It’s officially one of the best baking months of the year. Full of cookies, cakes, and lots of bread, December promises nostalgic classics and creative new spins. In this collection, you’ll find everything from cheesy bread for a cold winter night to dinner party appetizers — plus breakfast treats, Hanukkah mashups, and much more. 

Decorated holiday sugar cookies Photography by Patrick Marinello; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
A sugar cookie that holds its shape and stays delightfully soft.

1) Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies 

Reverse creaming isn’t just for cakes; the mixing technique also makes exceptionally tender cookies. This cookie dough rolls out easily and holds its shape in the oven — perfect for an array of holiday cookie cutters and gorgeous frosted designs.

Get the recipe: Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

Shop the recipe: Christmas Cheer Cookie Cutters and Plant-Based Food Colors

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Roll-Out Sugar Cookies, Holiday Butter Cookies 

Baked latke focaccia on a cutting board Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Latkes + focaccia = an irresistible Hanukkah mashup.

2) Latke Focaccia 

This mashup focaccia is a fun, modern addition to your Hanukkah table, but don’t let that be the only occasion for which you make this masterpiece. It’s a carb lover’s dream: Frozen shredded hashbrowns are added to a pan, then topped with plush focaccia dough and a final garnish of more potatoes, which form a brown, crispy crust on the bread. Once it’s baked, turn the bread out of the pan to reveal its delightful giant latke-like appearance.

Get the recipe: Latke Focaccia

Shop the recipe:Unbleached Bread Flour

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Easy-Does-It Latkes, Golden Potato Focaccia

Glazed Chocolate Gingerbread Cake Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
An easy last-minute bake for any holiday occassion. 

3) Glazed Chocolate Gingerbread Cake 

This no-fuss holiday cake delivers on all fronts. The cake itself strikes the perfect balance between deeply chocolatey and warmly spiced, and, best of all, the dairy-free batter is mixed by hand and comes together in a mere 15 minutes. (For more festive yet fuss-free recipes, see our collection of 12 easy holiday recipes for every baking occasion.)

Get the recipe: Glazed Chocolate Gingerbread Cake

Shop the recipe: Guittard Bittersweet Chocolate Onyx Wafers and Gingerbread Spice

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Gingerbread Bundt Cake, Triple Ginger Gingerbread 

Sour Cream Fruitcake on cutting board and in paper baking pans Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Liz Neily
A fruitcake everyone will love — trust us.

4) Sour Cream Fruitcake

This recipe puts the “cake” in fruitcake. It’s made with a sour cream pound cake base, kitted out for the holidays with rum-soaked fruit. You have the choice to bake as mini loaves, a Bundt cake, or bars, depending on the occasion.

Get the recipe: Sour Cream Fruitcake

Shop the recipe: Fruitcake Fruit Blend

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Everyone’s Favorite Fruitcake, Quick Fruitcake  

Two-Tone Festive Sugar Cookies Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Can't choose between chocolate and vanilla cookies? Don't

5) Two-Tone Festive Sugar Cookies

For picture-perfect holiday cookies, try the smart swapping technique in this recipe. After rolling and stamping out a chocolate and vanilla dough, you just switch the cut-out dough from the center of each cookie for a striking two-tone effect. (For more simple-yet-spectacular bakes, see our collection of 12 easy holiday recipes for every baking occasion.)

Get the recipe: Two-Tone Festive Sugar Cookies

Shop the recipe: Black Cocoa

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Holiday Butter Cookies, Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies  

Toasted Flour Shortbread Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Want an unexpected holiday cookie? This is it.

6) Toasted Flour Shortbread

While many sablés and shortbreads are all about the flavor of the butter, these cookies are all about the flavor of the flour. After a stint in a hot oven, all-purpose flour is like a new version of itself, with a golden hue, malty aroma, and much deeper, nuttier flavor that infuses every bite of these sandy cookies.

Get the recipe: Toasted Flour Shortbread

Shop the recipe: Sparkling Sugar

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Thrice-Baked Rye Cookies, Salty-Sweet Sablés 

Loaded Baked Potato Dinner Rolls Photography by Patrick Marinello; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
A dinner roll that's anything but boring.

7) Loaded Baked Potato Dinner Rolls

This recipe takes dinner rolls from supporting player to center stage with the help of cheddar, chives, and plenty of bacon. Evoking a fully loaded baked potato, each fluffy pull-apart roll delivers maximum flavor (and is guaranteed to stay soft for days, thanks to the potato in the dough).

Get the recipe: Loaded Baked Potato Dinner Rolls

Shop the recipe: Unbleached Bread Flour

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Big Batch Quick Dinner Rolls, Amish Dinner Rolls  

Rugelach Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Play around with fillings to make the rugelach that suits your taste.

8) Rugelach

It’s hard to choose a favorite rugelach filling — from chocolate to apricot to cinnamon — so our recipe includes all of those options. The flaky, buttery dough is enriched with both cream cheese and sour cream, making it the perfect foil to an array of sweet fillings.

Get the recipe: Rugelach (or Gluten-Free Rugelach)

Shop the recipe: Sparkling Sugar

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Savory Pumpkin Parmesan Rugelach, Guava Pinwheels 

Light and Crisp Olive Oil Crackers Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Every holiday appetizer spread needs dips and crackers.

9) Light and Crisp Olive Oil Crackers

Sure, it’s easy to just pick up a box of crackers at the store. But making your own is super easy, and the results are much better. Simply stir together a handful of ingredients, then roll, cut, and bake. Salty, savory, and snappable, these crackers are a blank canvas for seasonings, yet the olive oil imparts enough flavor that no elaboration is necessary.

Get the recipe: Light and Crisp Olive Oil Crackers

Shop the recipe: Pizza Wheel

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Crunchy Crackers, Easiest Sourdough Discard Crackers  

Small-Batch Biscuits Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Biscuits for two!

10) Small-Batch Biscuits

Biscuits are best the day they’re made. Ensure there are no leftovers with this small-batch recipe, which yields two perfect biscuits — and no more. Because they’re made with cream instead of butter, they’re even simpler to make than typical flaky biscuits. With just five ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time, you can have two golden, tender biscuits ready in time for breakfast.

Get the recipe: Small-Batch Biscuits

Shop the recipe: Bench Knife and King Arthur Quarter Sheet Pan

If you like this recipe, you make also like: Easy Self-Rising Biscuits, Small-Batch Parker House Rolls 

Orange Sparkle Slice-and-Bake Cookies Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
Lights aren't the only thing sparkling this holiday season.

11) Citrus Sparkle Slice-and-Bake Cookies

These glitzy cookies get their citrusy flavor three ways: orange oil, Fiori di Sicilia, and candied citrus peel, which creates extra pockets of flavor. Crisp and crunchy, with a glitter of sparkling sugar at their edges, these bright cookies will be the star of every festive cookie platter.

Get the recipe: Citrus Sparkle Slice and Bake Cookies

Shop the recipe: Fiori di Sicilia, Citrus Oil Set, and Sparkling Sugar

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Olive Oil-Orange Sugar Cookies, Cranberry-Studded Melted Butter Shortbread  

Cinnamon Toast Cake Photography by Rick Holbrook; food styling by Kaitlin Wayne
The secret ingredient in this cake? Breadcrumbs.

12) Cinnamon Toast Cake 

This cake recipe has an unusual ingredient: breadcrumbs. They’re mixed into the batter, where they add moisture that keeps the cake soft for several days, and are also used to line the pan, forming a crisp, buttery crust. Serve thick slices with a generous dollop of jam-swirled whipped cream to complete the toast-with-jam effect.

Get the recipe: Cinnamon Toast Cake

Shop the recipe: Vietnamese Cinnamon and King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Buttered Toast Press-In Pie Crust, Whole Grain Cinnamon Coffee Cake 

Eggnog Cheesecake Photography and food styling by Liz Neily
A cheesecake as rich and creamy as a glass of eggnog.

13) Eggnog Cheesecake

If you took a glass of eggnog and turned it into a rich, creamy dessert, you’d have this party-worthy cheesecake. A combination of nutmeg, vanilla, and rum in the filling evoke the flavors of the classic holiday drink, and the nutty press-in crust couldn’t be simpler.

Get the recipe: Eggnog Cheesecake 

Shop the recipe: Nutmeg and Springform Pan

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust, Lazy Morning Eggnog Coffee Cake  

Lemon thumbprint cookies filled with lemon curd and drizzled with lemon glaze Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
If you need a little brightness this winter, these cookies deliver.

14) Double Lemon Thumbprints 

When lemon cookies just aren’t lemony enough, fill them with tart curd, which adds both zingy flavor and a pop of color. Major bonus points if you decorate them to look like little lemons, though a straightforward drizzle of punchy glaze does the job, too. 

Get the recipe: Double Lemon Thumbprints

Shop the recipe: Lemon Oil

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Whipped Lemon Shortbread, Lemon Snowball Cookies 

Cinnamon-Eggnog Scones Photography and food styling by Shilpa Iyer
Hoilday breakfast is sorted.

15) Cinnamon-Eggnog Scones

These soft, spiced scones get their flavor from eggnog, which is used in the dough in place of milk or cream. Cinnamon Sweet Bits studded throughout and a topping of eggnog and sparkling sugar add additional festive flair. (Busy holidays? You can prep these scones up to the point of baking several days ahead, then freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake fresh in the morning.)

Get the recipe: Cinnamon-Eggnog Scones

Shop the recipe: Cinnamon Sweet Bits

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Easy Holiday Eggnog Muffins, Eggnog Rum Balls

Herb-Scented Baked Brie Bread Photography by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
Almost too pretty to eat! 

16) Herb-Scented Baked Brie Bread 

The only thing cozier and more festive than warm, melty baked Brie? Warm baked Brie surrounded by herb-scented pull-apart bread that’s crusty on the outside and fluffy in the center. This bread is guaranteed to be a standout at any holiday party — it’s designed for friends to gather around.

Get the recipe: Herb-Scented Baked Brie Bread

Shop the recipe: Unbleached Bread Flour, Herbes de Provence

If you like this recipe, you may also like: Garlic and Herb Sun Bread (Tarte Soleil), Cacio e Pepe Clover Rolls

Got a lot of baking to do this month? For simple-yet-spectacular bakes, see our collection of 12 easy holiday recipes for every baking occasion.

Cover photo by Danielle Sykes; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova.

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Orange Sparkle Slice-and-Bake Cookies
Citrus Sparkle Slice-and-Bake Cookies
4.6 out of 5 stars 8 Reviews
Total
2 hrs
Yield
about 6 dozen cookies
Tagged:
Filed Under: Recipes
Rossi crimping pie crust
The Author

About Rossi Anastopoulo

Rossi Anastopoulo grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, which is how she fell in love with biscuits. She didn’t have any bakers in her household (with the exception of her grandmother’s perfect koulourakia), so she learned at a young age that the best way to satisfy her sweet tooth was to make dess...
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