72 Christmas Treats for the Holidays

Recipe: Snowy Tree Cookies

Use a set of star-shape cookie cutters (like this affordable one from Amazon) to make these special cookies.

Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

This recipe makes about two dozen bourbon balls, so you'll have plenty to send home with guests after the party.

Recipe: Basic Butter Cookie Dough

Ellender Mills of Raleigh, North Carolina, sent in this recipe, which ran in December, 1995.

Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug Cake

This adorable mug cake is perfect for a stocking stuffer or holiday hostess gift.

Recipe: Red Velvet Santa Hat Meringues

Red food coloring gel, not liquid food coloring, will give you the brightest red to match Santa's suit.

Recipe: Almond Stars

These cookies, made with almond flour and almond paste, will stand out in the cookie tin. 

Recipe: Triple Mint Cookies

These brownie-like cookies are filled with mint candies and topped with minty icing.

Recipe: Potato Candy

Get nostalgic this Christmas with one of our favorite vintage recipes.

Recipe: Reindeer Marshmallow Pops

These adorable treats are the perfect afternoon activity for your little ones.

Recipe: Red Velvet Thumbprints

Santa will love these little cookies that match his suit perfectly.

Recipe: Christmas Bulb Sugar Cookies

String several of these cookies together for the cutest party favor.

Recipe: Pecan Bourbon Balls

Spiced toasted pecans add a hint of saltiness to these sweet bites.

Recipe: Caramel-Stuffed Ginger Cookies

Serve these cookies straight from the oven so the ooey-gooey caramel centers shine.

Recipe: Chewy Ambrosia Biscotti

Enjoy a little holiday flavor with your morning coffee or afternoon tea.

Recipe: Chocolate Cutout Cookies

These dark chocolate cookies will stand out amongst their vanilla counterparts.

Recipe: White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

The creamy mint icing on these Christmas-y blondies will steal the holiday show. 

Recipe: Cherry Chocolates

Mold this butter cookie dough around a chocolate candy, top with half of a candied cherry, and bake.

Recipe: Spiced Molasses Drops

Our Test Kitchen Professionals said these are the best molasses cookies they've ever tasted!

Recipe: Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Try this new way to eat cranberries this holiday season.

Recipe: Peppermint Pinwheels

When you're looking for something with a little peppermint to add to the cookie platter.

Recipe: Eggnog Whoopie Pies

Make the filling for these fluffy pies up to three days in advance to save time.

Recipe: No-Bake Fudge Toffee Bars

If you're in a pinch this holiday season, no-bake is the way to go.

Recipe: Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies

These whimsical cookies are packed with PB&J nostalgia.

Recipe: Walnut Crescents

Snowy cookies are always a holiday favorite.

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Sablés

These French butter cookies are elegant for dinner parties.

Recipe: Spicy Molasses Gingerbread People

Traditional gingerbread cookies get kicked up with warm spices and orange and lemon zests.

Recipe: Orange Palmiers

Enjoy these four-ingredient cookies from brunch to dessert.

Recipe: Pecan Tea Cakes

If you're a fan of pecan Sandies, you'll love these pretty tea cakes.

Recipe: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookie

Why eat cookies alone when you could sandwich cream cheese frosting between two of them?

Recipe: Pinwheel Cookies

Add unsweetened chocolate to this dough for a swirly treat.

Recipe: Chocolate-Bourbon-Fudge Balls

You'll love this rich twist on a classic bourbon ball.

Recipe: Soft Sugar Cookie Trees

The dough for these cookies can be made up to two days in advance, so plan a decorating party ahead.

Recipe: Cracker Toffee

This five-ingredient toffee recipe starts with a sleeve of Saltines.

Recipe: Molasses Crinkles

These cookies were sent in by Ms. Alice Rhodes from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and published in our November 1992 issue. They're bursting with every flavor you love about the holidays.

Recipe: Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread with Orange-Cream Cheese Icing

Give this gorgeous bread as a homemade gift to neighbors, but make one to enjoy at your own Christmas brunch, too.

Recipe: Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes

No artificial coloring here! These sweet treats get their red hue from beets.

Recipe: Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies

Move over, brownies. These blondies, made with 100 percent pure maple syrup, will get all of the attention at the dessert table.

Recipe: Cake Ball Ornaments

Although we used these ornaments to top the Snowy Vanilla Cake from our December 2017 cover, they can be enjoyed on their own and make a beautiful addition to any dessert spread.

Recipe: Chocolate Ganache Thumbprint Cookies with Crushed Peppermint

Crushed peppermint candy dresses up these sweet treats.

Recipe: Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Serve these bright cookies, made with a touch of brandy, at an adults-only cocktail party.

Recipe: Snow Flurries

This recipe was sent to us by Edith Askins of Greenville, Texas, and published in our November 1992 issue. Raspberry jam is a tasty and fruity filling for these snowy cookies.

Recipe: Molten Red Velvet Cakes

These mini cakes are absolutely decadent for the holidays.

Recipe: Ambrosia Meringue Trifles

Ambrosia is a classic holiday dish in the South, and these 10-minute trifles are the prettiest and easiest way to serve it.

Recipe: Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Brighten up your holiday dessert table with a touch of lemon.

Recipe: Spiced Stars with Cookie Butter

Instead of eating your cookie butter out of the jar with a spoon (although we love to do that, too), try spreading it between two spice cookies this season.

Recipe: Rum Balls

Reader Lela H. Coggins from Brevard, North Carolina, sent us this recipe, which was published in our December 1993 issue. This six-ingredient stunner still holds up today.

Recipe: Key Lime Tassies

Tart Key lime pie in one bite.

Recipe: Raspberry Jam Thumbprint

Fill these crispy thumbprint cookies with sweet raspberry jam.

Recipe: Frozen Pecan Pie Hot Chocolate

The name isn't meant to confuse you. This concoction is part milkshake, part hot chocolate, and part pecan pie. 

Recipe: Lemony Sandwich Cookies

These soft cookies come with a creamy lemon filling for a burst of citrus on your holiday table.

Recipe: Sparkling Ornament Cookies

Let the kids pick out their favorite sprinkles for these cookies.

Recipe: Coconut Thumbprints with Dulce de Leche

This combination of buttery cookie, creamy caramel filling, and toasty coconut is made even better thanks to the addition of flaked sea salt.

Recipe: Easy Santa Cookies

Old Saint Nick won't be able to resist these adorable cookies.

Recipe: Almond Brickle Treats

Decadent bars make for a delicious holiday treat.

Recipe: Red Velvet Fudge

Add a little holiday cheer to your usual fudge recipe.

Recipe: Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

This trifle might look impressive on the dessert table, but it's extremely easy to put together.

Recipe: Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls

Christmas treats aren't just for dessert. Start the day on a sweet note with homemade cinnamon rolls.

Recipe: Hummingbird Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are a more portable way to enjoy our most popular recipe of all tlime—the Hummingbird Cake.

Recipe: Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream

These soufflés are a great choice for an elegant Christmas dinner party.

Recipe: Mrs. Floyd's Divinity

This classic holiday dessert lives up to its divine name.

Recipe: Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels

These treats have the ideal amount of salty and sweet.

Recipe: Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

With just seven ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time, you can serve these delightful bits of pecan pie.

Recipe: Belgian Spice Cookies

These cozy cookies, also known as Speculoos, will delight guests young and old.