Tis the season for baking

December 4, 2025 by
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When I published the Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaways! this weekend, I forgot to share my “cookie making gift tins” that I put together for my grown nieces and nephews.

Each tin contained piping bags and tips, cookie cutters, a bench scraper, an icing spatula, two gift boxes and tags with ribbons, chocolate chips, decorations including McCormick Candy Cane finishing sugar (there are other flavors available too), a 4 ounce bottle of vanilla, a few pieces of candy, red and green sanding sugars, sprinkles, flaky sea salt, a copy of The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cookies: The Ultimate Chewy, Gooey, Crispy, Crunchy Treats and a few little ornaments. I packed it all in a large cookie tin from Target. This tin fit perfectly into the USPS large one rate box and I was able to include a few personal items for some of the recipients. If you are interested, here are the links for the little sugar containers and the small bottles for vanilla. I am stocking up on non-perishable things to make these next year and offer them on Facebook Marketplace.

Today is National Cookie Day! One of the books I plan on using this holiday season is Cookies – The Best Recipes for the Perfect Anytime Treat by Vaughn Vreeland and the New York Times (99 online recipes – New York Times). I am a huge fan of newspaper cookie contests and always ask my friends around the country to send me their cookie sections.

We have been adding online cookie recipes from the most recent New York Times Cookie Week and blogs. When you click on this link, if you head to the second page of results the NYT cookie recipes begin with Dark ‘n’ stormy cookies by Dan Pelosi. Sally McKenney has some great cookie recipes that we recently indexed (photo to the right) and include: Maple pecan icebox slice & bake cookies; Mint chocolate chip icebox slice & bake cookies; Cookies & cream icebox slice & bake cookies; Raspberry white chocolate icebox slice & bake cookies; and Chocolate caramel toffee icebox slice & bake cookies.

For my cookie trays that I hope to make, I am adding some easy to do things to supplement the from scratch selections. I plan on making chocolate and white chocolate covered Oreos with sprinkles and graham crackers with the same decorations. Also, I am including Rice Krispie treats (I bought a huge two slab box from Costco for US$2.24!) and will decorate them with frosting and Fancy Sprinkles. Lastly, I plan to decorate Biscoff cookies with icing and sprinkles.

London_Mummy’s comment made me realize that some of our international Members may not understand what I mean about a cookie tray/cookie box. Many Americans and Canadians prepare a selection of homemade cookies to gift to friends and neighbors (and set out for nibbling during the holidays). I indexed Preparing a Christmas cookie platter that shares some secrets for making a Christmas cookie tray/platter.

Adding new comment information:

  • Member Eliza added: In Germany the equivalent of the cookie tray is the Bunter Teller which is described in Anja Dunk’s book Advent (online recipes). As a child I lived in Germany and this book brings back memories of Lebkuchen, Pfeffernusse, and Brunsli cookies. I bake from this book every Christmas.

Be sure to add photos of your bakes to our EYB Cookbook Club and here on EYB if you make a recipe that is indexed here!  Learn more here on how to add photos! Even free Members can add their photos to our recipe record and it only takes a minute! Add the book, online recipe, or magazine to your Bookshelf and then upload your photo. Please remember to update your profile with your Instagram name if you would like to be tagged in any photos that we share!

What are you planning to bake this season? Please share in the comments your traditions and holiday bakes, I love learning about them all.

Other posts on holiday baking:

Category: Recipes

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9 Comments

  • London_Mummy  on  December 4, 2025

    Thank you, this was very interesting & a real transatlantic cultural difference. I had never heard of a “cookie tray” before & had to look it up online. I can see how it could be a nice way to entertain, instead of having to cook & serve visitors a full meal, make a big cake or put on a whole afternoon tea. The cookie tray could look quite lavish & impressive to the guests but you could also spread the preparation out over several days, & each batch of cookies could be quite quick to make. It also avoids waste because you can bring out leftover cookies on the tray without the guest knowing that they were not baked especially for them (unlike bringing out a cake which has already been cut).

    • Jenny  on  December 4, 2025

      Thank you so much for your comment. Many Americans prepare cookie trays to gift to neighbors and friends. I have edited the post to share a link to an article about preparing cookie trays/cookie boxes.

  • eliza  on  December 4, 2025

    In Germany the equivalent of the cookie tray is the Bunter Teller which is described in Anja Dunk’s book Advent. As a child I lived in Germany and this book brings back memories of Lebkuchen, Pfeffernusse, and Brunsli cookies. I bake from this book every Christmas.

    • Jenny  on  December 5, 2025

      Thank you so much for your comment. I adore Advent by Anja – it is amazing. Did you know that a red covered edition was published but has the same ISBN as the UK edition – I had to order it.

  • Fyretigger  on  December 4, 2025

    While hardly traditional, Chocolate Chip and White Chocolate Macademia Nut made from fundraiser purchased frozen dough are real staples for us. On the more traditional front Polvorones frequently make an appearance. Recently I’ve had demand for a millionaire bar from Bon Appétit Desserts and a salted chocolate shortbread cookie from The Brown Eyed Baker (non-indexed blog).

    • Jenny  on  December 5, 2025

      Fyretigger, sounds amazing!

  • averythingcooks  on  December 5, 2025

    Brown sugar shortbread is a big favourite from my childhood and thumbprints (rolled in walnuts & filled with raspberry jam) are T’s 1st choice. I began making rugelach a couple of years ago that we both love and I just made a white chocolate, pecan, dried cranberry “pan” cookie in a removable bottom round tart tin that is very nice (Anna Olsen). Cookie trays & gift boxes are also big traditions in Canada 🙂

    • Jenny  on  December 5, 2025

      Thank you averythingcooks.

  • matag  on  December 5, 2025

    If I could only make one cookie it would have to be Pizzelles, the Italian waffle cookies that are anise flavored. I make them the old fashioned way – one at a time over a hot stove burner.

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