Anybody else in denial that it’s SIX days until Christmas?

It made me think of a Facebook post I saw the other day. “We went from December 1st to December 15th in two days.”

Yep, that’s about what it feels like.

But that doesn’t mean I didn’t sneak in some holiday baking. Cookies are my favorite, so I’m always happy whenever Will volunteers me for bakery duty for his work Christmas party.

Despite flirting with the idea of trying gobs of new recipes I’ve bookmarked throughout the year, I mostly stuck with the tried and true. With one notable exception, the cookies on the far left.

I’m a sucker for peppermint and chocolate together, so I made Katie Lee’s peppermint mocha cookies. With a hint of espresso powder, two types of chocolate, and candy cane pieces, they definitely screamed holiday and felt like a proper bakery cookie. I’d definitely make them again.

And is it really the holidays if you don’t have at least one peanut butter blossom? I’m team butter all the way (sorry, shortening) and love the Sally’s Baking Addiction recipe. I chill my dough overnight, which I think helps the peanut buttery-ness (like my new word) come through.

I made snowballs as well, a simple but slightly addictive favorite of mine. Last but certainly not least, I think every cookie tray needs a chocolate chip varietal so I made my favorite oatmeal chocolate cranberry cookies from Giada DeLaurentiis.

How about you? What cookies are a must for your holidays? Are they any I should be bookmarking for future baking adventures?