The Ultimate Holiday Cookie Guide

We’ve gathered more than 130+ of our favorite cookies from across the web to create the Ultimate Guide to Holiday Cookies. From traditional or Adult Boozy and Gluten-Free or Vegan — we’ve and even collected recipes for your favorite furry friends! We’ve definitely got something for everyone on your list. This is your one-stop resource for all things related to holiday cookie baking!

Ultimate Guide to Holiday Cooking

There’s nothing like homemade cookies, especially for the holidays. I think when you see a tray of assorted homemade cookies gracing the dessert buffet, you just know they going to be scrumptious! Homemade = love. 

Maybe you’re looking to make some cookies for Santa, an office party, cookie swap, or bake sale — Aww, who am I kidding! You don’t need a reason to make cookies other than it’s the holidays and holidays are meant to be a celebration!

Included in every section of this post are my Expert Tips of the simple tips and tricks you can use to make sure every recipe turns out perfectly. Every. Single. Time. If you’re having trouble with a recipe, refer to the bottom of this post for my Expert Tips on Trouble Shooting Techniques.

Don’t forget to bookmark this so you can refer back to it again anytime you need. :)

Expert Tip: 12 Simple Steps To Holiday Baking Success

  1. Read through the entire recipe before you begin – You’ll know what ingredients and equipment you’ll need and about how much time it will take.
  2. Review the techniques you’ll be using – familiarize yourself with baking terms you are unsure of.
  3. Mise en Place (French) – Professional chefs call this “everything in its place,” I call it making my holiday baking marathon that much easier! Simply put, set out and measure everything you’ll need in advance – even your equipment. That way, it’s ready when you are.
  4. Get the Oven Ready – Position the oven rack so the pan will be in the center of the oven, or as directed in the recipe, then preheat the oven before you start preparing the recipe.
  5. Use the Right Pans – Choose aluminum cookie sheets with dull finishes. Dark Teflon pans tend to brown foods too quickly. Insulated pans lengthen the baking time.
  6. Measure Accurately – Check liquid measures at eye level, fill dry ingredients to the rim and sweep off the excess with the flat edge of a metal spatula or knife. Wet and dry ingredients should be filled to the rim of measuring spoons [paid link].
  7. Stick to the Plan – Avoid skipping a step or leaving out an ingredient. Were you trying to make a flourless cake? Believe me, it happens!
  8. Mix It Up –  Use a sturdy wooden spoon to mix in nuts, chips, and dried fruits.
  9. Watch the Clock – Most recipes include a range in the baking time to account for oven variances. Set the timer for the lowest time range immediately after the tray has been placed in the oven
  10. Check for Doneness – Begin checking for doneness at the lowest suggested baking time. If the baked good does not test done, continue baking a minute or two and check again. Repeat as necessary.
  11. Take Time to Cool – Use a wire rack for cooling. Racks allow air to circulate around the food.
  12. Clean as you go -Put away ingredient containers, clean up any spills or messes and put dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher.

A collage of cake mix cookies - funfetti, chocolate, frosted, and multi-flavor.

Cake mix cookies are easy to make especially for beginners and are fun for children because they are so simple they can do the entire thing themselves. Little hands make expert work of rolling the dough into balls to form crinkle cookies.

Expert Tip: How Do You Make Cookies From Cake Mix?

  1. Mix together cake mix, eggs and oil in a large bowl.
  2. Add desired flavorings and mix-ins to create flavor combinations.
  3. Form balls with the dough and bake on ungreased cookie sheets.
  4. Follow recipe-specific instructions.

Cake Mix Cookies

  1. Funfetti (Yellow) Cake Mix Cookies – Spend with Pennies
  2. Cake Mix Cookies {12 ways!} – Taste and Tell Blog
  3. Lemon Cake Mix Cookies – I heart Naptime
  4. Rolo Stuffed Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies – Mom on Timeout
  5. Eggnog Cake Mix Cookies – Dessert for Two
  6. Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake Mix Cookies – The Cookie Rookie
  7. Vanilla Cake Mix Cookies – My Baking Addiction
  8. Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies – Meatloaf and Melodrama
  9. Double Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies – Pinch of Yum
  10. Butter Pecan Cake Mix Cookies – Bunny’s Warm Oven

A collage of shortbread cookies; traditional, danish butter, chocolate, and butter pecan.

Of the more traditional holiday cookies, shortbread cookies top my list for being the ultimate holiday decadence — especially Danish Butter cookies.  If you love Danish Butter Cookies, too – check out the recipe from Fifteen Spatulas, Joanne will show you how to make them perfectly every single time.

Expert Tips: Bake Better Shortbread Cookies

  1. Use only room-temperature butter.
  2. Chill your dough when making shaped cookies – this will help retain the shape.
  3. Use unsalted European-style butter for shortbreads — it has less water content than American-style butter resulting in less steam as the butter melts.
  4. Poke holes in the dough, called “docking,” with a fork before baking to help release steam. This creates crisp shortbread cookies rather than soggy.
  5. Use quality ingredients – with so few ingredients – every ingredient must shine.
  6. Follow recipe-specific instructions for optimal results.

Shortbread Cookies

  1. Butter Swirl Danish Butter (Shortbread) Cookies – Fifteen Spatulas
  2. Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies – Sally’s Baking Addiction
  3. 3-ingredient Shortbread Cookies – Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking
  4. Classic Shortbread Cookies – Jo Cooks
  5. Two-Way Shortbread Cookies – An Italian in my Kitchen
  6. Scotch Shortbread Cookies – Taste of Home
  7. Buttery Shortbread Cookies – Recipe Tin Eats
  8. Easy Christmas Shortbread Cookies – Five Heart Home
  9. Butter Pecan Shortbread Cookies – House of Yumm
  10. Easy Shortbread Cookies – OMG! Chocolate Desserts
  11. Christmas Shortbread Cookies – The Cafe Sucre Farine

a collage of slice & bake cookies, pistachio, chocolate-orange, christmas tree and traditional sugar cookie

Every holiday tray should include some slice and Bake cookies. They are quick and easy and require very little fuss. To learn how to make the decorative slice and bake cookies, check out the Slice and Bake Christmas Tree cookies from Lise at Mom Loves Baking. She has a step by step guide to help make these easily in any variety of shapes and colors.

Expert Tip: Perfectly Round Slice and Bake Cookies Every Time

  1. From the dough into a long log about 1-1/2 to 2-inches in diameter and place it on a sheet of plastic wrap parallel with the long end. Then roll it up completely in the plastic wrap and twist the ends to seal.
  2. Place the cookie dough log in the freezer for about an hour to firm up.
  3. To slice, simply unwrap the log and trim away the rounded ends.
  4. Cut the log into rounds about 1/2-inch thick, rotating the log a quarter turn after every slice. Rotating the log ensures one side won’t be flattened from the force of cutting through the dough.
  5. Follow recipe-specific instructions for optimal results.

Slice & Bake Cookies

  1. Dark Chocolate Orange Slice & Bake Cookies – Sally’s Baking Addiction
  2. Yummy Slice and Bake Cookies – Ree Drummond | The Pioneer Woman
  3. Slice and Bake Christmas Tree Cookies – Mom Loves Baking
  4. Slice and Bake Cookie Palette – Smitten Kitten
  5. Twix Slice and Bake Cookies – Sweetest Menu
  6. Slice and Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies – Crazy for Crust
  7. Slice and Bake Cheesecake Cookies – The Merchant Baker
  8. Chocolate Flecked Slice and Bake Cookies – A Beautiful Mess
  9. Slice and Bake Chocolate-Pistachio Cookies – Good Housekeeping
  10. Honey-Pecan Cookies – Bless This Mess

A collage of sugar cookies, chocolate sugar cookies, cut out sugar cookies, snickerdoodles, and decorated sugar cookies.

Sugar cookies are a holiday classic. The dough is plain and simple and can be rolled, sliced, flavored and frosted. It’s up to you. If you’re a fan of Snickerdoodles, check out the recipe from Amanda over at I Am Baker. She’s got a great baking guide to the perfect Snickerdoodle and a video. So be sure to check those out.

Expert Tip: Bake Better Sugar Cookies

  1. Don’t Overwork it! – Mix the dough until the flour is just incorporated. Overworking the dough results in tough, dry cookies.
  2. Refrigerate – Dough needs to chill for at least 45 minutes in the refrigerator.  This allows the dough to stiffen, which helps the cookies retain their shape in the oven.
  3. Roll out the dough in small batches -Your dough may need about 10 minutes to rest after you take it out of the refrigerator. Roll it out in two or three smaller batches.
  4. Plan your dough space to avoid unnecessary re-rolling – To avoid overworking the dough re-rolling it, layout Holiday Cookie Cutters [paid link] on the dough until there’s no more room left. Be efficient with the available space using smaller, mini cookie cutters, if available. to fill in any gaps. Roll scraps onto next dough ball.
  5. Watch the Clock – When the edges of sugar cookies start to brown — they are overcooked. While the recommended baking time is usually 10-12 minutes. Always check them around 9 minutes. They will continue to bake even after you pull them out of the oven and rest on the pan.
  6. Follow recipe-specific instructions for optimal results.

Sugar Cookie Recipes

  1. Snickerdoodles – I am Baker
  2. Snowman Sugar Cookies – Sally’s Baking Addiction
  3. Creme Brulee Sugar Cookies – Delish
  4. Refrigerated Sugar Cookies – Tastes of Lizzy T
  5. Basic Sugar Cookies – The Spruce Eats
  6. Butter Flavored Sugar Cookies – Smart School House
  7. Almond Sugar Cookies – Tastes of Lizzie T
  8. The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies – KitchMe
  9. Rolled Sugar Cookies – Homemade Hooplah
  10. Soft Christmas Cut Sugar Cookies – Live Well Bake Often
  11. Chocolate Sugar Cookies – Sweetopia

a collage of gingerbread cookies including krinkles, glazed, frosted and cut outs

Gingerbread is a favorite holiday cookie around the word. Nothing beats the warm winter flavors. For this cookie, I’m excited to try the Award-Winning Gingerbread Cookies from Sabrina at Dinner then Dessert. You can leave these plain or fancy them up with a bit of white chocolate and decorative winter sprinkles.

Expert Tip: Bake Better Gingerbread Cookies

  1. Chill dough for at least 1 hour before rolling it out.
  2. Lightly dust working surface with flour.
  3. Keep gingerbread cookie cutters [paid link] from sticking to the dough by lightly dipping the edges into flour.
  4. If you’re cutting out large or intricate shapes, here’s how to keep them from stretching or falling apart when you transfer them to a baking sheet: Roll out the dough on parchment paper [paid link], cut the shapes, remove the scraps, and slide the whole sheet of parchment paper [paid link] directly onto the baking sheet.
  5. Cool cookies completely before decorating.
  6. Add extracts or citrus zest to royal icing to enhance the flavor.
  7. Use liquid or paste food coloring to color the icing.
  8. Add decorations (such as colored sugar, shredded coconut, toasted sliced almonds, etc) before the icing dries.
  9. Let decorated cookies rest flat and uncovered for about 2 hours or until icing firms up.
  10. The dough can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3-months. Undecorated cookies can be stored in the freezer for up to four weeks.
  11. Store baked decorated cookies in airtight containers for up to 2 weeks. Place waxed paper between layers of cookies to prevent them from sticking to each other.
  12. Follow recipe-specific instructions for optimal results.

Gingerbread Cookie Recipes

  1. Award-Winning Gingerbread Cookies – Dinner then Dessert
  2. Gingerbread Cutout Cookies – Taste of Home
  3. Soft Gingerbread Cookies – Cooking Classy
  4. Gingerbread Cookies – Ree Drummond | The Pioneer Woman
  5. Gingerbread Cookies – Gimme Some Oven
  6. Secret Ingredient Zesty Gingersnap Cookies – Kitchen Dreaming
  7. Chewy Gingerbread Cookies with Eggnog Drizzle – Southern Bite
  8. Gingerbread Men – Brown Eyed Baked
  9. Old-Fashioned Williamsburg Gingerbread Cookies – The Seasoned Mom
  10. Chewy Molasses Cookies – Kitchen Dreaming
  11. New England Molasses Gingerbread Cookies – Bon Appetit
  12. Healthy Gingerbread Cookies – Cookie and Kate
  13. Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies – If You Give a Blond a Kitchen

a collage of no-bake cookies including, coconut, unicorn sprinkle, turtle and chocolate frosted.

No-Bake cookies have been a staple on holiday cookie trays since the 1950s. With so many delicious recipes to choose from, it’s easy to see why they’ve been around so long and that they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Check out the No-Bake Turtle Cookies from Ashley at  The Recipe Rebel. Those cookies are SO yummy!

Expert Tip: Make Better No-Bake Cookies

  1. Simply put, traditional no-bake cookies are a type of candy-cookie combination.
  2. Like with any candy-making, use a digital kitchen thermometer [paid link] and look for a cooking temperature of 230 degrees F when starting the base.
  3. Add the vanilla off the heat just before stirring in the oatmeal. This ensures it doesn’t boil off while cooking.
  4. With a pair of spoons, drop the dough into walnut-sized portions on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  5. Let the cookies cool until they’re firm, which can take anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes.
  6. Transfer completely cooled cookies to an airtight container. Cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks.
  7. Follow recipe-specific instructions for optimal results.

No-Bake Cookie Recipes

  1. Chocolate No-Bake Cookies – Chocolate, Chocolate and More
  2. Classic Chocolate-Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies – That Skinny Chick Can Bake
  3. Nutella No-Bake Cookies – Inside the BruCrew Life
  4. No-Bake Salted Caramel Coconut Macaroons– Life, Love, and Sugar
  5. Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies – Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking
  6. Cherry No-Bake Cookies – Taste of Home
  7. No-Bake Turtle Cookies – The Recipe Rebel
  8. No-Bake Monster Cookies – The Baker Mama
  9. Hot Cocoa No-Bake Cookies – Oh Sweet Basil
  10. No Bake Oreo Truffle Cookies – Chelsea’s Messy Apron
  11. Healthy No-Bake Unicorn Cookies – The Big Man’s World
  12. Healthy No-Bake Cookies – Chelsea’s Messy Apron

A collage of meringue cookies including lemon meringue, peppermint meringue, nutella meringue, and snowmen meringue cookies.

Meringue cookies are another holiday classic for me. They are perfect to cook in the winter when humidity is low. My favorite is the Meringue Snowmen from Better Home & Gardens just because of how fun and festive they are for the holidays. These are absolutely adorable sitting on a cookie tray and really makes your homemade cookies THE center of the dessert table.

Expert Tip: Bake Better Meringue Cookies

  1. Use the right bowl. Make your meringue in a clean, dry bowl made of glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or copper. Plastic is generally not recommended. Egg whites expand in volume when the air is whipped into them, so be sure the bowl you use is larger than you’d think you’d need.
  2. Egg temperature. Room-temperature egg whites whip to a higher volume, but it’s easier to separate the yolks from the whites when the eggs are chilled. The solution is to separate the yolks and whites while the eggs are cold, then set the whites aside for 10 to 15 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
  3. Sugar and sugar-to-egg ratios. You can use regular granulated sugar when you’re making a meringue, but many cooks swear by superfine sugar because its ultra-tiny crystals dissolve more easily and completely when you whip them up with the egg whites. Hard meringues you can pipe into shapes use about ¼ cup per egg white, and usually contain an acid such as cream of tartar or lemon juice.
  4. Humidity hurts. Choose a dry day to make your meringues, otherwise, they’ll suck up whatever moisture is in the air and never quite set up properly.
  5. Don’t throw away those yolks: Freeze them and use them in future baking (add an extra yolk to a boxed cake mix to make it richer like homemade or in omelets.
  6. Follow recipe-specific instructions for optimal results.

Meringue Cookies

  1. Meringue Snowmen Cookies – Better Homes & Gardens
  2. Classic Meringue Cookies – Sugar Spun Run
  3. Lemon Meringue Cookies – Homemade Interest
  4. Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies – Brown Eyed Baker
  5. Strawberry Meringue Cookies – Better Homes & Gardens
  6. Chocolate Meringue Cookies – The Recipe Critic
  7. Peanut Meringue Cookies – Bon Appetit
  8. Pecan Meringue Cookies – She Wears Many Hats
  9. Nutella Swirl Meringue Cookies – Tablespoon
  10. Peppermint Meringue Cookies – Countryside Cravings

Bar Cookies Collage

Bar cookies are another great treat. They are perfect for parties and potlucks where having something sturdy that travels well is a must. My new favorite is the Snicker Bar Cookies from The Kitchn.

Expert Tip: Bake Better Bar Cookies

  1. Form and even foundation. Lay wax paper over your dough, and then use a heavy block of butter or a square loaf pan to push down and smooth out the surface into an even layer.
  2. Buttery doughs, like shortbread, create a lot of steam during baking. Poking holes in the dough beforehand with fork vents the steam, making your shortbread crispy and crumbly instead of soggy.
  3. Easily remove bars from the pan by lining it with aluminum foil. Leave a 2-inch overhang on the short ends to easily remove bars from the pan.
  4. Cut perfect squares using a serrated knife which will give the bars sharp edges instead of crumbly jagged ones.
  5. Splurge on high-quality pure vanilla and other extracts extract to giving bars the best possible flavor.
  6. Follow recipe-specific instructions for optimal results.

Bar Cookies

  1. Tag Along Bars – Cookies and Cups
  2. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars – Tastes Better from Scratch
  3. Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars – A Spicy Perspective
  4. Snicker Bar Cookies – The Kitchn
  5. Lemon Bars – The Spruce Eats
  6. Monster Cookie Bars – Five Heart Home
  7. Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars – My Baking Addiction
  8. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars – I am Baker
  9. Butterscotch Cookie Bars – Tastes of Lizzy T
  10. Date Bar Cookies – Brown Eyed Baker

a collage of filled cookies including thumbprint, turtle, frosting, and chocolate.

Filled cookies take a little more time to prepare than the rolled ball or drop cookies and take just some time and patience. The filled Christmas Tree Cookies from Amanda at I am Baker are so adorable and will look awesome on a platter alongside the meringue snowmen we showcased earlier. You could put these alongside any gingerbread village for an edible cookie display.

Expert Tip: Bake Better Filled Cookies

  1. Make sure you have plenty of time for all the steps including cooling.
  2. Follow recipe-specific instructions for optimal results.

Filled Cookie Recipes

  1. Christmas Tree Cookies – I am Baker
  2. Fudge Filled Cookies – Handle the Heat
  3. Frosting Filled Cookies – Cookies and Cups
  4. Filled Raisin Cookies – Brown Eyed Baker
  5. Bulgarian Maslenki Jam-Filled Cookies – The Spruce Eats
  6. Nutella Stuffed Cookies – Buns in My Oven
  7. Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies – Love & Olive Oil
  8. Hungarian Christmas Cookies Apricot Kolaches – American Heritage Cooking
  9. Cherry Pie Cookies – The Recipe Critic
  10. Polish Jam-Filled Cookies Kolacki – Polish Housewife
  11. Insanely Delicious Turtle Cookies – The Kitchen is my Playground

a collage of gluten-free cookies including M&M, thumbprint, macarons, and chocolate crinkle.

Having gluten-free desserts on your holiday buffet is a must these days. Be sure to keep these cookies separate from your other holiday cookies that use gluten type flours. These cookies are so easy to prepare that you can probably make a small assortment just for your gluten-free guests but they look and taste so amazing that ALL your guests will be snapping them up.

Expert Tip: Bake Better Gluten-Free Cookies

  1. Let the dough rest. Resting time, preferably in the refrigerator, gives the flour enough time to absorb the liquid and set the cookie’s structure. Chilling also solidifies the fat so that the cookies hold their shape in the oven.
  2. Help cookies keep their shape. Chill the dough for an hour or two before forming the cookies.
  3. Substitute solid shortening for some of the butter if your cookies are thin and flat and you want thicker cookies.
  4. Use finely ground flours. Cookies don’t have a lot of ingredients, and using a fine flour helps prevent grittiness.
  5. Always follow the recipe-specific instructions.

Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes

  1. Gluten-Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies – Fearless Dining
  2. Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies – King Arthur Flour
  3. Gluten-Free M&M Cookies – Texanerin Baking
  4. Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Sugar Cookies – Allergy Free Alaska
  5. Gluten-Free Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies – Gluten-Free Palate
  6. Gluten-Free Candied Ginger White Chocolate Biscotti – Fearless Dining
  7. Gluten-Free Peppermint Macarons with Chocolate Ganache – What the Fork Food Blog
  8. Gluten-Free Chocolate Macadamia Cookies – Gluten-Free Palate
  9. Gluten-Free Chocolate-Dipped Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies – Texanerin Baking
  10. Gluten-Free Russian Tea Cookies (Snowballs) – Fearless Dining

a collage of vegan cookies including thumbprint, shortbread, pecan pie, and sugar cookie bars.

Expert Tip: Bake Better Vegan Cookies

  1. The best way to find success with vegan baking is to follow a tested vegan recipe. But if you are taking the chance and converting a traditional recipe into a vegan one, go with products and ingredients that work well and have tested ratios.
  2. Dairy, whether it’s milk or yogurt or sour cream, helps keep baked goods moist. Experiment with alt-milks, like almond milk, cashew or soy – it really helps to make a dense and luscious-textured pastry.
  3. Butter is what makes traditional baked goods so darn tasty—as well as helps keep it all together—so you can’t eliminate it and hope for the best. Use a shortening don’t skimp on the amount called for in the recipe.
  4. Vegan doesn’t always have to mean healthy. After all,you’re making holiday desserts. So if that recipe calls for a cup of vegan sugar, go ahead and pour it in. In fact, not only will the end result tasteless than stellar, it likely won’t turn out as well as if you’d followed the recipe.

Vegan Cookies

  1. Healthy No-Bake Sugar Cookies – The Big Man’s World
  2. Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies – Chocolate Covered Katie
  3. GF & Vegan Thumbprint Cookies – Veggie Inspired
  4. Vegan Skinny Cookie Dough Bites – House of Yumm
  5. Vegan Snickerdoodles – Oh She Glows
  6. 1-Bowl Vegan Sugar Cookies – Minimalist Baker
  7. GF & Vegan Chocolate Sandwich Cookies – Cara’s Cravings
  8. Vegan Thin Mints – The Vegan 8
  9. Vegan Almond Shortbread Cookies – Love and Lemons
  10. Vegan 1-Bowl Lemon Cookies – Vegan Richa
  11. Vegan Pecan Shortbread Cookies – Connoisseurus Veg
  12. Vegan Chewy Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies – My Darling Vegan
  13. GF & Vegan Pecan Pie Cookies – Allergy Free Alaska

a collage of spiked boozy adult cookies including rum balls, snockerdoodles, chocolate krinkle, and chocolate chip.

Boozy adult cookies are a fun addition to any holiday party. Be sure to label these so little tykes don’t accidentally get ahold of these cookies since they look so much like the originals.

Expert Tip: Alternate Flavorings For Boozy Cookie Recipes

Anise – Anisette or Abisante |  Banana – Creme de Banana | Cinnamon – Cinnamon Schnapps or Fireball | Chocolate – Creme de Cacao

Coffee – Cafe Lolita or Kahlua or Homemade Coffee Liqueur | Ginger – Ginger Brandy or Ginger Schnapps | Lemon – Lemonier or Homemade Limoncello

Orange – Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or Orange Curacao | Peach – Peach Brandy | Peppermint – Peppermint Schnapps | Spearmint – Spearmint Schnapps

Vanilla – Carmella, Campari, Tuaca Brandy | Vanilla & Pecan – Praline Liqueur

Boozy Adult Cookie Recipes

  1. Bourbon Dark Chocolate Crack Cookies – White on Rice Couple
  2. Browned Butter and Bourbon Cookies – Sugar Spun Run
  3. Drunken Oreos – Country Living
  4. Snockerdoodles – Bread Booze Bacon
  5. Boozy Chocolate-Hazelnut Truffles – Nourished Kitchen
  6. Rum Refrigerator Cookies – Chew your Booze
  7. Bad Santa Spiced Brownies – The Moonblush Baker
  8. Eggnog Bourbon Balls – Farmgirl Gourmet
  9. Rum Balls – Martha Stewart

a collage of dog treats including peanut butter, best in breed, and super healthy.

Having a repertoire of holiday pet treats is a must for me. I whip these up and give them away with the cookie platters I gave family and friends. They are always happy to have some special holiday cookies to share with their furbabies.

Expert Tip: Bake Better Dog Treats

  1. When baking, consider doubling the recipe and freezing the extra dough. When you run out of treats, thaw the frozen dough in the fridge and continue the recipe as normal.
  2. Instead of purchasing flour for treats, try making your own oat flour. Simply place whole oats into a food processor [paid link] and grind until the oats make a finely ground flour
  3. If you want your dog treats to be harder, drier and to last longer, leave them in the oven with the door slightly open for a few hours after it has been turned off.
  4. Save the stock from simmered meat and fish dishes and freeze them for making treats later.

Dog Treats

  1. Homemade Dog Treats – Pinch of Yum
  2. Apple-Carrot Dog Biscuits – Reluctant Entertainer
  3. Homemade Dog Treats – Damn Delicious
  4. Mega Healthy Dog Biscuits – The Daring Gourmet
  5. Peanut Butter & Applesauce Cookies – The Everyday Dog Mom
  6. Vegan Pumpkin Cranberry Dog Cookies – Healthy Slow Cooking
  7. Best of Breed Dog Biscuits – King Arthur Flour
  8. Simple Dog Biscuits – The Blond Cook
  9. DIY Doggie Breath Mints – Skinny Ms.
  10. Diane’s 2-ingredient Dog Biscuits – The Midnight Baker

A collage image showing differnt cookies included in the round up, sugar cookie cut-outs, filled christmas trees, and meringue snowmen cookies.

SIX QUICK FIXES FOR PERFECT COOKIES EVERY SINGLE TIME

Ronda Eagle | Kitchen Dreaming
If you run into trouble with any of your recipes, head back for some troubleshooting tips and tricks.
4.91 from 10 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 people
Calories 1 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Time
  • 1 Patience

Instructions
 

  • Bake with Holiday Cheer.
  • Spread joy and love.

Video

Notes

  1. Cookies Spread while baking:
    • Dough was not properly chilled
    • pans were greased too much
    • Dough was placed on warm pans
    • Dough was made with margarine
  2. Sticky Dough:
    • Dough not well-chilled
    • Not enough flour was used
    • If the dough is soft after chilling, add flour a tablespoon at a time until the dough is easy to work with
  3. Dough is Dry:
    • Drizzle in some milk or cream until the dough reaches desired consistency
  4. Cookies Stick to the Pan:
    • grease or add parchment or silicone liners
  5. Cookies break when moving from the Baking Trays:
    • allow cookies to cool 1-2 minutes before transferring to wire racks
  6. Uneven Baking:
    • Dough not rolled evenly
    • Oven has uneven heat. Rotate pans midway through baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 1kcal
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

8 thoughts on “The Ultimate Holiday Cookie Guide”

  1. Came across your article today for Christmas cookies. I used it to make some amazing Cuban cookies but pinned it for Christmas when I can once again make a huge platter of cookies to share with family and friends.

    Reply

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