So now it’s really the most wonderful time of the year! My 2018 holiday baking list is HERE!

This list is made up of my 2018 best cookies to bake for Christmas and the holiday season! These are tried and true favorites that our friends and family love - ones we put on our cookie trays every single year! I howsweeteats.com #cookies #christmas #box

Let me tell you a funny story. Last Christmas (I gave you my heart…), I ended up sick ON Christmas. Some sort of stomach flu or something – and it was so bad that I missed Christmas Eve and Day festivities. All four of us did, because Emilia was only a month old and we were afraid of Eddie and Max spreading the germs in case they had the bug.

I was super sad to miss those special days that are so memorable and nostalgic for my family. And I made a list in my phone in the notes section, titled “CHRISTMAS 2018!” with things I didn’t want to miss and things I wanted to make sure we did this year.

The best thing on the list? In the mist of my sickness, I literally wrote “DO NOT MAKE SO MANY COOKIES.”

It’s true.

This list is made up of my 2018 best cookies to bake for Christmas and the holiday season! These are tried and true favorites that our friends and family love - ones we put on our cookie trays every single year! I howsweeteats.com #cookies #christmas #box

I baked a LOT last year. It was so easy! Emilia was in that sleepy newborn stage and Max loved to help me. We baked so much so we could make our big famous cookie trays for everyone.

Then… we didn’t go anywhere on the 24th and 25th, which are the days when most of the cookies get eaten.

Um. We had a LOT of leftover cookies. I took them all to my mom who then proceeded to eat them over a three month period. It was ridic.

This list is made up of my 2018 best cookies to bake for Christmas and the holiday season! These are tried and true favorites that our friends and family love - ones we put on our cookie trays every single year! I howsweeteats.com #cookies #christmas #box

But my list is still really long for baking this year! I might make everything below, but maybe just one batch of each, for sure.

I have a few delish cookie recipes coming for you in the next few weeks! They are tried and true favorites that we’ve been eating for years, so you will love them. And of course, I’m including my favorites below!

Pro tip! Some of these adorable little cookies are ones I picked up at DeLallo’s one day. When we make our big trays, it’s awesome to grab some little ones to fit in the cookie crevices.

I also have a SUPER FUN holiday baking playlist for you!

This list is made up of my 2018 best cookies to bake for Christmas and the holiday season! These are tried and true favorites that our friends and family love - ones we put on our cookie trays every single year! I howsweeteats.com #cookies #christmas #box

Also! For two years running, Lacy and I have made a Buche de Noel and loved it so much. We are planning on doing it again! We usually spend one day together and will make that, along with Tracy’s citrus peels, her homemade amaretto (we’ve made both of those for YEARS!) and then whiskey pretzels or something of the sort.

Oh and P.S. I make a bunch of the doughs on one day and refrigerate them, and then bake when I can over the next two days or so. Totally works out!

This list is made up of my 2018 best cookies to bake for Christmas and the holiday season! These are tried and true favorites that our friends and family love - ones we put on our cookie trays every single year! I howsweeteats.com #cookies #christmas #box

My 2018 Holiday Baking List

these salted dark chocolate chunk cookies because they are DELISH.

peanut butter blossoms. definitely my all time favorite and a cookie I just can’t get enough of.

perfect cut out sugar cookies. these are the BEST foolproof, simple sugar cookies. the only recipe i use!

my soft snickerdoodles and these chewy chai snickerdoodles. I can’t ever choose between them!

soft gingersnaps. sometimes I make this recipe x four. We LOVE them. And I’m not a gingersnap person!

definitely these old school oreo balls, and chocolate coconut truffles, and buckeyes!

mother lovett’s pink and green thumbprints. because can’t have christmas without them – my mom and aunt’s faves.

annnnd mother lovett’s orange cookies. huge hit all the time.

definitely a bunch of peppermint pattie brownies.

and some peanut butter stuffed chocolate pretzel bark!

I will probably also make some peppermint bark. And I love to do chocolate covered oreos! They are so easy. I also buy the white fudge covered oreos as a hack and drizzle them with dark chocolate and sprinkles!

I’m also making:

  • lemon crinkle cookies! I made these for the first time last year and I’m sharing it here shortly.
  • salted pistachio chocolate shortbread. I first made this spin on Alison Roman’s famous chocolate chip shortbread last year. I’m sharing my version this year!
  • cashew butter buckeyes. These are INSANE. They might rival the peanut butter ones. Recipe is yours soon!
  • the chocolate crinkle sprinkle cookies in The Pretty Dish. They are always a HUGE hit!
  • the autumn monster cookies in The Pretty Dish. Favorites!!
  • peanut butter fudge. I google a recipe and use a different one every year, even though Mother Lovett had one.

This list is made up of my 2018 best cookies to bake for Christmas and the holiday season! These are tried and true favorites that our friends and family love - ones we put on our cookie trays every single year! I howsweeteats.com #cookies #christmas #box

Now tell me tell me! Let me know what is on your list this year.