holiday baking special
10 of the best christmas cookies (easy holiday recipes you’ll love this year!)
from red velvet + chocolate chip to cranberry, pumpkin, peanut butter & more — bake along with besuretocook and jump to any cookie below.
1
chocolate chip bourbon cookies
ingredients
- dry mix: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp vanilla powder; 1/2 tsp cocoa powder (sifted)
- wet mix: 6 tbsp unsalted butter (softened); 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp bourbon; 2 oz unsweetened chocolate (melted & cooled)
- add-ins: 1/2 cup chocolate morsels (semi-sweet or dark); 1/2 cup crushed pecans
instructions
- preheat 350°F (175°C). line baking sheet.
- whisk dry mix. cream butter + sugars; beat in vanilla + bourbon.
- mix in melted chocolate. add dry in two additions; don’t overmix.
- fold in morsels + pecans. scoop; bake 10–12 min. cool & enjoy.
2
chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips
ingredients
- dry mix: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tbsp vanilla powder (or 1 tsp vanilla extract); 1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
- wet mix: 2 oz unsweetened chocolate (melted & cooled); 5 tbsp unsalted butter (softened); 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract
- add-ins: 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
instructions
- preheat 350°F; line tray. whisk dry.
- cream butter + sugars; beat in egg + vanilla.
- fold in melted chocolate. add dry in two parts; don’t overmix.
- stir in chips. chill 30 min (or overnight). bake 12–15 min.
3
peanut butter cookies
ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tbsp vanilla powder (optional)
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter (softened); 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter + extra 1/2 cup
instructions
- whisk dry. cream butter + sugars; add 1 tbsp PB, egg, vanilla.
- fold in dry; then the extra 1/2 cup PB. chill 1 hr (or overnight).
- bake 350°F ~10 min (edges light golden). cool on rack.
4
red velvet white chocolate chip cookies
ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 stick unsalted butter (softened); 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (+ extra for topping)
- 3–4 drops red food coloring
instructions
- preheat 350°F. cream butter + brown sugar; add granulated; beat fluffy.
- mix in egg + vanilla. add dry. tint red; fold in chips.
- chill 30 min. scoop, flatten, top with chips. bake ~8 min (check at 5).
5
oatmeal peanut butter cookies
ingredients
- dry: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp vanilla powder
- wet: 6 tbsp unsalted butter (softened); 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tbsp honey peanut butter; 1 egg
- add-ins: 1/2 cup peanut butter chips; 1/3 cup quick one-minute oats
instructions
- whisk dry. cream butter + sugars; add vanilla, honey PB, egg.
- stir in PB chips. fold in dry (half at a time) + oats. bake 350°F ~15 min.
6
pumpkin cookies
ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup white sugar; 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (softened); 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp pumpkin spice; 1/2 cup pumpkin purée; 2 egg yolks
- 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg; 1/8 tsp ground ginger; 1/4 tsp allspice; optional orange sugar
instructions
- cream butter; beat in sugars until fluffy.
- mix in yolks, vanilla, pumpkin; add pumpkin spice, nutmeg, ginger, allspice.
- whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt; combine with wet.
- scoop, flatten; sprinkle orange sugar. bake 350°F 8–10 min.
7
white chocolate cranberry cookies
ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries (chopped optional); 1 cup white chocolate chips
instructions
- preheat 350°F. cream butter; beat in brown sugar then granulated (light & fluffy).
- beat in egg; stir in vanilla. mix in salt + baking soda; add flour just until combined.
- fold in cranberries + white chips. bake 13–15 min. cool 5 min; rack.
8
chocolate chip cookies
ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 stick unsalted butter (softened); 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (your choice)
instructions
- preheat 350°F. cream butter + sugars; mix in egg + vanilla.
- add dry; stir in chips. bake 6–7 min (or longer for thicker). tip: chill 20 min for extra crunch.
9
oatmeal raisin cookies
ingredients
- dry mix: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tbsp vanilla powder; 1/8 tsp nutmeg; 1/8 tsp allspice; 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- wet mix: 5 tbsp unsalted butter (softened); 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/3 cup white sugar; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract
- add-ins: 1/4 cup quick one-minute oats; 1/4 cup raisins (or more to taste)
instructions
- preheat 350°F; line tray. whisk dry.
- cream butter + sugars; beat in egg + vanilla.
- add dry in two additions until just combined. fold in oats + raisins.
- chill 30–60 min; scoop; bake ~10 min (watch edges). cool & enjoy.
10
red velvet beet cookies
ingredients
- dry mix: 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tbsp vanilla powder; 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
- wet mix: 5 tbsp unsalted butter (softened & beaten creamy); 1/2 cup light brown sugar; 1/3 cup fine granulated sugar; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tbsp beet juice (add another 1/2 tbsp if needed for deeper color)
- add-ins: 1/2 cup chocolate chips
instructions
- whisk dry; set aside. beat softened butter until creamy; add sugars and mix smooth.
- beat in egg + vanilla; stir in beet juice (more for darker color).
- mix in half the dry; then the rest until combined. fold in chips.
- cover; refrigerate 30 min. scoop onto parchment-lined tray; bake 350°F ~15 min (check at 12). cool slightly.
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