Cookies For All Occasions

By Lauren Titus / Photography By Cole LoCurto | Last Updated December 18, 2020

Use edible flowers to decorate these holiday cookies.

What to make for dessert when serving a crowd? You can't go wrong with a variety of cookies, the perfect handheld treat for all ages.

To get you started, we have compiled some of our favorite recipes, with something for everyone. Whether you're baking for a family get-together, a neighborhood open house or for Santa, we guarantee these sweet treats will become go-to cookie recipes for swaps (and for keeps).

Spicy Gingerbread Oatmeal Cream Pies

This dessert is a perfect marriage of gingerbread and oatmeal sandwich cookies. For those who don’t want too much spice, omit the black pepper and cayenne pepper.

Walnut Chocolate Chip Biscotti

These twice-baked cookies add a flavorful crunch to a cookie swap, they store well and go great with coffee. Want even more deliciousness? Dip one end in melted white chocolate. Bring these crunchy...

Apple of My Pie Cookies

This treat is the perfect mashup of oatmeal cream sandwich cookies and apple pie.

Peppermint Mocha Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate, coffee and mint add up to a flavor-packed dessert.

Vegan Cardamom Orange Pecan Cookies

Make these cookies once and you will discover that butter, eggs and milk are not prerequisites in the creation of amazingly delicious baked goods.

Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies

All the flavor of pumpkin pie in a hand-held treat.

Maple Bourbon Sugar Cookies

The subtle flavor of maple adds a rich depth to the traditional sugar cookie, and the bourbon makes these perfect for an adult-only dessert.

Merry MallowDoodle Cookies

Whether you bake these for the holidays or in the middle of summer, these cookies are a crowd pleasing treat.

Orange Ginger Cookies

Whenever you bake these cookies, the scent will remind you of the holidays.

Reindeer Macarons

This was the winning recipe at the Omni Amelia Island Resort Plantation’s 2019 Holiday Cookie Competition.

Pecan Shortbread

Make pecan milk and use the leftover meal to mix up a batch of these cookies. Or you can purchase pecan meal from Congaree and Penn Farm, available at area farmers markets.

Peanut Butter Spice Cookies

Try this twist on a classic lunchbox favorite. Added bonus? Your kitchen smells great while baking them.

Cinnamon Wreaths

Be creative when it comes time to decorate these cookies. In addition to sprinkles and chopped nuts, use edible flowers such as violets, lavender or pansies

Meyer Lemon Crinkles

When life gives you lemons, what do you do? Make cookies! These are light and fluffy, add a refreshing splash of sunshine to the table and go perfectly with a hot cup of tea at the end of a long day...

Jammin' Shortbread

Gold and silver sparkly sugars make these fruity cookies pop on the holiday dessert buffet table.

Chocolate Mint Chip Drops

Take advantage of the mint chocolate chips sold during the holiday season and try this easy and delicious treat. The dough freezes well so you can make ahead and bake when it is time for a cookie...

Spiced Currant Bars

Dark and moist, with chewy currants, these are flavored with cinnamon, clove, ginger and rich molasses. They are so versatile – cut them in bars or triangles. Not too sweet, so you could even eat...