If holiday baking is on your list of things to do this season, but the thought of your shaky hand holding a piping bag is stressing you out, we've stumbled across just the solution for you. Approach cookie decorating with the precision of a surgeon and let it be stress-free: dump the piping bag and grab a syringe.
Piping frosting with a bag can be a nightmare if you don't have the practice. (And many of us home bakers exercise our skill once a year, around the holidays.) Between getting/keeping the frosting in the bag and applying the right amount of pressure, decorating cookies quickly goes from fun holiday activity to the worst idea ever.
When you use a syringe, you have more decorating control. The only downfall is that you'll have to refill the frosting more often -- but that's a small price to pay for well-decorated (and stress-free) holiday cookies.
If burning, not decorating, cookies is your Achilles heal, we've got a solution for that too. Holiday baking is going to be easy this year.
Check out these cookie recipes.
Cookie Recipes
Ganache-Stuffed Chocolate-Chip Cookies(01 of55)
While these cookies may require an extra step than most chocolate chip cookie recipes, it's well worth your time and effort. Sandwiching freshly baked cookies with chocolate ganache is possibly the best way to enjoy this type of cookie.Get the Ganache-Stuffed Chocolate-Chip Cookies recipe (credit:Con Poulos/Food&Wine)
Chocolate-Chocolate Cookies(02 of55)
As rich and chocolatey as the fudgiest of brownies, yet with the texture of a perfectly moist cookie, this recipe is for those of us who can never get enough chocolate.Get the Chocolate-Chocolate Cookies recipe (credit:Gabrielle Stabile & Mark Ibold)
Salted Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cup Cookies(03 of55)
Peanut butter and chocolate is a combination that has won over millions. Adding the sugary richness of a cookie makes this a sure-fire hit for any occasion.Get the Salted Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cup Cookies recipe (credit:Joseph Erdos)
Salted Shortbread Cookies(04 of55)
The combination of salty and sweet is one that's hard to resist. And when you add buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookie to that mix you know you've found a winning cookie.Get the Salted Shortbread Cookies recipe (credit:John Kernick/Food&Wine)
Chocolate Krapferln(05 of55)
Austria is well known for its rich pastry culture, and these Austrian cookies are a great representation of that. The double dose of chocolate makes this cookie a sure winner.Get the Chocolate Krapferln recipe (credit:Konrad Limbeck)
Double-Chip Cookies(06 of55)
The double-chip cookie calls for one part chocolate chips and one part potato chips. Two of our favorite foods mixed together in a cookie -- this is a trend we hope is here to stay.Get the Double-Chip Cookies recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Green-Tea Fortune Cookies(07 of55)
You're not stuck with the slightly stale, overly sweet fortune cookie from the Chinese takeout restaurant, you can make your own fortune cookie with this recipe.Get the Green-Tea Fortune Cookies recipe (credit:Con Poulos/Food&Wine)
Boot Tracks(08 of55)
There's more to a waffle iron than churning out breakfast waffles, you can use them to make these chewy chocolate cookies too.Get the Boot Tracks recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Thumbprint Cookies With Jam(09 of55)
Thumbprint cookies are slightly chewy and totally delicious. Plus, you can customize them, filling them with your favorite type of preserves, such as raspberry, strawberry or apricot.Get the Thumbprint Cookies with Jam recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Double Nut And Date Tassies(10 of55)
This recipe makes a cookie that tastes like pecan pie; it doesn't really get much better than that. Get the Double Nut and Date Tassies recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Chocolate And Pecan Macaroons(11 of55)
These cookies include rich dark chocolate, flaked coconut, and pecans. Their chewy texture is like a cross between coconut macaroons and French egg-white macarons.Get the Chocolate And Pecan Macaroons recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Viennese Cookies(12 of55)
These Viennese-style cookies have a tender texture from ground almonds and are sandwiched together with apricot jam.Get the Viennese Cookies recipe (credit:Taste of Home)
Dark Chocolate-Filled Florentines(13 of55)
Oats, chopped nuts and very little whole-wheat flour create these flat, crisp lace-like cookies. Sandwich together two cookies by spreading one half with melted chocolate and the other with apricot preserves.Get the Dark Chocolate-Filled Florentines recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Whoopie Pies(14 of55)
These cakey chocolate cookies are filled with light and creamy whipped cream. You'll never want to go back to the original version after trying these.Get the Whoopie Pies recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Shortbread(15 of55)
These beautiful shortbread cookies are unbelievably easy to make and so, so good. Savor with warm tea or creamy hot chocolate.Get the Shortbread recipe (credit:Chronicle Books)
Walnut Crescents(16 of55)
Ground walnuts give these pretty little crescent cookies a satisfying, nutty crunch, and powdered sugar makes them pretty and sweet.Get the Walnut Crescents recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Brutti Ma Buoni(17 of55)
These odd-shaped cookies, which translate from Italian to ugly but good, are very popular in Italy. Made with hazelnuts and egg whites, they're delightfully light and nutty.Get the Brutti Ma Buoni recipe (credit:John Kernick/Food&Wine)
One Nutty Date(18 of55)
Peanut butter and crunchy walnuts make these buttery date cookies rich and seductive.Get the One Nutty Date recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies(19 of55)
Thumbprint cookies are an old-fashioned treat. Here, they're reinterpreted with walnut oil and whole-wheat pastry flour a healthier treat -- and, of course, with chocolate, simply for the taste.Get the Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies recipe (credit:EatingWell )
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies(20 of55)
Macadamia nuts add a hint of Hawaiian flavor to these chewy white chocolate cookies.Get the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies recipe (credit:Julie Toy)
Chile-Cocoa Graham Crackers(21 of55)
This chocolate graham cracker is just the right amount of crunchy and crispy -- and it has a little spice too, thanks to the addition of ancho chile powder.Get the Chile-Cocoa Graham Crackers recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Lemon Angel Wings(22 of55)
Some call these angel wings others refer to them as elephant ears. But regardless their name the light, lemony flavor of these treats is, well, divine. Get the Lemon Angel Wings recipe (credit:Taste of Home)
Thousand-Layer Chocolate Chip Cookies(23 of55)
This recipe is not the one you turn to if you want a cookie in a hurry. No, this cookie requires time and patience. But if you want a chocolate-chip cookie that is full of chocolate flavor, this is the recipe you're looking for.Get the Thousand-Layer Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe (credit:Sara Remington)
Chocolate-Dipped Meringues(24 of55)
Meringue makes a nice, airy dessert -- making it easy to generously dip them in rich bittersweet chocolate.Get the Chocolate-Dipped Meringues recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Almond Macaroons(25 of55)
The star ingredients in these sweet, nutty cookies are ground toasted almonds and fragrant almond extract complemented by fruity strawberry jam.Get the Almond Macaroons recipe (credit:TASTE)
Chocolate-Chocolate Cherry Cookies(26 of55)
These chocolate cookies have everything going for them. They're chewy and loaded with chocolate chips and dried cherries. Use an ice cream scoop to make the dough easier to drop onto baking sheets.Get the Chocolate-Chocolate Cherry Cookies recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Browned-Butter Sandwich Spritz(27 of55)
A heavenly sweet maple filling makes these scrumptious spritz cookies a little different. The secret to their ornate shape is to make them in a cookie press.Get the Browned-Butter Sandwich Spritz recipe (credit:Taste of Home)
Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies(28 of55)
Every home cook should have a go-to chocolate chip recipe they can turn to in a pinch. If you don't have one yet, this may just be the recipe to take that role. Get the Milk & Cookies Bakery Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe (credit:Antonis Achilleos )
Cranberry-Honey Spice Pinwheel Cookies (29 of55)
These cookies have a bright, zesty filling and spicy aroma. They're convenient because you can make the logs of cookie dough ahead, then pull them out of the freezer and slice and bake as you need.Get the Cranberry-Honey Spice Pinwheel Cookies recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Chocolate-Chip-Pecan Cookie Bars(30 of55)
Feel free to swap walnuts or almonds for the pecans in this recipe, or use half nuts and half dried cranberries for a tart, chewy version. Get the Chocolate-Chip-Pecan Cookie Barsrecipe (credit:Con Poulos/Food&Wine)
Mexican Snowdrop Cookies(31 of55)
Thanks to a dusting of icy blue and white sanding sugar, these classic cookies glisten like freshly fallen snow.Get the Mexican Snowdrop Cookies recipe (credit:Kathleen Hackett)
Stained Glass Sugar Cookies(32 of55)
Hard candies melt into dazzling colors in these sugar cookies, creating beautiful and edible stained-glass "windows." Get the Stained Glass Sugar Cookies recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Cinnamon, Brown Sugar And Walnut Shortbread Crescents(33 of55)
The tops of these elegant cinnamon walnut crescents are laced with stripes of bittersweet or semisweet chocolate.Get the Cinnamon, Brown Sugar and Walnut Shortbread Crescents recipe (credit:Bon Appetit)
Ginger Crinkle Cookies(34 of55)
Taking just 10 to 12 minutes in the oven, these spicy ginger cookies will be ready before you know it. They're slightly soft and chewy.Get the Ginger Crinkle Cookies recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Lemon Slice-And-Bake Cookies(35 of55)
Even if you're a chocolate chip cookie lover, you won't be able to resist these citrusy, lemon cookies. Their bright flavor is addictive.Get the Lemon Slice-and-Bake Cookies recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Cranberry Orange Nut Cookies(36 of55)
Crisp, moist and chewy, this cookie has all the essential ingredients of a top-notch treat: citrus, nuts and fruit. Get the Cranberry Orange Nut Cookie recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Pecan-Cinnamon Wafers(37 of55)
Pecans add a hint of nuttiness to this sugary cookie. Spiced with cinnamon, this wafer is a great addition to a cup of tea.Get the Pecan-Cinnamon Wafers recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Cranberry-Pistachio Biscotti(38 of55)
Biscotti are one of the best cookies to make in large quantities because they last a long time and will guarantee you always have a sweet treat at the ready. These cranberry-pistachio ones are divine. Get the Cranberry-Pistachio Biscotti recipe (credit:Chronicle Books)
Aniseed Biscotti(39 of55)
These fragrant golden-brown biscotti are infused with aniseed, the defining flavor in many other Italian desserts.Get the Aniseed Biscotti recipe (credit:Taste of Home)
Jam-Filled Mezzaluna Cookies(40 of55)
You can fill these vanilla-scented Italian mezzaluna ("half moon") cookies with sweet raspberry or blackberry jam. Get the Jam-Filled Mezzaluna Cookies recipe (credit:Marie Hennechart/Food&Wine)
Chocolate Coconut Meringues(41 of55)
These light and airy meringue cookies use three extracts (coconut, almond and vanilla) to give it a full flavor. For a finishing flair, decorate them with melted semisweet chocolate and white chocolate, piped across each cookie.Get the Chocolate Coconut Meringues recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Double Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chewies(42 of55)
Chocolate and peanut butter make a fantastic pairing. These cookies get a double dose of peanut flavor from peanut butter and peanut butter chips.Get the Double Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chewies recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Snickerdoodles(43 of55)
You can't go wrong with these classic baked goodies: rich, buttery sugar cookies with a pop of cinnamon. Get the Snickerdoodles recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Lava Rocks(44 of55)
The name says it all. These cookies are dangerously rich with a triple dose of chocolate from cocoa powder, grated bittersweet chocolate and cocoa nibs. Pecans add a rocky crunch.Get the Lava Rocks recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Whole Wheat Linzer Cookies With Raspberry Filling(45 of55)
No one will guess that these sweet, fruity cookies are made with healthy whole-wheat flour.Get the Whole Wheat Linzer Cookies with Raspberry Filling recipe (credit:Jupiter Images)
Double-Chocolate Biscotti(46 of55)
Chocolate biscotti will make everyone happy. It has enough of a chocolatey flavor to make the most avid chocolate lover happy, but isn't so rich that a non-chocolate supporter can't enjoy it.Get the Double-Chocolate Biscotti recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Spelt Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies(47 of55)
If you're looking to lower your wheat intake, replacing all-purpose flour with spelt is a good option. This recipe uses half wheat and half spelt flour -- and still has a great taste and soft, chewy texture. Get the Spelt Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Sugar Cookies(48 of55)
Buttery sugar cookies are delightful, with or without icing. Kids love to help cut them out with cookie cutters and decorate them with sprinkles.Get the Sugar Cookies recipe (credit:New Media Publishing)
Citrus-Kissed Honey Buttons(49 of55)
Honey is the perfect foil for the orange and lemon zest in these buttery cookies. Get the Citrus-Kissed Honey Buttons recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Sugarplum Biscotti(50 of55)
Contrary to this recipe's name, there are no plums in this fruitcake-inspired recipe, but you will find sweet, chewy raisins and citrusy orange zest. Get the Sugarplum Biscotti recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Raspberry-Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies(51 of55)
Chocolate and cherries go well together, and so do chocolate and raspberries! Get the Raspberry-Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Italian Hazelnut Cookies(52 of55)
These Italian cookies are baked with hazelnuts and eggs. They have a sweet, nutty flavor that goes perfectly with rich espresso.Get the Italian Hazelnut Cookies recipe (credit:EatingWell )
Orange Spice Molasses Cookies(53 of55)
Applesauce keeps these cookies light and moist, while orange zest, cinnamon, cloves and allspice give them a knock-out flavor. Get the Orange Spice Molasses Cookies recipe (credit:EatingWell )
EatingWell Chocolate Chip Cookies(54 of55)
Looking for a healthy chocolate-chip cookie recipe? This one is a winner. It uses oats and whole-wheat flour in place of white all-purpose. Get the EatingWell Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe (credit:EatingWell)
Spiced Pumpkin Cookies(55 of55)
A tasty cookie made with whole wheat flour and no butter? Believe it! The secret to these pumpkin cookies is rich, gooey molasses and spices like allspice and nutmeg -- not to mention a hint of ginger.Get the Spiced Pumpkin Cookies recipe (credit:EatingWell )
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