9 Most Popular Holiday Cookies Across America

People all throughout the United States love to eat holiday cookies over the holidays. Cookies are a big part of the season’s customs, whether you’re baking with family, trading sweets with neighbors, or leaving a dish out for Santa. People all around the country love some cookies, even though tastes vary from place to region. These nine holiday cookies are always at the top of the list of America’s favorite cookies at the most delightful time of the year. They range from buttery classics to spicy treats.

1. Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are the best thing to decorate for the holidays. Their buttery, uncomplicated taste goes well with bright royal icing, sprinkles, or sugar crystals. Families often come together to roll out dough, cut out festive shapes, and decorate them. Making sugar cookies is as much of an activity as it is a treat. Their texture can be soft or crisp, depending on how they’re baked, which makes them versatile. Their flavor is also popular, which is why they are a must-have at cookie swaps and holiday parties. They are a must-have on every Christmas meal.

2. Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a seasonal tradition that comes from warmth and spice. They smell like the holidays and are a rich brown color. They are made with ginger, cinnamon, and molasses. People like to make gingerbread men, trees, and stars, which they often embellish with frosting and sweets. These cookies are more than just good, they’re part of a bigger tradition that includes gingerbread houses and culinary fun for the whole family. Their strong taste and nostalgic charm keep them popular with people of all ages.

3. Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles may seem easy to make, but their soft, chewy center and cinnamon-sugar covering make them a holiday staple. People frequently think of these cookies as warm and comforting since they have the proper amount of sugar and spice. Cream of tartar gives them their unique tangy flavor, which makes them different from other sugar cookies. Snickerdoodles are popular at cookie exchanges and holiday dessert tables because they taste like they were cooked at home.

4. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut butter blossoms are a tasty mix of rich nuts and sweet chocolate. Each cookie has a smooth peanut butter base with a milk chocolate kiss placed into the middle while it is still warm. This famous cookie came out in the 1950s and rapidly became a holiday classic. Many American cookie trays have to feature it because of its unusual shape, recognizable flavor paring, and simple taste that everyone loves. They’re great for giving as gifts and for parties because they’re easy to make in large numbers.

5. Thumbprint Cookies

These colorful, festive thumbprint biscuits are full with jam and taste great. The dough, which is usually made of sugar or shortbread, is rolled into balls and then pressed with a thumbprint before being filled with fruit preserves. Raspberry, apricot, and strawberry are some of the most popular flavors. Their brilliant centers make Christmas dishes seem better, and the mix of buttery cookie and sweet filling is sure to please everyone. Because they are both pretty and edible, thumbprints are a typical part of Christmas baking.

6. Spritz Cookies

Spritz cookies are small, buttery cookies that are molded with a cookie press into complicated shapes like stars, wreaths, and snowflakes. They come from Scandinavian customs and are very popular in the Midwest and Northern areas. They are impossible to resist since they are soft and delicious, and using a cookie press is a delightful way to add a whimsical touch to baking. Spritz cookies are both gorgeous and nostalgic, and they are often topped with colored sugar or holiday sprinkles. They are great for holiday parties.

7. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

With their crackling powdered sugar topping and creamy, fudgy core, chocolate crinkle cookies are the star of the Christmas season. The dough widens as it bakes, making a strong contrast between the dark chocolate and the white sugar. The cookie looks as good as it tastes. People enjoy these cookies because they have a texture like brownies and a strong cocoa flavor. They are especially popular in the winter since they give you a chocolate fix that feels both rich and seasonal on any cookie tray.

8. Italian Ricotta Cookies

Italian ricotta cookies are light and fluffy, with a tinge of citrus flavor and a sweet taste. They are made with ricotta cheese and have a moist, cake-like texture. They are commonly topped with a glaze and colorful sprinkles. These cookies are especially popular in Italian-American homes, but they have become more popular with people of all backgrounds since they melt in your mouth. They taste light and delicate, which makes them a good change from richer or spicy holiday cookies. They are always a success at holiday parties.

9. Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies are fancy, sandwich-style cookies that are filled with raspberry or apricot jam and covered with powdered sugar. They come from Austria, but they’ve become a popular holiday treat in the US because of the way the nutty dough (typically made with crushed almonds or hazelnuts) and tangy jam filling work together. The top cookie usually has a cut-out window that shows the vibrant jam underneath. This makes them look as good as they taste. Linzers are a festive favorite because of their old-world elegance and rich flavor.