The time in between Thanksgiving and Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

For me, Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season and I love how in the days that follow Thanksgiving there is a true sense of excitement and merriment that marks the lead up to Christmas. In my household, it is now the appropriate time to start thinking about what you want and what you want to give for Christmas, it is time for the Christmas music to come on, the Christmas tree lot down the street is in full action, and there is a cozy left-over pine smell that comes out along with all the holiday decorations. All of this wraps me in a warm embrace of comfort and joy.

The one other element of this time of year that gives me the sense of the holiday season are the cookies.

For me, cookies have always been around during the Christmas season, but it has not been until recently that I realized the how much meaning these cookies bring with them. There is the annual Christmas tea at church put on by all the ladies of the church that brings with it a whole host of cookies. There is the neighborhood cookie exchange where, for in exchange for making three dozen cookies, you get three dozen new ones in return.

There are the memories of making sugar cookies crusted in red and green sugar with my mom as a kid, and trying out new recipes as I got older. There is the cookie baking party my friends and I have each year and is often the first item on our agenda now when we get home from school for the break.

Each one of these times where cookies are made, enjoyed, and exchanged brings with them a special set of memories I fondly associate with the holiday season. So, to commemorate my memories of cookies, here are some of my favorite recipes.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

These are great to make year-round, but they are always one staple of the cookie party my friends and I have.

Mocha Crackle Cookies

I love how rich and chocolatey these cookies are. Plus, when you add the powdered sugar it looks like a light dusting of snow hit the cookie.

Christmas Swirl Sugar Cookies

These are reminiscent of what my mom and I would make when I was little. Sugar cookies are always a classic that can be jazzed up and this is a fun way to do it! Add a little pop of color to your sugar cookie display while pleasing the pickiest cookie lovers.

Ginger Molasses Cookies

While the gingerbread houses and men are cute, there is something a bit more satisfying about biting into a soft, chewy ginger molasses cookie instead. The warm bite of the species is always a great taste of the holidays.

Peppermint Bark

While it may not be a cookie, I still love to include peppermint bark as one of my favorite holiday treats. It’s great to give as a gift, that is if you can help yourself from snacking on it all before you give it to others.

Rolo Pretzel Turtle

These also break the traditional expectation of a cookie, but boy are they easy to make. I was first introduced to these lovely gems at our church Christmas tea where one woman would always bring them. They are so easy to pop in your mouth and the flavor combination of salty, chewy, and a nutty crunch will make it hard to stop them from going in!

Happy Baking to you this holiday season! Enjoy!