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Our 20 Most Popular Holiday Cookies, Ever

Holiday baking is upon us—what cookies are going to top your list this year?
Our 20 Most Popular Holiday Cookies, Ever

Photo, Erik Putz.

While we believe all of our holiday cookie recipes are worth baking, 200-plus batches is probably a bit much—no matter how much of a head start you like to get on your winter baking.

Instead, we've rounded up 20 of our most searched, most clicked and most baked recipes to help you narrow down your options. From chocolate crinkle to gingerbread, a millionaire bar and more than a few excellent shortbread options, this list is sure to spark some holiday baking inspiration. Want to see our whole cookie recipe archive anyway? We've got you!

Whipped shortbread cookies in assorted shapes and colours on a wide blue plate Produced by Chantal Braganza and Sun Ngo, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Nicole Billark.
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One of our most popular cookie recipes ever! Each bite of these delicate, buttery cookies melts in your mouth. Get the recipe of whipped shortbread cookies.

ginger crackle cookies Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Chewy, spicy and delicious, these ginger crackle cookies are a classic at Christmas (and any other time of year). Get our ginger crackle cookies here.

Shortbreads with pieces of chocolate on top in a white bowl. (Photography: Roberto Caruso)

These shortbreads are melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Between our chocolate, lemon, and Skor bar variations, that festive cookie tin you keep stocked for drop-by guests won’t stay full for long. Get our ultimate shortbread cookies recipe here.

holiday brownie cookies Photo, Erik Putz.

Fudgy on the inside, crisp on the outside, and dipped into (yes more) chocolate, these cookies are holiday perfection. Get our holiday brownie cookies recipe here.

gingerbread cookies decorated with royal icing that can be used as tree ornaments. (photography: Roberto Caruso)
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Make giving extra special with these beautiful, edible tree ornaments. Get our classic gingerbread cookie recipe here.

Classic Nanaimo bars on wooden cutting board Photography, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Dara Sutin. Prop Styling, Krystin Leigh Smith.

This decadent no-bake dessert bar is named after the city in British Columbia where the recipe originated, likely in the 1950s. Get our classic nanaimo bars recipe here.

No-roll sugar cookies with royal icing on cooling rack Photo, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Eshun Mott. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.

No more cookie cutters, finicky doughs or long chill times: These sugar cookies require hardly any effort, but you wouldn’t know by looking at them! Get our no-roll sugar cookies with royal icing recipe here.

A whipped shortbread spritz cookie on a white background Photo, Erik Putz. Food styling, Irene Ngo.

As beautiful as they are tasty, these cookies add cranberries to whipped shortbread. Get our whipped shortbread spritz cookies recipe here.

Salted almond Nanaimo bars paired with turtle fudge bars on a black background

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Some of our kitchen team find traditional Nanaimo bars too sweet, so we developed a bar we all could love. Thanks to cocoa powder, salted almonds and much less sugar, we got it. Get our salted-almond nanaimo bars recipe here.

Our 20 Most Popular Holiday Cookies, Ever

Gluten-free amaretti cookies in white cookie jar Photo, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Eshun Mott. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.

These sweet almond cookies can be shaped into stars with a piping bag. No piping bag? No problem. Just roll into small rounds and coat in extra sugar. Get our gluten-free Amaretti cookies recipe here.

Squares of savoury herb shortbread cookies on parchment paper-lined blue platter Photo, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Eshun Mott. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.

A savoury take on one of the holiday’s most popular cookie recipes. From thyme to rosemary, parsley or oregano, the options are are delicious.Get our savoury herb shortbread cookies recipe here.

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Christmas tree shaped sugar cookies decorated with pink and white royal icing on a baking tray with red background.

Our triple-tested sugar cookies are also infinitely adaptable. Try our pistachio ginger and vanilla bean variations, included in this recipe. Get our easy sugar cookies recipe here.

squares of shortbread bars stacked and tied with a green ribbon.

This decadent square—with a shortbread base, caramel filling and melted chocolate top—is thought to have originated in Scotland. We use store-bought toffee bits to streamline the caramel-making. Get our millionaire shortbread bars recipe here.

A plate with three mint chip cookies—dark brown and drizzled with a chocolate drizzle Produced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; Photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

Calgary-based Crave Cupcakes first started selling this dark chocolate cookie 17 years ago. This version has a hint of mint and is decorated with a fun green chocolate drizzle and mini chocolate chips.Get our mint chip chocolate recipe here.

a brown butter holiday confetti cookie with red and green sprinkles in the centre of a cut-out paper ornament Produced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; Photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper
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This recipe, from Newmarket, Ont.’s Nutmeg Bakeshop, is a delicious spin on the holiday sugar cookie. The browned butter, as well as a generous amount of both salt and vanilla, give it some added depth. Get our brown butter confetti cookies recipe here.

Kooky Biscuiterie's Glazed Gingerbread Cookies Produced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

This unique gingerbread cookie from Kooky Biscuiterie in Sherbrooke, Que. is soft and chewy. The bakery’s customers say that eating one is like having a piece of Christmas in your mouth. Get our glazed gingerbread cookies recipe here.

Whisk and Sugar Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Produced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

This recipe from Whisk and Sugar bakery in Charlottetown yields a classic, soft and fudgy holiday cookie that’s perfect for any party or cookie exchange. They’re sure to please even the pickiest cookie or chocolate lover. Get our vegan chocolate crinkle cookies recipe here.

Three double chocolate brownie cookies sprinkled with salt on a black countertop (Photo: Erik Putz)

This ultra-chocolatey cookie strikes the perfect balance between fudgy chewy inside and crisp crackle outside. Get our double-chocolate brownie cookie recipe here.

Sable Shortbread Cherry Pistachio Shortbread Produced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

Cherries and pistachios make a wonderful Christmas combo in this delightful shortbread cookie recipe from Sable Shortbread in Kentville, N.S. Roast your pistachios ahead of time and use the best-quality maraschino cherries you can find (Sable uses Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino Cherries). Get our cherry pistachio shortbread recipe here.
Assorted cookies on a pink background with the words in white "Find more Christmas cookie recipes"

How to make double chocolate sablé cookies

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