Christmas just isn't Christmas without a giant plate of cookies on the dessert table, but honestly I get tired of the same old cut-out sugar cookies, thumbprints, snickerdoodles and gingersnaps. I thought I'd shake things up a bit this year, by making holiday cookies inspired by tradition, but with a bit of a twist. The best recipes I've come across feature the classic ingredients we all know and love–chocolate, cinnamon, pecans, vanilla, brown sugar, etc.–but incorporate a few unusual additions to jazz things up a bit. Check out our slideshow of five intriguing Christmas cookie recipes below.
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I can't wait to try each and every one of these!
Cardamom Snowdrop Cookies
Reminiscent of Mexican wedding cookies, these adorable bites feature a less commonly used spice, that will make your tastebuds dance.
Cardamom Snowdrop Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup almond meal
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Get the full ingredient list and recipe at Savory Simple.
Chocolate Chip Gingersnap Chai Cookies
These spicy dark chocolate chip, ginger-infused cookies scream decadence. Perfect for the holidays!
Chocolate Chip Gingersnap Chai Cookies
__Ingredients
__1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup good quality unsweetened natural cocoa powder (not Dutched)
3 tablespoons good quality chai tea, finely ground in a spice grinder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground star anise, well sifted
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
Get the full ingredient list and recipe at Cooking Channel.
Pecan Pie Cookies
What could be better than a slice of pecan pie on Christmas Eve? An individual pecan pie with sugar cookie crust, that's what.
Pecan Pie Cookies
Ingredients
1 package sugar cookie dough
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon rum extract (optional)
1/4 cup powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Get the full recipe at Created by Diane.
Brown Butter Brown Sugar Cookies
I can't even imagine how amazing this cookie smells while baking. Who needs candles?!
Brown Butter Brown Sugar Cookies
__Ingredients
__14 Tbsp butter, divided
2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 3/4 c brown sugar
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
sea salt for sprinkling
1/4 c brown sugar + 1/4 c granulated sugar for rolling
Get the full recipe at Crunchy Creamy Sweet.
Mango White Chocolate Chip Cookies
In all honesty, I kind of despise macadamia nuts, and dried cranberries are just kind of boring at this point. I love that this recipe replaces them with dried mango–an ingredient I'd eat in pretty much any form you can fathom.
Mango White Chocolate Chip Cookies
__Ingredients
__1 stick butter, salted or unsalted
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup dried mango, chopped
Get the full recipe directions at The Latin Kitchen.
