Food editors, much like the rest of us, love Christmas cookies. They develop and test recipes, style the fruits of their labor for photo shoots, and generally make a lot more cookies than we do. Naturally, we were curious about the treats they bake at home year after year.
From putting together this collection, it's clear these veteran bakers love a ginger or spice cookie for the holidays. Another trend is cookies with fruit—so much better than fruitcake, don't you think? These beloved recipes are excellent for gifting, cookie-swapping, or setting out for Santa, which means they're guaranteed to be winners among your family and friends this holiday season.
01of 12
Chewy Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies
"Spicy, chocolatey, and chewy with a tiny bit of crisp thrown in. It's truly my go-to," says former editorial director of food Sarah Carey. "I never make a cookie box without it."
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02of 12
Jamaretti Cookies
Sarah likes this unusual, but easy cookie for several reasons: First, it's "made with a generous amount of almond paste that adds a lovely chew and subtle almond flavor." Next, "the method lends itself to large batching since it's so simple, and its bright swath of jam brings color and vibrancy to the box," she says.
"These are chewy and nutty and fruity...basically a fruitcake, only in light-and-airy meringue cookie format instead of a stodgy loaf," says former deputy food director Greg Lofts.
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04of 12
Alexis's Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you make just one cookie this year, it should be this one, says former senior food editor Lauryn Tyrell, who doesn't actually prepare an assortment of cookies during the holiday season. "As my free time is limited, especially around the holidays, I opt for a statement cookie and this is my go-to," she says.
The recipe comes from Martha's daughter, Alexis, and yields cookies that are "so impressive—in terms of size, flavor, and texture—that they always receive 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and 'where did you get these?' when I give them as gifts," she says. "Plus, since they're thin, the yield is large enough to make a batch for a few different friends and still have some leftover for myself—and my pilfering kids!"
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05of 12
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
"Such a classic!" says former associate food editor Riley Wofford of this easy-to-make and hard-to-resist cookie. "I actually never ate these at Christmas growing up, but I totally get why people do—they're very festive."
"No holiday cookie round-up would be complete without something crunchy and long-lasting, something you can eat a month later with a cup of tea and think, 'Wow, this is still great!' That's why I always include biscotti in my box," says Sarah. Another reason to love this recipe? "It's a pretty shape and can be made in almost an endless variety of flavors."
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07of 12
Chai Snowballs
Both Greg and Lauryn love these snowy cookies. "They are similar to Russian Tea Cakes but with a chai flavor profile," explains Greg. Lauryn says she loves them because they remind her of cookies her grandma used to make. Plus, she explains, "the addition of the tea and warming spices adds depth and a little extra holiday cheer."
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08of 12
Gingerbread-Espresso Crinkle Cookies
"Chocolate crinkle cookies were a constant Christmas cookie rotation in our family and I love this sort of grown-up rendition," says Riley.
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09of 12
Marmalade Linzer Sandwiches
"I tested these pretty cookies when I first started working at Martha Stewart and loved them instantly," says Lauryn. "They're laced with a subtle hint of cardamom that plays so well with the citrus. And the pecans add a lovely crumbly texture to the dough. I love their look, but you can customize them with any cutouts you like."
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10of 12
Shortbread Cookies
"You have to have a classic shortbread cookie at the holidays," says Greg. "These Star of David shortbread cookies are perfect for Hanukkah."
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11of 12
Citrus Thumbprints
"Delicate in texture and full of tangy citrus flavor," these cheerful thumbprint cookie are another favorite for Sarah. "The dusting of confectioners' sugar brings holiday realness," she says.
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12of 12
Spicy Chocolate Cookies
"These are similar to Sarah's favorite Chewy Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies," says Greg, "but they are all about the chocolate and spice, no ginger."
Based on this data from General Mills, Peanut Butter Blossoms are the most popular Christmas cookie in the country; it's the most-visited cookie recipe in seven states, which means it's the most common favorite cookie in the U.S. That's a pretty high honor!
Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months.
The practice of putting out cookies for Santa began in the 1930s during the Great Depression, when parents were trying to instill a sense of thankfulness in their children. Leaving goodies, perhaps in a sweet cookie jar, continues to be a way of sharing the holiday bounty.
You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December. (Consult this handy how-to guide to the matter.) Generally, most recipes will be best if baked and then frozen.
Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.
While cookies can last in the fridge for two weeks, eating them sooner is better. (We recommend storing a few in the refrigerator for eating in a few days and freezing the rest if eating more than four days after baking.)
Dry cookies, like shortbread cookies, gingersnaps, and Danish butter cookies, will stay fresher for longer because they have very little moisture. Dry cookies become stale when they suck up moisture from the air - causing them to become soft and lose their snap.
Those who would like to take credit for the invention of the Christmas cookie will have to arm wrestle the Germans for it. They believe that Weihnachtsplätzchen, a term that refers specifically to cookies and broadly to holiday treats, encompasses the origin of Christmas baking.
She found a delicious recipe for gluten-free “Jesus cookies.” My daughters call those really puffy, soft sugar cookies with lots of icing and sprinkles you find in the grocery store “Jesus cookies” because they seemed to get them during Sunday School A LOT.
Parents wanted to encourage generosity in their children particularly during the harsh times of the depression. But the tradition quickly stuck and even today, most homes around the world that celebrate Christmas put out cookies for him and his reindeer.
The key to keeping cookies fresh and soft is to seal them in an airtight container, like a resealable freezer bag. And here's a nifty little trick: add a piece of bread to the bag.
Shortbread cookies and spritz cookies are real holiday troopers, lasting a bit longer than the rest. These buttery and crumbly cookies are a great option for a holiday cookie. Shortbread is known for its rich flavor, while spritz cookies are often made with a cookie press.
Santa himself lists these as his favorites, and he prefers them soft and gooey with lots of chocolate chips. If you decide to leave these out for him, make sure there's a glass of cold milk nearby!
Among those who can make a single choice, frosted sugar cookies lead the list (32%), with gingerbread (12%) and chocolate chip (11%) rounding out the top three. Snickerdoodles (6%) come in fourth place, followed by butter (4%), peanut butter (4%), and chocolate (4%) tying for fifth.
According to America's Favorite Christmas Candy by State Report, a comprehensive study by research firm HubScore that delved into a survey of the top 20 favorite Christmas candies, Kit Kat ranked top in 13 states followed by a tie between Skittles and candy canes, both ranked top in six states.
According to Google Trends, the most-searched cookie recipe in Pennsylvania over the holidays is the famous peanut butter blossom! The peanut butter blossom was created in 1957 by Freda Smith.
Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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