1Chocolate Turtle Cookies
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREIt’s really hard to beat the combo of chocolate and caramel in a chocolate turtle, but these cookies might just take the crown. The crunchy pecans add such a nice texture to the soft cookies and chewy caramel, you may never want to return to a basic chocolate cookie again.
Get the Chocolate Turtle Cookies recipe.
2Gingerbread Cookies
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE Ready to create a new holiday tradition? Decorating these Christmas cookies is the ultimate holiday activity everyone can get involved in, and they make for the sweetest homemade food gift to give to friends and family. Their crisp edges with a tender, soft middle always wins at cookie swaps too!
Get the Gingerbread Cookies recipe.
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3Panettone Cookies
PHOTO; ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST; MAKINZE GORETo think a fluffy, enriched bread like panettone can somehow translate into a buttery cookie might seem preposterous, but don’t stop reading! These cookie are the perfect base for the orange peel, currants, dried apricots, chocolate, and almonds you love about the original, with half the work.
Get the Panettone Cookies recipe.
4Chocolate Chip Cookies
We've made our fair share of variations on chocolate chip cookies, from chewy to brown butter, but this recipe takes the cake: They’re the most classic, least-fussy version—exactly what you want when you’re looking for a no-frills, soft, and fudgy cookie. Trust us; never boring, these are ALWAYS a hit.
Get the Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
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5Candy Cane Cookies
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREOnly have the energy to make the cookies, but not decorate them? Enter: candy cane cookies. The festive twists of red and white
sugar cookie dough save you the step of needing to frost the cookies or add any extra decoration. Peppermint extract means they also taste like candy canes (but you can skip if you want!).
Get the Candy Cane Cookies recipe.
6Eggnog Snickerdoodles
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GOREWe personally LOVE eggnog, but ahem, don’t always enjoy having to buy a big container of it that no one else will drink. Enter: these eggnog snickerdoodles. They take the beloved cookie recipe and add a little extra festive, but not overwhelming, depth that everyone will enjoy. These are practically guaranteed to be the star of your Christmas cookie spread.
Get the Eggnog Snickerdoodles recipe.
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7Inside-Out Red Velvet Cookies
PARKER FEIERBACH 8Pfeffernüsse
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: DUNCAN FITZPATRICKThis German treat combines seasonal spices and molasses to create an extra chewy cookie that gets a boost from a homemade cardamom glaze. Step aside gingerbread—these holiday cookies are getting the spotlight at the cookie swap this year.
Get the Pfeffernüsse recipe.
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9Cookies 'N' Cream Millionaire Shortbread
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE 10Santa's Trash Cookies
Lindsay ConcharThese Christmas cookies will put you on everyone's nice list. We packed ours full of festive Christmas sprinkles, chocolate chips, pretzels, and potato chips for the sweet and salty combo of our dreams. But these cookies are so easy and adaptable, you can really add in whatever you please!
Get the Santa's Trash Cookies recipe.
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11Pan-Banging Confetti Cookies
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER 12Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies
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13Nutella-Stuffed Snowball Cookies
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON 14Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
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15Cuccidati
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISONIf Fig Newtons had a grown-up, glamorous sister, she would be cuccidati. Packed with a sticky-sweet, spiced fig filling and showered in rainbow sprinkles, these bite-sized Italian cookies are more than ready to shine at any and all cookie exchanges.
Get the Cuccidati recipe.
16Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Emily Hlavac Green These pinwheel cookies are beyond mesmerizing, but are also SO easy to make. Make a batch of our easy sugar cookie dough, then dye one half red. Then simply roll them together to create the swirl. The sprinkles are optional but they add so much extra fun!
Get the Christmas Pinwheel Cookies recipe.
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17Peanut Butter Cookies
Parker feierbach Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
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