103 Hottest Holiday Cookies

MyRecipes
Updated: October 22, 2018
Our top holiday cookies are gorgeous, delicious, and guaranteed show stoppers at any cookie swap or holiday party. Whip up a batch or two of these holiday cookies for teachers, hostess gifts, coworkers, or for your family to enjoy on a cozy night in. Drop cookies, meringues, traditional holiday cookies, cut outs, bars, balls, and bonbons all make their way into our top rated holiday cookie list, so browse, drool, and pick your favorite to bake this holiday season. Don't forget to pick a special one for Santa!
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Iced Sugar Cookies

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Sarah Smart
Iced Sugar Cookies Recipe
Decorate with dragée (sometimes called sugar pearls), gold or silver dust, and coarse or sparkling sugar.
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Maple-Walnut Spice Cookies

Photo: Jan Smith
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.

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Chai Tea Eggnog Cookies

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Caroline Murphey
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.
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Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies

Photo: 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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Chocolate Chip Meringues

James Carrier
Chocolate Chip Meringues Recipe
Bite-sized frothy meringues studded with chocolate bits are a wonderful treat for this holiday season.

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Raspberry Linzer Cookies

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Raspberry Linzer Cookies Recipe
Crunchy almond cookies make a beautiful frame for sweet raspberry preserves. Dust with powdered sugar for a snowy holiday look.
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Orange-Walnut Tassies

Becky Luigart-Stayner
Orange-Walnut Tassies Recipe
Flaky cream cheese dough makes the perfect nest for a sweet orange and walnut filling.

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Christmas Cookies 4 Ways

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.

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Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

Photo: 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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Toffee-Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Photo: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Lynn Miller
Toffee-Chocolate Chip Shortbread Recipe
Jazz up traditional shortbread with luscious bits of chocolate and salty toffee.

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Rocky Road Brownies

Photo: 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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Chocolate Peppermint Patty Cookies

Photo: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker
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.
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Butterscotch Bars

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Butterscotch Bars Recipe
Condensed milk and butterscotch morsels melt together to make a gooey center for these streusel topped bars.

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Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies

Photo: William Dickey; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey
Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies Recipe
Fans of classic cookies will love these simple confections accented with dried cranberries and gooey white chocolate.

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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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Louisiana Pecan Balls

Photo: 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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Coconut-Cranberry Chews

Photo: James Carrier
Coconut-Cranberry Chews Recipe
We love the mix of coconut, red cranberries and zesty orange in these chewy delights.

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Hello Dolly Bars

Photo: 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

Photo: 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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Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies

Ralph Anderson; Mindi Shapiro Levine
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.

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Peppermint Bonbon Cookies

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.
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Salted Caramel Brownies

Photo: 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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Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches

Photo: Beatriz Da Costa
Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches Recipe
These moist pumpkin cookies are wonderful plain or sandwiched with cream cheese filling.

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Christmas Sugar Wafers with Vanilla Icing

Christmas Sugar Wafers with Vanilla Icing Recipe
Try a variety of cookie cutters for a beautifully festive presentation.
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White Chocolate-Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Photo: 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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Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo: 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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Cappuccino Blossoms

Photo: 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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Chocolate-Dipped Almond Meringues

Chocolate-Dipped Almond Meringues Recipe
Crispy, light almond meringues get a special touch when you dip them in semisweet chocolate.

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Buttery Lemon Squares

Photo: James Carrier
Buttery Lemon Squares Recipe
Bake up a dreamy lemon custard with a crumbly crust for a treat at your next holiday party.

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Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches

Photo: James Carrier
Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches Recipe
Diamond-shaped cutouts add elegance to these beautiful jam-filled cookies.
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Hazelnut-Chocolate Biscotti

Ralph Anderson; William Dickey; Lisa Powell Bailey, Buffey Hargett; Vanessa McNeil Rocchio
Hazelnut-Chocolate Biscotti Recipe
This crunchy cookie gets its rich flavor from two kinds of chocolate candy bars and hazelnut liqueur.

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Brownie Cookies

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

Photo: 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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Peppermint-topped Brownies

Photo: Leigh Beisch
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.

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Molasses-Spice Crinkles

Photo: Oxmoor House
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.

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Mudslide Cookies

Photo: 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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Sparkling Ginger Stars

Photo: Oxmoor House
Sparkling Ginger Stars Recipe
These cookies almost seem to twinkle when you sprinkle heavy sugar on top before baking.

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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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Classic Fudge-Walnut Brownies

Photo: Oxmoor House
Classic Fudge-Walnut Brownies Recipe
Large chocolate chunks create big, luxurious pockets of melty chocolate in these brownies.
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Caramel Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Photo: 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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Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
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.

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Chocolate Malted Cookies

Randy Mayor
Chocolate Malted Cookies Recipe
Malted milk powder adds richness to these delectable chocolate chip cookies.
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Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke
Chocolate-Cherry 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.

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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-Chocolate Biscotti

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr, Jan Gautro
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.
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Double-Ginger Cookies

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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Frosted Ginger Cookies

Leigh Beisch
Frosted Ginger Cookies Recipe
We love these moist cookies topped with a tart lemon glaze.

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Peanut Butter-Butterscotch Cookies

Photo: John Montana; Styling: Lynn Miller
Peanut Butter-Butterscotch Cookies Recipe
These nutty cookies get a buttery, caramel-y touch when you add butterscotch bits to the dough.
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Gluten-Free Brownies

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Paul Grimes
Gluten-Free Brownies Recipe
For cookie swaps or family get togethers, bake these brownies for guests with gluten allergies.

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Wreath Cookies

Photo: 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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Raspberry Pinwheels

Photo: Kana Okada; Styling: Sara Quessenberry
Raspberry Pinwheels Recipe
Sweet cream cheese dough pairs well with the raspberry jam in these pretty pinwheels.
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Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
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!

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Snickerdoodles

Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro
Snickerdoodles Recipe
Just hearing the word snickerdoodle makes us excited to take a bite of these chewy, buttery cookies dusted with cinnamon.

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Spicy Oatmeal Crisps

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.
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Triple-threat Chocolate Cookies

Photo: 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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Peppermint Layer Cookies

Annabelle Breakey
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.

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Peanut Butter-Toffee Turtle Cookies

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.
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Gingerbread Cookies

Photo: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Karen Tack
Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
These little gingerbread men are almost too cute to eat! Give them personality with chocolate candies and colored icing.

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Sugar Cookie Pops

Oxmoor House
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.

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Gingersnaps

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

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr
Vanilla Bean Shortbread Recipe
Buttery, crumbly shortbread gets a flavor boost when you add vanilla bean.

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Chocolate-Hazelnut Thumbprints

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
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.

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Crunchy Sesame Cookies

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro
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.
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Chocolate-Espresso Shortbread

Chocolate-Espresso Shortbread Recipe
Edges tipped with unsweetened chocolate and white chocolate enhance the coffee flavor in these cookies.

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Easy Cheesecake Bars

Photo: Charles Walton IV; Styling: Buffy Hargett
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.

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Rugelach

Photo: Maura McEvoy
Rugelach Recipe
This update of the traditional sweet uses flaky piecrust and a filling of apricot jam, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts.
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Dutch Spice Cookies

James Carrier
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.

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Macadamia Butter Cookies with Cranberries

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro
Macadamia Butter Cookies with Cranberries Recipe
We love these thick, satisfying cookies. The lightly spiced batter and dried cranberries provide a great counterpoint to the macadamia nuts' richness.

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Thick, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo: James Carrier
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.
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Royal Raspberry Bars

James Carrier
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.

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Amaretto Butter Cookies

James Carrier
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.

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Peppermint Molasses Cookies

Photo: James Carrier
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.
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Fig-Pecan Macaroons

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr, Jan Gautro
Fig-Pecan Macaroons Recipe
These light-as-air cookies are flavored with bright lemon, spices, and sweet dried figs.

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Double Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies

Double Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies Recipe
Peanut butter cookies get a boost with lots of peanuts, chocolate chunks, and cinnamon.

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Mocha-Chocolate Shortbread

Mocha-Chocolate Shortbread Recipe
Melt chocolate morsels on top of this simple coffee shortbread for an easy frosting.
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