Holiday Cookie Countdown

December 01, 2009
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Celebrate the Season with 31 Days of Cookies!
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1 of 31

Lemon-Cornmeal Cookies

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Lemon-Cornmeal Cookies

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.

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2 of 31

Molasses Cookies

Credit:  Becky Luigart-Stayner
Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and molasses combine in a wonderfully spicy cookie that's great with milk. The trick to creating that beautiful cracked sugar crust? Dip one side of each dough ball in water, then sugar, and bake sugar-side up

3 of 31

Crunchy Sesame Cookies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
These wonderfully different cookies owe their deep, nutty flavor to a combination of dark sesame oil and tahini, the roasted-sesame paste that's used in traditional hummus recipes. One reader found them a nice alternative to peanut butter cookies.
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4 of 31

Classic Iced Sugar Cookies

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Classic Iced Sugar Cookies

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.

5 of 31

Coconut Meringues

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
They've got just 25 calories apiece, so you can get more kick out of your calorie count with these light-as-air treats. Not your average meringues, these get a kick of flavor from flaked sweetened coconut, coconut extract, and unsweetened cocoa. Plus, they're easy and fun to make.

View Recipe: Coconut Meringues

6 of 31

Orange Bizcochitos

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Flavored with anise, these drop cookies have an unusual licorice flavor that adds an element of surprise. (If you don't like this flavor, just omit the aniseed.) Cinnamon and grated orange rind add another layer of spice to this New Mexican treat.
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7 of 31

Orange-Infused Cherry-Almond Biscotti

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Biscotti is a smart thing to have on hand for unexpected guests. Great with coffee or tea, they can be made up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container. The flavors of dried cherries, oranges, and almonds lend a refreshing fruit twist to this version.

8 of 31

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Meringues Sandwiches

Credit: Karry Hosford
If you like chocolate-peanut butter cups, you'll love this light twist. Feather-light and crisp chocolate meringues give way to creamy peanut butter that's as fun to make as it is to eat. Kids and adults love them.

9 of 31

Maple Date Bars

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Maple Date Bars

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.

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10 of 31

White Chocolate, Strawberry, and Oatmeal Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor
These simple drop cookies incorporate white chocolate chips and dried strawberries for a little something different. Send them to school as a treat for teacher, or make them for your next cookie swap.

11 of 31

Baked Soufganiyot

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Because Hanukkah commemorates a miracle involving oil, fried foods are traditional. In Israel, jelly donuts called soufganiyot are one of the most popular Hanukkah treats. But deep-frying isn’t exactly the Cooking Light way, so we created this baked version―essentially a fluffy sweet roll filled with jam and topped with powdered sugar. Use your favorite flavor of jam, or try a more exotic filling like chocolate ganache or dulce de leche.

12 of 31

Bittersweet Chocolate Meringues

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Studded with bits of bittersweet chocolate, these delicate meringues are wonderfully light and easy to make. (This recipe uses just five ingredients – egg whites, cream of tartar, sugar, salt, and bittersweet chocolate.)
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13 of 31

Dark Chocolate-Dipped Anise Biscotti

Credit: Iaian Frazier
Biscotti is a wonderful everyday treat, but the addition of licorice-flavored anise plus a dip in dark chocolate turns them into something special. This is a great make-ahead recipe (freeze for up to a month, then dip in chocolate after thawing). Plus, biscotti is a hardy cookie that travels well in the mail, if you wish to ship them as a gift.

14 of 31

Cranberry-Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor
Who says lightened cookies have to taste that way? "I've spent many years baking low-fat cookies in search of the perfect cookie," one reader says. "This is one of them." Packed with cranberries, nuts, chocolate chips, and oats, these cookies are treats you can feel good about serving to the ones you love.

15 of 31

Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

Credit: David Martinez
View Recipe: Raspberry Cheesecake Bars

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).

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16 of 31

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

These zesty shortbread cookies were the subject of this month's Recipe Makeover video. We shaved calories and saturated fat from this lemony cookie without sacrificing the buttery flavor and short texture you expect from shortbread. Watch our video to see how!

17 of 31

Cherry-Pistachio Wedding Cookies

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Aside from adding crunch and tang, the pistachios and cherries in these wedding cookies impart a bit a Christmas cheer. After they’ve cooled, get the kids involved by letting them gently roll the cookies through a snowdrift of powdered sugar.

18 of 31

Snickerdoodles

Credit: Randy Mayor
Sugar and spice aren't all that's nice about these cinnamon-flavored treats. With just 54 calories each, they're a satisfying, guilt-free treat perfect with a cold glass of milk or warm cup of cider. One reader reports: “My husband says these are some of the best he’s ever had.”
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Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, and Pecan Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor
Trust us, you’ll want to keep a batch of these on hand. Oatmeal adds wholesome whole grains to these chocolate chip cookies, while mini-chips ensure a bit of chocolate in every bite. If you're a smart cookie, you might double the recipe and freeze some of the dough for a quick batch later.

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Peanut Butter-Fudge Cups

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Peanut Butter-Fudge Cups

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.

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Giant Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Giant Chocolate Chunk Cookies

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.

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22 of 31

Chewy Chocolate-Coconut Macaroons

Credit: Randy Mayor
This recipe gives the classic coconut macaroon an element of surprise with a punch of flavor (and color) from unsweetened chocolate and cocoa. Though rich in flavor, these cookies are wonderfully light. Each one has only 84 calories.

23 of 31

Raspberry Linzer Windowpane Cookies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
These lovely cookies may look almost too good to eat. Almost. A light dusting of powdered sugar enhances tart raspberry preserves with a subtle sweetness. You can easily substitute another fruit jam, or make a tray with a variety of flavors for a highlight at your next holiday party.

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Sugared Vanilla Cookies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
The perfect cookie to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve, these festive, 53-calorie sugared cookies won’t add too much to the big guy's waistline. Tip: To be sure colored sugar adheres to the edges of your cookies, let each cookie thaw for a few minutes before rolling.
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Gingerbread People

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Cookies can't get much more charming than this. They're a kick to decorate with creative kids, who love drawing features on each figure to bring it to life. Offer your masterpieces as holiday gifts, as treats that'll make your coworkers smile, or as a standout in a cookie swap. (Just make sure to save a few for yourself!)

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Chocolate Malted Cookies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Cookies can't get much more charming than this. They're a kick to decorate with creative kids, who love drawing features on each figure to bring it to life. Offer your masterpieces as holiday gifts, as treats that'll make your coworkers smile, or as a standout in a cookie swap. (Just make sure to save a few for yourself!)

27 of 31

Hello Dolly Bars

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Layered with butter, chocolate chips, butterscotch, coconut and pecans, these bars taste decadent, but with 123 calories per cookie, they're a splurge you can afford. We cut fat by adding water to the melted butter in the recipe (but you'd never know). No-fuss bar cookies like these are great for coworkers or neighbors.
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28 of 31

Cocoa Fudge Cookies

Credit: Lee Harrelson
These "disappearing cookies" are so rich, soft, and chewy that they tend to vanish quickly. “They’re the perfect cross between cookie and brownie,” one reader says. “Moist and dense on the inside, like a brownie, but crusty on the outside, like a cookie, you'd never know they're light.” At only 78 calories each, feel free to make a few batches. Then watch them disappear!

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Triple Fruit Cookies

Credit: Jan Smith
Dried cranberries, cherries, and blueberries lend a moist and chewy quality to these fruity cookies, and flaked coconut gives them a tropical twist. Like most cookies, these freeze well, so you can make them up to a week in advance for unexpected (or expected) guests.

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Tuscan Almond Biscotti

Credit: Lee Harrelson
These Tuscan biscotti add a little flourish at the end of a meal, typically served with sweet dessert wine. In our homes they also make a lovely morning or afternoon snack, paired with a cup of coffee or a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Store them in an airtight container for up to a week.
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31 of 31

Chai Shortbread

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Chai Shortbread

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.

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