No matter what holiday you're celebrating, you're almost certain to agree that the best part about the holiday season is the food. There are so many special dishes that only come up at certain times of year.
The end of the year is, in my humble opinion, all about the baked goods. Holiday cookies are what make this time of year go round. Wrapping gifts? Have a cookie. Trimming the tree? Have some cookies. Crushing your 3,000th Amazon box of the year? Have several cookies.
There are so many holiday cookies to make. Here are some of the most popular tastes of the season and the best recipes for making them with the family.
Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are for sure a holiday staple. The colorful icing atop the tasty cookie is all the best combinations of yummy and festive. The classic is perfect, but if you're looking for some variations, these recipes also fit the bill:
- 3-Ingredient Sugar Cookies by Betty Crocker
- Stained Glass Cookies by Cooking Classy
- Snickerdoodle Cookies by Modern Honey
- Christmas Sugar Cookie Bites by Two Sisters
Nutty Cookies
Nutty flavors bring a little something special to the holiday season. Snowballs are a big hit during the holidays, like this buttery pecan version courtesy of Small Town Woman. These other nut cookies will also make wonderful holiday treats:
- Brutti ma Buoni (Ugly but Good) Cookies by Tina's Table
- Cranberry Orange Nut Cookies by EatingWell
- Spiced Almond-Chocolate Crinkles by Betty Crocker
- Little Nut Cups by Allrecipes
Chocolatey Cookies
The end of the year calls for all the richest food, and what's more delightful than a good chocolate cookie? Taste of Home's Double-Dutch Chocolate Holiday Cookies are a great way to get a chocolate fix, as are these picks:
- Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies by 3 Yummy Tummies
- Andes Mint Cookies by Two Peas & Their Pod
- Sweet and Salty Chocolate Chip Cookies by Bake or Break
- Double Chocolate Meringue Cookies by Once Upon a Chef
International Cookies
Around the world, there are different cookies that are holiday staples. In Italy, for example, it's not Christmas without Chocolate Almond Pizzelles, like this recipe by TfRecipes. Here are some other international holiday hits.
- Scandinavian Rosettes by Pinch My Salt
- Classic Austrian Linzer Cookies by Gemma's Bigger Bolder Baking
- Portuguese Suspiros by The Portuguese American Mom
- French Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers by The Little Epicurean
Seasonal Tastes
There are just some tastes that immediately make it feel like the holidays. Gingerbread cookies, like these by Preppy Kitchen, are one of the big favorites. Here are some other seasonally flavored cookies your family is sure to love:
- Chewy Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies by Minimalist Baker
- Chestnut Cookies by She Loves Biscotti
- Frosted Eggnog Cookies by If You Give a Blonde a Kitchen
- Christmas Spice Cookies by Homemade Hooplah
