It’s time for 12 Days of Cookies, Food Network’s annual virtual cookie swap. Each day, visit us here on FN Dish for a peek at new holiday cookies, party-planning tips and top techniques from your favorite Food Network chefs for rolling, spooning, slicing, baking and decorating delicious sweet treats to give — or keep.

Classic snow-white meringues will add a delicate touch to any dessert spread, but these peppermint-streaked cookies are especially suited for a holiday celebration. Although you can use regular water-based food coloring, the cookie experts at Food Network Kitchen prefer gel for this recipe, because the final color is more vibrant. Here's a clever decorating trick: Paint lines of food coloring gel up the sides of a pastry bag before filling it with meringue, and each cookie will come out striped as you pipe it. You can even use this trick with cupcake frosting.

Get Food Network Kitchen’s Peppermint Meringues recipe, and check out 12 Days of Cookies for dozens more recipes and holiday baking inspiration. Then, join the conversation: Tell us what you’re baking this season and what your all-time favorite cookie is.

Find recipes for our Top Holiday Cookies and bake up a batch in your kitchen.

See our favorite Sugar and Butter Cookies.

Host your best cookie swap yet with these easy party ideas.

Learn How to Decorate Cookies like the pros.

Show us your best cookie creations.