The Best Cookies for Holiday Gifting

December 09, 2016
Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen 
If you're looking for the perfect cookies to send along as gifts this holiday season, we've assembled some great recipes to use. Whether you need to prep and freeze your cookies ahead of time, pack them in a container, or wrap them up, we've got some great cookies that can withstand transport and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Those on the receiving end of these great gifts are sure to be delighted and feel plenty of holiday cheer! 
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Caramel-Stuffed Ginger Cookies

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Caramel-Stuffed Ginger Cookies Recipe

These spice cookies have ooey-gooey caramel centers and are best served warm, straight from the oven or reheated in the microwave.

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Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies Recipe

We gave the classic linzer cookie a makeover with the flavors of a childhood favorite: PB&J. Use a low-sugar strawberry jam for the brightest red color.

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Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Photo: Sheri Giblin; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Amy Stone
Classic Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
The classic holiday cookie is here to stay with these great little gingerbread people. Because cookies like these (especially cookies that have arms and legs!) tend to break a little easier, package these up with other holiday treats or with tissue paper to keep them nice and snug in their tin.
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Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

Adults will love these elegant cookies, made with a touch of brandy. And they're great for a Hanukkah party.

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Pecan Snowballs

Photo: Kana Okada; Styling: Sara Quessenberry
Pecan Snowballs Recipe
Because of their circular size, you can conveniently gift these cookies in egg crates that you can embellish or paint to reflect the joy of the season. If you don't want to go that route, these elegant cookies are also gloriously messy thanks to the heavy dusting of powdered sugar, so putting them together in a gift bag or tin almost makes these snowballs look like the real thing.

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Sugardoodle Cookies

Photo: Beth Branch
Sugardoodle Cookies Recipe
These simple cookies are excellent for holiday gifting in a tin or for wrapping up in a nice package with a bow. Because these cookies are as-is without any icing or sprinkles on top (although add sprinkles to your heart's content if you like!) these cookies are easy to pack, store, freeze, and give as gifts. Halfway between a sugar cookie and a snickerdoodle, you can't go wrong with these cookies.
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Iced Gingerbread Biscotti

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mindi Shapiro and Amanda Widis
Iced Gingerbread Biscotti Recipe
Biscotti is typically thought of as simply a coffee accompaniment, but this Italian staple is actually a sliced cookie that can be iced, dipped, dunked or topped with any kind of topping you desire. This gingerbread biscotti goes particularly well with a nice icing, and is great to give as a gift because they won't crumble or break apart en route.

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Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Monster Cookies

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Linda Hirst
Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Monster Cookies Recipe
The classic monster cookie might sound like an intimidating pick for holiday gifting, but have no fear. These cookies are a hit, and they can be customized to your liking. Sub the chocolate chips for raisins if you prefer, and don't forget to tie them up with a cute little bow for all of your friends and family to enjoy later. Oatmeal cookies are durable, flexible, and definitely portable.

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Bourbon, Cranberry, and Walnut Cookies

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen 
Bourbon, Cranberry, and Walnut Cookies Recipe
What are the holidays without a little bourbon? Warm up by the fireside this holiday season with some classic cookies that boast some warm flavor. With cranberries and walnuts thrown into the mix, these cookies are sure to be a hit. Also, they can be made ahead, frozen, and prepped whenever you're ready to enjoy them, making them great for shipping off to relatives.
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5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

Photo: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller
5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Recipe
For a simple holiday cookie ensemble, look no further than the short ingredient list on these beauties. Because you'll spend less time assembling the ingredients, you can have more fun with icing and sprinkles. These cookies are great for making a big batch, but if you need more, simply double the batch to easily accommodate your gifting needs.

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Christmas Sugar Wafers with Vanilla Icing

Christmas Sugar Wafers with Vanilla Icing Recipe
With a simple icing design and elegant shapes, these classic sugar cookies are fluffy, light, and completely delicious. Pop them in the freezer until ready to send, or simply pile up a plate to bring to the dessert table at your next holiday event. However you decide to serve these great sugar cookies, make sure to bring plenty to share!

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Peanut Butter Cookies

Photo: Oxmoor House
Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Peanut butter cookies are always a huge hit. This classic recipe is timeless and of course, needs no introduction. Use a fork to leave the trademark prints in the back of these cookies, and of course, always remind folks that they do contain peanut butter in case of a nut-allergy.
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Snickerdoodles

Photo: Oxmoor House
Snickerdoodles Recipe
Looking for a perfect gluten-free and nut-free cookie recipe? If you're in need of a cookie that avoids any allergens for your gift-giving, this classic snickerdoodle recipe is the way to go. Topped with plenty of cinnamon and sugar, these cookies will disappear right off of the plate.

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Rocky Road Cookies

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen 
Rocky Road Cookies Recipe
Rocky road ice cream just got a cookie makeover! These cookies are creative, fun, and totally festive when topped with a nice chocolate icing. If you need to, these cookies can be made ahead of time and placed in the refrigerator or freezer before being sent to friends and family to keep them nice and fresh.

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Iced Sugar Cookies

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Sarah Smart
Iced Sugar Cookies Recipe
Does it get any more classic than an iced sugar cookie? Have fun and be creative with your icings and toppings, here. If you have little ones, let them help out in the kitchen with sprinkles, cookie cutters, and more! If you use snowflake cookie cutters, be aware that the edges will be delicate, so to avoid breaking them during transport, simply fit them snugly in their container with other holiday treats or some tissue paper.
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Chocolate-and-Pistachio Biscotti

John Kernick
Chocolate-and-Pistachio Biscotti Recipe
Many people will say that anything is better when dipped in chocolate. This biscotti recipe is no different, and it also features a nice dusting of chopped pistachios to give it that extra crunch and nutty flavor. The green color also makes this treat a festive option for holiday gifting, and the biscotti won't break when being transported.

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Chocolate Thumbprints with Caramel and Sea Salt

Photo: Erin Kunkel; Styling: Kelly Allen
Chocolate Thumbprints with Caramel and Sea Salt Recipe
It isn't the holidays without a few thumbprint cookies. These unique thumbprints actually feature a chocolate cookie filled with a luscious caramel. When topped with an extra dusting of powdered sugar, you can't go wrong with these cookies! Be sure to fill the caramel just below the rim of the cookie so they can be stacked for gift giving.

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Kiss Cookies

Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo
Kiss Cookies Recipe
This classic cookie recipe is a staple for family gatherings and holiday parties far and wide. This simple recipe combines a peanut butter cookie base with the ease and simplicity of a Hershey's kiss in the middle. Let the cookies cool completely before transferring them to their containers to keep the chocolate intact.
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Peanut Butter Crunch Cookies

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen 
Peanut Butter Crunch Cookies Recipe
For all of the peanut butter lovers out there, this cookie makes the perfect gift. Topped with peanuts and a luscious peanut butter sauce, this cookie recipe is bound to be a huge hit. Just be sure not to gift these to anyone with a nut allergy!
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