6 Holiday Cookies to Make Before Christmas

The holidays are a magical time of year – particularly if you enjoy baking, as it is peak cookie-baking season in many (if not most) kitchens across the country. I make dozens of cookies during the holidays and like to make sure that I infuse some of the holiday spirit into each and every batch. You’re probably going to be doing some baking of your own this weekend and you should definitely put at least one of these Christmassy cookie recipes onto your to-bake list!!

Chocolate chip cookies never go out of season in my house, but these Peppermint Cacao Nib Chocolate Chip Cookies (pictured above) are the perfect variation on a classic for the holidays. Not only do they feature large chunks of dark chocolate, but they’re flecked with crunchy cacao nibs and bits of crushed peppermint. They’re even better to eat than they are to look at.

Lime and Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies are an eye-catching addition to a cookie platter, with the ruby red centers. The buttery cookie dough is kissed with fresh lime zest and a small dollop of cranberry sauce in the center of each cookie turns into a perfectly sweet jam as the cookies bake in the oven. Switching out the lime for lemon is a nice twist, too.

I can’t get enough of these Olive Oil Gingersnaps, which you can probably make with ingredients that are in your pantry right now. The chewy cookies have a fantastic blend of spices and get a rich complexity from the olive oil, an ingredient that isn’t often found in cookies, but works very well here.

If you prefer your gingersnaps to be on the crisp side, try a batch of my homemade Speculoos Cookies. The thin, crunchy cookies have a surprisingly rich brown sugar flavor and just the right hint of spice to keep them interesting. These cookies are excellent with coffee or tea, and you can even crush them into crumbs to make a cookie crust for a cheesecake.

This Gingerbread Cookie Garland can be eaten, but it’s also a hugely impressive holiday decoration just to keep around the house during the Christmas season. All you need need a large cookie cutter, some ribbon and a little bit of time to flex your DIY muscles while you put it together.

One of the handiest recipes in my arsenal is the one for Cream Cheese Butter Cookie Dough. It is easy to work with and can be transformed into many different cookie recipes with just a few simple changes. The dough can be rolled out and cut with a cookie cutter, rolled up into pinwheels or simply topped with colorful holiday sprinkles.