60 Traditional Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten your Holiday

60 Traditional Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Holiday. We invite you to embrace the joy and excitement of Christmas baking as we offer you a wide variety of classic treats.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just beginning your cooking journey, these recipes promise to fill your home with the spirit of the season. Baking this special time of year will add to memories made that will be cherished for years to come.

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Each cookie in this collection carries with it the essence of tradition, passed down through generations and perfected over time. Much like most of our nostalgic recipes like BUTTERMILK POUND CAKE and OLD FASHIONED TEA CAKES, these cookies will become heirlooms for you and your family too.

From the warm scent of gingerbread to the delicious sweetness of sugar cookies, these recipes are more than just cookies, they are a celebration of family, togetherness, and the simple pleasures that make the holiday season bright.

We are excited to share these recipes to help you enjoy the heartwarming world of Christmas baking. Where the joy of creating and sharing these beautiful treats becomes a cherished part of your own traditions.

Let flour dust your kitchen and the laughter of the folks you love fill the air as we embark on this delicious adventure together.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Christmas Cookies

Why did my cookies turn out flat and spread too much?

Overly softened butter or warm cookie dough can cause cookies to spread too much. Make sure your butter is at the right temperature, and consider chilling the dough before baking.

How can I make my cookies chewy instead of crispy?

Using more brown sugar than white sugar in your recipe can contribute to a chewier texture. Also, avoid overmixing the dough, and slightly underbake the cookies for a softer result.

What’s the purpose of chilling cookie dough before baking?

Chilling the dough helps solidify the fats (like butter) in the dough, preventing cookies from spreading excessively. It also enhances flavor by allowing the ingredients to meld.

Can I freeze cookie dough for later use?

Yes, you can freeze cookie dough! Portion the dough into individual cookie-sized balls and freeze them. When ready to bake, simply place the frozen dough on the baking sheet and add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.

How do I prevent my cookies from burning on the bottom?

Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to line your baking sheets. Also, try placing your baking sheets on the top or middle oven rack to prevent the cookies from getting too much heat from the bottom.

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My cookies are too sweet. Can I reduce the sugar in the recipe?

Sugar not only sweetens but also affects the texture and structure of cookies. Instead of reducing the sugar, you can try adjusting the type of sugar (e.g., using less sweet brown sugar) or adding a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness without compromising texture.

Helpful items for your Christmas Cookies!

BAKING MATS

SHEET PAN SETS

COOKIE SCOOPS

COOKIE SPATULAS

COOLING RACKS

1
star shaped teacakes on a red towel.
The Best Old Fashioned Tea Cakes
The Best Old Fashioned Tea Cakes recipe is right here. This recipe is well over 100 years old and has been handed down for many generations. Made with simple ingredients like butter, flour and buttermilk, these tea cakes are a bite of days gone by.
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2
naturallieplantbased.com
Vegan Red Velvet Cookies
These red velvet cookies are soft, moist, and filled with melty white chocolate chips! This cookie is perfect around the holidays and will definitely impress at holiday parties!
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3
dizzybusyandhungry.com
White Chocolate Dipped Coffee Shortbread Cookies
Coffee flavored shortbread cookies baked with simple ingredients is not just a pretty cookie. It's delicious cookie that can also be given as an edible gift to teachers, friends and family.
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4
a stack of pecan pie muffins with a green plant in the background.
Pecan Pie Mini Muffins
Pecan Pie Mini Muffins are an easy and delicious way to get all of the flavors you love from the Southern Pecan Pie without all of the work. These mini muffins are made with just 5 ingredients and can be whipped up in no time.
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5
sulaandspice.com
Krumkake Cookies (Krumkaker)- Norwegian Christmas Cookies
A delicate Norwegian waffle cookie made in a special electric iron and rolled into a cone shape. Traditionally flavored with cardamom, you can also use almond extract for a slightly different flavor.
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6
grinch thumbprint cookies. Vanilla cookies with green and red on top.
www.troprockin.com
Grinch Thumbprint Cookies
Grinch Thumbprint Cookies are fun and festive for the holidays. A delicious and buttery shortbread cookie with sweet green filling, topped a red heart sprinkle.
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7
onehotoven.com
Biscotti with candied fruit and nuts
Indulge in the perfect balance of sweet and savory with our delightful Fruit and Nut Christmas Biscotti, a delectable holiday treat that's also perfect for gift giving.
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8
homespunseasonalliving.com
Homemade old-fashioned spicy hermit cookies
Old-fashioned hermit cookies are hearty treats full of spice, dried fruits, and nuts. Great keepers, they tuck well into care packages, too!
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9
cheese straws featured on parchment
Easy Southern Cheese Straws
Easy Southern Cheese Straws are a Holiday and party staple in the south. Butter and cheese come together to make the perfect crispy wafer that everyone will love. Here is the BEST cheese straw recipe.
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10
Salted Peanut Butter Balls
Salted Peanut Butter Balls are a quick no bake way to enjoy your own homemade peanut butter and chocolate treat. Add that flaky sea salt for even more flavor!
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11
thehonoursystem.com
Almond Flour Lemon Cookies
Looking for a zesty twist on your Christmas cookie game? Look no further than this Almond Flour Lemon Cookies recipe! These soft and chewy treats are bursting with tangy lemon flavor.
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12
entirelyelizabeth.com
Snowman Snowball Cookies
Make these cute and easy Snowman Snowball Cookies this holiday season. They are buttery, soft, so delicious, and have a family secret ingredient.
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13
www.callmepmc.com
Dark Chocolate Brown Sugar Cookies
These cookies seriously tastes like Oreos. However, they have crisp edges and soft centers. Very popular cookie with my boys and readers.
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14
Christmas Eve shortbread cookies
Christmas Eve Shortbread Cookies
Christmas Eve Shortbread Cookies can help you start a wonderful tradition. Every year, we make these and other goodies to put out for Santa. Making them together will always be wonderful memories for me and my kids.
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15
www.runningtothekitchen.com
Healthy Chocolate Chunk Molasses Gingerbread Cookies
These healthier chocolate chunk molasses gingerbread cookies are chewy, soft and filled with the flavors of the holidays.
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16
www.greedygirlgourmet.com
Easy 3-Ingredient Brown Sugar Cookies
Buttery, crisp but flaky and not-too-sweet, these deliciously easy 3-ingredient Brown Sugar Cookies are the perfect Holiday Bake for fall and winter! Lots of flavor for very little work, they're the perfect under-30-minutes bake and a great Christmas cookie box base, as they can be easily customised.
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17
www.siftandsimmer.com
Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies | Sift & Simmer
These Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies will get you into the festive mood, filled with rich fudgy chocolate flavor and studded with Ghiradelli peppermint bark.
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18
xoxobella.com
Festive Gingerbread Pizzelle Recipe
Looking for a holiday season Italian cookie that everyone will love? Try this gingerbread pizzelle recipe and you will find they make amazing gifts as well as delicious treats for everyone at home.
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19
one pecan square slice with large dish in background.
Pecan Pie Squares
Pecan Pie Squares made with a real shortbread crust are a delicious alternative to the famed Southern Pecan Pie. Made with honey, whipping cream, these pecan pie bars are the best you will find.
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20
gritsandgouda.com
Maple Pecan Cookies (Slice and Bake)
These buttery, crisp Maple Pecan Cookies are made with real butter, maple syrup and brown sugar. It's a slice and bake shortbread cookies recipe glazed with a thin maple icing, perfect for your Christmas tray or anytime!
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21
oatmeal cookies on a blue willow patterned plate
No Sugar Added Oatmeal Cookies
These Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies will get you into the festive mood, filled with rich fudgy chocolate flavor and studded with Ghiradelli peppermint bark.
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22
www.masalaherb.com
Austrian Linzer Cookies Recipe
Melt in the mouth Linzer cookies are traditional Austrian Christmas cookies. Filled with a jelly or jam, they are a must make for your next cookie exchange.
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23
cookwhatyoulove.com
White Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
With the rich, creamy flavor of white chocolate throughout, these easy White Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are the perfect holiday cookie!
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24
passmeaspoon.com
Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
The combination of sticky toffee bits with vanilla and brown sugar make these Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies a total hit!
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25
theunlikelybaker.com
Ube Crinkles
This is the only recipe for ube crinkles you’ll need this holiday season. Easy to follow, lots of baking tips, and cookies that always come out soft, fluffy and bursting with the ube flavor you love.
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26
A plate of cinnamon rolls topped with icing, resting on a red and white striped cloth, could easily find its place among 25 easy and traditional Christmas recipes. A small plant in a pot is partially visible in the background.
Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Cinnamon Roll Cookies are a wonderful sweet treat. Reminiscent of delicious cinnamon rolls, these cookies take a standard shortbread cookie to a whole new level. Cinnamon and sugar combined with butter and shortbread make for a special cookie occasion.
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27
feastandwest.com
Lemon Drop Cookies with Vodka Glaze
These zesty Lemon Drop Cookies are like soft, delicate clouds that are packed with sweet-tart flavor. Light and fluffy, they’re the perfect addition to holiday cookie plates.
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28
fitasamamabear.com
Rich Chocolate Almond Flour Cookies
Soft, chewy, and with the perfect amount of sweetness. These chocolate almond flour cookies can be made for any occasion. Sweetened with honey and drizzled with melted chocolate for a crunchy topping but a comforting inside
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29
www.stetted.com
Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
Mexican hot chocolate cookies are chewy, chocolatey, and just a little bit spicy. Enjoy them with a glass of cold milk or a warm mug of cocoa!
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30
bebraveandbloom.com
Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies (Old Fashioned Crinkle Recipe)
Pillowy soft and perfect for the holidays; these cookies are lightly spiced with crackly tops. They are delicious plain, right from the oven.
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31
red velvet cookies feature
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies are easy and delicious. The deep, rich flavor of red velvet takes on a new twist in a crispy but soft centered cookie.
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32
www.dinner-mom.com
Easy Oatmeal Lace Cookies
Vegan Oatmeal Lace Cookies are delicate, crunchy, and simple to prepare using only a few ingredients. This traditional recipe is ideal for gift giving and cookie swaps, as it does not contain common food allergens.
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33
alternativedish.com
Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Cookies with Chocolate Chips
These gluten-free, vegan pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are light, fluffy, and brimming with warm pumpkin spice. They're also free of refined sugar.
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34
www.annsentitledlife.com
Cranberry Noels Cookie Recipe
The Cranberry Noels Cookie Recipe combines the tartness of cranberries with the rich flavors of buttery cookies. The result is a mouthwatering treat that will have everyone coming back for more. Whether you're baking them for a holiday gathering or simply enjoying them at home, these cookies are sure to be a hit.
Check out this recipe
35
Close-up of Priesters Cinnamon Fiddlestick Cookies stacked on a cooling rack, their aromatic spices tempting your senses. A package of pecans and a nut-covered candy bar rest on a cloth with red stripes in the background, completing this cozy scene.
Cinnamon Fiddlestick Cookies
Cinnamon Fiddlestick Cookies make a treat from a treat! We use Priester's Pecans Fiddlesticks to add some sweetness to this delicious cinnamon cookie for a treat everyone will love.
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36
www.nourishyourglow.com
The Best White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies (Healthy)
Filled with white chocolate chips and tangy dried cranberries, these cookies are perfect for the holiday season. Super easy to make with only 7 ingredients needed!
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37
www.vanillabeancuisine.com
Chewy Matcha White Chocolate Cookies
These Matcha White Chocolate Cookies bring you the flavor of a matcha latte in cookie form. White chocolate chips add a sweet finish!
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38
www.frontrangefed.com
Snickerdoodle Cookies With Vanilla And Maple
Classic Snickerdoodle Cookies get an update with the addition of maple syrup and vanilla, giving their flavor more depth while still preserving that crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside consistency that we all know and love. The perfect cookie to add to your holiday baking, or, let’s be honest, any time at all.
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39
gritsandgouda.com
Cookie Butter Puff Pastry Christmas Trees
These Puff Pastry Christmas Trees filled with cookie butter are fun and festive holiday cookies on a stick! They only require 4 ingredients and simple prep. Perfect for cookie swaps, cookies for Santa, teacher gifts and are fun to make with kids.
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40
Chocolate-covered treats topped with shredded coconut are arranged on parchment paper, evoking the charm of traditional Christmas cookie recipes. The image is watermarked with "thebutteredhome.com.
Simple Coconut Bliss Balls
Simple Coconut Bliss Balls are made with coconut, chocolate and honey. Using the natural sweetness of these ingredients proves successful for a bite of pure bliss!
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41
www.frontrangefed.com
Chocolate-Dipped Orange And Almond Shortbread Cookies
This is your classic shortbread cookie recipe flavored with orange and almonds and dipped in decadent dark chocolate. These Chocolate-Dipped Orange And Almond Shortbread Cookies are easy to make, take few ingredients and look and taste amazing!
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42
www.frontrangefed.com
Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe | Front Range Fed
This old-fashioned Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe has been in my family for generations. The secret to these cookies is sour cream, which creates a soft doughy texture and an irresistible cookie that is loved by everyone. You won’t be able to eat just one!
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43
cheflindseyfarr.com
Old Fashioned Fudge Recipe
This Old Fashioned Fudge Recipe is chewy, fudgy with the perfect amount of chocolate. Step by Step instructions for perfect fudge every time!
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44
gritsandgouda.com
Cranberry Orange Cookies
Perfect for your holiday baking needs, these Cranberry Orange Cookies only require 6 ingredients and starts with a sugar cookie mix! This super easy shortcut recipe for cranberry orange cookies is ideal for winter holidays and cookie swaps but great any time of the year!
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45
lemon coconut cookies feature
Lemon Coconut Cookies
Lemon Coconut Cookies are a delicious taste of spring. Perfect for pairing with tea, they are a light and delicious treat made with a traditional cookie recipe.
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46
cheflindseyfarr.com
Homemade Speculoos Cookies
How to make homemade Speculoos Cookies from scratch! Old fashioned speculoos cookies are pressed into a mold for a beautiful finish!
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47
www.frontrangefed.com
Date Cookies
If you’re looking for a new spin on an old cookie, this is it. These Date Cookies are half shortbread, half sugar cookie, but use the sweetness of dates to sub in for half the sugar, and contain anise seed, which gives it a wonderfully unexpected flavor.
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48
cheflindseyfarr.com
Scottish Shortbread Recipe
This easy Scottish Shortbread recipe makes tender, buttery shortbread with only 4 ingredients! Plus, a professional pastry chef gives you all the tips and tricks to making perfect shortbread cookies!
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49
gritsandgouda.com
Cookies and Cream Shortbread Cookies
Cookies and Cream Shortbread Cookies made with crushed Oreos. Easy cookie recipe with just 4 ingredients and made with shortcuts! You'll want to make these for every holiday or when you're just craving a rich, buttery cookie to dunk in milk.
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50
www.frontrangefed.com
Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Cream Cheese Frosting
This recipe for Soft Pumpkin Cookies is packed with the flavors of fall – rich pumpkin taste, vibrant spices, and a soft, chewy, cake-like texture that makes these irresistible. A cream cheese frosting takes these cookies over the top and balances out the flavors with a creamy, tangy finish.
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51
cheflindseyfarr.com
Moravian Christmas Cookies
Moravian Christmas Cookies are paper-thin, crispy, spiced molasses cookies. Sweet and gingery, they taste a bit like gingerbread but are waaaay more addicting!
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52
www.frontrangefed.com
Lemon Ricotta Cookies
Lemon Ricotta Cookies are soft Italian cookies that have a tangy, lemony taste, and a light and airy texture thanks to using ricotta cheese in the dough. The lemon icing makes them extra special. They’re a great Italian Christmas cookie, but can be enjoyed any time of year!
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53
www.fearlessdining.com
Melt in Your Mouth Gluten Free Russian Tea Cookies
These snowball-like cookies are soft, delicate cookies dusted in powdered sugar. They are perfect for any cookie exchange party.
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54
gritsandgouda.com
Sugardoodles
Sugardoodles are my version of a cross between a sugar cookie and a Snickerdoodle. They are light and crispy on the outside; slightly soft in the center with a sugar-coated, crinkled top-and so easy!
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55
www.frontrangefed.com
Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies
These Big Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies are full of delicious spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom and have a deliciously chewy texture that makes them irresistible.
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56
bears in a blanket feature
Cooking with Kids, Bears in a Blanket
Cooking with Kids is so important. It can be simple too! With our Bears in a Blanket recipe it will be easy and fun. Delicious Puff pastry coupled with chocolate and teddy grahams, your kids will be begging for more!
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57
www.upstateramblings.com
Chocolate Cherry Blossoms – Christmas Cookies
These festive cherry cookies spread holiday cheer! With a bright cherry flavor and a delicious chocolate kiss on top, they're the perfect balance of sweetness that adds a whimsical and colorful touch to your Christmas cookie platter.
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58
cheflindseyfarr.com
Apricot Kolacky Cookie (Kiffles) Recipe
These Apricot Kolacky Cookies have flakey cream cheese pastry dough wrapped around an easy apricot filling made from dried apricots! These two-bite cookies are buttery, crisp and addicting.
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59
gritsandgouda.com
Coffee and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
What makes these soft and chewy Coffee and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies a grown up version? There's actually coffee IN the cookies, not just served with them! Dark chocolate chips may not be what kids prefer but it's at the top of my list of faves! Cookies for breakfast? Yes please! Best way to get my coffee fix ever!
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60
www.callmepmc.com
Most Amazing Almond Crunch Cookies
The most delicious Almond Crunch Cookies and they are so easy! This simple and easy, yet delicious little sweet treat recipe will make you smile every time you take a bite!


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LOVE THESE RECIPES? WE WOULD BE SO APPRECIATIVE IF YOU SHARED THIS POST USING THE LINKS AT THE TOP!

So, there you have it, a huge collection of traditional Christmas cookie recipes ready to sprinkle some sweetness into your holiday season! From classic gingerbread to festive sugar cookies, these treats are not just about indulging your taste buds; they’re about creating moments of joy and connection.

As you dive into the world of holiday baking, remember that the best memories are often made in the kitchen, surrounded by the people you love.

Whether you’re a baking expert or a rookie with a spatula, these recipes are your ticket to turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.

So, preheat those ovens, grab your favorite apron, and let the flour fly! May your holiday season be filled with the sweet smell of freshly baked cookies and the satisfaction of sharing them with those who matter most.

Happy baking, and may your holidays be as delightful as these scrumptious treats!

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