Festive cookies are one of the best things about the holidays. The whole production is so holiday-coded: a warm kitchen on cold days, involving restless kids, going unnecessarily hard with sprinkles and icing.
To honor the coziness of it all, I’ve gathered a list of some the internet’s favorite holiday cookies.
Some of these are classic (my basic shortbread), while some are unusual (orange ricotta??). None of them are healthy. And all of them come highly recommended by the internet.
Classic Holiday Cookies
These classic flavors are always good, but they’re especially appreciated during the holidays.
Basic Shortbread Cookies
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla in large bowl
- Add and mix the flour in batches
- Divide the dough in half, shaping each half into a log about 6 inches long and 2 inches wide
- Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours
- Roll logs in more sugar
- Cut the logs into 1/4-inch thick slices
- Bake cookies for 8 minutes at 375, rotating the tray halfway through cooking time
All-Occasion Sugar Cookies
Thousands of moms on the internet swear that this recipe from The Way To His Heart produces the best sugar cookie ever. And I believe them.
Easy Chocolate Chip Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Feeling indecisive? Combine two classic flavors in one innovative cookie from An Italian In My Kitchen!
My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 1 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 bag of mini chocolate chips
- Mix all dry ingredients in a medium bowl
- In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla
- Add the flour mixture in batches (dough will be stiff)
- Bake at 375 for 8-10 mins, turning the baking tray halfway
Especially Seasonal Cookies
These cookies are bursting with…winter flavors. I don’t know how else to describe it.
But the maple brown sugar and eggnog inspirations will make you feel especially festive.
Maple Brown Sugar Cookies
You’ll need to chill the dough for these Sally’s Baking Recipes cookies, but the magic of maple makes it worth the extra time.
Orange Ricotta Cookies
I know, I know, we ain’t here for the fruit. But this is an intriguingly good cookie from A Family Feast.
Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies
The internet is nuts about this classic NYT eggnog cookie recipe.
Whipper Snappers
- 1 box cake mix (strawberry or lemon recommended, but you do you)
- 1 tub Cool Whip
- 1 egg
- Mix the ingredients together
- Roll spoonfuls of dough in powdered sugar
- Bake at 350° for 12 minutes, flipping the baking tray halfway through
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Another classic holiday drink in cookie form from Shugary Sweets.
Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies
No explanation, just chai.
Not Cookies But Also Delicious
I can’t leave these treats out! That wouldn’t be very inclusive.
Five Star Bars
Rock Recipes says this is “more of a confection than a cookie bar.” But I don’t care, they look delicious.
Christmas Cracker Candy
As in saltiness. I know, it sounds weird, but this “candy” is delicious.
M&M Sugar Cookie Bars
- 1 bag sugar cookie mix
- 1 stick softened butter
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup Christmas M&M’s
- 1/2 cup white chips
- Beat the sugar cookie mix, butter, and egg together
- Stir in Christmas M&M’s and white chips
- Spread into a greased, parchment paper lined, then greased again 13×9 baking pan
- Bake at 350 for 25 minutes
You Tell Me
What are your favorite holiday cookies? I’d be delighted if you left a recipe in the comments! Then we’d have all those tasty treats in one place, for us all to try.
Happy Holidays!
Love,
