Better Homes And Gardens Christmas And Halloween 3018

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: France C

Nothing brings families together like baking, so long as it doesn't end in a fight over who gets to lick the spoon. Cookies make great gifts, and the heavenly smell they leave in the kitchen is certainly a perk. They come in a wide range of flavors, shapes, and textures, and vary based on where you are in the world. From light and crisp to chewy and soft, here are 28 of the most popular types of cookies to know.

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Snickerdoodles

Several of Mrs. Sigg's Snickerdoodles

Although the origin of this beloved cookie is up for debate, there's no doubt it's a favorite during the holidays. Snickerdoodles are a type of drop cookie (any cookie that is formed by dropping spoonfuls of dough directly onto a baking sheet) that is coated in cinnamon and sugar. They can be crisp or soft, with a slightly cracked surface.

Popular Snickerdoodle Recipes:

Grandma Ruth's Snickerdoodle Cookies
Mrs. Sigg's Snickerdoodles
Ultimate Maple Snickerdoodles

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Chocolate Chip Cookies

colorful plate of Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: France C

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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

oatmeal raisin cookies with a pink background

Credit: naples34102

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Gingersnaps

gingersnap cookies in a white dish

Credit: Kristina Florez

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Shortbread Cookies

Citrus Shortbread Cookies on a white plate

Credit: uwland

Shortbread cookies have a very high ratio of butter or shortening to flour, hence the name "short." They differ from butter cookies in that they have lower quantities of flour and sugar, giving them a more crumbly and tender texture. These classic cookies originated in Scotland, and go all the way back to medieval times.

Popular Shortbread Cookie Recipes:

Melt - In - Your - Mouth Shortbread
Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread Cookies II

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Peanut Butter Cookies

Chef John's Peanut Butter Cookies

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Whoopie Pies

Whoopie Pies VII

These sandwich-style cookies are made with two soft, pillowy cookies and a marshmallow filling. Considered a Pennsylvania Amish tradition, legend has it that they're named after the exclamation children would make when they found them in their lunches. Today they are very popular in Maine, where whoopie pies were first sold. Traditionally chocolate cookies were used to make whoopie pies, but they've since expanded to everything from red velvet to pumpkin.

Popular Whoopie Pie Recipes:

Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Whoopie Pies VIII

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Sugar Cookies

Chewy Sugar Cookies

The sugar cookie is like the vanilla ice cream of cookies—everyone likes it but few claim it as their favorite. Basic ingredients like sugar, flour, butter, eggs, and vanilla make up this popular cookie type. It was first created in mid-18th century Pennsylvania by the Moravians. They can be easily be cut into shapes and customized, leading to their wild popularity, especially during the holidays.

Popular Sugar Cookies:

Easy Sugar Cookies
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Chewy Strawberry Sugar Cookies

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Molasses Cookies

A small white bowl filled with molasses cookies

Credit: Hanna

An offshoot of the popular holiday gingerbread cookies, molasses cookies are made with just as much ginger. Sometimes molasses is the sole sweetener in these cookies, and other times it's made with a mixture of sugar and molasses. They can come in either a soft, cake form or a chewier crinkle form (perfect for gifting).

Popular Molasses Cookies:

Peanut Butter Molasses Cookies
Molasses Crinkles
Molasses Peanut Butter Crinkles

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Kiss Cookies

Raspberry Almond Kiss Cookies

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Biscotti

Cinnamon Hazelnut Biscotti in a mug

The origin of the word biscotti literally means "twice-cooked/baked" as biscotti is twice baked, resulting in its hard texture and long shelf life. It traces all the way back to ancient Rome, where it was a convenient snack for travelers. Today biscotti can be found in coffee shops everywhere, in a variety of flavors.

Popular Biscotti Recipes:

Cinnamon Hazelnut Biscotti
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
Biscotti

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Butter Cookies

Easy Almond Butter Cookies

Like shortbread cookies, butter cookies have a high proportion of butter to flour. The difference between the two is that butter cookies have increased amounts of flour and sugar, helping them to hold their shape better than shortbread. Their sturdy texture allows them to be shipped as gifts, and they're perfect for rolling and cutting into a variety of festive shapes.

Popular Butter Cookie Recipes:

Butter Snow Flakes
Spring Lime Tea Cookies
Easy Almond Butter Cookies

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Spritz Cookies

plate of spritz cookies

Credit: Allrecipes Magazine

These German cookies are traditionally served around Christmas time. They're made by squirting the dough through a cookie press to make intricate designs. Spritz cookies can come in a variety of colors and flavors, including almond, peanut butter, orange, chocolate, and more. Dip them in chocolate and decorate with sprinkles for a festive treat.

Popular Spritz Cookie Recipes:

Spritz Cookies II
Spritz Orange Crisps
Chocolate Spritz (Cookie Press)

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Snowball Cookies

Cherry Snowball Cookies

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Drop Cookies

White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies on a white plate

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Thumbprint Cookies

thumbprints with raspberry filling and icing drizzle

Credit: footballgrl16

These round, shortbread cookies are made by pressing your thumb into the dough to make a hole that can then be filled with a variety of jams. They're synonymous with the holidays and completely customizable. Be careful not to press your thumb too hard into the dough, as this may cause the dough to crack.

Popular Thumbprint Cookie Recipes:

Zebra Cookies
Jam Filled Butter Cookies
Eggnog Thumbprints

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Pinwheel Cookies

Baklava Pinwheel Cookies on a green and white placemat with a cappuccino

For cookies that stand out in a crowd, these hypnotizing pinwheels are the perfect choice. Although they may appear challenging to make, all that's required is rolling two dough rectangles of different colors together in a pinwheel formation, before slicing them into rounds and baking. Get creative with food coloring or add ingredients like dates!

Popular Pinwheel Cookie Recipes:

Orange Date Pinwheel Cookies
Pinwheel Cookies II
Date Nut Pinwheel Cookies II

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Wafers

Vanilla Wafer Cookies That Are Better Than Storebought

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Macaroons

close up of Coconut Macaroons

Credit: Lily

While a macaron is a sandwiched, meringue-based cookie invented in France, a macaroon is coconut based. It has a dense, lumpy texture and comes in various forms. It may be flavored with fruit or dipped in chocolate—or simply enjoyed plain. The best part about macaroons is, unlike their French counterparts, they require very little time to make.

Popular Macaroon Recipes:

Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons
Coconut Macaroons German Style
Macaroons III

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Fortune Cookies

Homemade Fortune Cookies

For many folks in the U.S., these cookies are synonymous with Chinese take-out. But they can easily be made at home using flour, sugar, vanilla, and sesame oil. They're origin is actually from a Japanese cookie known as "tsujiura senbei." When they were first introduced in the U.S., they were sweetened with vanilla to appeal to American tastes. Break into them and see what fortune awaits!

Popular Fortune Cookie Recipes:

Fortune Cookies So Easy
Fortune Cookies I

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Crinkle Cookies

Lemon Crinkle Cookies on a cooling rack

Credit: Kim's Cooking Now

Chocolate addicts love these fudgy crinkle cookies that are rolled in powdered sugar. They have a chewy texture that melts in your mouth. Patience is a virtue when it comes to crinkle cookies, as they require refrigerating the dough overnight. But it's so worth it once you pull those powdered cookies out of the oven and see the fudge center peeking through the cracks.

Popular Crinkle Cookie Recipes:

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate Crinkles II
Lemon Crinkle Cookies

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Icebox Cookies

Butterscotch Icebox Cookies

Icebox cookies are cookies that are made by forming the dough into a log, and chilling it in the refrigerator, hence the name. Once you're ready to bake, simply slice the dough into rounds and place on a baking sheet. Icebox cookies can be customized however you like. Try adding fruit, nuts, and even oatmeal to the dough.

Popular Icebox Cookie Recipes:

Coconut Icebox Cookies
Oatmeal Icebox Cookies
Cherry-Almond Icebox Cookies

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Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread Man Cookies

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Tassies

Walnut Tassies

Less cookie than mini pie, tassies are a Southern delicacy. They are made by molding dough into small muffin cups which are then filled with an egg filling. These adorable mini pies will stand out on any holiday dessert spread.

Popular Tassie Recipes:

Walnut Tassies
Tea Tassies
Lemon Curd Tassies

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Lebkuchen Cookies

Lebkuchen II

Similar to a gingerbread cookie, Lebkuchen is a traditional German cookie that is served around Christmas time. Sometimes they can come in cookie form, and other times they more resemble dessert bars. They have a hard, sugar glaze and spicy ginger taste. They'll keep well past Christmas day, too.

Popular Lebkuchen Cookie Recipes:

Chocolate Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen I
Lebkuchen VI

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Macarons

Best French Macarons

Not to be confused with macaroons, macarons are round, meringue-based cookies with a creamy ganache filling in between. Today, it's the most popular cookie in France, coming in a rainbow of colors and flavors. The cookie crust is delicate and similar in texture to an eggshell. Bite in to reveal the chewy meringue texture inside. It may require some practice to get them just right, but they'll keep for several days and will be the star of any dessert table.

Popular Macaron Recipes:

French Macarons
Macaron (French Macaroon)
French Macaroons

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Black and White Cookies

Black and White Cookies I

The base of a black and white cookie is soft and thick shortbread, which is iced with half vanilla fondant and half chocolate fondant. Black and white cookies are considered a New York City delicacy, made famous by the Seinfeld episode "The Dinner Party." Whether or not they're actually a metaphor for harmony and unity (as Jerry suggests), they're quite delicious.

Popular Black and White Cookie Recipe:

Black and White Cookies I

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White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

close up of White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Credit: Cooking Monster Brian

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