Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes and Cooking Tips

Featured Recipes

Apricot-Almond Sandwich Cookies

Elegant and delicious, these cookies are the perfect addition to your holiday spread. For a variation, try with raspberry preserves; you can show off the jewel-like filling by cutting the center out of half of the cookies. If giving these as a gift, be sure to pack them carefully with a layer of wax paper between each cookie.

» Apricot-Almond Sandwich Cookies

Boot Tracks

Patti Anderson, a professional quilter, had never entered a cooking contest before she took our challenge. This quick, no-fuss, chewy chocolate cookie is made on your waffle iron. No need to haul out the big mixer, you can mix the batter with a small hand mixer or even by hand. Kids love these!

» Boot Tracks

One Nutty Date

Financial advisor Linda Croley was inspired by childhood memories of a family treat when she created these peanut butter-date cookies. “I get a great feeling when I bite into these cookies and think of my family who are around me today, and those whose memories I'll always cherish,” says Croley. Once you try them, you may never make an ordinary peanut butter cookie again.

» One Nutty Date

Lava Rocks

Strategy and operations director Josh Gitlin gave this low-fat cookie three layers of chocolate flavor with cocoa powder, grated bittersweet chocolate and cocoa nibs.

» Lava Rocks

Lusciously Nutty Holiday Logs

Registered Dietitian Mary LaRock flavored these phyllo rolls with orange and dark chocolate for a winning cookie that will be a lovely addition to any holiday cookie platter.

» Lusciously Nutty Holiday Logs

Pineapple Coconut Bites

A retired writing professor and mother of two daughters, Jessie Grearson got inspiration for these mini tarts from a pineapple-coconut bar that her mother used to make. Her version successfully uses whole-wheat pastry flour and less butter and sugar.

» Pineapple Coconut Bites

Almond Cherry Bites

Dried cherries, ground almonds and a drizzle of chocolate make these cookies festive for the holidays.

» Almond Cherry Bites

Delicious cookies you'll love to bake and to eat this holiday season.

Baking during the holidays can be one of the true joys of the season, and sharing and eating festive cookies is something we look forward to all year long. Here at EatingWell, our annual holiday cookie swaps have yielded some incredible goodies—from our 2008 Grand Prize winner Angel Delights, to Ginger Crinkle Cookies that take only ten minutes to prep—and all with a wonderful health bonus. Our cookie recipes use sweeteners judiciously, no hydrogenated fat, contain all-natural ingredients and as much whole-grain flour as possible. So, bake a dozen or two, swap with friends and family and enjoy these terrific cookies.