Our Best Holiday Cookies, Bars and Barks

In our opinion, the best part of any holiday cookie plate is the sheer variety of treats. Load yours up with a merry mix of gingerbread cookies, biscotti, peanut brittle, peppermint bark and more with these beloved holiday recipes.

November 02, 2021

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Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Renee Comet

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Photo By: Renee Comet

Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Teri Lyn Fisher

Photo By: Anna Williams

Four-Flavor Sheet Pan Holiday Cookie

Whether you’re setting out Christmas cookies for Santa, assembling a cookie plate for your Hanukkah or Kwanzaa get-together or packing up a tin of holiday cookies to ship to someone special, you’ll no doubt need a good mix of treats. That was the inspiration behind this collection of holiday goodies. Start with classic cookies and easy-to-make cookie bars, add in a few pieces of chocolate bark and then top it all off with traditional candies like peanut brittle and, before you know it, you’ve got a festive assortment of treats that’s sure to spread plenty of cheer. This recipe is one of our favorites this time of year; With just a single recipe you can add four different varieties to your cookie plate. All it takes is a few tubes of store-bought dough and some festive chocolate candies.

Get the Recipe: Four-Flavor Sheet Pan Holiday Cookie

Gingerbread Biscotti

These biscotti have the same warm spices and crispy-crunchy texture that you love in a traditional gingerbread person, but require less time and effort than the classic cutout cookie! Each one gets an extra dip of melted white chocolate and a sprinkle of sanding sugar, for a sparkly holiday treat fit for a cookie tin.

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Biscotti

White Chocolate Bark

Making candy sounds like a really complicated thing to do, which is why Ina likes to make chocolate bark, which is quite simple. Temper white chocolate in the microwave, a foolproof way that also cuts down on prep time. Once the chocolate is poured onto a baking sheet, add your favorite toppings and then let it harden. Ina chose items that look good and taste good together: pistachios, cranberries and apricots.

Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Bark

Penguin Slice-and-Bake Cookies

Not all the holiday fun happens at the North Pole. These South Pole denizens are the season's cutest critters. Have fun shaping and rolling colorful sugar cookie dough so that every slice produces a perfect penguin.

Get the Recipe: Penguin Slice-and-Bake Cookies

Gelt Magic Bars

These sweet Hanukkah treats come together quickly and are easy to transport to a party or school event. The bars are quite gooey so be sure to let them cool completely before cutting. There are a lot of fun holiday sprinkle blends available online or you can make your own.

Get the Recipe: Gelt Magic Bars

The Best Peanut Brittle

This sweet and salty peanut brittle has the perfect crunch and sheen. With a little patience, you'll have a delicious brittle to serve to party guests or as an edible gift around the holidays.

Get the Recipe: The Best Peanut Brittle

Chocolate Drop Cookies with Caramelized White Chocolate Filling

Alex sandwiches her brownie-like cookies with a caramelized white chocolate filling, which adds richness and a toasted flavor that pairs well with the chocolate.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Drop Cookies with Caramelized White Chocolate Filling

Mini Linzer Cookies

The foundation to Ina's gorgeous linzer cookies is the shortbread, which comes together with the help of flour, sugar and a generous amount of butter. Raspberry preserves sandwiched between two cookies add an elegant touch.

Get the Recipe: Mini Linzer Cookies

Sugar Cookies

Make classic holiday cookies--festively shaped and decorated. Our no-fail dough makes it easy!

Get the Recipe: Sugar Cookies

Marshmallow Dreidels

This traditional Hanukkah game just got a tasty new twist — and it makes the perfect addition to your cookie plate or cookie box during the Festival of Lights.

Get the Recipe: Marshmallow Dreidels

Almond and Lemon Biscotti Dipped in White Chocolate

Chopped almonds speckle the inside of Giada's biscotti and enhance the zest of the citrus and nutty white chocolate coating.

Get the Recipe: Almond and Lemon Biscotti Dipped in White Chocolate

Gingerbread Cookies with Royal Icing

Sandra's secret for making shortcut gingerbread cookies: Use store-bought sugar cookie mix and flavor it with pumpkin pie spice, ground ginger and molasses.

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cookies with Royal Icing

M&M Magic Bars

This quick and easy bake-sale classic goes over the top for the holidays — we've loaded the bars with your favorite Christmas candies.

Get the Recipe: M&M Magic Bars

Homemade Hanukkah Gelt

These homemade Hanukkah gelt just might be your new holiday tradition! You only need a mini muffin tin and some gold sprinkles. We like the richness of bittersweet chocolate, but you can easily swap in your favorite type.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Hanukkah Gelt

Chocolate-Dipped Hazelnut Shortbread

Simple shortbread is made gift-worthy by giving it a quick dip into melted chocolate.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Hazelnut Shortbread

Hazelnut-Mocha Macarons

Homemade macarons make great gifts or pass-around treats.

Get the Recipe: Hazelnut-Mocha Macarons

White Chocolate Bark with Peppermint Stick

This three-ingredient bark recipe packs a double punch of peppermint and fits the bill as an inexpensive holiday treat.

Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Bark with Peppermint Stick

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

The holidays wouldn't be complete without old fashioned sugar cookies cut in festive shapes and decked out with colorful sugars or sprinkles.

Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Peanut Brittle

Trisha says it's the baking soda that makes this peanut brittle so light and crunchy. Act quickly because once you add the baking soda, it's time to pour the mixture on the sheets to harden.

Get the Recipe: Peanut Brittle

Monster Marshmallow Cookies

These fully loaded cookies are packed with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, crispy rice cereal and pecans, and are topped with even more marshmallows and chocolate chips.

Get the Recipe: Monster Marshmallow Cookies

Jelly-Glazed Doughnut Cookies

These Hanukkah-inspired, doughnut-shaped cookies are subtly sweet, thanks to the light jelly glaze. They'll go perfectly with tea or coffee.

Get the Recipe: Jelly-Glazed Doughnut Cookies

Apricot Oat Bars

The combination of dried fruit and nuts is popular around the holidays, but it also makes a healthy treat. Giada's fiber-packed Apricot Oat Bars give this classic medley a sweet twist. Every bite is loaded with apricots, walnuts and jam.

Get the Recipe: Apricot Oat Bars

Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Giada's take on chocolate chip cookies includes oats, English toffee candy and toasted hazelnuts. The crunch of the mix-ins adds a contrast to the soft, chewy cookies.

Get the Recipe: Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies