These are my favorite cookies and I make them every christmas. The kids love them, I love them (way too much.) http://flouronmyface.com/2012/12/favorite-cookie-exchange-recipe-cherry-blossom-cookie-sundaysupper.html

There's a peanut butter version too.

https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=5191

I always get very rave reviews for these sugar cookies:
http://www.marthastewart.com/354106/valentine-cookies

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got more complements on these cookies than anything I've ever made: Salty Nutella Thumprints:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/salty-chocolate-nutella-thumbprints/12462/

They take a while to make but are so, so worth it!

These are REALLY good. The cookie part is nice and soft and the salt intensifies the flavor of the chocolate. My only problem with them is that the nutella in the center (the thumbprint) seems bland in comparison! Normally the thumbprint filling is the most flavorful part, but it's vice versa in these cookies. I'm actually considering making homemade nutella to use in this recipe.

OP again. If I can thicken it a little, I bet dulce de leche would be awesome in the center of these as well.

Anonymous wrote:I got more complements on these cookies than anything I've ever made: Salty Nutella Thumprints:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/salty-chocolate-nutella-thumbprints/12462/

They take a while to make but are so, so worth it!

I've made these before and they were a hit for me too.

I also vote for macaroons, or old school mini jam thumbprints.

Anonymous wrote:I got more complements on these cookies than anything I've ever made: Salty Nutella Thumprints:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/salty-chocolate-nutella-thumbprints/12462/

They take a while to make but are so, so worth it!

These are REALLY good. The cookie part is nice and soft and the salt intensifies the flavor of the chocolate. My only problem with them is that the nutella in the center (the thumbprint) seems bland in comparison! Normally the thumbprint filling is the most flavorful part, but it's vice versa in these cookies. I'm actually considering making homemade nutella to use in this recipe.

I've always had an uncontrollable desire for Scotcheroos - http://www.ricekrispies.com/recipes/chocolate-scotcheroos

And there are hundreds of other Rice Krispies based recipes - http://www.ricekrispies.com/recipes

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chewy-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/

DH makes these. He more than doubles the peanut butter amount and they always come out chewy and delicious. I don't really like cookies, but I had to ask him to stop making them because I was eating half a batch a day and my pants didn't fit anymore-that's how good they are.

Anonymous wrote:I got more complements on these cookies than anything I've ever made: Salty Nutella Thumprints:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/salty-chocolate-nutella-thumbprints/12462/

They take a while to make but are so, so worth it!

OP once more...

Looks very cool! I've done thumbprints but never chocolate thumbprints. I could mix them in with regular ones with jam. I think that would be a really pretty plate. (I wonder if using jam would work on the chocolate ones. I'm sure it would taste great, but I'm not sure you'd get that jewel look)

Does it have to be a cookie? Maybe turtles? (pretzel squares, put a rolo on top and warm in the oven. When squishy, push a pecan on top)

OP again. Love macarrons. I've also done them as sandwich cookies by making them very tiny and sandwiching lime or lemon curd in the middle.

I got more complements on these cookies than anything I've ever made: Salty Nutella Thumprints:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/salty-chocolate-nutella-thumbprints/12462/

They take a while to make but are so, so worth it!

OP here. Part of my problem is I'm in a total Epicurious rut. The grasshopper/raspberry brownie recipe is based off of this one:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Mint-Brownie-Cake-107945

You can skip the cinnamon and use any type of extract to flavor the white chocolate layer. You can even use a little food color (candy color - so the chocolae doesn't seize)

I'm intruiged by the Food52 site that I reached by googling that American Test Kitchen recipe above. They seem to have some awesome cookie recipes.

Anonymous wrote:America's test kitchen had a chocolate cookie (I think flourless or nearly) that are really good. They are dusted with powdered sugar.

I also love macaroons. You don't see them often.

The old school macaroons with the coconut and one maraschino cherry? cute.

Please share your grasshopper and raspberry brownie recipes!

America's test kitchen's perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe is amazing, but it only makes 16 cookies per recipe. Can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies though.

Snickerdoodles are a fun holiday cookie.

Buckeye balls are hands down my favorite "cookie" at the holidays and you can make in advance and keep in the fridge:

1 1?2 cups cream peanut butter
1?2 cup lightly salted butter (room temperature)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 16 oz. box of confectioner’s sugar
1 16 oz pkg. semisweet chocolate pieces
2 T solid vegetable shortening (Crisco)

Line baking sheet with wax paper.

In a medium bowl, mix first 4 ingredients into a smooth dough. Mixture will be stiff.

Shape dough into balls using 2 tsp. for each. Place on wax paper and put in refrigerator.

In the top of a double boiler over simmering water, melt chocolate and shortening together. When smooth, pour into small bowl.

Remove peanut butter balls from refrig. Insert a wooded pick into a ball and roll in the melted chocolate so that 3?4 of the balls is coated. Return to wax paper and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

America's test kitchen had a chocolate cookie (I think flourless or nearly) that are really good. They are dusted with powdered sugar.

I also love macaroons. You don't see them often.

Would love some suggestions. Our grade's family holiday party is at our house and I'm also in charge of making desserts. What I'm looking for is three different cookie recipes. I love to bake, so an unusual or challenging recipe is actually a plus! I need something, however, that is easy to pick up and eat in one or two bites and won't leave hands particularly dirty. (So no chocolate coating, for example) Also should look festive and not have any last minute steps or deterioration being out for 3-4 hours. (So no spun caramel, for example). I'm also not up for particularly intricate icing decoration, although I do have a pantry full of sanding sugar, draggees, and other things to decorate with.

Past favorites have been grasshopper and/or raspberry brownies (brownie layer, colorful icing layer, covered with chocolate icing layer) cut into one inch squares. And tiny one bite shortbread, lemon curd sandwich cookies covered in dusting sugar.

Amy thoughts?