1Neapolitan Cookies
Mike Garten The decoration for these adorable slice-and-bake cookies starts with one master dough that's flavored separately: one-third with melted dark chocolate, another with freeze-dried strawberries and the remaining left plain. Stack the doughs into a block, chill and slice to give the cookies their ‘gram-worthy, three-toned look.
Get the Neapolitan Cookies recipe.
2Matcha Snowball Cookies
Mike GartenSimply mix matcha with powdered sugar then let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Seek out the freshest, high-quality matcha powder for the best flavor and bright green color that won't turn muddy.
Get the Matcha Snowball Cookies recipe.
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3Cranberry-Pistachio Cornmeal Biscotti
Mike Garten 4Black Forest Cookies
Mike GartenFor this retro-fabulous riff on Black Forest cake, dollop chocolate cookies with whipped cream then crown with a brandied cherry topping.
Get the Black Forest Cookies recipe.
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5Chocolate Spritz Sandwiches
Mike GartenIf you're not a pro at decorating, spritz cookies are a savior. Every squeeze of the press creates a picture-perfect design. Enjoy these crisp, chocolate cookies on their own or double down on the cacao by sandwiching them with a rich, peppermint-spiked ganache.
SHOP THE COOKIE PRESS
Get the Chocolate Spritz Sandwiches recipe.
6Linzer Stars
mike gartenCreate the eye-catching design of these traditional Austrian cookies with just a couple of star-shaped cookie cutters. The cut-out window allows the ruby-red seedless jam to peek through.
Get the Linzer Stars recipe.
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7Sprinkle "Donuts"
Mike GartenCut Sugar Cookie Dough into rounds. With a smaller cutter, cut centers out of the rounds. When cool, spread the "donuts" with frosting and decorate with red and green sprinkles.
8Traditional Cutouts
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9How to Flood Icing for Christmas Cookies
Mike Garten- Mix up a batch of royal icing. Thin out half with a few drops of water until it looks like honey, then pop thick and thin icings into two separate piping bags.
- Pipe the thick icing to outline your cookies with a line and let set.
- Flood with the thin icing, then use a toothpick to quickly drag it to the edges.
- Let icing set slightly, then sprinkle with sanding sugar or nonpareils. Let set.
10White Chocolate-Dipped Madeleines
Mike GartenDecorating in a hurry? Dip store-bought madeleines in melted white chocolate and sprinkle with chopped cranberries and pistachios so they look (and taste!) homemade.
Get the White Chocolate-Dipped Madeleines recipe.
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11Sugar Cookie Trees
Mike Garten"Glue" a stack of sugar cookies together with royal icing to create the perfect edible pine.
Get the Sugar Cookie Trees recipe.
12Gingerbread Cookies
MIKE GARTENGingerbread isn't just for houses! It also makes a sweet, spiced base for rich milk chocolate frosting used to fill these sandwich cookies. Decorate the tops with royal icing for these minimalist snowflake shapes.
Get the Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies recipe.
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13Choco-Dipped Trees
Mike Garten 14 Sugar Cookie Ornaments
mike gartenDecorate these sugar cookies like ornaments and you'll be able to hang them on your tree — if you're able to resist eating them first.
Get the Sugar Cookie Ornaments recipe.
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15Peppermint Drops
Mike GartenScoop and roll Sugar Cookie Dough into 1-inch balls; place on cookie sheet and pat to flatten. After removing cookies from oven, immediately press a candy kiss into the center of each cookie.
16Cookie-Pressed Spritz
MIKE GARTENCookie decorating isn't just about adding icing! With the help of a cookie press, you can add Christmas shapes of these picture-perfect cookies.
Get the Christmas Spritz Cookies recipe.
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17Holiday Snickerdoodles
Mike GartenScoop and roll Sugar Cookie Dough into 1-inch balls in a small bowl of cinnamon sugar; place on cookie sheet. Pat to flatten slightly and bake.
18White Chocolate Trees
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19Jam Sandwich Cookies in Envelopes
mike gartenThe decorative stars on these jam filled cookies are just as adorable as the paper envelopes they come in.
Get the Jam Sandwich Cookies recipe.
20Thumbprint Jammers
Mike GartenScoop and roll Sugar Cookie Dough into 1-inch balls in a bowl of small nonpareils; place on cookie sheet. Make indentations in the center of each cookie and bake. When cool, fill centers with jam.
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