12 Festive Cookies for Holiday Gifts or Baking Exchanges

A round up of holiday cookies including gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free, vegan and easy-to-make options!

The holiday’s are around the corner, which means that it’s time to start baking! I love making special holiday treats with my kids, and now that they’re nine, six and four, they can all take part in the fun! Tasks that they love are to help mix ingredients, role out dough, use the cookie cutters, crack eggs and add the finishing festive decorations. They love to eat and share their creations, which helps boost their self-confidence and skills in the kitchen. Win-win!

It’s not just about Christmas

There are several different holidays celebrated during the month of December–not just Christmas! There’s also Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, Festivus, and more! This got me thinking about various holiday traditions and being inclusive, as well as being sensitive to those with food allergies when I started planning my cookie-round up.

Food allergies–although manageable–can be a real bummer, especially for kids. Treats are everywhere this time of year, and for parents of little ones with diabetes, celiac disease, peanut allergies, and so on, what you bake for treats may be different from what I bake.

With that in mind, below you will find some yummy holiday baking recipes created by some amazing dietitians (and myself!). Some of these cookies have nuts, some will be dairy-free, some gluten-free, some vegan… and some just super easy to make! I hope you enjoy. If you have any favourite holiday baking recipes feel free to share in the comments below.

Happy holidays and happy baking!

1
ginger white chocolate chip cookies
Chewy Triple Ginger White Chocolate Cookies
If you are a fan of ginger, you will absolutely LOVE this recipe. I would double the recipe, because they will disappear in no time over the holidays. They make for a great hostess gift too!
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2
thenutritionadventure.com
Brown Sugar-Cinnamon PB Cookies
These perfectly moist Brown Sugar-Cinnamon PB Cookies are vegan-friendly and only use 5 ingredients!
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3
Chocolate Brownie Cookies on a plate
Easy Chocolate Mint Brownie Cookies
This is one of our go-to holiday baking recipes because it’s SO easy, and everyone loves them. These chewy, brownie-like cookies are delicious and are perfect for a holiday dessert or snack, or a cookie exchange!
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4
dairyfreeforbaby.com
Vegan Gluten Free Ginger Snaps
If you want a festive treat this holiday season, look no further than these vegan and gluten free ginger snaps. With both a deep sweet flavor and a little spice from the ginger – these are the ultimate cookie to warm you up on a cold winter night.
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5
www.nourishnutritionblog.com
Chocolate Dipped Oreos
Need a super easy homemade Christmas gift? These quick chocolate dipped oreos with peppermint are the easiest gift you can make for your friends and family. Dip tasty oreos into silky smooth semi-sweet chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermint for a chocolate peppermint crunchy cookie treat. Plus they're oreos so they'll definitely be a crowd pleaser.
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6
www.bucketlisttummy.com
Oatmeal Raisin Peppermint Cookies (Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies)
Oatmeal Raisin Peppermint Cookies are the perfect combination of chewy, chocolate and mint for your new favorite Peppermint holiday cookies.
These whole wheat oatmeal raisin cookies are made with oats and whole wheat flour, they offer up a healthy dose of fiber too!
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7
Chewy Chocolate Candy Cane Dipped Cookies
Need an easy, delicious and edible holiday gift idea? Look no further than these cookies.
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8
energy bites in a bowl with half eaten bite
Gingerbread Energy Bites
These little gingerbread energy bites are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy. You’ll love this holiday-inspired recipe!
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9
kellyjonesnutrition.com
Vegan Sweet Potato Snickerdoodles
I’ll be the first to admit, I did not grow up much of a snickerdoodle fan. Chocolate chip cookies will always be my #1, but I’ve found myself making them and actually enjoying them, too! These vegan snickerdoodle cookies with sweet potato were the upgrade that I needed to make this cookie a staple.
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10
www.momskitchenhandbook.com
Ginger Molasses Rye Cookies
This recipe makes a chewy, flavorful cookie spiced with cinnamon and cardamon, along with ground and crystallized ginger. If you can't find crystallized ginger and the need to bake is urgent (I understand completely) then increase the amount of ground ginger to 2 teaspoons.
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11
krollskorner.com
Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies
You'll love these white chocolate covered Ritz Cracker Cookies because they are simple to make and perfect for Christmas!
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12
www.eastewart.com
Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies w/ Sea Salt Caramel Rum Raisin Filling
These Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies with Sea Salt Caramel Rum Raisin Filling are absolutely scrumptious. Soft, moist, and delicately spiced, they’re a delicious holiday treat!
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Chocolate Brownie Cookies on a plate

12 Cookies for Holiday Gifts: Double Chocolate Cookies & More

Sarah Remmer, RD
I was going to make my usual chocolate chip cookie recipe and add Christmas Smarties to them, but instead, experimented with a double chocolate cookie recipe- and I am so happy that I did, let me tell you.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 4 tsp vanilla
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup cocoa
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups mint holiday smarties or m&m’s or white chocolate chips, mint chocolate chips or butterscotch chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar together until you reach the consistency of wet sand
  • Beat eggs, maple syrup and vanilla in to mixture until smooth
  • In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add to sugar/egg mixture and stir by hand until almost combined
  • Add in Smarties or chocolate chips and stir until combined
  • Roll inch-thick balls of dough onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets and bake for 9-11 minutes at 325 degrees, until just set around edges and soft in the middle. If you want them soft and chewy, don’t over-bake.
  • Enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

For more ideas of yummy holiday baking to share with loved ones, check this blog post for 15 Holiday Baking Recipes That Are Too Yummy Not to Share.

You might also want to check out My Top 5 Tips For Staying Sane When Feeding Kids During The Holidays and my 5 Holiday Eating Rules You Should Throw Out the Window!

Happy Holidays!

12 Festive Cookie for Holiday Gifts or Baking Exchanges

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4 Comments

  1. I really like your 12 Festive Cookies for Holiday Gifts or Baking Exchanges it is very interesting and innovative I will surely try this at my home

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