If there’s one true culinary star of the holiday season, it’s cookies, cookies, and more cookies. Dusted in sugar, laden with chocolate, smothered in icing—I’ll take them all. My obsession started across the street at my childhood neighbor’s annual cookie exchange, where I’d dash between the legs of Tupperware-filling grownups and swipe one, two, three gingerbread men off the table, my thievery betrayed by a crumb-covered sweater. (Though Mrs. Merchan never seemed to mind that I broke her cardinal “No cookies until everyone gets here!” rule, especially when she found me curled up with her cats in sugar-induced bliss.)
Many of us have cherished cookie recipes that we rely on year after year to deliver holiday cheer. We’ve gathered our very best—a mix of our December cookie contest winners from seasons past—all ready to dazzle your festivities and become a part of your family’s beloved baking traditions.
Peppermint Cocoa Cookies
2022 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
Picture this: you’re sipping a warm mug of cocoa by the fireside, cocooned under a pile of soft blankets, crooner classics melodically drifting from another room—that sums up this cookie in a nutshell. Copious amounts of chocolate create a decadent, fudgy base, but it’s the marshmallow creme frosting flecked with crushed peppermint that really takes it over the top.
Santa’s Pantry Cookies
2022 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
Mrs. Claus would be proud of this kitchen-sink style creation. The playful mix-ins like chopped pretzels, white chocolate chips, and themed sprinkles make every bite deliciously different from the last. Needless to say, this whimsical cookie is bound to be a holiday hit.
Mandelhörnchen (Gluten-Free Almond Horn Cookies)
2022 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
This recipe proves that gluten-free baking can be just as tasty as conventional (if not more so!). Crispy-crunchy on the outside, irresistibly chewy on the inside, with dark chocolate-dipped tips to boot—these horseshoe-shaped cookies are an impressive addition to any dessert tray, and they’re far easier to make than they appear.
Snow Cranberry Rosemary Cookies (Plant-Based)
2023 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
These sugar-crusted cranberry cookies evoke the child-like joy of trouncing through freshly fallen snow. Cranberry and rosemary are about to become your new favorite seasonal pairing—a fragrant, tart duo that seamlessly offsets the cookie’s sweetness. And while this recipe calls for plant-based ingredients, it also adapts well to dairy swaps.
Linzer Cookies
2020 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
Buttery, sweet linzer cookies are a holiday staple—this version has the added twist of lemon zest to complement the jammy peekaboo centers. The nutty dough, delicate texture, and fruity burst of flavor offer a well-balanced tasting symphony. Grab yours fast because the entire batch will be gone in no time!
Chocolate Toffee Graham Cookies
2022 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
Uh oh! Unexpected guests arrive on your doorstep? These chocolate toffee graham cookies are an excellent low-effort treat when you’re in a hosting pinch (or any time, really!). Store-bought graham crackers bake in the oven with layers of sugar-butter goodness, swirls of chocolate chips, and salty peanuts for extra crunch. Yes, please.
Browned Butter Pecan Thumbprint Cookies with Rum Frosting
2021 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
These are thumbprint cookies like you’ve never experienced before. Browned butter takes center stage, forming a caramelized foundation for the warm flavors of brown sugar, cinnamon, and rum to effortlessly glide atop. The process of browning the butter takes a bit of time, but it’s beyond worth it—the complexity it draws out is simply divine.
Make Browned Butter Pecan Thumbprint Cookies with Rum Frosting >
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies (Gluten-Free)
2021 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
This gluten-free riff on a winter-time classic makes the dessert table enjoyable for everyone. The powdered sugar crackled shell gives way to a pillowy soft center, and the snowball effect produces a striking contrast against the deep, cocoa-rich core.
Cardamom Pistachio Cranberry Shortbread Cookies
2021 Holiday Cookie Contest Winner
All sugared out? Or have friends who don’t dig super sweet treats? These cardamom-laced shortbread cookies studded with chopped pistachios and tangy cranberries are just the fix. Best enjoyed with spiced tea and good company.
Classic Sugar Cookies
These super simple cutout cookies are the perfect canvas for bringing your sugarplum visions to life—let the little ones unleash their creativity with frosting and sprinkle embellishments. Our royal icing recipe goes hand-in-hand with this one, complete with directions on how to adjust the consistency for outlining, piping, or flooding your cookies with cheery colors.
'Tis the season for sweets
We hope these cookies make your holiday celebrations merry and bright. Shop online for all the ingredients you need to sweeten your festivities, and share your creations with us on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.