103 Hottest Holiday Cookies

Iced Sugar Cookies Recipe

Decorate with dragée (sometimes called sugar pearls), gold or silver dust, and coarse or sparkling sugar.

Maple-Walnut Spice Cookies Recipe

Spices like cloves and cinnamon balance with maple syrup to make a cookie that tastes like the holidays. Spread on some maple frosting and top with walnuts for a very special cookie.

Chai Tea Eggnog Cookies Recipe

Rich eggnog and spicy chai make the perfect pairing for this cookie. Use a little eggnog, powdered sugar, and nutmeg to make a simple glaze.

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.

Chocolate Chip Meringues Recipe

Bite-sized frothy meringues studded with chocolate bits are a wonderful treat for this holiday season.

Raspberry Linzer Cookies Recipe

Crunchy almond cookies make a beautiful frame for sweet raspberry preserves. Dust with powdered sugar for a snowy holiday look.

Orange-Walnut Tassies Recipe

Flaky cream cheese dough makes the perfect nest for a sweet orange and walnut filling.

Christmas Cookies 4 Ways Recipe

Love having choices? Then this recipe is for you. 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.

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.

Toffee-Chocolate Chip Shortbread Recipe

Jazz up traditional shortbread with luscious bits of chocolate and salty toffee.

Rocky Road Brownies Recipe

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

Chocolate Peppermint Patty Cookies Recipe

Slather on the peppermint frosting when you make these cookie sandwiches and then roll the edges in crushed peppermint candy.

Butterscotch Bars Recipe

Condensed milk and butterscotch morsels melt together to make a gooey center for these streusel topped bars.

Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Fans of classic cookies will love these simple confections accented with dried cranberries and gooey white chocolate.

Chocolate Chip Blondies Recipe

Put a twist on classic blondie bars by adding chocolate morsels and baking them in muffin tins.

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.

Coconut-Cranberry Chews Recipe

We love the mix of coconut, red cranberries and zesty orange in these chewy delights.

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.

Luscious Lemon Bars Recipe

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

Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

These reindeer come together in a snap when you use refrigerated cookie dough. Carefully break or cut pretzels for antlers and make Rudolph come to life with chocolate candies for eyes and a Red hot for his nose.

Peppermint Bonbon Cookies Recipe

This decadent holiday combination pairs a soft and chewy chocolate cookie with crunchy peppermint candy on top. These gems are great plain or try them with a double glaze.

Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe

With their rich, indulgent flavors, these layered brownies are a definite crowd-pleaser.

Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches Recipe

These moist pumpkin cookies are wonderful plain or sandwiched with cream cheese filling.

Christmas Sugar Wafers with Vanilla Icing Recipe

Try a variety of cookie cutters for a beautifully festive presentation.

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.

Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Mashed banana adds rich flavor and moistness to these cookies.

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.

Chocolate-Dipped Almond Meringues Recipe

Crispy, light almond meringues get a special touch when you dip them in semisweet chocolate.

Buttery Lemon Squares Recipe

Bake up a dreamy lemon custard with a crumbly crust for a treat at your next holiday party.

Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches Recipe

Diamond-shaped cutouts add elegance to these beautiful jam-filled cookies.

Hazelnut-Chocolate Biscotti Recipe

This crunchy cookie gets its rich flavor from two kinds of chocolate candy bars and hazelnut liqueur.

Brownie Cookies Recipe

You'll love how these scrumptious double-chocolate cookies are similar in texture to thick and fudgy brownies.

Maple-Date Bars Recipe

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

Peppermint-topped Brownies Recipe

Get ready to indulge! These brownies have three decadent layers: moist brownie, chocolate ganache, and a beautiful layer of peppermint candy. Several reviewers recommended using WalMart’s candies, as they melt the best. If you don’t love peppermint, try topping the ganache with nuts, marshmallows, or coconut.

Molasses-Spice Crinkles Recipe

The strong, sweet flavor of molasses balances well with a team of spices in these soft, chewy cookies crusted with sugar.

Mudslide Cookies Recipe

Get your milk ready! A dash of coffe intensifies the luscious flavor of cocoa powder and three types of chocolate.

Sparkling Ginger Stars Recipe

These cookies almost seem to twinkle when you sprinkle heavy sugar on top before baking.

Two-Layer Caramel-Pecan Bars Recipe

Caramel lovers rejoice! A crunchy brown sugar base holds a gooey layer of caramel topped with chopped pecans.

Classic Fudge-Walnut Brownies Recipe

Large chocolate chunks create big, luxurious pockets of melty chocolate in these brownies.

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.

Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies Recipe

This recipe contrasts the tartness of the cherries with the cocoa and semisweet chocolate chips for an elegant, and delicious, addition to your holiday table.

Chocolate Malted Cookies Recipe

Malted milk powder adds richness to these delectable chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate-Cherry Heart Smart Cookies Recipe

Mix oats with bittersweet chocolate and sweet dried cherries for a sweet and satisfying cookie. Add your favorite nuts to make them extra special for your loved ones.

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.

Double-Chocolate Biscotti Recipe

Vanilla extract enhances the dusky mix of cocoa and mini-chips in these twice-baked slice cookies, which deliver deep chocolate taste.

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.

Frosted Ginger Cookies Recipe

We love these moist cookies topped with a tart lemon glaze.

Peanut Butter Cookies with Butterscotch Bits Recipe

These nutty cookies get a buttery, caramel-y touch when you add butterscotch bits to the dough.

Gluten-Free Brownies Recipe

For cookie swaps or family get togethers, bake these brownies for guests with gluten allergies.

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.

Raspberry Pinwheels Recipe

Sweet cream cheese dough pairs well with the raspberry jam in these pretty pinwheels.

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Almond paste lends an elegant flavor to these buttery cookies, and bright red raspberry jam will match perfectly with your holiday spread!

Snickerdoodles Recipe

Just hearing the word snickerdoodle makes us excited to take a bite of these chewy, buttery cookies dusted with cinnamon.

Spicy Oatmeal Crisps Recipe

These aren’t your typical oatmeal cookies! Cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and black pepper give these crispy cookies a wonderful kick. Line your pan with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the 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.

Peppermint Layer Cookies Recipe

Friends and family will ooh and aah over these fun treats. Dip the ends of these multicolored cookies into melted white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy.

Peanut Butter-Toffee Turtle Cookies Recipe

Mix toffee bits and chopped pecans right into the cookie dough and after baking, top with caramel and a chocolate drizzle.

Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

These little gingerbread men are almost too cute to eat! Give them personality with chocolate candies and colored icing.

Sugar Cookie Pops Recipe

Let your kids get in on the action with these colorful cookie pops. They can roll cookie dough balls in their favorite sprinkles and colored sugar and help you stick each cookie on a craft stick to complete the look.

Gingersnaps Recipe

Hear that? Your friends and family will gobble up these crispy, spicy gingersnaps straight off the cooling rack.

Vanilla Bean Shortbread Recipe

Buttery, crumbly shortbread gets a flavor boost when you add vanilla bean.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints Recipe

With a double shot of chocolate and hazelnut flavors, kids and adults will rave over these filled cookies. The espresso powder is optional, but it intensifies the chocolate flavor.

Crunchy Sesame Cookies Recipe

These sweet treats taste similar to peanut butter cookies, but they get their rich nutty flavor from sesame-seed paste and sesame oil instead.

Dark Chocolate-Espresso Shortbread Recipe

Edges tipped with unsweetened chocolate and white chocolate enhance the coffee flavor in these cookies.

Easy Cheesecake Bars Recipe

Your guests will never know how easy these bars were to make! If you like, use chocolate frosting to pipe holiday shapes on the top.

Rugelach Recipe

This update of the traditional sweet uses flaky piecrust and a filling of apricot jam, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts.

Dutch Spice Cookies Recipe

These simple almond and spiced cookies can be made in less than an hour. Use cookie cutters to make fun shapes for a party or cookie swap.

Macadamia Butter Cookies with Dried Cranberries Recipe

We love these thick, satisfying cookies. The lightly spiced batter and dried cranberries provide a great counterpoint to the macadamia nuts' richness.

Thick, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

If you are of the school that thinks chocolate chip cookies should be soft and chewy, you'll love this recipe. Add 1 cup chopped pecans if you like a little crunch.

Royal Raspberry Bars Recipe

Your friends and family will feel like kings and queens when you serve them this bar. A crumbly coconut-oatmeal base holds a layer of raspberry jam and meringue topping.

Amaretto Butter Cookies Recipe

These delicate, buttery cookies are flavored with bright orange peel and rich amaretto liqueur. Arrange slivered almonds in a star pattern for a striking presentation.

Peppermint Molasses Cookies Recipe

Spicy molasses cookies studded with peppermint candy is an intriguing yet delicious flavor combo. Glazing the cookies with a peppermint frosting gives them a pretty pink glow.

Fig-Pecan Macaroons Recipe

These light-as-air cookies are flavored with bright lemon, spices, and sweet dried figs.

Double Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies Recipe

Peanut butter cookies get a boost with lots of peanuts, chocolate chunks, and cinnamon.

Mocha-Chocolate Shortbread Recipe

Melt chocolate morsels on top of this simple coffee shortbread for an easy frosting.

Crunchy Frostbite Cookies Recipe

Dip one side of these crispy oatmeal cookies into melted white chocolate for a “frosted” effect. Sprinkle red or green sugar on top for a fun Christmas look.

Earl Grey Tea Cookies Recipe

Set these simple cookies out with after-dinner coffee and tea and they’ll disappear in no time!

Swirled Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Bars Recipe

If you mixed cheesecake and pumpkin pie, this is the dessert you’d come up with. Perfect for any autumn get-together, you can store these bars up to 3 days before your party.

Lemon-Coconut Snowballs Recipe

Lemon and coconut add a new twist to the traditional wedding cookie. Don't be shy when rolling these in powdered sugar -- the more powdered sugar, the bigger the snowball!