Making Christmas cookies is a tradition that dates back to a time before Christmas even existed. Cookies are an easy-to-share treat that are also fun to make. Many of my favorite childhood memories involve decorating cookies with my grandma or “helping” my mom mix up the dough.

In order to get into the Christmas spirit since it’s right around the corner, I’m going to share with you five of the cookies my family usually makes around Christmas time. Now, since most of these are family recipes and I don’t have the recipes on campus with me, I’m not going to actually give you the recipes; however, you can find recipes for these cookies online.

1. Sandtarts

Sandtarts are the best cookie in the entire world, and they’re one of the hardest to make. In order to make these just right, you have to get them thin (but not too thin).

There are two ways you can do this: roll them into a log and cut them down (my great-grandma’s way of doing it) or roll out the dough with a rolling pin, cut them out with cookie cutters, and decorate them before baking them (the fun way of doing it). These are not cookies for a beginner to make since you have to get them just right, but you should definitely try them if you ever get the chance.

2. Pizzelles

Now, this type of cookie isn’t exactly a Christmas cookie. In fact, you can make it anytime during the year. But if you’ve never had them before, then this Christmas is the perfect time to try them. Pizzelles are an Italian waffle cookie that can also be used to make cannoli shells.

Now, you’ll need a pizzelle maker in order to make this type of cookie, but they’re relatively simple to make and only bake for about thirty seconds to a minute (depending on how crisp you like them and the maker itself).

3. Sugar Cookies

There are two types of sugar cookies: hard and soft. Hard sugar cookies are the type that you can cut out with cookie cutters, but they take a lot of time to make because you have to roll them out (much like sandtarts, but not as thin). Soft sugar cookies sometimes called drop sugar cookies, are much simpler and quicker to make.

Regardless, both types are absolutely delicious. And you can decorate both types.

4. Refrigerator Walnut Cookies

Refrigerator walnut cookies are the easiest cookies to make. You just roll the dough into a log, wrap it in wax paper, put it in the fridge, and then cut it down. One log will yield a ton of cookies, so if you don’t have a lot of time but need a lot of cookies, walnut cookies are the way to go.

5. Molasses Cookies

Molasses cookies are essentially ginger snaps. They’re a little difficult to make because if you don’t have the consistency of the dough just right, they’ll run and you’ll have to throw them out. But otherwise, they’re really simple to make. You just shape the dough into a ball and roll it around in sugar—just like a peanut butter blossom, if you’ve ever made those.