For the fourth year running, it’s time to talk cookies—lots of cookies and other delightful holiday treats. The season always inspires baking, and I’m sharing my favorite recipes to make this year.
I bake a lot during the holidays. Even though I’m ultimately more of a cook than a baker, holiday baking comes from a lifetime of traditions—especially baking with Mother Lovett every Christmas. When life got busier, she’d often make the dough and we’d bake together. It’s therapeutic, nostalgic and one of my favorite ways to celebrate. We also love assembling big platters of cookies to bring to friends and family—Eddie makes the best ones.
Each year I share a list of what I hope to bake. As my recipe collection grows, the list gets longer and harder to narrow. Believe it or not, what follows is my pared-down list. Last year I missed a lot of baking due to travel, so I’m hoping to catch up this season.
One recurring question I get is about freezing cookies. I don’t use a conventional freezer method—I follow what Mother Lovett and my mom do: tightly wrap and seal cookies, then store them on shelves in a cold garage. The weather here keeps them chilled, and with layers of plastic wrap, foil and sealed containers they hold up well. That said, most of these cookies should freeze fine if you prefer a freezer.
Tell me what you’re planning to bake this year—leave links and suggestions; I’d love to see them!
Double chocolate cheesecake cookies — rich and decadent.
Cake batter chocolate bark — colorful and fun on a cookie tray.
Fat, fluffy snickerdoodles — a recipe I adore.
Snickerchipdoodle cookies — a made-up hybrid that’s amazing.
Chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies — an all-time favorite.
Homemade peppermint pattie cookies — I’m a sucker for chocolate and milk.
Homemade peppermint pattie brownies — I might even prefer these to the cookies.
Traditional peanut butter blossoms — a childhood favorite, even if I’m not crazy about the kiss on top.
Chewy lemon cookies — lemon is refreshing and a nice break from all the chocolate.
Sparkling white chocolate lemon truffles — new last year and an instant hit; they’re pretty and bright on a tray.
Soft gingersnaps — I’m not a huge gingerbread fan, but these cookies always win me over.
Holiday thumbprints — a Mother Lovett classic and a nostalgic family favorite.
Butterball cookies — my mom and aunt love them; they’re pure nostalgia.
Homemade baklava — a labor of love that’s worth the effort.
Giant rainbow cookies — I use the method for stuffed chocolate chip versions and festive red-and-green M&M-studded cookies.
Peanut butter pretzel chocolate chip cookie bites — crunchy and addictive.
Crazy confetti compost cookies — maybe the most “me” cookie on the list.
Easy no-bake peanut butter cookies — different and simple to make.
Salted dark chocolate truffle cookies — luxurious chocolate flavor.
Mother Lovett’s orange cookies — a beloved family recipe.
Chocolate fudge s’mores thumbprints — everything s’mores is irresistible to me.
Loaded chocolate bourbon fudge — for when you want a boozy, rich treat.
Mocha coconut fudge — a modern remake of a Mother Lovett favorite and one of the site’s most popular recipes.
Gooey chocolate coconut truffles — simple and indulgent.
Oreo balls — classic and never tiresome.
Crispy chocolate peanut butter truffles — a crunchy, elevated take on a buckeye.
Old-school crème de menthe brownies — tastes like childhood.
