7 Surprising Ingredients You Need to Try in Your Holiday Cookies

It's not food coloring making these cookies green. Time to up your cookie game!

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If you’re making cookies this weekend and you’re tired of the same old sugar and gingerbread cookies, you’re going to want to read this. In our Wanna Make This? series on the Food Network Kitchen app, our team of culinary professionals whipped up recipes inspired by Christmas Cookie Challenge. This year’s show has been marked by incredibly creative recipes using unique spices that will make your next batch of cookies the most-memorable ever. Here are some ideas for mix-ins from these on-demand classes, plus find out how you can watch them now!

Mulled Wine Cookies - Watch Now

Special Ingredients

  • Red wine
  • Chinese five-spice powder

These striking red cookies will be the focal point of your cookie swap, plus everyone will love that they contain a glug of red wine. Who says you can’t have your cookies and cocktail too?

Spicy Mexican Wedding Cookies - Watch Now

Special Ingredients

  • Cayenne
  • Sweet paprika

Your friends’ palates will be tingling with the kick of heat and smoke added by a generous dose of cayenne pepper and a final sprinkle of sweet paprika.

Holiday Wassail Cookies - Watch Now

Special Ingredients

  • Black and chai teas
  • Apple cider mix

With this recipe, you can enjoy all of the warming spices and apple cider tartness of this traditional holiday beverage without burning your tongue.

Matcha Cookies - Watch Now

Special ingredient

  • Green tea powder

Everyone loves tea with cookies, now you can have tea in your cookies. If you love green tea, you’re going to love how the herbal flavor plays with the sweetness of these crisp sugar cookies. Plus, the tea turns them a festive green color!

Follow the Wanna Make This? page on the Food Network Kitchen app for more recipes inspired by your favorite shows!

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