center of attention at any holiday party because they're so portable."

Recipe: Oatmeal sandwich cookies with raspberry filling

Spiced gingerbread cookies

Don't let those angelic faces fool you: these gingerbread cookies are quite spicy from the very first bite. Cayenne and allspice, along with a generous pinch of black pepper, create a complex, spicy flavor that's surprisingly pleasant. Molasses softens the flavor and makes the cookies chewy.

Recipe: Spiced gingerbread cookies

Christmas Confetti Cookies

During the holidays, Jeff loves to bake something sweet. He calls these cookies "White Chocolate Dreams." "Just looking at something covered in sprinkles immediately brings a sense of excitement," he says. "The sprinkles add vibrant colors, crunch, and a dose of holiday cheer!"

Recipe: Christmas Confetti Cookies

Red Velvet Crack Cookies

Jeffrey's festive cream cookies are truly festive: a cheerful red color and a layer of powdered sugar reminiscent of fallen snow. "These crackle-filled sandwich cookies are perfect for a crowd," says Jeffrey. "They'll appeal to both chocolate lovers and those who want something more exciting than a simple cookie."

Recipe: Red Velvet Crack Cookies

Cookies with apple jam

A spiced apple filling is spread over buttery cookies: one bite packs all the flavor of your favorite pie, and it's easy to make. Vanilla ice cream can be sandwiched between two cookies for a special ice cream pie.

Recipe: Cookies with apple jam

Traditional Scottish Shortbread biscuits

Photo of the dish - Traditional Scottish Shortbread

These delicious cookies are incredibly simple and perfect for this season. They're crispy, crumbly, and tender all at once. Granulated sugar gives them a luxurious golden color.

Recipe: Traditional Scottish Shortbread biscuits

Cajeta Mexican Caramel Sandwich Cookies

Photo of the dish - Cajeta Sandwich Cookies with Mexican Caramel

In her version of the alfajor dessert, Marcela uses Mexican cajeta, a thick caramel made from goat's milk (but you can substitute regular whole milk if you prefer). "I love making these cookies for the holidays because they take me back to my childhood," says Marcela. "My father often went to Guadalajara and brought back these wonderful cookies that my aunt used to make for us. Just thinking about them makes my mouth water. They're a family favorite during the holiday season."

Recipe: Cajeta Mexican Caramel Sandwich Cookies

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

Photo of the dish - No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Glaze

Four ingredients, a sweet and salty combination, and no baking? We love it! “My Great Aunt Pat makes these cookies for the holidays every year,” says Katie. “She always has them stashed away for when guests come over, and on Christmas Eve, they’re in the dessert cupboard. I love making several batches at once and putting them in holiday containers to give away. Be warned: these cookies are irresistible! You might have to make a few more.”

Recipe: No-Bake Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

Almond Cookies "Drunken Cherry in Chocolate"

Photo of the dish - "Drunken Cherry in Chocolate" almond cookies

This sophisticated dessert is inspired by candy, elegant, and possesses a distinctive flavor. Almond paste complements the rich cherry aroma, while the two-ingredient chocolate glaze is rich and velvety. Maraschino or candied cherries would be perfect, but we suggest you indulge in premium varieties like Amarena or Luxardo cherries. After all, it's the holiday season.

Recipe: Almond Cookies "Drunken Cherry in Chocolate"

Christmas Wreath Corn Cookies

Photo of the dish - Corn Cookies "Christmas Wreaths"

Festive cookies covered with cornflakes and dusted with powdered sugar.

Recipe: Christmas Wreath Corn Cookies

Striped Ribbon Cookies

A hint of mint adds a seasonal flavor to these chocolate-vanilla cookies. The dough can be made ahead and frozen to surprise guests all holiday season.

Recipe: Striped Ribbon Cookies

Czech cookies

With a walnut crust and cherry jam, these cookie bars will be the star of your holiday table.

Recipe: Czech cookies

Double Chocolate Sablé Cookies

In French, "sable" means sand, and our dessert is a cookie made from crumbly shortcrust pastry with chocolate. To maintain the desired texture, be careful not to over-knead the dough.

Recipe: Double Chocolate Sablé Cookies

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