Holiday Cookies: Best of the Best

'Tis the season for Butter & Sugar!

I love the holidays. The Christmas music, the twinkle lights and tinsel, the hot cocoa and hot toddies, the party dresses, the bubbly, the arts and crafts, and of course, the cookies. Nothing says “I love you” like a batch of homemade cookies. Except maybe jewels. Yes, I believe jewels would work just as well.

With holiday cookie exchanges coming up, care packages to assemble, and grand aspirations for a stunner of a cookie plate this year, I’ve been scouring the internet for the best cookies ever. I turned to my baking gurus, my food blogger lifelines, to search out the cookies they crave, the ones their family and friends always ask them to make, and I was not disappointed.

Presenting…12 swoon-worthy cookies that I suspect you’ll be coming back to well after the holiday season.

#1 (Not) Nutter Butters – Tim @ Lottie+Doof

(Not) Nutter Butters (Photo Credit: Lottie+Doof)

A homemade take on the familiar favorite Nutter Butter…but infinitely better.

#2 Chocolate Fudge S’mores Thumbprints – Jessica @ How Sweet It Is

Chocolate Fudge S’mores Thumbprints
(Photo Credit: How Sweet It Is)

S’mores in cookie form? Yes, please. Marshmallow frosting? Sold.

#3 Strawberries and Cream Chocolate Chip Jumbo Cookies – Irvin @ Eat the Love

Strawberries and Cream Chocolate Chip Jumbo Cookies (Photo Credit: Eat the Love)

Go big or go home. I love the creative spin on the classic strawberries and cream / strawberries and chocolate flavors here. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Irvin, the Mr. Wizard of bakers.

#4 Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies – Joy @ Joy the Baker

Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies (Photo Credit: Joy the Baker)

Joy, you’ve done it again. You might as well call these awesome-on-awesome cookies.

#5 Chocolate Toffee Meringues – Rachael @ La Fuji Mama

Chocolate Toffee Meringues (Photo Credit: La Fuji Mama)

I adore meringues – the light as air texture, the delicate crumble – add chocolate and toffee to them, and this is a grand slam.

#6 Andes Chocolate Mint Cookies – Peabody @ Culinary Concoctions by Peabody)

Andes Chocolate Mint Cookies (Photo Credit: Culinary Concoctions by Peabody)

I can just taste the holidays looking at this cookie.

#7 Ginger Molasses Cookies – Megan @ A Sweet Spoonful

Ginger Molasses Cookies (Photo Credit: A Sweet Spoonful)

Chewy, substantial, and full of warm spices. And, it comes with a beautiful story.

#8 Linzer Cookies – Anita @ Dessert First

Linzer Cookies (Photo Credit: Dessert First)

Oh so pretty. This cookie has wow-factor. And that partridge cut-out? Too darling.

#9 Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies – Dana @ Dana Treat

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies (Photo Credit: Dana Treat)

When Dana told me this was the last chocolate chip cookie recipe I’d ever need, you could say I was more than a little intrigued. Here she walks us through the details of this famous recipe from Ashley @ Not Without Salt.

#10 Rosemary-Lemon Sandwich Cookies – Stephanie @ Desserts For Breakfast

Rosemary-Lemon Sandwich Cookies
(Photo Credit: Desserts For Breakfast)

Lovely flavor combination. A refined departure from all the chocolate sweets this season.

#11 Italian Pignoli (Pine Nut) Cookies – Susan @ Food Blogga

Italian Pignoli (Pine Nut) Cookies (Photo Credit: Food Blogga)

I obsessed over these traditional pignoli this past summer in Italy. Chewy, nutty, and light.

#12 Chocolate Crack Cookies

Chocolate Crack Cookies

The name says it all. The ultimate for dark chocolate lovers.

And finally, here’s a great post from Stella @ The Brave Tart. Her Holiday Cookie Survival Guide is full of great tips from a pro.

Enjoy and Happy Baking!