I cheat and buy those prepared rolls from Safeway (nestles or pillsbury). I think when they're on sale -- they're cheaper than all the way homemade. You can add your own touches.

I made these Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies last week and people devoured them.

1/2 cup margerine, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

combine butter and sugars, then stir in egg and vanilla. combine flour and b powder and then mix into mixture. Cover and refridgerate dough for 1 hour. Roll dough into 1 inch balls on greased baking sheets. Make an indentation with your thumb in the center of the ball. Bake 8 - 10 minutes at 350 (I found I needed 10-11 minutes); remove from oven and press thumb into center of cookie again. Let cool and then fill with jam of your choice. I used Bonne Maman raspberry (glass jar with white label and red/white checked top).

simplyrecipes.com has some great cookie recipes that will impress. I swap in chopped pretzels sometimes for nuts if it will work in the recipe.

Classic favorite, known by several names: Butterballs, Russian teacakes, Mexican teacakes
http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2008/12/20/walnut-butter-ball-cookies/
Note, these are not nut-free as they contain walnuts (which are an important ingrediant...they're just not the same without)

For holidays, I love thumbprint cookies and filling with different colors jams/jellies:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/ThumbprintCookies.html
Also not nut-safe.

I make a chocolate-chocolate chip mint cookie. It is basically a chocolate chip cookie with some mint extract and cocoa.

Just made these, and they are simple but delicious: http://www.food52.com/recipes/5804_crispy_oatmeal_chocolate_chip_cookies

This is a great seasonal cookie with a bit of everything in it! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-hootycreeks/

These aren't as seasonal but one of my favorites: http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/05/crispy-salted-oatmeal-white-chocolate-cookies/

Too lazy to link you, but look up Cape Cod Molasses cookies. It's a King Arthur Flour recipe. Uses 3 types of ginger. Delicious!

Something like this http://www.oprah.com/food/Gingerbread-and-Lemon-Sandwich-Cookies or maybe a biscotti?

Here's one of my favorites. Not super showy, but everyone loves them

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/molasses-cookies/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=molasses%20cookies&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

The only change I do is use butter instead of margarine and add a little more spice. They're easy to mix up because of the melted butter; spray Pam inside your measuring cup before measuring the molasses, and you must let the batter chill. You can make the dough the night before.

One of my favorites is a pumpkin with browned butter frosting.

Anonymous wrote:Don't want to hijack the thread - but I was invited to a nut free cookie exchange - all my favorites have some type of nut - almond, pistachio, walnut, pecan, peanut...any suggestions for something other than chocolate?

Snickerdoodles?

Don't want to hijack the thread - but I was invited to a nut free cookie exchange - all my favorites have some type of nut - almond, pistachio, walnut, pecan, peanut...any suggestions for something other than chocolate?

I made these last year- so good! I recommend brushing them with a little gold luster dust; it makes them look really special.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/12/chocolate-macaroons-with-orange-ganache

Anyone have a great cookie recipe for a cookie exchange? I have made chocolate crackle cookies and lace cookies in the past, looking for something new and yummy!