77 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

Christmas cookies are a holiday tradition for many families. Festive cookies make wonderful gifts and cookie baking and decorating is a great way to get the kids involved in the festivities.

Most baked cookies can be frozen decorated or undecorated or you can freeze your cookie dough now for baking and decorating just before the holidays. Whether you're a novice cook or experienced baker, these cookie baking tips will give you plenty of great ideas for decorating and gift-giving.

Here are dozens of our favorite cookie recipes, including basic shortbread and sugar cookies, butter cookies, fancy bars, and traditional Christmas recipes.

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Czech Susenky (Czech Christmas Cookies)

The Spruce

These enticing Czech Susenky are also known as vanocni cukrovi, which translates to "Christmas cookie or sweets." The cookies are delicious plain or fancy. Transform the cookies by sandwiching them with jam or cut them out into holiday shapes. You can also apply a thin icing or dusting of powdered sugar.
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Peppermint Cookies

Leah Maroney

If you're a fan of Christmas chocolate peppermint bark, you will love these peppermint cookies! Take these wonderful cookies along to your annual cookie swap or bake them for your family. Don't forget to leave a few for Santa on Christmas eve.
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Gingerbread Cookies

The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

Gingerbread cookies are always a fun treat, and kids love to help with the decorations. Make gingerbread people with the cookie dough or use a variety of holiday shapes.
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Gingersnap Cookies

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

While gingersnap cookies fit in nicely with the seasonal flavors of Christmas, they're actually a favorite year-round. Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and molasses deliver a spicy-sweet treat that's perfect for dunking.

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Low-Fat Christmas Sugar Cookies

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

These low-fat sugar cookies offer all the flavor with about half the fat. Roll the chilled cookie dough out and cut it into festive shapes. Dress the cookies up with a simple vanilla glaze or royal icing.
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Italian Pignoli Cookies

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

Italian pignoli cookies are a popular Christmas cookie in regions of Italy and U.S. Italian communities. The crisp cookie is made with egg whites, almond flour, and almond paste along with the pine nuts and confectioner's sugar for sweetness.
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Whimsical Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies

The Spruce

These whimsical Ugly Christmas sweater cookies are a joyful nod to everyone's favorite holiday contest. Use your imagination to make your cookies as "ugly" as possible.
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Keto Sugar Cookies

Leah Maroney

Yes, you can enjoy Christmas cookies, even on a keto diet. It's hard to believe these delicate little keto sugar cookies are low carb, but they are. Coconut flour and almond flour replace wheat flour, while stevia makes them sugar-free.

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Butterscotch Cookies

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

If you like the flavor of butterscotch pudding, you'll love these butterscotch cookies. They're made with butterscotch chips, rolled oats, chopped walnuts, and cornflakes cereal for a sweet and crunchy treat.
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Colossal Double Chocolate White Chip Cookies

Claire Cohen

These colossal double chocolate and white chip cookies contain two kinds of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and chopped nuts.
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Classic Snickerdoodles

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Classic snickerdoodles are one of America's favorite Christmas cookies. The whimsical name is fun to say and the cookies are just as amazing to eat. Not only do the cookies taste heavenly—the cinnamon-sugar coated cookies make the whole house smell of sugar and spice.
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Low-Fat Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Spruce

These low-fat double chocolate chip cookies contain half the fat and—trust us—you won't miss it! Unsweetened cocoa along with chocolate chips intensifies the chocolate flavor in these delicious little cookies.

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Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

The Spruce / Emily Baker

You won't miss the flour at all in these flourless peanut butter cookies! Make these delightful Christmas cookies for your gluten-free friends and family members.
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Christmas Lizzies Fruitcake Cookies

The Spruce

These Christmas Lizzies fruitcake cookies feature a variety of chopped dried fruits and nuts. Use all orange juice in these cookies or replace all or part of the liquid with Kentucky bourbon to give them holiday spirit.
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Hot Chocolate Cookies

The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

These unique little hot chocolate cookies are the perfect remedy for a cold winter day! Sliced marshmallows are partially melted on the cookies, giving them a hot cocoa look and taste.
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Christmas Light Cookies

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

These Christmas light cookies will light up your cookie tray and delight your friends and family. And the decorating is a snap with some squiggly piped "wires" and colorful candy "lights."

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White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

These white chocolate macadamia nut cookies are made with a combination of macadamia nuts and vanilla-flavored white chocolate chips. It's an excellent choice if you're trying to stay away from regular chocolate or love the tropical nut.
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Vegan Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

The Spruce

Warm spices and dried cranberries make these tasty vegan oatmeal cranberry cookies perfect for the Christmas cookie plate for guests who can't have dairy.
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Frosted Ginger Cookies

The Spruce / Ahlam Raffii

These frosted ginger cookies will take you back to your childhood. The treats are soft and chewy and they are fabulous when frosted with your favorite buttercream frosting or icing. Enjoy them right away or freeze them and ice them later.
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Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

These red velvet sandwich cookies are absolutely amazing! The bright red color is perfect for the Christmas holidays and they can be gussied up in a variety of ways. Drizzle them with some white chocolate or roll the edges in sprinkles.

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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Super chocolatey with a coating of powdered sugar, these chocolate crinkle cookies are pretty to look at and delightful to eat.
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Classic Sugar Cookies

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Bake these classic sugar cookies in shapes to fit the occasion, then decorate them with icing or sprinkles. The cookies are also wonderful sandwiched with a filling of jam, dulce de leche, or chocolate ganache.
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Old-Fashioned Molasses Cookiess

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

These old-fashioned molasses cookies are an old-fashioned favorite that will bring back childhood memories. Make them fancy with a dusting of powdered sugar or drizzle a bit of vanilla icing over the cooled cookies.
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Red Velvet Crinkles Cookies

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

These red velvet crinkles cookies are an updated version of everyone's favorite chocolate crinkles. The vibrant red color makes this variation the perfect treat for Christmas and Valentine's Day. But you really don't have to wait for a special occasion to bake the treats.

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Classic Austrian Linzer Cookies

Claire Cohen

These classic Austiran Linzer cookies originated in the Austrian city of Linz (thank you, Linz!). Add these little gems to your Christmas cookie recipe box. While they may look intricate and complicated, even baking novices can bake up a beautiful bunch if you follow our step-by-step guide.
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Polish Almond Amaretti Cookies

The Spruce

A stiff egg white meringue is combined with ground almonds and a bit of cinnamon to make these fanciful Polish almond amaretti cookies.
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Kosher Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Spruce

Vegetable oil is the surprising fat ingredient in these kosher dairy-free chocolate chip cookies, so there's no need to worry about softening margarine or butter to room temperature. Also, the recipe is pareve, which means you can eat the cookies with a meat or dairy meal.
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Christmas Stained Glass Cookies

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Stunning Christmas stained glass cookies feature dazzling colors and tantalizing flavor. The rolled cookies bake with crushed hard candies in a center cutout, giving them their stained-glass appearance.

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Almond Joy Cookies

Kristina Vanni

All of the best parts of the famous Almond Joy candy bar are packed into these delicious Almond Joy chocolate cookies. Best of all, they're gluten-free, too!
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Chocolate Chip Icebox Cookies

Diana Rattray

One thing that makes these chocolate chip icebox cookies great is that they're mixed ahead of time and chilled until you are ready to bake. You can just slice and bake as many as you want. You can even freeze the unbaked cookie dough sliced or in whole logs.
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Maple Cookies

The Spruce Eats / Jennifer Perillo

The inviting flavor of pure maple syrup makes these maple cookies a fantastic winter treat. The adorable maple leaf shape also gives them a festive look. It's an easy recipe with just five ingredients that makes six dozen cookies. You'll have plenty to share or give away during the holidays.
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Walnut Crescent Cookies

The Spruce

These walnut crescent cookies are a classic Christmas cookie. Butter and ground walnuts give them their sensational texture while vanilla extract flavors them perfectly.

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Sand Tart Cookies With Cinnamon

The Spruce

A cinnamon-sugar topping makes these sand tart cookies with cinnamon extra-special. Add an almond or pecan half to the center of each cookie if you like or leave them plain.
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Chinese Sesame Cookies

The Spruce

These Chinese sesame cookies use a combination of butter and vegetable shortening instead of the more traditional lard, but still gets the same rich flavor and tender crumb.
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Jam Filled Thumbprint Cookies With Chopped Nuts

The Spruce / Claire Cohen

Use your favorite jam or preserves to fill these delightful jam filled thumbprint cookies with chopped nuts. Add this recipe to your Christmas cookie list. They're especially fun to make with kids since little ones will love pressing their fingers into the dough.
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Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies

Leah Maroney

Crunchy, sweet, and salty, these no-bake peanut butter cornflake cookies couldn't be easier. They are a fun, quick baking project for kids.

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Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Diana Rattray

These old-fashioned sugar cookies are always a hit. Add a dash of ground nutmeg for seasonal flavor or decorate the cookies with colorful icing and sprinkles.
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Molasses Cookies

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Dark, rich molasses tastes like the holidays, and it adds a smoky sweetness to these soft, buttery molasses cookies, A roll in sugar gives them a nice crunch.
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Brown Sugar Shortbread

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

You can't go wrong with this holiday classic brown sugar shortbread. Sprinkle the cookies with some vanilla sugar or cinnamon sugar just before you put them in the oven or dip them in melted chocolate or a more colorful candy melt coating.
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Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

Those eliminating gluten shouldn't be left out during the holidays, and luckily, these cookies are not only gluten-free but also delicious. Almond flour swaps in for all-purpose, creating a thin, crispy, slightly chewy chocolate chip cookie that has that familiar taste while adding a hint of nuttiness.

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Lofthouse Cookies

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

The soft, frosted sugar cookies in the supermarket bakery, called Lofthouse cookies, are actually easy to make at home. The delicate texture of the cookie is due to the sour cream and cake flour in the batter. Feel free to customize the colored frosting and decorations.
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Danish Butter Cookies

Kristina Vanni

These ring-shaped butter cookies are a traditional Dutch treat, especially during the holidays. They have a delicate texture due to the addition of almond flour and a special vanilla flavor credit of the vanilla sugar, a common ingredient in Danish baking.
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Classic Forgotten Cookies With Variations

Diana Rattray

This treat's intriguing name comes from "forgetting" about the cookies and leaving them in the oven overnight or for several hours after turning the oven off. This classic forgotten cookies with variations recipe offers several variations.
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Perfect Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Diana Rattray

These perfect chocolate shortbread cookies are surprisingly easy to prepare and the flavor is out-of-this-world. These awesome cookies are made with only four ingredients. Dress these cookies up for the holidays with a dip in chocolate or almond bark and seasonal sprinkles or leave them plain. Either way, they are bound to be a hit!

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Peanut Cookies

The Spruce

Peanut cookies are loaded with flavor and texture. They're wonderful with no embellishments, but feel free to dip them in melted chocolate or dust them with some powdered sugar to make them celebration-worthy.
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Jam-Filled Kolache Cookies

Diana Rattray

A cream cheese dough makes these classic jam-filled kolache cookies deliciously soft and tender. Make them with apricot preserves or use your favorite preserves or jam in the filling. A bright red jam would be perfect for Christmas.
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Meltaway Butter Cookies

Diana Rattray

The name says it all! These melt-in-your-mouth meltaway butter cookies are a snap to fix and bake and they deserve a place on your Christmas cookie list, especially when you're short on time.
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Mom's Date Drop Cookies

Diana Rattray

A dab of the cookie batter partially covers the date filling in these soft mom's date drop cookies. You'll repeat this recipe again and again.

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Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

The Spruce

These vegan oatmeal cookies are low in fat and calories and they are sugar-free. Mashed banana and sugar-free preserves add just the right amount of sweetness to these delectable cookies.
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Big Skillet Snickerdoodle Cookie

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This scrumptious big skillet snickerdoodle cookie makes a delightful treat for a holiday party! Serve it sliced into thin wedges with caramel sauce or a big scoop of ice cream.
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Florentines

Kristina Vanni

Florentines are a nice alternative to standard cookie offerings. The Italian sweets are thin and crisp and flavored with orange peel, lemon, and chocolate.
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Soft Pumpkin Cookies

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

These soft pumpkin cookies will be a big hit with everyone! The brown butter icing takes these wonderful pumpkin spice treats over the top.

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Three-Ingredient Coconut Macaroons

The Spruce

These simple three-ingredient coconut macaroons can be dressed up for the Christmas holidays with chopped red and green candied cherries.
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Gluten-Free Chocolate Truffle Cookies

Teri Lee Gruss

It's hard to believe these gluten-free chocolate truffle cookies cookies are gluten free! Chocolate chips and walnuts give the treats loads of texture and rich chocolate flavor.
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Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies

The Spruce / Chosen Posture

Make these lemon cream cheese cookies for friends and family and watch them disappear! A flavorful lemon icing is the perfect finishing touch. Wrap up a dozen and give them to your favorite citrus lover.
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Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Kristina Vanni

The secret ingredient in these chewy chocolate chip cookies is vanilla instant pudding mix. It adds sweet flavor and keeps them tender and delicious.

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Date Pinwheel Cookies

Susan Gary / Getty Images

These date pinwheel cookies boast a date and nut filling and they are so pretty on a Christmas cookie tray. Add this recipe to your collection.
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South American Coconut Macaroons (Cocadas)

The Spruce / Marian Blazes

These South American coconut macaroons—also known as cocadas—are gussied up with dulce de leche and a quick dip in melted chocolate.
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Classic Magic Cookie Bars

The Spruce / Claire Cohen

Crushed graham crackers, butter, flaked coconut, pecans, chocolate chips, and sweetened condensed milk make up the layers in these beloved classic magic cookie bars. They are truly magical!
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French Belgian Waffle Cookies (Galettes)

The Spruce

Who can resist chewy brown sugar cookies shaped like waffles? These French-Belgian waffle cookies are a classic Christmas delicacy.

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Molasses Crinkles

Diana Rattray

Use regular granulated sugar or larger grained decorating sugar on these fabulous molasses crinkles. Make them for Christmas or add them to lunchboxes as a fall treat.
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Chinese Almond Cookies

The Spruce

These Chinese almond cookies are made with or without dairy, meaning they can be pareve. Use unsalted butter or coconut oil in these tasty cookies.
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Chocolate Butterball Christmas Cookies

The Spruce / Claire Cohen

Melted bittersweet or semisweet chocolate is added to the cookie dough to make these fabulous chocolate butterball Christmas cookies. Finely chopped pecans add texture to these favorites.
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Coconut Cookies

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

Lightly sweet, chewy, and gluten-free, these coconut cookies are a real treat. They're a delightful option for anyone on a grain-free diet.

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Peanut Butter Shortbread Cut-Outs

Diana Rattray

These peanut butter shortbread cut-outs are not only easy to prepare—they're completely egg-free. Drizzle melted chocolate or melted candy melts over these shortbread cookies for the holidays.
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Date Squares With Oat Crusts

Diana Rattray

Make these date squares with oat crusts your go-to recipe for date bars. The delicious, easy-to-prepare snack boast a crumbly brown sugar and oat crust and an exquisite date filling.
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Old-Fashioned Hermit Cookies

Old-fashioned hermits with raisins and nuts.
The Spruce / Diana Rattray

If you like old-school favorites, these old-fashioned hermit cookies are for an excellent choice. The cookies are spiced and filled with chopped walnuts and dates or raisins. Make them festive for Christmas with dried cranberries instead of raisins or dates.
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Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies

The Spruce / Emily Baker

If you crave crunchy peanut butter cookies just like grandma used to make, this is the recipe for you! The cookies are baked to perfection with the familiar criss-cross ridges. This version includes chunky peanut butter, but feel free to use creamy peanut butter for a more classic cookie.

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Vegan Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies

The Spruce

You don't have to be a vegan to enjoy these egg-free, dairy-free vegan double chocolate cookies—they'll be a hit with everyone!
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South American Cookies With Caramel Filling (Alfajores)

Getty Images / ElOjoTorpe

South American cookies with caramel filling (Alfajores) are a traditional South American cookie. The cookies vary from region to region. They are usually filled with dulce de leche and topped with powdered sugar and edged with coconut, but some versions are dipped in chocolate.
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Peanut Butter Blossoms

The Spruce / Jessie Sheehan

These classic peanut blossom cookies are always a favorite, no matter what your age. A delicious brown sugar peanut butter dough teams up with chocolate candy kisses to make the perfect sweet treat for Christmas or any time of the year.
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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cowboy Cookies

The Spruce

These flavor-packed oatmeal chocolate chip cowboy cookies are filled with many of our favorite cookie add-ins, including chocolate chips, chopped peanuts or pecans, and oats. The cookies are similar to ranger cookies. If you like coconut in your cowboy cookies, add about 1/2 cup of flaked coconut along with the chocolate chips.

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Chow Mein Noodle Haystacks

The Spruce

Whether you call them candy or cookies, these chow mein noodle haystacks will reward you with smiles and kudos. The basic haystacks—sometimes called bird's nests—include butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and peanuts, and there are several variations to try. These treats are a snap to fix in the microwave oven.
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Easy Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

If the oven is in use and you need a delicious treat fast, make these easy chocolate no-bake cookies. Oats, chocolate chips, and optional peanut butter flavor the easy stovetop cookies.
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Copycat Do Si Do Girl Scout Cookies

Leah Maroney

These copycat "do-si-do"Girl Scout cookies taste just like the original cookies and you can make them any time of the year. A creamy peanut butter icing makes up the filling for these brilliant cookies.
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Brown-Eyed Susan Cookies

Claire Cohen

These brown-eyed Susan cookies are similar to the popular peanut blossoms, but they are made without peanut butter. If you have people with peanut allergies, this is an excellent alternative.

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Jewel Thumbprint Cookies

Diana Rattray

A pretty jewel-like filling brightens these buttery jewel thumbprint cookies. The cookies get their texture from a chopped nut coating.

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