9 Holiday Cookies to Make this Holiday Season

One of my favorite gifts to give is baked goods. I try to whip up cookies or loaves of bread for my apartment’s office, the dogs’ vet and boarding people, my trainer, etc. The easiest thing to do and everyone always appreciates a thoughtful snack.

9 Holiday Cookies to Make this Holiday Season

Guest post by Louisa from Living Lou

I’m known for baking a huge tray of holiday cookies every year for my family gatherings; my kitchen basically turns into a cookie factory during the week leading up to Christmas. Over the years, I have perfected a few of my favorite cookie recipes that I make time and time again.

Bringing a beautiful plate of cookies to my family every year makes me so happy, especially because they love them so much (I get requests every year!). The trick to making a variety of holiday cookies is to make sure that you aren’t making a ton that require a lot of time and decorating with icing (I always make sugar cookies as the only iced cookie), in addition you’ll want a few drop cookies and bars to round it out.

1. Chewy Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Chocolate and peppermint is one of my all-time favorite flavor combos—and these cookies use festive red, white and green peppermint M&M’s

2. Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

You know those giant, chewy ginger molasses cookies at Starbucks? This recipe is my take on that favorite, they are so chewy and are even better than the Starbucks version—the secret is using egg whites.

3. Chai Spiced Sugar Cookies

This takes your classic sugar cookie and adds a few spices to give it even more of a festive flair. While I didn’t decorate these, they would be delicious with a cinnamon or eggnog glaze.

4. Cranberry, Orange and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate and orange is another classic flavor pairing during the holiday season, and while it isn’t my personal favorite, my family loves this combo.

5. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Unlike my chewy, drop biscuits, these chocolate peppermint cookies have more of the texture and crunch of a ginger snap, drizzle with white chocolate and top with crushed candy canes, and they are an easy, fuss-free cookie.

6. Chocolate Snow Caps

Everyone loves these cookies because they look like exactly like the top of a snowy mountain, plus I love the combination of cocoa and coffee in this recipe.

7. Maple Walnut Cookies
These might not seem to be the most classic holiday cookie, but they are my best friend’s favorite cookie that she always requests at the holidays.

8. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

If you’re attending a cookie swap and are worried about people bringing all the same types of cookies, you can’t go wrong with this standby peanut butter cookie recipe—this cookie is good at all times throughout the year.

9. Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookies

Again, I borrowed from my favorite Starbucks cookie and infused it with ginger—these are a combination of a chewy ginger molasses cookie and more of a ginger snap, with the addition of chocolate.