Fabulous Holiday Cookies
From brownies to sugar cookies to pecan bars, we've collected some of our best holiday cookies. Warning: You may feel the urge to eat your screen!
5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies
5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Recipe
As our gift to you, we've gathered our all-time favorite cookie recipes of the holiday season. Like simple cookies? Then this first recipe is for you! With only 5 ingredients, these sugar cookies are sure to become a classic this season.
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Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies
Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies Recipe
For the best "crackle" effect, reroll balls in powdered sugar just before baking to cover any exposed dough.
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Cherry Blossom Thumbprint Cookies
Cherry Blossom Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
These buttery thumbprint cookies offer a faint cherry flavor in the cookie itself and the most stunning pop of pale pink, along with a delicate taste of cherry blossom, in the jam filling. These elegant thumbprint cookies are almost too pretty to eat (although we’re sure you’ll find a way), and would make the perfect sweet finish to a bridal shower or dinner party. Cherry blossom jelly is a specialty product we ordered online, but we found it to be worth the extra bit of effort and expense for a special occasion. However, you could fill these cookies with whatever flavored jam you like. Alternatively, we also tested the recipe using chocolate kisses instead of a jam, and this is also a delicious option. The chocolate makes a very tasty companion to the subtle cherry notes in the cookie. Â
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Christmas Cookie Puzzles
Christmas Cookie Puzzles Recipe
Choose cutters with simple shapes; they're easier to handle and less likely to break. If you want to make small puzzles, cut dough into 4-inch squares, and use a single cookie cutter to punch out the center of each square while still hot from the oven. Working quickly, cut lines from edges of square to form puzzle pieces. Store icing in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
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Belgian Spice Cookies
To create a lacy design on these cookies (also known as Speculoos), place a stencil or doily over the cooled cookies before dusting with powdered sugar.
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Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies
Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Rolling red and plain-colored dough gives these cookies their fun look. Sandwich them together with a layer of peppermint-cream cheese frosting.
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Iced Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies
Iced Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies Recipe
Whole-wheat flour adds a layer of complexity to these cookies that all-purpose flour can't achieve; the wheat in the whole grain actually enhances the flavors of butter and vanilla. Unlike classic royal icing, which starts with a pound of powdered sugar, we use just 1/2 cup and thicken it with Greek yogurt. Looking for festive colors without the chemicals? Try naturally colored sparkling sugars (such as those from India Tree), which use colorants derived from plants.
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Chewy Ginger Cookies
Fresh ginger and black pepper bring a kick to this classic cookie. Prep tip: Swirl a liquid measuring cup with a thin coat of vegetable oil before measuring molasses for the most accurate (and least sticky) result.
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Triple-threat Chocolate Cookies
Triple-threat Chocolate Cookies Recipe
Prepare to abandon all restraint when you try one of these cookies, made with melted chocolate and chocolate chips in the batter and layered with a chocolate ganache filling.
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Rocky Road Brownies
Mini marshmallows melt into this walnut-topped brownie during baking, giving it a gooey, fudgy texture.
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Gingerbread Sailors and Mermaids
Gingerbread Sailors and Mermaids Recipe
You can find mermaid cutters at cookiecutter.com, and gingerbread boys from annclark.com. Decorate with icing, sprinkles, and dragées for a sweet and spicy coastal treat!
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Almendrados (Flourless Almond Cookies)
Almendrados (Flourless Almond Cookies) Recipe
The almond base gives these cookies a wonderfully nutty flavor.
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Christmas Cookies 4 Ways
Christmas Cookies 4 Ways Recipe
Stick with classic sugar cookies, or add spices, lemon zest, or cocoa for fun variations. Cut the dough into lovely holiday shapes and decorate with Royal Icing for a truly original cookie.
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Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches
Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches Recipe
These moist pumpkin cookies are wonderful plain or sandwiched with cream cheese filling.
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Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies
Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies Recipe
Maple syrup gives these cookies a subtle sweet flavor. Spice them up with cinnamon and nutmeg, and top with toasted walnuts.
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Louisiana Pecan Balls
These cookies are simple to make and ready in less than an hour. Dust with a little cinnamon or cocoa powder for a pretty presentation.
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Dark Chocolate-Espresso Shortbread
Dark Chocolate-Espresso Shortbread Recipe
Edges tipped with unsweetened chocolate and white chocolate enhance the coffee flavor in these cookies.
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Hello Dolly Bars
Also called Seven Layer Bars, this treat combines coconut, chocolate morsels, pecans, butterscotch bits and graham crackers into a sticky-sweet delight.
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Luscious Lemon Bars
A crumbly, butter cookie bottom is the perfect partner to smooth lemon filling and powdered sugar.
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Salted Caramel Brownies
Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe
With their rich, indulgent flavors, these layered brownies are a definite crowd-pleaser.
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Lemon-Frosted Sugar Cookies
Lemon-Frosted Sugar Cookies Recipe
Classic sugar cookies get a lift when you add a bit of lemon zest to the dough and fresh lemon juice to the frosting. Let your imagination soar and add food coloring to some of the frosting or use colored sugar to decorate the cookies.
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Chocolate Chip Blondies
Chocolate Chip Blondies Recipe
Put a twist on classic blondie bars by adding chocolate morsels and baking them in muffin tins.
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White Chocolate-Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies
White Chocolate-Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies Recipe
Put a twist on classic oatmeal raisin cookies by adding white chocolate morsels and a bit of orange extract.
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Cappuccino Blossoms
These coffee and almond cookies topped with chocolate kisses are easy enough to make that your children can help you prepare them.
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Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Caramel bits and chopped apple are the perfect autumn substitute to raisins in these crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside oatmeal cookies.
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Brownie Cookies
You'll love how these scrumptious double-chocolate cookies are similar in texture to thick and fudgy brownies.
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Maple-Date Bars
Two layers of crumbly oatmeal topping sandwich a layer of sweet dates in these super moist bars.
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Mudslide Cookies
Get your milk ready! A dash of coffe intensifies the luscious flavor of cocoa powder and three types of chocolate.
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Two-Layer Caramel-Pecan Bars
Two-Layer Caramel-Pecan Bars Recipe
Caramel lovers rejoice! A crunchy brown sugar base holds a gooey layer of caramel topped with chopped pecans.
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Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Mashed banana adds rich flavor and moistness to these cookies.
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Death by Caramel Bars
These showy brownies are nice and tall with pockets of caramel goo. They are wicked enough on their own, but for an over-the-top dessert, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce.
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Double-Ginger Cookies
These gingery rounds bake up moist thanks to a bit of applesauce and the sugar on top gives them a beautiful presentation.
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Peanut Butter Cookies with Butterscotch Bits
Peanut Butter Cookies with Butterscotch Bits Recipe
These nutty cookies get a buttery, caramel-y touch when you add butterscotch bits to the dough.
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Wreath Cookies
With only a few ingredients, you can transform shredded wheat cereal into these whimsical holiday wreaths. Let the kids help shape and decorate them with cinnamon candies, M&Ms, or crushed peppermints.