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Home » Baking

Holiday cookie ideas

Published: May 28, 2019 · Modified: Nov 22, 2022 by Amira · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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What's a holiday without cookies!! Holidays cookies are always the best because we always bake them with love and joy filling the air. Holidays are full of fun, family, and great food- and lots to do! It's essential to eat with joy and it's a blessing to bake for people who eat with joy. That's what holidays are all about.
As if we need another excuse to fill ourselves with sugar, butter and chocolate! But listen up, holidays are not meant for calorie count... drop that for now and put on your baker's hat because you are in for treats.
This post has been updated from the original June 2017 . Last updated May 2019.

A round up of the best holiday cookie ideas

Essential Tips to Know Before You Begin Baking

Here are some tips for the cookie baker in you, to make this holiday season less intense and more joyful. These are the most common cookie problems that I've faced and how to fix them, I hope you'll find them useful and.... keep baking.

1- Cookies are spreading/flat:

By far, this is the most common question I've been asked and the most common problem I faced. Especially with high fat content cookie dough, cookies seems to spread like crazy in the oven and melt! Here is what I've done, you'll need to try to

  • Scoop your dough and chill before baking, this ALWAYS fix the problem.
  • Always cool the baking pan between batches. You can do this quickly by running cold water on the back of the sheet.
  • Use shortening or oil instead of butter. What I sometimes do is using a mixture of shortening and butter as I do not want to sacrifice the buttery flavor.
  • Bake in a hotter oven, low oven temperature causes spreading.

2- Cookies are too tough/stiff:

This is the second complaint  people suffer from, my cookies are tough the kind that will break your teeth :). Flour is mostly the culprit here, you've added too much flour than necessary. Other reasons include less fat, over mixing or over-baking.

  • Measure flour accurately or try to reduce flour a bit (¼ cup).
  • Add an egg.
  • Bake a few minutes less or try to take out your cookies when it starts browning at the edges.

3- Cookies are too dark:

This probably is caused by the baking pan itself, do not use dark pans, this is my favorite baking pan. Fixing this is not hard just try one or more of the following:

  • Use heavy, dull aluminum, non insulated light colored pan.
  • Reduce sugar to prevent over-browning. 

How to keep cookies from hardening after baking?

To keep your cookies from hardening, store them in an airtight container immediately after baking. If they got hard, put a piece of bread with the cookies in the container overnight. 
I tend to make the same types of cookies each year, which are the traditional ones. Kahk is a must, betefour is a second must and also ghorayeba. But I also like to shake things up by making at least one new holiday cookie. I have many cookie monsters in my house, who will enjoy cookies year round. Here is a holiday cookie list for you to enjoy.

A hand holding one kahk cookie cut in half to show the filling.

1- Stuffed Shortbread cookies:

This is mostly called Egyptian wedding cookies or kahk. I've made Kahk twice on this blog the old one with the traditional way and the more modified one stuffed with pistachios. Both turned out great.

A photo showing hands holding petit fours cookies

2- Butter Cookies:

My kid's favorite is the chocolate one glued together with any sort of jam. One of my kiddos though, like it unglued so he can dip it freely in a bowl of Nutella.

A white serving plate with coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate and a cherry on top.

3- Coconut macaroons:
A seriously easy recipe for coconut macaroons or as we call them in Egypt "Shakallama". This macaroon recipe does not have condensed milk in it which make it easier to control the sweetness.

A close up of a plate of food, with caramel heavenlies

4- Caramel Heavenlies:
Another coconut-y recipe that was a hit, this one is adults/kids approved. Ridiculously easy recipe that requires no special skills at all.

A close up of a plate of oatmeal cookies and cup of milk

5- Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies:
And who does not like any sort of chocolate chip cookies?. Try this oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and you'll never look back.

A wooden board with linzer cookies lined on it with one missing.

6- Linzer cookies:
Master these sweet and addictive cookies with a simple flavorful recipe. These raspberry filled sandwich cookies are very popular throught the whole world.

A plate filled with Molasses cookies

7- Soft Ginger Molasses cookies:
Perfectly spiced, molasses and ginger cookies. Soft in the center with a little crispness on the edges. These are a must bake.

A close up cinnamon hearts cookies

8- Cinnamon cookies:
These does not have to be heart shaped of course. My kids literally gobbled these cookies up. Yet another very easy cinnamon cookie recipe that I highly recommend.

a white plate with a pile of lancashire cookies dipped with ground nuts and sprinkles.

9- Lancashire cookies:

Lancashire cookies are adorable tasty bite sized cookies that I believe originated in the UK and was introduced to the Egyptians during the British occupation.

A close up of ruby gem thumbprint cookies

10- Ruby cookies:

These jam filled with a cherry on top little gems are wonderful by all means. Not sweet at all yet feel free to sweeten them up with your choice of jam or Nutella.

Happy holidays, wishing you all the best and happy baking ♥️.

I hope you've found inspiration for your holiday baking, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!

Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for the FREE Amira's Pantry newsletter delivered to your inbox with lots of tips and surprises! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates.

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About Amira

I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! My hope is to introduce you to new flavors, creative ways and fresh takes on favorites. To help you create food with style that will bring everyone around your kitchen table. From weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Easyfoodsmith

    May 30, 2019 at 11:56 am

    That's a lovely post and I totally agree with you that holidays / festivals are meant for indulgence.

    Reply
  2. John / Kitchen Riffs

    May 29, 2019 at 8:14 am

    Mmmm, cookies! Love 'em! And perfect for all holidays. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Suraya

    May 28, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    Awesome. Thank you for the great ideas. Will be making something different for Eid this year.

    Reply
    • Amira

      June 01, 2019 at 2:27 am

      Suraya, this is great. Will be waiting for pictures from you ❤️.

      Reply
  4. Karen (Back Road Journal)

    December 26, 2018 at 2:39 pm

    A wonderful post, I especially like the chocolate dipped orange cookies...simple but flavorful.

    Reply
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Hey Y'all, I'm Amira.
I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by!
I send warm greetings from sunny Colorado. This blog combines weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean.
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