5 cookies to add to your holiday platter

Holiday cookies are a December staple, whether you’re sharing them at a holiday party, packaging them up as a gift, or enjoying a cookie with a glass of milk or eggnog for dessert.

So I wanted to share with you the Christmas cookies I always put on my platter and a few other options worth trying!

Now onto the recipes…I love all of these cookies because they’re delicious, festive, and have just the right amount of sweetness.

1. German Chocolate Almond Cookies (Schokoladenbrötchen)

Every Christmas my family always makes a beautiful spread of German cookies and treats and these ones have always been my favorite. They are made with only 4 ingredients: egg whites, almonds, chocolate, and sugar.  They are super light and amazingly chewy once you bite into them. It’s like a crunchy, chewy chocolatey marshmallow brownie cookie. These cookies have a special place in my heart, so I hope you give them a try and share them with loved ones 🙂

This recipe is from an old German cookbook (Das Neue Große Kiehnle Kochbuch) that my mother got from her mother.

2. Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread by Alison Roman

When Dean and I had our first Christmas together, he requested a chocolate chip cookie to be a part of the cookie platter since that’s what he grew up with. That was the year Alison Roman’s cookies went viral, so I decided to give it a try. These now will forever have a place on our holiday cookie platter!

Why do I love them so much? They’re insanely buttery and salty with just the right amount of sweetness and bursts of bittersweet chocolate chunks.

3. Buckwheat Raspberry Rugelach with Pistachios and Cardamom (recipe coming soon in your upcoming holiday menu!)

A cookie platter isn’t incomplete without some variety of jam-filled cookies in the mix. My favorite jammy cookie is the classic Jewish rugelach – a salty cream cheese dough with a sweet filling that then gets rolled up and baked into a flaky, jammy delight!

I came up with this whole grain version and I think it will now be a holiday staple in our house! Stay tuned!

4. Chocolate Dipped Almond Shortbread Cookies

It comes as no surprise that I love buttery shortbread cookies – they tend to be saltier, very buttery, and less sweet that your average cookie. I created this “healthier” version of a shortbread cookie and it’s a great gluten-free alternative to the classic shortbread.

These little shortbread cookies are made with 4 simple ingredients (not including salt!). Butter, almond flour, coconut sugar, and vanilla come together to create a dense, shortbread cookie that gets dipped in chocolate and topped with whatever you’d like! I love that they are very lightly sweetened and contain fat, fiber, and protein, so you can enjoy multiple without a massive sugar spike! Note that they have to chill in the fridge before slicing, so make the dough ahead.

5. Miso Sesame Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’re looking for a healthy and fun twist on the chocolate chip cookie, give these a try!

These cookies were inspired by a visit to Brooklyn where I stumbled upon this adorable cafe/market that sold a miso chocolate chip cookie rolled in sesame seeds. I went back multiple times for this cookie and knew I wanted to try and recreate it for you (and for me)!

You might be skeptical because of the miso paste, but it adds a very subtle salty umami flavor that I love and the sesame seeds add a delicious crunch to the outside of the cookie. It all comes together in one bowl using almond flour and oats as the base and gets lightly sweetened with coconut sugar (and choco chips of course!), making them a very nourishing treat!

Other holiday cookie ideas!

• I love the Ginger Molasses Cookies from Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow cookbook (here’s a link to Elyse’s IG post with the recipe). I actually like them best with the almond flour substitute found in the recipe notes (sub in 2 cups of almond flour and cut the butter in half to 4 tablespoons) – it makes them extra chewy, which is how I like my gingerbread cookies!
• Salty Lemon Shortbread by Alison Roman- these have intrigued me but I haven’t tried them. If you’re looking for a fun spin on a shortbread!
• Marshmallow Stuffed Molasses Cookies by Broma Bakery – if you’re looking for a decadent spin on a gingerbread cookie, these look so fun!
• Tiramisu Cookies by Broma Bakery – I’m intrigued! Honestly, I trust any of her cookie recipes!
• Tiny Salty Chocolaty Cookies by Alison Roman – If you’re looking for a very chocolaty cookie option, I have made these and they are delicious!

Happy baking!! Comment with your favorite holiday cookie recipes!