There's no such thing as too much at Christmas, so we gathered our favorite recipes to stuff you to the gills with tasty holiday treats for gift exchanges, office holiday parties, school celebrations, and family gatherings.
With literally dozens of recipes perfect for the holiday season—from classic cookies to giftable bars to delectable bites—they are sure to satisfy every sweet tooth. They also span a range of skill levels, cooking times, and ingredients, making it a breeze to find just the right treat for you.
The real challenge here is picking just one treat to bake this season, but who says you can only choose one? You're bound to find a handful to enjoy (and share, if you want), so set up some Christmas movies on Netflix, tie up your apron, and get baking. You'll probably find that filling your cookie jar is a whole lot easier than checking off your list of Christmas gifts.
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Sparkling Gingerbread Stars
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Who says gingerbread cookies can only be shaped like people? These stunning gingerbread stars are dipped in a glaze and then sprinkled with sparkling sugar, giving them a truly stellar look. Expect notes of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves in each delightful cookie.
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Pistachio and White Chocolate Cookie Bark
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Chocolate bark is a holiday favorite, and this version is no exception. This snow-like treat boasts a pistachio cookie base that’s topped with white chocolate studded with pistachio and freeze-dried raspberry pieces. If those festive toppings don’t sound appealing, experiment with others. Sprinkles, coconut flakes, or chopped dried fruit would also work well here.
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Hazelnut Macaroon Thumbprints
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Part macaroon and part thumbprint cookie, these confections are ideal for Hanukkah, but would also feel quite at home in any cookie spread. Each one sports a Nutella center that’s surrounded by a base that includes finely chopped hazelnuts and coconut. Speaking of coconut, go ahead and use it as a topping to tie the whole dessert together.
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Brown Butter Jam Tarts
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Tired of holiday cookies? Try these holiday tarts instead. These individual desserts feature a brown butter cookie shell that contrasts beautifully with the juicy and sweet strawberry jam in the center. When baking, use muffin liners. That way, each tart will be easy to remove from the muffin pan when ready.
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Chai-Flavored Snowball Cookies
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Since these masala chai-inspired cookies are loaded with warm spices, they’re the perfect winter indulgence. Each colorful cookie is spiced with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. The vibrant exterior is courtesy of gel food coloring and plenty of powdered sugar for a snowy look.
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Mint Chocolate Cookie Bars
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If you love the combination of mint and chocolate, these flavorful cookie bars are for you. In this recipe, a chocolatey and fudgy cookie sandwiches peppermint candy-flecked buttercream, and the whole thing is topped with a luscious chocolate ganache. We’re making these ASAP!
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Chocolate Peppermint Shortbreads
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Double chocolate plus peppermint? That's a recipe for holiday cookie success! This one spikes cocoa-infused shortbread dough with just a hint of peppermint extract. Serve with hot cocoa or eggnog for a festive pairing.
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Chewy Chocolate Brownies Recipe
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Don't get us wrong: There's absolutely nothing wrong with a basic chewy chocolate brownie. But to upgrade this recipe for the perfect holiday treat, dress these cooled brownies with a layer of melted white chocolate and then top with chopped peppermint candies.
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Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies
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Don't feel like baking but still want to serve something homemade? These no-bake cookies are just the thing. Even better, you can make them a day ahead.
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Gingerbread Men and Women
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A holiday cookie platter just isn't the same without a few cheerful gingerbread people. While almost too cute too eat, their ginger, cinnamon, and molasses flavors make it hard to stop nibbling.
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Pumpkin Cream Puffs
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Pumpkin pie is so last month. These sophisticated puffs—classic choux pastries stuffed with pumpkin-flavored cream—take pumpkin desserts to the next level.
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Pine Nut Drops
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Not lucky enough to have an Italian grandmother? These classic Italian cookies—which are easy, fun to make, and don't require a lot of ingredients—will make any nonna's holiday table proud.
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Nutella Cones With Hazelnut Praline
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For an entry that stars at the holiday bake sale, look no further. These are a decadent Nutella-lover's dream, but we think even non-chocoholics will swoon for them.
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Chocolate Bark With Dried Fruit and Spices
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If a chocolate bar and a fruitcake had a baby, it would be this no-bake treat: rich chocolate bark studded with dried fruit and dusted with spices.
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The Best Sugar Cookie
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This classic recipe will satisfy all your holiday-cookie-decorating wants and needs. These not-too-sweet treats hold up to decorative icing, but are incredibly satisfying all on their own.
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Strawberry Dust Meringues
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There's a lot to love about a great meringue cookie—a crisp outer shell and gooey soft interior, to start. For this one, we add a dusting of strawberry powder for festive holiday color.
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Chewy Gingersnaps
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These spicy cookies, which sit right at the intersection of chewy and crispy, epitomize holiday flavor with a mix of ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. What's more, baking a batch or two provides the most festive aromatherapy session you could possibly imagine.
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Make-Ahead Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars
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Healthful ingredients is not something you expect from a Christmas treat recipe, so this one exceeds expectations. These no-bake bars are so hearty and satisfying, you won't feel guilty eating one (or several!) for breakfast.
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Simple Sugar Cookies
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Yes, it's another sugar cookie recipe, but can you ever have too many sugar cookies? Cut out and decorate these basic-but-tasty cookies any way you please.
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Chocolate Linzer Cookies
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These sandwich cookies not only look bakery-worthy, they're totally delicious. Make them your go-to gifting cookie for the holiday season and you're sure to win rave reviews.
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Chocolate “Salami” With Hazelnuts and Figs
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These rich, eye-catching charcuterie imposters couldn't be simpler to make. To further the illusion, wrap the "links" in festive paper for a surprising, no-bake gift.
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Pumpkin Caramel Pie Bars With Toasted Coconut
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Is it a bar cookie or pie? Who cares? They offer the taste of the holidays without the hassle of a finicky pie crust.
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Salty-Sweet Chunkers
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We loaded these aboslutely delicious sweet-and-salty cookies with mini marshmallows, white chocolate chips, chopped chocolate mints, and pretzels.
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Raspberry-Almond Crumb Bars
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This not-yet-classic bar cookie layers raspberry preserves atop an almond crumb crust, and then is topped with more almonds. Just seven ingredients and 10 minutes of prep yields loads of happy holidaymakers.
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Gingerbread Latte Whoopie Pie
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For this holiday confection, we sandwich an espresso-flavored cream cheese filling between soft gingerbread-flavored cookies. If you pair this with an actual gingerbread latte, would that be too much of a good thing? We didn't think so either.
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Salted Oatmeal Cookies With Dark Chocolate
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We stuff these pillowy oatmeal cookies with coarsely chopped dark chocolate chunks, and then sprinkle with flaky sea salt, making each bite the perfect mouthful of salty and sweet.
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Chocolate Pecan Fudge Balls
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This technically isn't a cookie or bar, but it certainly qualifies as a bite! Preparation of these delectable no-bake treats is easy and kid-friendly.
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Chewy Salted Brown Butterscotch Cookies
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This is just like a chocolate chip cookie recipe, except it uses butterscotch feves instead of chips, has a little whole wheat flour for heartiness, and is topped with a dash of flakey salt. Come to think, it's way better than a chocolate chip cookie recipe.
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White Chocolate Chunk Ginger Cookies
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The star of this recipe—ginger, in both ground and candied form—shines among chocolatey-molasses goodness. Bake two batches: one to share and one to keep for yourself.
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Mini S'mores Cookie Cups
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A campfire favorite meets Christmas in these these tiny treats. We stacked a Hershey’s kiss atop a warm, gooey marshmallow set on a graham cracker cookie crust to create this ultimate one-bite s’more.
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Brownie Batter Babka Bites
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This fusion of chocolate babka—that classic yeasty Eastern European loaf—with a brownie results in a not-to-sweet bite that will delight holiday revelers. Serve warm, straight from the oven, for maximum decadence.
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Chocolate-Cherry Biscotti
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Studded with antioxidant-rich dried cherries, chopped chocolate, and toasted hazelnuts, this version is chock-full of tasty goodness. Feeling decadent? Dip one side of each cookie in melted chocolate.
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Cardamom Bun Cookies
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Descendants of Swedish cardamom buns, these pinwheel cookies are reminiscent of a cinnamon roll but have a cardamom kick. A sweet cream-cheese glaze takes these bites over the top in appearance and flavor.
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Peppermint Checkerboard Cookies
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What starts with a simple sugar-cookie dough ends up as a treat for your eyes and sweet tooth. Easier to make than you think, they'll wow everyone at the cookie swap and at home.
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Jam Sandwich Cookies
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A dusting of powdered sugar atop these buttery, jam-filled cookies creates a beautiful wintry effect.
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Glazed Lemon Cookies
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If lemonade was a cookie, it would be this one. And while lemonade evokes images of swimming pools and picnics, no one at your holiday party will consider these tart-and-sweet bites out of season.
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Apple Rugelach
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These make-ahead rugelach, which originated among Jewish communities in Poland, are equally festive at a Hanukkah spread or Christmas buffet. For variety, swap the apple filling with other jams like apricot, peach, or raspberry.
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Marbled Cookies
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These ethereal confections are perfect for Hanukkah, but you'll want to make them more than once a year. Top these slice-and-bake cookies with sanding sugar for a sparkly, snow-globe vibe.
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Break and Bake Kitchen Sink Cookies
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This is essentially an oatmeal cookie on steroids, but what we love about it is you can mix up the mix-ins to suit the occasion (or your pantry). Since it's the holidays, we suggest dried cranberries, chopped peppermint candies, or pecans (with chocolate, of course!).
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Buckeyes
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They may look like the seed from a tree native to Ohio, but these creamy-peanut-butter bites dipped in bittersweet chocolate are an irresistible indulgence.
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Cashew Gingersnaps
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This recipe calls for adding cashews and candied ginger to a gingersnap cookie batter, which brings these tasty morsels a nutty crunch and extra-spicy kick.
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Triple Chocolate Cookies
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Bittersweet chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate chunks coalesce to give you this decadent, rich, decidedly chocolatey cookie.
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Cranberry Cacao Nib Brownies
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Plump cranberries and cocoa nibs add tartness and eye-popping, holiday-appropriate color to these fabulously fudgy brownies.Sprinkle a few more nibs on top for extra crunch.
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Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
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For a childhood take on standard brownies, this recipe calls for folding chopped mini peanut butter cups into the batter. Too delicious? Almost...
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Shortbread Wedges
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Buttery shortbread makes a great gift because its firm texture transports well, but that doesn't mean you can't keep these for yourself.
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Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Brownies
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Caution: This sweet trifecta of favorites is not for the faint of heart! Only the most dedicated dessert fans dare bite into its rich layers of fudgey brownie, creamy cheesecake, and whole Oreos.
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Chocolate-Drizzled Shortbread
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Dress up a classic shortbread cookie with drizzled chocolate melted in the microwave.
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Chocolate Chip Cookies
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There's always room for this crowd-pleasing classic on any holiday table. Wait, who are we kidding?... on any table, any time.
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Chocolate Banana Bites
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This four-ingredient, no-bake, no-guilt treat features just chocolate, banana, almond butter, and a little salt. The hardest part about making them is waiting for them to harden in the freezer.
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Apricot-Macadamia Chocolate Chip Cookies
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The unexpected combination of dried apricots, chopped macadamia nuts, and chocolate chips adds a fun twist to this cookie classic.
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Sugared Pecan Balls
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Dusted with powdered sugar, these dainty snowball-like cookies pack a lot of flavor into every bite.
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Dark Chocolate Truffles
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Use our recipe for dark chocolate truffles as a canvas for a myriad of variations. We provide instructions for Peanut Butter and Jelly, Earl Gray, Maple Pecan, and Cardamom Coconut, but feel free to create your own holiday-inspired concoctions.
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M&M Popcorn Balls
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This sweet no-bake treat harnesses the perks of popcorn (hello, fiber!) and the crispy chocolatey goodness of M&Ms. This twist on the classic Rice Krispies treats is a great motivator to get little hands to help with Christmas baking.
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Salty Coffee Toffee Bars
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Gift these gorgeous toffee bars in glass jars, clear candy bags, or include them in a cookie box. They're sure to bring joy.
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No-Bake Seed and Nut Bars
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No-bake and no-guilt—no joke! Almond butter, sesame seeds, pistachios, and dried apricots make these bars both sweet and substantial. And did we mention this recipe is versatile? Swap in any nut butter, nuts, or dried fruit you'd like. (Dare we add chocolate?)
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Banana Pudding Pie Bars With Meringue
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This recipe layers a buttery Nilla Wafer crust with sliced bananas, homemade vanilla pudding, and more cookies, crowned with a mile-high meringue. It's a lot of steps, but so worth it.
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Almond Biscotti
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Whole almonds and almond extract infuse these cookies with a double dose of almond goodness. Serve with our homemade caramel latte.
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Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti With White Chocolate
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For a homemade gift on the fly, package these biscotti in a clear bag with all the chocolate-dipped tips aligned. And make sure to include a printout of the recipe, as giftees will be sure to ask.
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Chocolate-Cherry Biscotti
Studded with antioxidant-rich dried cherries, chopped chocolate, and toasted hazelnuts, this version is chock-full of tasty goodness.
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Chocolate Chocolate-Chunk Cookies
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There's melted chocolate in the batter with chocolate chunks folded in—a chocoholic's delight.
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Chickpea "Cookie Dough" Bites
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Rolled oats and canned chickpeas form the basis of these spicy no-bake bites. Mix in pecans, cinnamon, and molasses for a whole-grain treat you can feel good about.
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Cookies and Cream Crispy Treats
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We merged Oreo cookies with Rice Krispies treats for this sweet-and-salty, no-bake confection. With just 20 minutes of prep, it's fun and easy to make with kids.
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Marshmallow and Chocolate Shortbread Slices
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A cross between a cookie and a candy bar, these fancy-looking sweets are surprisingly easy to make. Their secret ingredient: apricot preserves.
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Peanut Butter Cookies
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These flourless peanut butter cookies take just 30 minutes from start to finish.
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Chocolate-Oat-Date Bars
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There are so many reasons to gift these sweet treats. To start: They stand up to being shipped in the mail without breaking, and their date-and chocolate-chip center doesn't make them soggy.
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No-Bake Almond Butter Thumbprints
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The "no-bake" makes these easy, the strawberry jam makes them Christmas-y, and their secret ingredient (crushed pretzels!) makes them irresistible.
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Gingerbread Truffles
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Spicy and rich, these truffles make the perfect homemade gift for the holidays. Place them in mini muffin cup liners to keep your gift box tidy.
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Gingerbread and Chocolate Sandwiches
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Hot chocolate doesn't always have to be sipped. Here we sandwich hot chocolate frosting between two store-bought gingerbread cookies. Overachievers, feel free to bake the gingerbread cookies from scratch.
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Hermit Bars
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These bars have a strange name, but a rich molasses flavor and plenty of spice, namely ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Not too sweet, they're studded with raisins and walnuts for extra texture and complexity.
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Chocolate Chip Pecan Blondies
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These blonde beauties have just the right combination of sugar, chocolate chips, and vanilla for an extra-sweet flavor, as well as pecans (or walnuts) for texture. They're destined to please a crowd, unless you prefer to keep them for yourself.
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Dark Chocolate Coconut Tartlets
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Pull out the mini-muffin pan to make these delightful treats. They're shredded-coconut crusts filled with a nut-butter-and-chocolate mixture topped with flakey salt. Delish!
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Coconut Macaroons
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With just five ingredients, you can whip up these chewy flourless cookies in 35 minutes. Perfect for gift-giving!
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Lemony Almond Macaroons
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We dressed up our chewy coconut macaroons for the holidays with grated lemon zest, and then added sliced almonds for a nice crunch.
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Chocolate Chip Meringue Kisses
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These light-and-airy bites have just four ingredients, the star of which are semisweet chocolate chips that we scattered throughout to add flavor and texture.
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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Men
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Get your cookie cutters and piping bags out, because it's time to bake these Christmas classics. Don't forget to make some gingerbread women, too!
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Raspberry-Almond Linzer Cookies
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These little jam-filled sandwich cookies originated in Austria in the 1600s, and are still a popular Christmas treat around the world. They provide a wonderful excuse to use those cute holiday-themed cookie cutters.
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Raspberry and Honey Marshmallows
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Never made marshmallows before? Why not? Freeze-dried raspberries are what give these treats their festive color. Add a plateful to your holiday dessert buffet or serve with hot chocolate.
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Chewy Spice Cookies
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Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and black pepper ensure there’s plenty of warm, complex flavors in these classic chewy cookies.
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Cinnamon-Sugar Cookies
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Buttery puff pastry forms the base of these simple cookies, which feature a cinnamon-sugar and pecan swirl in each bite. And don't be intimidated by that picture-perfect spiral—all you need is a well-rolled dough and a quick trip to the freezer.
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Slice-and-Bake Lemon Shortbread
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This buttery cookie gets a lift from lemon zest and a final sprinkle of coarse sugar gives them extra shine and texture.
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Lemon Bars
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Start with a cookie crust, top with a layer of lemon-curd-like filling, and then dust with powered sugar. That's a recipe for the perfect balance of sweet and tart.
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Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons
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We dipped super-moist, chewy macaroons in rich, dark chocolate to create the ultimate decadent dessert.
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Shortcut Palmiers
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Make these crispy, fancy-looking pastries with just three simple ingredients: egg, sugar, and store-bought puff pastry.
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Jammy Pastries
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Baking your own version of these nostalgic treats is easier than you think: Just top rectangles of ready-made pie crust with a layer of cream cheese and your favorite jam. Make them Christmas-y with raspberry jam and a sprinkle of red or green decorative sugar.
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Angeletti Cookies
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These adorable Italian classics have been around a long time, but don't expect them to last long at your house. They're part shortbread, part sugar cookie, and totally amazing.
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Chocolate Crinkles
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Chocolate crinkle cookies are a decadently fudge-centric holiday tradition. Sprinkle with powdered sugar to evoke a dusting of Christmas snow.
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Pecan Sandies
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Packed with a comforting butter-pecan flavor, no wonder these blonde bombshells are considered a classic.
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Chewy Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies
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Old-fashioned oats (not the quick-cook type) give these cookies robust flavor and hearty texture. Pro tip: Go ahead and put on your fat pants now!
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Chocolate Ganache Sandwiches
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All you need are three ingredients—chocolate chips, heavy cream, and store-bought chocolate wafers—and 15 minutes prep to make these sandwich-style delights. To mix things up, swap the chocolate wafers with vanilla wafers, graham crackers, or (dare we suggest?) thin mint cookies.
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Potato Chip Crispy Treats
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Ever wonder what would happen if you replace Rice Krispies with potato chips in those treats? This recipe answers that query with a sweet-and-salty version that'll remind you of a white-chocolate macadamia cookie.
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No-Bake Apricot and Oat Nuggets
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These no-bake flavor bombs are also no-egg and no-flour treats. For the holiday, swap the dried apricots with cranberries or cherries, and dust with snow-like powdered sugar.
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No-Bake Lemon Chia Date Bars
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Cashews, dates, chia seeds, and freshly squeezed lemon juice make these chewy no-bake bars a healthy alternative to traditional Christmas treats, but no one else has to know that.
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Raspberry Pinwheels
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These delightful little bites only look hard to make. Just spread raspberry jam onto a slab of dough, roll, and slice—but don't let on. Accept compliments on your baking chops graciously.
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Churros With Chocolate Sauce
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Think there's nothing better than a cinnamon-sugar churro? How about a homemade churro dipped in a three-ingredient chocolate ganache? I think we're done here.
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Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches
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If you're not over pumpkin flavor by Christmastime, whip up a batch of these to go with your pumpkin spice latte.
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Raspberry S'mores
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This layered treat takes the campfire favorite to a whole new level with fresh raspberries. Just swap the campfire for your oven's broiler setting or toaster oven.
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Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats
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This version of the cereal treat swaps marshmallows with coconut oil, resulting in less sugar and a more-crispy-than-chewy texture. True chocoholics can swap Rice Krispies with Cocoa Krispies.
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Pecan Logs
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Baking these gems is easier than it looks, especially if you take a shortcut with store-bought sugar cookie dough. And when it comes to holiday baking, who doesn't need a shortcut?
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Chocolate Espresso Truffles
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Espresso powder, two types of chocolatepluscocoa powder, and an optional splash of coffee liqueur give these treats an intense, sophisticated, not-too-sweet taste you're sure to love.Don't worry, a batch yields 48 of these unforgettable gems.
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Tahini S’mores Blondies
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Tahini is the secret ingredient in these bars, which marry two decadent desserts: blondies and s'mores. We love the combination of crisp edges and a soft center, which is studded with graham cracker crumbs, chunks of bittersweet chocolate, and gooey marshmallow
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