The glow of the oven warms your heart while the sweet smell of fresh baked goodies fills your kitchen and home with holiday cheer. Baking holiday cookies is a special, festive tradition, and one that families can enjoy together. So grab your aprons and gather the kids! Here are some of our favorite holiday cookie recipes from some of our favorite stars of the kitchen. All are delicious and easy to make—perfect for a holiday cookie exchange, family gathering, or to give as gifts. After all, we believe cookies are meant to be shared!

Roll Out The Sugar

Nothing puts you in the holiday mood quite like a frosted sugar cookie dusted with sprinkles. Our favorite Iced Sugar Cookie recipe comes from the amazing singer, cookbook author and Food Network star Tricia Yearwood. Simple ingredients and simple instructions lead to traditional cookies that are a cut above the rest! Break out Grandma’s beloved holiday cookie cutters and have fun! You can find Tricia’s recipe at foodnetwork.com and be sure to check out her show, Tricia’s Southern Kitchen.

Spice Things Up

Winter would not be complete without gingerbread cookies. Skip the rolling pins and little men cookie cutters and try this clever take on an old classic. Double Ginger Cookies, courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis, contain ground and candied ginger, allspice, cinnamon, molasses and raisins, and are dropped onto the cookie sheet in rounded tablespoons! Easy and tasty! You can find the recipe at foodnetwork.com and tune in to Food Network to see Giada at Home.

Go Crazy for Coconut

Mix things up a bit this holiday season with Alton Browns’ Toasty Coconut Macaroons. These morsels are golden brown on the outside and moist on the inside. And with just five ingredients, they are simply delicious! Alton Brown is a wiz in the kitchen, and trust us, these cookies are so good they will disappear like magic! Sure to become your new holiday favorite, we suggest dipping a side in melted dark chocolate for a festive cookie that will stand out in a crowd. Need a break from the cartoon specials? This holiday season; catch Alton Brown as he hosts Cutthroat Kitchen on Food Network.

Don’t Forget The Dynamic Duo

Chocolate and peppermint are a favorite holiday pairing, and Marta Stewart marries them perfectly with her Chocolate-Peppermint Thumbprints. These cookies are sure to impress, but they are surprisingly simple to make. Unsweetened cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and pure peppermint extract make these cookies special. Martha Stewart suggests rolling the dough in sanding sugar before baking, for some extra holiday sparkle! And check out marthastewart.com for more fabulous, festive holiday recipes.

Like we said before, cookies are for sharing! Share the name of your favorite holiday cookie with us at TheRTAStore. And be sure to check out our new Holiday Cheer board on Pinterest. Happy baking!

Resources:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/jennifers-iced-sugar-cookies-recipe.html
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/double-ginger-cookies.html
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/toasty-coconut-macaroons-recipe.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/868657/chocolate-peppermint-thumbprints