Holiday Cookie Countdown

Ground ginger and grated lemon zest lend a subtle spice to a humble base of cornmeal and all-purpose flour. Perfect with hot tea on a winter afternoon, these light and unpretentious cookies make a guilt-free indulgence, with just 55 calories apiece.

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.

View Recipe: Coconut Meringues

Moist and chewy, these date-filled bars make a satisfying afternoon snack or a nice treat to bring into the office. They travel well, since you can let them cool in the baking pan and carry them. Or, for a prettier package, place them in a cookie tin divided by sheets of parchment paper.

Easier than cheesecake (and lighter, too), these bar cookies make a 111-calorie treat that's easy and fun to make. Baking with kids? Let older ones swirl the batter, raspberries, and cream cheese with a chopstick (instead of a knife, as the recipe suggests).

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.

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.

If you like Chai, the traditional Indian spiced tea, you'll love these cookies. Classic shortbread crunch meets fragrant cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper (yes, black pepper!) in an innocent-looking cookie with an invisibly scrumptious twist.