Fabulous Holiday Cookies

Updated November 22, 2010
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Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

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!

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5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

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

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

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

Credit: Whitney Ott; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

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.  

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Christmas Cookie Puzzles

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

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

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

Belgian Spice Cookies Recipe

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

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

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

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

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

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

Chewy Ginger Cookies Recipe

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

Credit: Peden & Munk; Styling: Amy Wilson

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

Credit: James Carrier

Rocky Road Brownies Recipe

Mini marshmallows melt into this walnut-topped brownie during baking, giving it a gooey, fudgy texture.

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Gingerbread Sailors and Mermaids

Credit: Jim Franco; Styling: Rebecca Donnelly

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)

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

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

Credit: Beatriz Da Costa

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

Credit: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Lydia Degaris-Pursell

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

Credit: Quentin Bacon

Louisiana Pecan Balls Recipe

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

Credit: Oxmoor House

Hello Dolly Bars Recipe

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

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Kacy Carroll

Luscious Lemon Bars Recipe

A crumbly, butter cookie bottom is the perfect partner to smooth lemon filling and powdered sugar.

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Salted Caramel Brownies

Credit: Francesco Tonelli; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite

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

Credit: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

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

Credit: Oxmoor House

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

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Cappuccino Blossoms Recipe

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

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

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

Credit: Oxmoor House

Brownie Cookies Recipe

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

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Maple-Date Bars Recipe

Two layers of crumbly oatmeal topping sandwich a layer of sweet dates in these super moist bars.

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Mudslide Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor

Mudslide Cookies Recipe

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

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Mashed banana adds rich flavor and moistness to these cookies.

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Death by Caramel Bars

Death by Caramel Bars Recipe

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

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell; Food Kellie Gerber Kelley

Double-Ginger Cookies Recipe

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

Credit: John Montana; Styling: Lynn Miller

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

Credit: Oxmoor House

Wreath Cookies Recipe

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.

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Snickerdoodles