I already made a gallon of homemade eggnog and another of homemade Baileys. I'm sure someone will be willing to trade some of it with me for a tray of homemade cookies.

Cranberry bliss bars are a huge hit at our house

https://belleofthekitchen.com/cranberry-bliss-bars-starbucks-copycat-recipe/

My only rule for Christmas cookies is that I refuse to include basic chocolate chip cookies. You can enjoy those 11 other months of the year, but they are banned in December.

And I think it makes my family appreciate the homemade chocolate chip cookies again the next time I make them, sometime in January.

Anonymous wrote:What do you do with all these cookies? Do you gift platters to friends?

They are my desert tray on Xmas Eve. I make three varieties (Spritz, Molasses and some kind of chocolate one). My mom makes a family recipe one with nuts that only she and I like. My SIL makes toffee bars. I used to do a more elaborate dessert but over time have gone to this for ease after churning out a roast etc. for dinner. Plus the kids like to run in grab one and run back to playing.

I typically make a large cookie platter and have done so for years, with as many as 15-17 varieties at my peak. Last few years I capped the cookies at 10 varieties.

This year I'm tempted to forgo them entirely. We live in a world saturated with sweets and there isn't much demand, both at home and elsewhere, for Christmas baking. I know I don't really want or appreciate others giving me baked treats in part because I already have so many at home but it also made me realize some time ago others may feel the same too, so I stopped giving away cookies as gifts unless specifically requested.

Anonymous wrote:What do you do with all these cookies? Do you gift platters to friends?

Yes, I make small platters for friends.

What do you do with all these cookies? Do you gift platters to friends?

Let’s add our favorite recipes to these lists!

Peppermint patties
Toffee
Peppermint marshmallows
Spiced nuts
Baileys truffles

Every year I watch a bunch of YouTube videos on how to make cherry cordials and then chicken out. This year I'm tots gonna do it.

Anginetti
Pizzelle
Italian wedding cookies

Anonymous wrote:I'm doing 3 cookies (frosted sugar cookies, gingerbread, and chocolate peppermint crinkles) and the rest of my "cookies" are no bake/not cookies (christmas crack, marshmallow cornflake wreaths, peppermint bark, peanut butter balls, microwave caramels, white chocolate pretzels, scotcheroos). All kid requests.

If you want a bar cookie, you could also do a blondie and sub holiday m&ms for the chocolate chips.

No bake treats see the best for filling out a cookie tray. Rollo pretzels are our family favorite.

I'm doing 3 cookies (frosted sugar cookies, gingerbread, and chocolate peppermint crinkles) and the rest of my "cookies" are no bake/not cookies (christmas crack, marshmallow cornflake wreaths, peppermint bark, peanut butter balls, microwave caramels, white chocolate pretzels, scotcheroos). All kid requests.

If you want a bar cookie, you could also do a blondie and sub holiday m&ms for the chocolate chips.

Seven layer bars (graham cracker crust, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, chips, etc) but add some red and green M&Ms on top.

We also do the sugar cookies w/ peppermint kisses.

My daughter loves to do brownies (boxed is fine) cut into triangles to make trees. We us a pretzel stick for the stem, add red hots + icing for a garland. Or turn them upside down, making them into reindeer faces.

I’m already starting to make a plan of attack for my annual baking. My usual list is:

Chocolate crinkles
Spritz
Gingerbread
Jam thumbprints
Candy cane sugar cookies
Peppermint bark
Chocolate covered pretzels

I plan to replace the candy cane cookies with something different since they are so labor intensive and tricky for me. I picked up candy cane Hershey kisses so I’m thinking of doing sugar cookie blossoms using those.

I still want to find a good cookie bar to round it out. Figure that would be an easy addition.

What are others thinking? Any new inspiration?