12 Holiday Treats for You

Cookie baking and gifting time is here!  Whether you bake with your family, for others, for yourself or just want a nice collection of recipes at your fingertips, I gotchu!  I've tried to include some recipes good for gifting, last minute drop by's and snacks for movie nights.

Let's dive right in!

Grandma's Butter Ball Cookies go by many different names Mexican Wedding Cakes, Russian Tea Cookies, and Snowballs.  These were cookies that only my grandma and mom loved so it connected them and connects me to both of them.  These cookies are great if you need a sturdy cookie to ship to others as well and is great for dunking!

Seven Layer Bars were never my favorite because I didn't like coconut but I always remember my uncle salivating when they made them on cookie baking day.  It was so funny to watch.  It was very similar to the way the dad in A Christmas Story was jonesing for the turkey.   As I got older and got an appreciation for them, I'll still grab one if they're around.  The great thing about these is they are bars that can be cut as big or little as you want and if you wrap them individually, you can freeze them and they'll help get you through the winter!

Easy Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are pretty much the perfect cookie.  Festive and gorgeous?  Check.  Easy to throw together?  Check.  Gets better with age?  Checkity check.  They are very soft so definitely not a good one for shipping but somehow they magically stay soft and taste better with every passing day...but good luck with many days passing with as good as they are!

Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies.  Do I really need to sell these?  I do?  Well okay, how about STUFFED Deep Dark Chocolate Cookies??  I usually pop a Rolo inside and they are friggin' amazing.  My friend says they're like Christmas crack and he'll just smell the bag.  You definitely don't need to wait for the holidays to make these but they've become a holiday favorite in our home.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Squares are a great dump and go bar treat.  If you're not in the mood to sit and roll a bazillion peanut butter chocolate balls, this recipe is for you.  (I don't feel like I need to sell chocolate and peanut butter)

Cookie Butter Fudge is seriously one of the easiest recipes ever and pretty much one of the tastiest.  If you haven't had cookie butter and you like a caramel like graham cracker flavor (is the best way I can describe it) then this is your soul treat.  I'll warn you, give some of it away because it's super easy to want to throw a few blocks down your fudge hole.  Trust me, people LOVE this as a gift.

Ginger Molasses Cookies are my favorite.  It makes your home smell like the holidays and these cookies are soft and chewy.  I'll be honest, I love them even more with vanilla frosting on top like one of my favorite Chicago burb bakeries but they don't need it.  They're also a favorite of my bestie and are always a part of her Christmas cookie box from me!

Peppermint Pretzel Bites are the thing you throw together when someone says "hey, I'm in town, you gonna be home in an hour?"  Keep the ingredients for these on hand for a fun party snack, movie night treat or to make people think you're (insert latest popular home goddess here).  

English Toffee Cookies are definitely for you toffee fiends.  They taste comfy, cozy and can be customized with whatever nuts you prefer.  If you don't want nuts, leave 'em out and add an ounce more of toffee bits or get creative with a different crunchy topping.  Make them as big or small as you like.  Big for an indulgent dessert or small for a dainty afternoon tea!

Egg Nog Cookies don't require you to be a egg nog lover to like these cookies.  No seriously!!  I don't like egg nog and these cookies are drool worthy!  Soft, chewy and that spicy sweet taste of Christmas in every bite.

Cut Out Cookies are a Christmas staple in these parts.  It's literally not Christmas without them and reminds me of us just starting out.  While I get the warm fuzzies thinking of how the cut outs were from my childhood, I tweaked for a slightly thicker frosting when we were married.  While I used to be really into doing colored frosting, my brain says no these days so we keep the frosting white and jam out on sprinkles for color.  Don't forget a glass of milk!

Gingerbread Ricotta Cookies with Lemon Glaze is...oh my Lord.  Ricotta cookies on their own are just so pillowy soft but you add molasses and those amazing spices with this glaze and it is beyond.  Another one that gets better with age and if lemon is not your thing, leave it out and make the glaze on its own.  Yes, I'm well aware I put two gingerbread like cookies on the same list- one chewy and one pillowy.

Bonus recipe!  Iced Gingerbread Popcorn is perfect for a movie night marathon.  If you're having some kiddies over and plan on throwing on a holiday movie, bag up some of this and be the hero!  Or if you're snuggling in with your honey or a self care night, grab a big bowl and enjoy some Christmas cheer.

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