Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

We always make sugar cookie cutouts that we then frost and peanut butter kiss cookies were staples in our house when all us kids were still living at home. As for myself, I also love making the kiss cookies but have also started making molasses cookies:

Chewy Molasses-Spice Cookies about 36 cookies
2 ½ c all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
1 ½ c sugar
12 tbsp (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
¼ c molasses
Preheat oven to 350˚F. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place ½ c sugar; set aside. With mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until dough forms. Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tbsp. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat. Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges are just firm, 10-15 minutes (cookies can be baked two sheets at a time, but they will not crackle uniformly). Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
* I find that keeping the dough refrigerated keeps it from getting too sticky to work with.

I actually decided not to bake this year ... first year ever.

I did some candy for gifts. My friends are getting goodie bags filled with:

1) homemade chocolate cups (peanut butter, kahlua cream, peppermint schnapps cream)
2) peanut butter fudge
3) chocolate fudge
4) chocolate truffles

That's it.

always no-bakes (peanut butter,chocolate,oats) peanut butter kiss cookies, bourbon balls, snickerdoodles, and amaretto cake

Gingerbread Cookies - nearly every year. If I have to choose one cooky that I need in big quantity - it's gingerbreads.

Russian Tea Cakes (aka Mexican Wedding Cookies) because they are a real no-brainer and whip together in no time.

Tassie or some other type of filled cup.

Italian Fig Cookies - Definitely an ethnic favorite. Not everyone likes them but those who do go apeshit for them.

Berliner Kranser - a very short "adult" cooky that's not overly sweet but very tender. (Doesn't travel well.)

OOPS- pjracz I've been "cut and pasting" things this morn, not enough coffee drinking, sent the wrong link above- here is the recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cooking-live/chocolate-peanut-butter-no-bake-cookies-recipe/index.html

@Ilovepankes - those bourbon balls sound really good!

jmfors--when I dig out the recipe later, I'll post it. They are amazing, especially if you make them a week or so in advance and let them ferment!! : )

Hershey has Cinnamon Chipsand on the back of the bag is a recipe for Oatmeal Cinnamon Chips Cookies. I tried them 2 years ago, and they are surprisingly good. Does anyone agree?

Brittle
Chocolate and White Chocolate Bark
Gingersnaps
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Gingerbread Men
Gingerbread
Banana bread
Spritz
Biscotti
Shortbread
Fudge
Sugar Cookies
Oh, the list goes on....

Always, always peanut butter blossoms. They're my favorite! And fudge. Sugar cookies with lots of frosting. This weekend I'm also making gingerbread snowflakes.

-- Ashley
makemethod.vox.com

I don't eat many desserts but I like to have a bit of shortbread on Christmas! Mmmm...buttery

I am actually in the middle of making my sweets

done:sugar plums

in progress: rosemary hazelnut biscotti and gingerbread marshmallows

to go: no marshmallow fluff fudge and oatmeal raisin cookies

I make the Molasses Spice Cookies from Cook's Illustrated (for some reason, the version in 'The Best Recipe' is a bit toned down with regard to the spices and molasses,). The recipe is similar to the one jmfors gives, above, but involves more spices (including black pepper), and only uses 2/3 cups of sugar, half of it dark brown. For some reason, these have proved insanely popular, here; I like them very much, but am still bemused by how incredibly well they go down.

I also make fondant, truffles, and various marzipan-based sweets.

wooo where did get you get the recipe for rosemary honey cookies...they sound to die for!

It's a conglomeration of family and traditional favs.

Mexican wedding cakes
peanut butter cookies
bon bon cookies
cream cheese almond cutout cookies
Revel bars
thumbprints
Scrumptious chocolate almond bars
Cherry pecan teacake
Rugelach
mince pies (small)
jam tarts
Bakewell tarts

The fruitcake has been sleeping for weeks, waking up to my occasional jab of Grand Marnier.

Bourbon Balls-I suck at baking and they don't need an oven. Plus, I get to do a shot or two of Jack Daniels while I'm making them.

Penuche
Fudge
Cardamom Butter Squares
Bittersweet Chocolate Cookies
Chocolate covered caramels with sea salt

No matter what else I make, I always include Haystacks. They are so easy and everyone likes them.

Sugar cookies and something gingery. This year I chose to forgo the rolling and make drop cookies: sugar, molasses, chocolate, and sugar. With buttercream frosting.

I specialize in candies moreso than cookies, but the following are my traditional must haves, or my family wouldn't feel like it's Chritmas time.

Fudge
White Chocolate Fudge w/ Gl. Cherries and Walnuts
Divinity
Almond Butter Crunch (tastes like Almond Roca)
BuckEyes (peanut butter balls halfway hand dipped in chocolate)
Rum Balls
Cream Cheese Mints
Glazed Walnuts or Pecans

Gumdrop Cookies
Russian Tea Cakes
Coconut Butter Balls*

Most of these recipes can be found in Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. If you don't have one or want one of the recipes that isn't in there, just let me know and I'll try to post it for you.

* I substitute a Glaced Cherry for the Pecan half in the middle of this cookie.

Checkerboard shortbread, always. Also, cardamom squares with a chocolate/espresso drizzle. Mmmmmmmm.

@iheartny22- where did you find the recipe for chai spice cookies?

Having a Momma who is a great cook always helps when making the changeling Mexican Bunuelos! Last Christmas I bought her a variety of rosette irons and I located a batter recipe on line. They have such beautiful shapes but not to pretty to eat. Yum!

On several different threads I have had requests for this cookie recipe. I am so happy to share it.

Almond Butter Cookies

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 8 oz.pkg. cream cheese
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. pure almond extract
3 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tsp. baking powder

2 1 oz. squares semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled (optional)

In mixer bowl cream together sugar, butter, and cream cheese until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract, beat until smooth, scraping down sides. Stir together flour and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture and beat on low speed just until thoroughly combined.

If using optional melted chocolate, divide dough in half and add chocolate to half of the dough.

Bake cookies on parchment lined cookie sheets at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

Variations:

1. Pinch off walnut sized pieces of dough, roll into logs, bake. Dip cooled cookies into melted chocolate and finely chopped nuts

2. Pinch off 1 inch balls. Wrap dough around a "surprise"...a chocolate chip, half a candied cherry, a nut, etc...bake. Dip into tinted powdered sugar icing and top with sprinkles.

3. Shape dough into a disk and refrigerate for one hour. On lightly floured surface roll to 1/4 inch thickness and cut out with favorite cookie cutters. Bake and frost as desired.

4. Make thumbprints: roll small 3/4 inch balls of dough into finely ground pecans or walnuts. Place on cookie sheet. Press your thumb into center of dough ball and put in 1/2 tsp. of jam/jelly of your choice. (I use lemon curd, black raspberry jam, or strawberry jam)

I have also made candy canes....your imagination is the key. This recipe is foolproof.
.

That would of course be pepperminT bark.

@ Sigilum, I found the recipe in a Pillsbury Holiday Cookies magazine that I got last year. My family liked them so much that I'm going to keep making them. Here's the recipe: (all the spices are ground and lower case "t" is for teaspoon)

1 cup butter softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 t cardamom
1 1/2 t allspice
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1/2 t ginger
1/2 t cloves
1/2 t salt
4 t vanilla extract
2 egg yolks

Cookie coating: 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 t cardamom, 1/2 t cinnamon

* Preheat your oven to 350.
* Cream your butter and p. sugar. Add your yolks, vanilla extract, and your dry ingredients until incorporated.
* Shape dough by Tablespoons into balls, then place them on an ungreased cookie sheet, about 1 1/2 inches apart.
* Bake for 12-15 minutes, until very lightly browned, then place on cooling rack and allow to cool for 5 min.
* Mix up coating ingredients in a medium size bowl, roll warm cookies into the mixture
* Allow cookies to cool another 5 minutes, then roll in mixture again.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

@ Jikuu, Sorry to hear about your Grandmother. I'm sure she'd be very proud that you're carrying on her traditions. Happy Holidays!

I made chocolate chip cookies because they are my favorite. Right now I am making rainbow cookies for the first time because they are my husband's favorite. I am kind of intimidated by them but we'll see...

Fudge, chocolate and sometimes peanutbutter. Thinking about trying to make a cashewbutter fudge. I also make gingerbread cookies, chocolat crinkles and chocolate chippers.

When my father became a police officer in 1987, at a newly-incorporated city, my mother made boxes of cookies for all of the officers and their families. It was fine when there were only 30 officers... now there are over 200. Every year, after Thanksgiving, my parents' house turns into a cottage cookie baking operation. When I moved out, I swore I'd never make Christmas cookies. They make thousands of cookies - chocolate chip, double chocolate, and oatmeal raisin. Nothing too fancy, but still nothing I want to be around.

My favorite are peanut butter and my husbands are chocolate chip.

I'm relatively new to Holiday cookies/candies making. I made Andes mint chunk cookies that are really popular. I've also made so many sugar cookies that I cut into star shapes and also penguins. I decorated the stars with mini dragees (gold and silver) and the penguins I iced black and white with a silver dragee eye. All the cookies have been very well received. I'm taking a box full of penguin cookies to Cleveland for Christmas. I'm traveling by air. Wish the penguins good luck.

although i've been enjoying them since i was little, the past 2 years
i've made bizcochitos, a new mexican favorite.

they include:

flour
sugar
salt
baking powder
vanilla
LARD
eggs
anise seed
cinnamon
white wine

@rice..coconut ice. When I read that it triggered a long lost memory!! I used to make that in England as a kid!!! Thanks for the memory!!

My wife make thumbprint cookies with jam in the middle.

I love Molasses cookies!

WOW! A big Thank You for anyone who posted their cookie and candy favorites . My mother and i were very pleased with the results . We made molasses cookies ,peanutbutter balls, coconut balls ,sugar cookies ,chocolate chip, wedding cookies, and spritz. Thank you from our family to yours.

Happy Holidays
Lesliesushi

BHG sugar cookies, sprtiz cookies, pecan tassies, remarkable fudge, honey nut white fudge, cherry mash fudge, fruitcake
New this year - jam thumbprints cookies and expresso fudge - both are to die for!

We did no bakes and Alton Brown's "The Chewy" chocolate chip cookie version from Good Eats. They are a perennial favorite with family and friends.