Oooh — it’s the most wonderful time of year! Here’s my 2019 holiday baking list, packed with favorite traditional cookies and a few twists on classics.
I love sharing this list every year. It’s so fun to hear what you’re baking, learn about your family traditions, and find out which recipes you return to year after year.
If you follow the blog, you might remember that I used to bake with Mother Lovett each year. Those moments meant a lot to me and are one of the reasons I treasure holiday baking, even though I’ll admit I don’t always love baking the rest of the year.
We already started baking this year for a couple reasons: I needed photos for this post, and Lacy’s wedding is coming up. If you’ve ever been to a wedding in Pittsburgh, you know about the giant cookie table tradition, so we got a head start and carefully packaged treats to bring out for New Year’s Eve.
Every year Lacy and I try to make a buche de noel — the Bon Appétit version is our favorite — though this year might be different with wedding festivities. We also always make Tracy’s candied citrus peels and homemade amaretto; we’ve been making those recipes since she posted them. And of course, my smoky vanilla bourbon (whiskey) pretzels make a regular appearance.
Don’t forget my favorite baking playlist — it’s meant to be on repeat while you work.
My 2019 Holiday Baking List
Chocolate crinkle sprinkle cookies inspired by The Pretty Dish — a festive, chewy favorite with a fun sprinkle finish.
Cashew butter buckeyes — my twist on a classic peanut-butter-and-chocolate candy. I may also make traditional buckeyes, depending on how much time I have.
Peanut butter blossoms — these are my all-time favorite. I could eat them by the dozen.
Lemon crinkle cookies — bright, snappy, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Soft snickerdoodles and chewy chai snickerdoodles — I can’t decide between them, so I usually make both.
Soft gingersnaps — sometimes I make quadruple batches because everyone devours them. I don’t even consider myself a gingersnap person, but these always convert people.
Old-school Oreo balls — a nostalgic, no-fuss cookie table staple.
Mother Lovett’s pink and green thumbprints — a must-have for our holiday spread; they’re a family favorite.
Mother Lovett’s orange cookies — always a hit, packed with citrus flavor.
Peanut butter–stuffed chocolate pretzel bark — salty, sweet, and crunchy, great for gifting.
A new cookie I’ll be testing soon: a take on the Nordstrom Royal cookie. Stay tuned for that recipe.
Perfect cut-out sugar cookies — foolproof and simple. I often finish them with cream cheese frosting or use a dip-icing technique for a smooth finish. For some of the cookies shown in the photos, I finished them with edible glitter for a festive sparkle.
I’d love to hear what you’re baking this season — leave a comment and tell me your holiday favorites!