All over the world, people celebrate the Christmas season with cookies. There are thousands of recipes out there, incorporating different spices, candies, frostings, and flavors to create a festive holiday treat. Here are some of the most common cookies found during the season: 

Russian Tea Cakes 

Do not be fooled—despite their donut hole shape, these treats are actually cookies. Also known as Mexican Wedding Cakes or Snowball Cookies, they contain flavors of vanilla and nut. When done baking, they are rolled in powdered sugar to give them their signature melt-in-your-mouth sensation. To add to the festive vibes, try rolling the cookies in red and green sugar sprinkles! 

Recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10192/russian-tea-cakes-i/ 

Gingerbread Cookies 

Often in the shape of a person, these spiced cookies are a staple of the holiday season. The human-like shape is credited to Queen Elizabeth I, who presented visitors with gingerbread cookies shaped like them. Spices include cinnamon, cloves, and, of course, ginger. Those decorating gingerbread men often use icing and different candies to give the appearance of a face and clothing. 

Recipe: 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/230238/gingerbread-men-cookies/ 

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies 

Another popular Christmas cookie is the Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie. As its name suggests, the cookie is made using peanut butter. Since peanut butter and chocolate pair well together, a Hershey Kiss is placed on top immediately after baking, so that it presses into the cookie. 

Recipe: 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/255735/worlds-easiest-peanut-butter-blossoms/ 

Pizzelle Cookies 

These are traditional Italian cookies, that are often made during the holidays. They taste and look similar to waffles, getting their shape from a special iron that imprints patterns. A lot of the time, anise is used to give the treats a licorice-y flavor. The Italian version of the cookies often use vanilla, but they can have a variety of flavors including mint, chocolate, and strawberry. 

Recipe: 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10220/pizzelles-iii/ 

Peppermint Cookies

Peppermint is one of the key flavors of Christmas. Bakers will often pair its winter-y taste with the rich flavor of chocolate when making peppermint cookies. Not all of them are mixed with chocolate, but they are all usually made with peppermint extract. To add some different textures, bakers can throw in some chocolate chips and candy cane pieces, or even coat with icing. 

Recipe: 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/230289/peppermint-bark-cookies/