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Sarah's Cookies of Christmas Past

Through the years of baking Christmas cookies, many recipes have come and gone. Sarah loves to try at least a few new recipes each year, and of course that means some old standbys have to step aside to make room.

For those who are interested, here is every type of cookie and other sweet treat that Sarah has ever made for her Christmas gift–giving tradition that are not on this year's list. If you see something you really love and really miss, take heart. Many of these will find their way back on the current–year list from time–to–time in the future. Until then, enjoy the memory of the Flavors of Christmases Past.

  Back to This Year's List  

Alsatian Christmas Cookies

Though their name may make you think of the Alsace region of France, the candied orange peel and almonds in these these rolled cookies give them a distinctive nutty aroma and citrusy flavor that may make you think of Christmas in Florida!

Apple Cider Caramels

This is the extra–chewy candy that you know and love, but with an added extra kick of apple cider syrup. It makes them taste like miniature caramel apples! All the deliciousness, with no seeds!

Apricot Balls

These are no–bake formed cookies made with a base of crushed vanilla wafers, flavored with dried apricots and spiked with amaretto for a little punch!

Benne Wafers

Benne Wafers are thin, chewy cookies made with sesame seeds and honey. "Benne" is the Bantu word for sesame, which was brought from East Africa and planted extensively throughout the South. Benne Wafers have been favorites in that region ever since.

Browned Butter Maple Sandwiches

These spritz sandwich cookies feature the nutty flavor of browned butter with a yummy maple syrup laced filling.

Butter Rum Cookies

These delecate flowers are rolled sandwich cookies that are studded with almonds and filled with a rich butter rum frosting.

Butter Walnut Greeks

Also known as Kourabiedes (from Greece), these cookies are made with toasted walnuts in a delicate butter cookie. They are crowned with a whole clove (which can be removed before eating).

Buttery Mint Slices

Alternating chocolate and mint stripes make up these sliced refrigerator butter cookies

Calcutta Coconut Cookies

Kind of a twist on the traditional snickerdoodle, these shaped sugar cookies have a hint of coconut for another layer of flavor.

Caramel Apple Oat Drops

Bits of dried apples and caramel mixed into these oatmeal drop cookies give them the flavor of caramel apples!

Caramel Chocolate Pockets

Start with a tender refrigerator dough laced with chocolate hazelnut spread. Then hide a treasure of caramel and chopped hazelnuts inside. Wow!

Cardamom Fig Thumbprints

These are simple formed soft cookies with a dollop of homemade brandied fig jam nestled in a thumprint depression in the center of each cookie.

Cashew Icebox Cookies

Honey roasted cashews add the crunch in these crunchy, buttery cookies.

Chai Tea Cookies

These delicate shaped butter are seasoned with chai spices. Sometimes they are made into sandwiches filled with white chocolate ganache that\s been flavored with chai tea.

Cherry Mocha Balls

A combination of coffee, chocolate, pecans and candied cherries give these formed cookies a truly unique flavor.

Chewy Toffee Almond Bars

Wonderfully rich bar cookies with almonds, toffee, and coconut.

Chocolate Coconut Marshmallows

So much better than store–bought marshmallows. These little heavenly pillows of flavor have a hint of chocolate, with a rich burst of toasted coconut on top!

Chocolate Marshmallows

Hot cocoa with marshmallows, s'mores, rocky road ice cream. There's something about the flavors of chocolate and marshmallow when they're combined. Why not put the chocolate inside the marshmallow? "Why not", indeed!

Chocolate Marshmallow Drops

These drop cookies are frosted with chocolate ganache and contain a surprise filling of marshmallow creme!

Chocolate Mint Sandwiches

These sandwich cookies start with soft minty chocolate slices, which are married together with a mint laced chocolate ganache.

Chocolate Mint Wafers

These small, crispy chocolate cookies have a hint of mint inside, with chocolate mint icing and candy pieces on top.

Chocolate Palmiers

Palmier is the French word for palm tree, and these refrigerator slice cookies get their name from a resemblance to a palm leaf. The filling is chocolate pecan cream cheese.

Chocolate Phantoms

More like candy than cookie, these brownie–like morsels are made with mostly chocolate, and macadamia nuts for crunch.

Ciambelle  

Ciambelle (Italian Lemon Wreaths) are delicately sweet with a tender crumb and a tartish icing. They are formed into the classic wreath ring shape ("ciambelle in Italian) by hand before baking.

Coconut Chocolate Slices

These sliced cookies have a center filled with pecans, coconut, and cream cheese. No wonder they're sometimes known as German Chocolate Slices.

Coconut Spice Cookies

Coconut milk steeped in mulling spices gives these drop cookies an invitingly warm, yet subtle holiday flavor

Colombian Coffee Cookies

A unique combination of cashews and espresso coffee give these formed cookies a real South American flavor! Their subtle sweetness and chewy texture make them great for dunking in coffee.

Cranberry Drops

Dried cranberries, orange juice, and orange zest give these moist, chewy drop cookies a hint of tartness. Nibble these with a cup of rooibos or zinger tea.

Cran–Orange Slices

These stacked, sliced, refrigerator cookies get their bright flavor and color from alternating layers infused with dried cranberries, fresh orange juice and orange zest.

Cranberry Pockets

These little flavor–filled purses start with a tender sour cream dough, rolled and filled with wine–soaked dried cranberries.

Cream Cheese Walnut Slices

The name gives it all away with these cookies. Cream cheese is added to make the dough tender, and toasted walnuts add depth to the flavor of these sliced cookies.

Creme de Menthe Marshmallows

The difference between home–made marshmallows and the kind you buy in a bag is like the difference between coffee made by an expert barista and instant. The magic of creme de menthe is the hint of vanilla. It makes these little green gems the perfect Christmas treat.

Date Nut Oatmeal Drops

Their name says it all. These cookies are made from a soft drop cookie dough that starts with oatmeal as its base, then ups the flavor and texture by adding in lots of date and nut pieces. These little gems go great with coffee or tea!

Fruit & Nut Cookies

These drop cookies are loaded with dates, apricots, coconut, pistachios, walnuts, and macadamias.

Fruitcake Drops

A 'little bit' of brandy–laced cookie dough doing its best to hold together a medley of brandy–soaked dried cherries, dates, candied cherries, other fruits and pecans.

Gingerbread  

Is there anything that says "Christmas" more than the wonderful aroma of gingerbread cookies baking in the oven? Of course ginger is the main flavoring ingredient, but lots of other favorite Christmas flavors, like cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses add to the classic flavor of these rolled cookies.

Gingerbread Biscotti

The gingerbread spices and almonds in these biscotti give them that wonderful aroma of Christmas. Hot and spicy chai tea makes the perfect dunking partner.

Honey Oat Biscotti

Nothing warms you up in the morning like a bowl of hot oatmeal with honey and nuts. That's the idea behind these biscotti with oatmeal, honey, and pecans. Dunk them in your favorite coffee or breakfast tea for a very continental breakfast.

Italian Sprinkle Cookies

Some cookie doughs have a light, cake–like texture when baked. These lemon flavored formed cookies are a perfect example. The simple almond glaze and colorful sprinkles have to be applied while the cookies are still warm, or the sprinkles won't stick!

Jam Poinsettias

Sour cream added to the dough of these rolled cookies makes them tender and light. Their subtle sweetness comes from their raspberry jam centers and red pearl sugar sprinkled on the petals.

Kahlua Creams

Start with chocolate drop cookies that have been laced with kahlua liqueur, then pair them up and sandwich them together with a delicious kahlua–flavored buttercream filling. Wow! Of course they go amazingly with coffee.

Lemon Poppyseed Cookies

Imagine taking all of the flavor of a lemon poppyseed muffin and condensing it into a cookie. With these little drop cookies, you don't have to imagine! For an extra kick of flavor, try them with Lemon Zinger tea.

Ma'Amoul  

Ma'Amoul are small shortbread pastries filled with a spiced date paste (or occasionally other fillings). They can either be decorated by hand or be made in special wooden molds. Ma'Amoul with date fillings are often known as Menenas. They are very popular in Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern countries for religious holidays like Ramedan, Purim, Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah.

Macadamia Maple Bars

These bar cookies are very similar to the Almond Toffee Triangles" They have the same shortbread base layer, topped with macadamia nuts and a glaze made from real maple syrup.

Maple Drops

The elegance of these cookies comes from their simplicity: a soft drop cookie dough flavored with brown sugar and real maple syrup. These are simply amazing with tea!

Maple Macadamia Nut Bars

These bar cookies start with a crispy base that gets topped with macadamia nuts and caramel laced with maple syrup.

Maple Pecan Biscotti

A biscotti laced with the delecate flavor of maple syrup and studded with roasted pecans, then drizzled with a maple syrup glaze!

Marbled Tahini Cookies

Thanks to the addition of tahini in these cookies, their sandy texture and nutty taste will remind you of halvah. These subtly–sweet cookies are perfect for grown–ups to enjoy with a cup of tea.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Imagine chocolate Snickerdoodles. Now add a hint of Ancho Chile spice. It's like having a cup of Mexican Drinking Chocolate in cookie form!

Mexican Wedding Cakes

A classic formed butter cookie that is laced with toasted pecans and rolled in powdered sugar.

Millionaire Shortbread

An irresistible combination of flaky shortbread, creamy smooth caramel, and a thin dark chocolate layer, these gems may remind you of a well–known candy bar with the flavor dialed up to eleven.

Mincemeat Pockets

Tender sugar cookie dough enrobing a dollop of homemade pear mincemeat. All the spices of Christmas!

Mint Capped Brownie Cups

These one–bite micro cupcakes are made with a brownie type batter, then topped with a mint truffle candy kiss!

Mocha Slices

A simple sliced refrigerator cookie that has been elevated in sophistication by the addition of both coffee and cocoa nibs.

Nuremberger  

Nuremberger is a variety of Lebkuchen (German gingerbread) made with honey instead of molasses, which gives it a lighter, slightly less sweet flavor. The most well–known version comes from the city of Nürnberg, Germany, which is where it got its name.

Nut Macaroons

Made with meringue, ground almonds and hazelnuts, these macaroons have a crispy crust and a soft center. Unlike the coconut variety, these are similar to the original recipe dating from 16th century France, which were made from egg whites and almond paste.

Orange Cardamom Thins

These delicate sliced butter cookies are flavored with cardamom, orange and pecans.

Orange Coconut Cookies

Nothing unexpected here. These chewy refrigerator sliced cookies are flavored with orange and coconut.

Orange Poppyseed Cookies

The dough for these refrigerator butter cookies is flavored with orange juice and zest. Poppyseeds add their subtle flavor and a peppered complexion.

Pastry Pillows

Cream cheese makes the pastry dough outside of these morsels extra delicate, and both almond paste and raspberry jam filling makes them extra delicious!

Peaches And Cream

These wonderful little drop cookies get their get their body and texture from oatmeal and their flavor from dried peaches and white chocolate pieces.

Peanut Butter Peanut Brittle Cookies

These are fairly standard peanut butter cookies, except that each one is topped with little bits of peanut brittle to give it a bit of a surprise crunch.

Pecan Caramel Biscotti

These biscotti have a bit of a different texture than normal, thanks to pecan meal replacing most of the flour. Then the nutty flavor is enhanced by the addition of delicious caramel chips.

Pistachio Butter Rounds

These rolled cookies start with a short butter cookie dough, which is laced with rose water and topped with crushed pistachios for a middle eastern flavor.

Pistachio Cranberry Cornbread Biscotti

Some confections are exactly what their name sounds like. These are like that. The pistachios and cranberries give them a festive holiday smattering of red and green, while the cornmeal gives a hearty crunch to the crumb.

Pistachio Cream Cheese Cookies

These sliced cookies start out similar to sugar cookies, but get added richness and decadence from butter and cream cheese. A rim of pistachios gives them a holiday feel.

Pistachio Jam Cookies

Also known as Karithata (from Greece), these thumbprint butter cookies are laced with pistachios and the thumbprint is filled with rose hip jam.

Pistachio Nut Stars

The dough for these cookies is flavored with pistachios and cardamom. The cookies are rolled and cut into stars, then sandwiched with orange marmalade.

Pistachio Nut Jams

These tiny formed cookies with the little thumbprint in the middle are made with pistachios, cardamom, and jam. Cute as a button!

Puerto Rican Rum Cookies

Delicate drop cookies that are infused with dark rum, and glazed with even more rum while they're still hot!

Pumpkin Biscotti

More moist than typical biscotti thanks to the addition of real pumpkin, these biscotti also get a warm infusion of flavor and aroma from pumpkin pie spices.

Reindeer Prints

Also known as Coffee Bean Cookies, these coffee flavored cookies include cocoa in the dough, combined with a dark chocolate coating. Chocolate and coffee are always great together, so why not combine them into a cookie?

Rum Balls

What do you get when you mix crushed vanilla wafers, sugar, chocolate, and rum? You get a no–bake candy (or is it a cookie?) that tastes better than the sum of its parts. Not for the kids!

St. Nicholas Cookies

Lots of people love snickerdoodles – probably because their name is so much fun to say. These formed cookies are very similar in texture and flavor, but with an added hint of nutmeg, because St. Nicholas likes them that way!

Santa's Whiskers

These refrigerator cookies start with a short butter cookie dough, to which is added candied cherries, pecans, and rum flavoring. The original recipe called for coconut to decorate the outside, but thanks to a happy accident, the coconut now enhances the flavor!

Scottish Shortbread

Scottish Shortbread is the original, and may date back to before the 12th century. These little squares are abbreviated versions of a traditional shape and use a classic recipe that combines butter, sugar and flour – in that order!

Siamese Coconut Milk Cookies

These drop cookies are flavored with coconut milk and cashews. Cookies with a Thai twist!

Soft Gingerbread Drops

Normally, gingerbread is a rolled cookie, but these drop cookie versions are anything but normal! Imagine all the spicy goodness of gingerbread, with the added flavor boost of chocolate chips and walnuts. Now stop imagining and take a bite!

Speculaas

Speculaas, or speculoos, is a molded cookie that's spicy, crunchy, and perfect for dunking in coffee, tea or hot cocoa. What could be better at Christmastime? These little gems have been popular in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg for 400 years! When you taste the warm, sweet spices, you'll know why.

Spiced Cardamom Cutouts

A crunchy cookie of Norwegian origin, lightly spiced with cardamom (of course), allspice, and cloves. They're pressed with patterns for texture, and cut into Christmas shapes.

Sweet Salty Butterscotch Cookies

One of the most decadent drop cookies you'll ever try! These moist and chewy delights get their burst of flavor from cashews paired with Callebaut butterscotch pieces. Mòran taing!

Thin Mint Slices

Simple sliced cookies get enhanced with natural mint flavoring and dipped in dark chocolate.

Toasted Almond Cookies

Your basic sliced cookies, excepte that they are dipped in rich white chocolate and sprinkled with toasted almond slivers. Subtle, but delicious!

Toasted Coconut Marshmallows

So much better than store–bought marshmallows. These little heavenly pillows of flavor have a hint of coconut flavor, with a rich burst of toasted coconut on top!