“A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.” – Barbara Johnson

If you read that and thought, “Barbara Johnson and I could be besties,” – you are not alone. There are probably quite a few people who want to be friends with Barbara – because cookies are delicious.

And at this time of year, cookies seem to be everywhere – and that’s a good thing! If you want to do some baking, here are some classic cookie recipes, along with a few special ones for the holidays.

• The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever: There may be nothing better than a chocolate chip cookie – and this recipe is fantastic! Try cutting up a whole chocolate bar to create chunks – because they melt really well in cookies! And make an extra batch that you can put in the freezer.
• The World’s Best Cookies: Do you want a cookie that is both chewy and crispy – and doesn’t contain chocolate chips? Then you need to give this one a try! With oats, cornflakes, coconut, and nuts (pecans or walnuts) – these cookies have great flavor and go perfectly with a cup of hot tea.
• The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe: Sugar cookies are a holiday classic, and everyone should have a good recipe for them. These are fabulous for decorating with frosting or topping with some colorful sprinkles. And you can even make a gluten-free version should you need to!
• The Best Snickerdoodle Recipe: Snickerdoodles have a unique tang to them – and that comes from the cream of tartar! And when that tangy flavor is combined with cinnamon-sugar – well, you have a winning combination. 
• Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies: Not everyone is a fan of oatmeal raisin cookies, but, perhaps, it’s just because they haven’t had a good one. This recipe will change their minds! The molasses is essential and if you’re a fan of walnuts, be sure to toast some and add them to the dough.
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: Bar cookies are perfect for when you are pressed for time. These Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars combine two great flavors – caramel and chocolate – to create a dynamo cookie! They’re easy to make, and you can easily store them – not that they’ll be around for long. 
• Peanut Butter Chip and Jelly Bars: Peanut butter and jelly is a classic sandwich, and this recipe takes the classic sandwich flavors and puts them into cookie form. This recipe calls for grape jelly, but you can easily substitute in your favorite jelly or jam. 
• Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies: These cookies are a great addition to holiday cookie trays. They have all the flavor of your favorite red chocolate cake but in cookie form. And the white chocolate chips add some sweetness – and make them very festive!
• Frosted Eggnog Cookies: Eggnog is a holiday favorite – so it’s only natural that someone created an eggnog cookie. If you’re a fan of eggnog, you’re sure to like these cookies.
• The Most Wonderful Gingerbread Cookies: Gingerbread cookies are another holiday classic that are ideal for decorating. So, grab all of your cookie cutters and make a big batch of this dough. It’s full of spices, molasses, and brown sugar – which means these cookies are full of the flavors you associate with the season.
• Christmas Pinwheel Cookies: These cookies are so eye-catching and delicious that you may find yourself making multiple batches during the holidays. And the colors can easily be switched up for other holidays throughout the year – so don’t forget about these come Easter or the 4th of July.
• Rugelach Cookies; This traditional Jewish dessert tastes like tiny, buttery, cinnamon rolls – and they’re amazing! If you’ve never made them – you have to give them a try! Yum!

Are you in the mood to do some baking? Then pick a recipe (or two), gather up all of your ingredients, and head to the kitchen! Whether it’s one of the classic cookies on this list or a holiday favorite, you can soon be enjoying a warm cookie or two!