Holiday Cookie Countdown

View Recipe: Macadamia Butter Cookies with Dried Cranberries

View Recipe: Almond-Apricot Macaroons

Go beyond average holiday cookies with our play on sweet-and-salty in these gift-worthy treats. Coarse-grained sea salt does not melt into the batter, so you experience a crunchy burst with every bite. Use any other nut you like in place of peanuts. Package simply in glass jars for gifts or stash for an afternoon dose of yin-and-yang.

View Recipe: Butterscotch Bars

When shaping these buttery cookies, do not try to form perfectly smooth balls. If the dough is handled too much, the cookies will become heavy and dense. Let them be free-form and show off that they’re homemade. Imperfect usually means that they’re perfectly delicious.

View Recipe: Coconut Meringues

View Recipe: Pecan Bar Cookies

It may be the holidays, but sneak in some good stuff with these coffee-dunking biscotti. Your little secret: whole-wheat flour, flaxseed, dark chocolate chips, and almonds add fiber and antioxidants without sacrificing one ounce of pleasure.

Buttery and sweet with a hint of spice, these cookie jar favorites are right for any occasion. If you prefer a slightly chewier cookie, reduce baking time to 10 minutes. A sprinkling of large-grained turbinado sugar makes a pretty presentation.

If you like peanut butter cups, you'll love this charming twist. Perfect for parties (and kid-friendly, too), these fun treats have a crunchy peanut butter crusts and chocolaty centers that appeal to all ages. They're an eye-catching addition to any dessert tray.

View Recipe: Black and White Striped Cookies

View Recipe: Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Marshmallow Cream Filling

View Recipe: Cranberry-Oatmeal Bars

View Recipe: Black and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

These rich, chewy cookies contrasts the tartness of the cherries with the cocoa and semisweet chocolate chips for an elegant, and delicious, addition to your holiday table.

View Recipe: Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, and Pecan Cookies

Trust us. Our twist on the classic cinnamon-sugar cookie, lovingly called the Snickerdoodle, won’t disappoint. Using almond butter, egg yolks, and cream cheese in the cookie dough adds richness, and the crunchy coating of cinnamon sugar brings back all the memories from this all-time favorite cookie.

Get the kids involved with a Saturday morning bake-a-thon. They can help decorate these adorable ginger people. Get a head start by baking cookies up to four days ahead and storing in an airtight container. Frost one day before serving; after frosting is set, pack cookies in airtight containers between layers of wax paper. This dough also makes fine slice-and-bake cookies if you want something a little easier.

Rich shortbread is easy to prepare and keeps for several days in an airtight container, making it ideal for gifts. Wrap simply in clear cellophane bags with festive ribbon for delicious treats for teachers, co-workers, and last-minute guests.

How do you improve the perfect chocolate chip cookie? Make it bigger! These ample treats bring out the little kid in everyone when paired with a glass of milk and a mug for dunking. Each batch makes only 6 cookies, so you might want to double the recipe for a crowd.

Package these crunchy cookies in a gift box with a pound of your favorite coffee beans. Look for almond paste on your supermarket's baking aisle, and for best results, don't substitute marzipan, which is sweeter and more finely textured, in place of the paste.

What would happen if pecans and dulce de leche met buttery shortbread? Heaven on a holiday plate. These aren’t just cookies. They’re full-on dessert in a bite-size treat.

A good starting point for decorated cookies, this basic recipe uses ingredients you probably have in your pantry. Feeling creative? Tint the icing with food coloring and have fun adding your own designs. If you plan on piping the icing, decrease the milk to two tablespoons.

Dear Santa: You won’t want to skip our house. We have warm Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies and a glass of cold milk waiting for you. We all helped make them. They’re going fast, so don’t be late.

These classic sugar cookies are infused with nutty, caramel notes from browned butter and a fair bit of salt to balance the flavors. You can roll out the dough right after combining all the ingredients—no chilling required.

View Recipe: Hello Dolly Bars

With a double shot of chocolate and hazelnut flavors, kids and adults will rave over these filled cookies. An addition of espresso powder is optional, but it intensifies the chocolate flavor. Serve these pretty gems at your holiday gathering with coffee or hot tea.

View Recipe: Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Alfajores, these crisp wafer cookies, are filled with caramelized sweetened condensed milk. Although you often can find a full-fat version of this product at Hispanic markets, we've made our own lower-fat version.

View Recipe: Chocolate-Cherry Heart Smart Cookies

View Recipe: Raspberry Linzer Cookies