When you think of the holidays what is the first sweet, tasty confection that pops into your mind? As you dream of the delectable star of your favorite holiday movies or putting a sparkle in the eyes of children, it’s usually not decorating a pie or even a cake. Cookies win by a landslide so it is only fitting that National Cookie Day is December 2nd. What a perfect month to celebrate the infamous holiday treat that is easy to make, perfect to decorate, serves multitudes, and is the fuel to keep Santa going on his busiest night of the year!

One convenient aspect of the cookie baking department is that many ingredients are multi-purpose and are the key ingredients in almost every cookie recipe. Once you stock your pantry with flour, sugar, and vanilla and your refrigerator with butter and eggs, you’ll have the beginnings of greatness! Then all you have to do is decide what kind of cookie you want and mix in the magic to create a favorite that will make everyone smile and say cookie! (Cheese is irrelevant here!)

With the holidays upon us, focusing on things we are thankful for along with a National day to celebrate, these are the perfect occasions to show our gratefulness for the treat that is found in these unbeatable cookie recipes!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

A word from General Mills has it that these are the most popular Christmas cookies since they are the most-visited cookie recipe online in seven states! This translates to them being the favorite cookie in the U.S.

Ingridients

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar for rolling
• 40 chocolate kisses, unwrapped

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, softened butter and peanut butter.
2. With a hand mixer, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, for about 2 minutes.
3. Add the egg and vanilla, beat until mixed thoroughly.
4. Add flour, baking soda, and salt and beat on low until fully combined.
5. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 375°.
7. Line a baking sheet with a cookie mat or parchment paper and set aside.
8. Add the additional 1/2 cup granulated sugar to a small bowl and set aside.
9. Shape 1 1/2 Tablespoons of cookie dough into 1-inch balls by hand.
10. Gently roll balls in the bowl of granulated sugar to coat on all sides.
11. Place approximately 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet and bake for 9-10 minutes, until lightly brown and tops of cookies look a bit cracked.
12. Press a Hershey chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie, then remove to a cooling rack and continue cooling.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

A Nestlé Toll House poll says chocolate chip cookies are the most popular overall cookie in 18 states! Adding oatmeal gives this classic some delicious, healthy sustenance!

Ingridients

• 2 3/4 sticks of butter, softened
• 3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup +3 tablespoons of granulated sugar
• One egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups of self-rising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 cups of quick cooking oats
• One 12-ounce bag of real chocolate chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°.
2. Beat margarine and sugars until fluffy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.
4. Add flour and cinnamon in small amounts at a time, beating after each addition.
5. Add oatmeal and beat until well combined.
6. Stir in chocolate chips.
7. Drop by rounded Tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
8. Bake approximately 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
9. Remove to a flat surface and let cool.
10. When cooled store in an airtight container.

Sugar Cookies

Not only do these cookies taste incredible, but they are also flat and smooth, giving them the perfect canvas for creating an edible holiday masterpiece!

Ingridients

• 1 cup salted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 ¾ to 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. In a large bowl cream together butter and powdered sugar.
3. Mix in egg and vanilla.
4. Blend in flour, baking powder and salt (only add the additional 1/4 cup flour if needed, the  dough should be supple and soft not dry).
5. Mix until the dough easily forms a ball.
6. Roll out on a floured surface and cut with festive cookie cutter,
7. Bake at 400° for 7-9 minutes, until cookies are golden, but tops are not browned yet.
8. Cool completely before icing.
9. Frost or decorate with your favorite store-bought or homemade icing recipe.

Red Velvet Cookies

No other cookie says December and Christmas like the eye-popping color of red velvet! Add the incredible taste and you have a holiday winner!

Ingridients

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup butter softened
• ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon red liquid food coloring or 1 teaspoon red gel food coloring
• 1 cup semisweet milk or white chocolate chips

Directions

1. Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until creamy and light, about 2-3   minutes.
2. Add the eggs, vanilla, and food coloring, then beat again, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
3. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, mixing just until combined.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. For best results, cover and chill the dough for 1 hour, as it tends to be stickier than other doughs due to the food coloring.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°.
7. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 
8. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop balls of cookie dough onto the parchment lined baking sheets, spacing them a couple inches apart giving the cookies room to spread.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes until set around the edges and the cookie centers are just starting to lose their glossy shine.
10. Immediately upon removing the cookies from the oven, press a few extra chocolate chips into the tops of each.
11. Transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Related: 13 Budget-Friendly Party Favors That Hosts Will Love!

Snow Ball Cookies

Like wedding cookies, this version is for everyone and has been passed down for generations! Let’s keep this ball rolling for many more to rave over!

Ingridients

• 1 cup of butter, softened
• 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 2 one-pound boxes of powdered sugar, sifted, divided into two separate bowls

Directions

1. Cream margarine and sugar with hand mixer.
2. Add vanilla and flour, beating well.
3. Stir in pecans mixing well.
4. Roll into half inch balls.
5. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake at 350° for 30 to 45 minutes or until bottoms are slightly browned.(Check by gently lifting with a spoon)
7. Immediately roll in one bowl of the sifted powdered sugar, then immediately roll in the other bowl.
8. Let cool slightly and roll again the same way.

When cooled, store in an airtight container