While I typically bake 3,000–5,000 cookies in December, often picking 70 or 80 different kinds, you, too, can throw yourself a Cookie Extravaganza. It does not have to be as absurdly and outrageously over the top as mine. Cookies make wonderful gifts, and cookie boxes are super fun to put together. You can make two or three kinds of cookies, pack them up into pretty boxes, tie them up with ribbon, and send them off into the world. You can get wildly extravagant if you want, or you can keep it simple. Over the years, I’ve amassed an extensive cookbook collection for the purpose of Cookie Extravaganza. And I’ve learned a few things about what makes a good cookie box. You want cookies of different textures — some soft and chewy, some buttery and short, some crisp. You want a range of flavors, styles, and shapes: sandwich cookies, bar cookies, filled cookies. Each cookie should bring something unique to the collection. It’s also important to to pick cookies that will last and/or ship well. Over the years, I’ve found that most cookies remain delicious much longer than most recipes say they will. But it’s still a good idea to choose cookies that age well. I love nothing more than spreading the cookie love. I want everyone who loves baking to experience the joy that is Cookie Extravaganza! But my way is admittedly extreme. Below you’ll find a template for how to create your own mini 12 day Cookie Extravaganza. Twelve days has a nice ring to it (there’s that famous song, after all). It’s definitely a project — you’ll feel extremely proud after baking a different cookie every day for twelve days. But it’s also attainable. The cookies I’ve picked are not incredibly complicated; you can bake up a batch in the evening after work. I’ve chosen 12 cookie recipes that I adore, two each from six must-have baking cookbooks. It was hard to pick just two recipes from each of these books. In the end, I chose my most beloved recipes from my favorite cookbooks, the ones I return to over and over again. Together, these 12 cookies will make a beautiful box, full of interesting shapes and textures, lots of colors, and, of course, many mouthwatering flavors. I’ve organized the process into days, beginning with the cookies that last the longest. Of course you can switch this up however you want. You could do the whole thing in a weekend, or you could bake two cookies each day for a week. However you choose to bake, I hope you find lots of inspiration in these cookbooks and recipe suggestions, and I wish you the coziest baking season!
Days 1 & 2:
Elisenlebkuchen
These traditional German gingerbread cookies are soft and chewy. They’re flourless, made with a combination of ground nuts and almond paste. They’re full of candied citrus peel and Lebkuchengewürz, a wonderfully warm and aromatic German spice mix made of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, anise, mace, and more.
Leckerli
These chewy bars are made with honey, spices, lots of citrus zest, and candied citrus peel. They have a wonderful, soft texture, with a delightful crack on the top from the sugar glaze. They also last for months!
Days 3 & 4
Chocolate, Almond and Cocoa Nib Caramels
Once I got over my fear of caramel and realized that it is not as hard as The Great British Baking Show makes it seem, I became obsessed with making caramels. Joanne Chang’s almond and chocolate caramels (the far left in the picture below) are decadent and perfect, with a little zip from the cocoa nibs and a pleasing crunch from the almonds.
Peppermint Kisses
Who doesn’t love a meringue? These ones are so pretty and fun! They’re crunchy and sweet, but not too sweet — the peppermint flavor cuts the sweetness a bit. Packed in clear bags with ribbon, they make such a colorful addition to a cookie box.
Days 5 & 6:
Gingerbread Tiles
I cannot explain how much I love these cookies. They’re always a favorite among my friends and family, too. The flavor is simple but wonderful, full of molasses and ginger. You need a cookie stamp or a patterned rolling pin to get the pretty design, but it’s worth investing in one. The way the rum-butter glaze accentuates the pattern is dreamy, but these cookies have substance, too; they’re as delicious as they look.
Amaretti with Honey and Orange Blossom
This is another recipe I’ve been making for years and just can’t let go of. It’s a simple, crumbly cookie made with almonds and egg whites, subtly flavored with orange blossom. I like to make sure a cookie box has a few cookies that aren’t super sweet, and this one is delicious and interesting but not overpowering.
Days 7 & 8:
Spritz Cookies
I love unique flavor combinations and unusual cookies. But I also love a classic. It’s worth including something simple, like these delicious spritz cookies, in your box. These taste like butter and vanilla. That’s it. What’s not to love?
Food for the Gods
I sadly don’t have a picture of these, but don’t let that deter you. Food for the Gods bars are a traditional Philippine dessert, and they are divine. They’re a little bit like blondies, but they’re made with walnuts and dates, which gives them a nutty, caramel flavor. They’re often wrapped individually in colorful paper and tied with twine, which makes for a lovely addition to any cookie box.
Days 9 & 10:
Sesame Florentines
Payard Cookies has a lot of classic recipes, but this is one of the more inventive ones. Florentines are made from a mixture of melted butter and nuts. They spread out in the oven and turn into lacy, crispy, butter bits of joy. These ones are made with sesame seeds and almonds, which makes for a wonderful combination.
Raspberry Lunettes
This recipe is a bit more representative of the kinds of cookies you’ll find in this book. Jam-filled cookies are a classic for a reason, and I love the way they look (and taste) in a cookie box. These ones are a variation on traditional linzer cookies: a nutty, buttery cookie with a bright jam filling.
Days 11 & 12:
World Peace Cookies
I am woefully without a picture of these cookies, which are probably Dorie Greenspan’s most famous recipe. And they are worth all the fuss. Every cookie box needs one really good chocolate cookies, and these ones are the absolute best.
Multigrain Chocolate Chip Cookies
I promise that Dorie’s Cookies has recipes for non-chocolate cookies! But another hallmark of a great cookie box is a perfect drop cookie, something with slightly crisp golden brown edges and a soft, chewy center. I know everyone has their own opinions about chocolate chip cookies, and my opinion is: these are my favorite. They have a little bit of buckwheat flour, and some kasha (roasted buckwheat groats) and pecans for crunch. I honestly can’t tell you exactly what all those things add to this cookie, except that it is supremely delicious. And there are your twelve days of holiday cookie (books)! If you’re looking for more baking inspiration, check out some of our Cookbook Showdowns, especially the ones for pumpkin pie and apple pie, perfect for the season. You’ll also find a lot to love on this list of 50 Must-Read Baking Cookbooks.
