16 essential holiday cookie recipes

Freeze-and-slice icebox cookies are your secret weapon when holiday chaos hits. Get the recipe: Chocolate Icebox Cookies

These whoopee pie sandwiches are a bit of work, but totally worth it. Get the recipe: Hot Chocolate Whoopee Pies

This twist on classic gingerbread cookies calls for tea right in the dough. Get the recipe: Chai Gingerbread Cookies

Shortbread balls couldn’t be easier—no chilling, rolling pin or finicky cutting needed! Get the recipe: Cinnamon-Sugar Shortbread Balls

Looking for a cookie that tastes fudgey like a brownie and is also free of eggs, nuts and dairy? Enter chocolate crinkles. Double the recipe, these will disappear. Get the recipe: Chocolate Crinkles

Kids can help roll dough balls, mark them with their thumbprints and lick up any leftover Nutella. Get the recipe: Nutella Kiss Icebox Cookies

You’ll want to bookmark this all-season classic. Get the recipe: Brown Sugar Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

A sweet-savoury and subtly spicy treat, this shortbread is the antidote for wrapping rage. Get the recipe: Italian Shortbread

These ridiculously easy meringues are light as air. Get the recipe: Peppermint Candy Meringues

You won’t have to be bummed when your Girl Guide cookies run out thanks to these peppermint babes. Get the recipe from Chatelaine: Chocolate-Mint Thin Cookies

This make-ahead dough will be your holiday savour. Prepare the dough now and then freeze it until that holiday bake sale or unexpected guest pops up. Get the recipe: Christmas icebox cookies

Unexpected party, bake sale, cookie cravings: All of these are no big deal thanks to that freezer stash of dough you’re about to whip up. Get the recipe: Big Batch Oatmeal Chocolate Raisin Cookies

Enlist the help of your little pastry chefs to make these adorable sugar cookies. Get the recipe: Melting Snowman Cookie

Forgo a traditional cake in favour of this festive cookie cake! Get the recipe: Holiday Chip Cookie Cake

Crushed peppermint gives these festive cookies the perfect crunch. Get the recipe: Candy Cane Cookies

Hand-forming these fortune cookies while they're warm is a bit tricky. Bake them in small batches and work quickly, returning the cookies to the oven if necessary to soften them if they harden before you've formed them. Get the recipe: Fortune Cookies

Read more: 10 tips for baking with kids Holiday baking: 1 cookie recipe, 5 ways