Bake from Scratch

’Tis the season for cookies! We’re celebrating in full force with an epic collection of recipes sure to make your kitchen merry and bright. We’ve teamed up with some of the movers and shakers of the baking world to bring you an issue full of the classic holiday flavors you crave, from gingerbread to peppermint to eggnog, along with feel-good favorites like chocolate, chai, and more. We check in with Tessa Huff, the bona fide queen of frosted desserts, for her ultimate shaped and iced cookies. Laura Kasavan of the blog Tutti Dolci shares her signature sablés now bedecked with seasonal sprinkles, and we return to Rebecca Firth for Asian-inspired creations that will bring a dash of spice to your holiday table. Whether you’re pressed for time before your next cookie swap (don’t miss our crash course on how to host your own!) or looking to flex your holiday decorating muscles with a royal icing masterpiece, this issue has a cookie for every occasion.

Bake from Scratch Special

THERE’S NEVER A BETTER TIME TO BAKE COOKIES THAN THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

Who’s Who: THE CONTRIBUTORS

OUR TOP 10 ESSENTIAL Cookie Tools • WITH THESE TRUSTY TOOLS IN YOUR ROTATION, YOU’LL FIND COOKIE PERFECTION COMES EASY

Freeze WITH EASE • LOOKING TO HAVE COOKIES ON DEMAND? YOU’RE ONLY ONE SHORT THAW AWAY WITH OUR COOL GUIDE TO FREEZING DOUGH, BAKED COOKIES AND BARS, AND STAPLE COOKIE-BAKING INGREDIENTS

THE Decoration DEEP DIVE • YOUR COOKIES ARE DELICIOUS. NOW LET’S MAKE THEM DAZZLE.

Chocolate Cookies • PIPED WITH GANACHE, DIPPED IN MOLTEN CHOCOLATE, OR DUSTED WITH COCOA, THESE INDULGENT COOKIES SPOTLIGHT CHOCOLATE IN ITS MOST FESTIVE FORMS

Buttery Cookies • THE CROWD WILL GO WILD FOR A BITE OF THESE SPRINKLE-STUDDED SABLÉS, SPICED SHORTBREAD, AND EVERY CRUMBLY COOKIE IN BETWEEN

Boozy Cookies • MAKE YOUR HOLIDAYS EXTRA MERRY WITH THESE SPIRITED RECIPES SPIKED WITH EGGNOG, CHAMPAGNE, BOURBON, AND MORE

Drop Cookies • FROM GINGERBREAD CRINKLE COOKIES TO WHITE CHOCOLATE-DIPPED RED VELVET BITES, THESE RECIPES WILL BE THERE FOR YOU WHEN YOU’RE SHORT ON TIME AND LONG ON HOLIDAY CRAVINGS

Sugar & Spice Cookies • WHETHER YOU GO FOR CLASSIC LEBKUCHEN OR OUR CHAI-SPICED CRESCENTS, THESE SOUL-WARMING BITES ARE SURE TO FILL YOUR HOME WITH YULETIDE COMFORT

Cut & Iced Cookies • BAKE UP A WINTER WONDERLAND WITH THESE SNOWFLAKE-SHAPED LINZERS, ICED WREATHS, COZY SUGAR COOKIE MITTENS, AND MORE DECKED-OUT COOKIES

Holiday Bars • SWIRLED WITH PEPPERMINT, PACKED WITH CHOCOLATE, AND SMOTHERED IN FROSTING, THESE FESTIVE BROWNIES, BLONDIES, AND BARS FEED BIG HOLIDAY APPETITES

Cookie Swap CRASH COURSE • GATHERING YOUR NEAREST AND DEAREST FOR A COOKIE SWAP IS ONE OF THE SWEETEST WAYS TO SPREAD THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT. FROM PREPPING AHEAD TO PACKAGING, HERE’S HOW TO HOST THE JOLLIEST COOKIE SWAP OF ALL.

COUNTDOWN TO YOUR Cookie Swap • GET ORGANIZED AND PREP AHEAD FOR YOUR SWAP WITH OUR FOUR-WEEK TIMELINE

bake FROM SCRATCH • ARTISAN RECIPES FOR THE HOME BAKER