15 Holiday Cookie Recipes to Try This Season
We’re finally nearing the end of the year, when many of us get a much needed break from work or school. In case you’re hoping to end your TikTok doom-scrolling habit during your time off and instead take up a hobby like baking, we’ve compiled a list of 15 cookie recipes to try during the holiday break. Some of these recipes are family favorites, experimental recipes we found on TikTok, or recipes we want to challenge ourselves to try. Have fun baking one (or more) of these 15 holiday cookies!
1. Alfajores
Alfajores are a popular holiday cookie in many Latin American countries. These cookies are usually made up of two cookies held together by a sweet filling like dulce de leche or honey, dipped in chocolate or powdered sugar, and rolled in coconut flakes. Try out this recipe by Muy Delish!
2. Cosmic Brownie Cookies
Does anyone remember the enormous 75-cent Cosmic Brownies they used to sell at the bodega? Cosmic Brownies were a staple of many of our childhoods, and this Cosmic Brownie cookie recipe is a soft, fudgy, and nostalgic recipe that will throw you back this holiday season. Check out Design Eat Repeat’s recipe!
3. Matcha Checkerboard Cookies
This recipe is a twist on the classic checkerboard shortbread cookie. Cocoa is replaced with matcha to create a green and white checkerboard pattern. These cookies are tasty and will complement your aesthetic cookie board perfectly. We discovered this recipe through Constellation Inspiration on TikTok!
4. Sugar Cookies
We could watch bakers pipe royal icing onto holiday-shaped cookies for hours, but maybe it could be more satisfying to pipe out the designs yourself! Turn a simple sugar cookie into a fun creative project by decorating them with friends and family. Try this beginner-safe tutorial by Little Cookie Co.
5. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
For red velvet lovers, these festive cookies are a less chocolatey version of the classic chocolate crinkle cookie. Traditionally, the crinkle cookie is very fudgy and rolled in powdered sugar to create the cracked crinkle effect. This New York Times recipe will have your cookies out of the oven in an hour!
6. Milk Bar x Ted Lasso Biscuits
This recipe was recommended by Sustainable Baddie editor Aparna! These biscuits are buttery and crumbly. She likes to add cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, and instant espresso, and use equal parts salted and unsalted butter to offset the sweetness. Check out Milk Bar’s recipe here!
7. Raspberry Pinwheel Cookies
You already know we love to play with color at Sustainable Baddie. Instead of a green, red, and white cookie, bake some cute pink pinwheel cookies this holiday break. Not only is the color a fun holiday twist on the classic red, but the raspberry flavor is different from the warm spices we might be used to. Try this recipe by Simply Recipes for maximum color pop.
8. Besitos de Coco
Besitos de coco are another classic Latin American cookie that are commonly made around the holiday season. They are pretty much the equivalent of a coconut macaron. These cookies require few ingredients and you’ll be able enjoy them in under 30 minutes. Check out this recipe by Enrilemoine.
9. Nankhatai
Nankhatai is a popular Indian shortbread cookie that can commonly be found in Indian bakeries and is especially popular during Diwali. These cookies are soft and crumbly and made with warm spices like cardamon or nutmeg. Dassana’s Veg Recipes has two different recipes you can try depending on your dietary preferences/restrictions!
10. Hot Cocoa Cookies
Dip these hot cocoa cookies in your oat-milk hot cocoa for a highly indulgent chocolate experience. These chewy chocolatey cookies topped with marshmallows are fun and delicious!
Follow this recipe by Two Peas and Their Pod to get the perfect hot cocoa cookies.
11. Peanut Butter Blossoms
Sustainable Baddie staff writer Zibby recently baked some peanut butter blossoms for a holiday party with friends! “I feel like we just started our own little tradition and I felt so adult.” Start your own tradition with the New York Times Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe.
12. Peppermint Patty Shortbread
Peppermint is one of those heavenly scents that we just can’t get enough of during the holidays. This peppermint patty shortbread blends two of our favorite flavors, chocolate and peppermint. You can’t go wrong with the New York Times recipe!
13. Palmiers
Palmiers are a flaky french cookie that pair well with a sweet wine (preferably by the fire at a winter chalet. No, but seriously). You can use less sugar for a more savory treat, or add a touch of cinnamon to give the palmiers some warmth. We recommend this recipe by Saveur!
14. Snickerdoodles
This is another recipe recommended to us by Zibby! They recently made snickerdoodles for their housewarming party. “I used a recipe kind of like this one, and then made my own spice mix with nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and sugar to give it a lil something.” Get creative with it like Zibby did, or try this clear cut All Recipes recipe.
15. Gingerbread Latte Cookies
Any recipe that calls for the addition of coffee is a top notch recipe in our book. The cozy fragrances of these gingerbread latte cookies will have your neighbors knocking at your door. “Um, excuse me… what is that delicious smell!” My top-tier baking skills, duh. Transform the fabulous gingerbread latte into a cookie with this New York Times recipe.
What’s your favorite holiday cookie?