I’m not one for stereotypical female roles, but there’s just something about baking that I love. It’s not Christmas until the house is filled with the smell of baking dough. From the classic chocolate chip to the more elaborate Linzer, here are some quintessential Christmas cookie flavors that you should try for the season.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
I’m pretty sure the Hershey Kiss made these famous. Peanut butter and chocolate is a good combination any day, but the cute shape of the Kiss makes it ten times better. My mom makes these every year and they’re always perfect – crispy around the edges, soft in the middle, and that mouthful of warm gooey chocolate.
My mom always makes these from a recipe in a Betty Crocker cookbook. Hopefully this recipe from the Betty Crocker website is close enough to the book.
Snickerdoodles
The flavor of this cookie is almost as much fun as its name. Where did the name even come from anyway? Wikipedia cites cookbook The Joy of Cooking, which theorizes that “the name is a corruption of the German word Schneckennudel (“snail noodles”).” It’s also likely the name is just a made-up word. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snickerdoodle]
Try this recipe from Taste of Home
Russian Teacakes/Mexican Wedding Cakes/Italian Wedding Cookies
Whatever you call them, these cookies are buttery, light, sweet and nutty. They look perfectly festive with the powdered sugar evoking snow. When you take a bite, the dough melts in your mouth. These are definitely one of my favorite Christmas cookies.
Here’s a recipe from Food Network
Gingerbread
No list of Christmas cookies is complete without Gingerbread. From houses to Gingerbread men, you can do so much with this dough. Most of us just slather on some frosting and call it a day, but the more artistic can create something as beautiful as this:
Linzer
This cookie is as beautiful as it is tasty. The cut-out that shows the jam beneath gives the cookie a stained-glass appearance. For a stunning look, try using different-colored jams, and make sure to finish it off with lots of powdered sugar.
I’m sure you have your own Christmas cookie traditions as well, but these are some of the cookies that just say “Christmas” to me. There’s nothing quite like baking something warm and buttery to get you into the holiday spirit! And nothing brings people together quite like sweets. Merry Christmas to all Her Campus readers!