If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that holiday cookie recipes are my thing.
Bar cookies, no-bake cookies, cut-out cookies, crunchy cookies… you name the cookie and I guarantee that I like it!
Cookies seem to take center stage during the holiday season and I just adore baking my heart out for cookie exchanges, for neighbor gifts, and for my own family.
I think the personal touch of a homemade baked gift is the kind of Christmas spirit we could all use this season! There’s just something nice about knowing someone put time and effort into a thoughtful gift.
Since I probably have more cookie recipes on Just Jill than any other recipes, it might make more sense to call my blog Just Cookies! But for now, I wanted to share some of my favorite cookies for making a cookie platter for the holidays.
No doubt… when you bake these treats, you’ll be the star of the holiday baking season. Let’s start with some baking must-haves and tips!
Baking Essentials and Cookie-Making Tips
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After years of baking, I discovered that chilled dough bakes better. It’s also easier to handle and shape.
Once you’ve chilled your dough, let it sit out for about 5-10 minutes at room temperature before you start scooping, rolling, shaping, and baking. Chilled dough will also help to keep your cookies from spreading!
Your oven may say it’s a certain temperature, but the only way you really know is if you invest in an oven thermometer. Baking is an exact science in every way… from ingredient measurements to oven temperature. It all matters!
So, don’t guess or you might end up with a burnt dessert!
I also swear by my cookie scoops. They result in uniformity in size for the cookies which also means more uniform results while baking.
Once you start scooping, you never go back. The OXO brand is my favorite because the spring-loaded handle is easy to use and releases the dough perfectly.
I’m also a huge fan of Silpat baking mats. They come in different sizes to fit various cookie sheets, and they promote even heat. That way, your cookies will get a magical golden-brown bottom!
I hope those cookie-baking tips and tricks were helpful! And now for the fun part! Are you ready for my best holiday cookie recipes? Ready! Set! Let’s Bake!
Holiday Cookie Recipes
Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
These are a Just Jill tried and true favorite!
And yes, I think every cookie platter should have chocolate chip cookies on them because they’re the cookie everybody seems to love.
They’re easy, you can make a lot of them, and if you have some leftover, these freeze beautifully for several months.
I often halve this recipe and it still makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies. If you do decide to halve the recipe, use 2 eggs. I do it all the time and it works like a charm!
Brownie Chip Cookies
These fudgy cookies are great to include on a cookie platter because they’re for the diehard chocolate lover.
You’ll love making them because they use a brownie mix as the base.
When you’re baking up a lot of cookies, you want a few of those recipes to be easy as can be. This fudgy favorite is that recipe!
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
Oh, how I love the peanut butter and chocolate combination.
These no-bake cookies are quick and simple to make on your stovetop and give great flavor and texture to your holiday cookie platter.
They freeze really well too. I recently rediscovered these cookies in my Grandma’s recipe box and I’m so glad that I did. I hope you enjoy this as a holiday cookie recipe for your family!
Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
I TOLD you I love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate!
But these cookies might be the easiest of all… AND they’re gluten-free because they don’t use flour! WHAT???
Yep, hard to believe but there is no flour in this cookie and they bake up to be the softest, most flavorful peanut butter cookie I’ve tried.
This is another Just Jill favorite!
Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
If you want to make cut-out cookies to decorate for the holidays, then this is your recipe.
These sour cream sugar cookies are slightly sweet, but bake up to a puffy softness that cookie dreams are made of.
You don’t need to buy that refrigerated, sticky cookie dough at the grocery store! This recipe makes several dozen cookies, so I like to put the unfrosted cookies in the freezer to use on a snow day in January.
And remember that tip above about chilled cookie dough? It’s an absolute must for this recipe.
Snowball Cookies
These tender, buttery bites of goodness are a holiday cookie favorite. They go by many names, but I just call them delicious.
This is my Grandmother’s recipe and is the best I’ve ever tried.
She used powdered sugar in the dough as well as for the outside of the cookie… I think it makes for a tender, delicious Christmas cookie bite!
New England Jam Cookies
I’d like to introduce you to what may be my all-time favorite Christmas (or anytime!) cookie. It’s a toss-up between these and chocolate chip.
Why do I love these so much? The cookie portion is a buttery shortbread that just melts in your mouth. A dollop of jam in the center is the perfect kiss of flavor.
You can also make these with or without nuts… I say, just make them any way you can!
I hope my favorite holiday cookie recipes will help you with all of your baking endeavors this season. Have fun with it!
Even if you choose just one kind of cookie to make, you can take some time to enjoy the process AND the result.
From my kitchen to yours,
Jill
