Holiday Baking Favorites

Are you ready to tie on an apron, get out the rolling pin and start baking dozens of holiday cookies? I am! Mixing up batches of dough and baking trays of cookies while listening to holiday music on a Sunday afternoon in December must be one of my favorite holiday activities. There's something irresistible about the aroma of warm spices and freshly baked goodies. For help with your seasonal baking, check out our holiday baking guide opens in a new tab.What will you do with all those cookies you're going to bake, besides savor them with a tall glass of milk? A few ideas to get you started:

• Organize a cookie exchange at home with friends and neighbors or in the office. Ask everyone to bring a few dozen cookies, then mix and match to end up with an assortment of holiday treats.

• Cookies make great gifts. Wrap them up in waxed or parchment paper and tie with ribbons, or package them in reusable tins. Recipients will be delighted by your thoughtfulness.

• Host a holiday dessert party. Bake several kinds of cookies (the beauty is that they all can be made ahead of time), make pots of coffee, spiced tea and hot chocolate, and sit back and relax with your guests.

• Remember to save some for Santa!

Here are some of our favorite recipes. What are you going to be baking this holiday season?

Drop Cookies (simply drop dough onto baking sheets)

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies opens in a new tabCranberry Pistachio Oatmeal Lace Cookies opens in a new tabGluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies opens in a new tab

Hand-shaped Cookies (enlist some kids to help shape these)

Chai-Spiced Cookies opens in a new tabMexican Tea Cookies opens in a new tabThumbprint Cookies opens in a new tab

Roll-out Cookies (use a rolling pin)

Classic Gingerbread Cookies opens in a new tabClassic Sugar Cookies opens in a new tabChocolate Mocha Sugar Cookies opens in a new tabGinger Sugar Cookies opens in a new tabSugar-Dusted Whole Wheat Graham Crackers opens in a new tab

Icebox Cookies (shape dough into logs, chill, slice and bake)

Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Peppermint Frosting opens in a new tabCranberry Pecan Shortbread Cookies opens in a new tab

Bars (simply cut into squares after baking)

Date-Pecan Pumpkin Squares opens in a new tabFlourless Brownies opens in a new tab

For the Baker Seeking a Challenge

Chocolate Drizzled Pistachio Biscotti opens in a new tabChocolate Swirl Meringue Cookies opens in a new tabFig Rugelach opens in a new tabGingerbread Twists opens in a new tab

Confections (not cookies)

Candied Lemon Peels opens in a new tab and Orange Peels opens in a new tabCandied Walnuts with Dark Chocolate and Orange Zest opens in a new tabTriple Chocolate Sour Cherry Fudge opens in a new tabHappy holiday baking!