Celebrate the New Year with cookies that embody celebration, yet will not cause additional stress by creating them in your kitchen.
These recipes feature cookies with a variety of styles and richness from elegant to indulgent, all of which are perfect for gifting, partying, or self-indulging.
1. Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies
The wonderful flavor of these soft and chewy sugar cookies comes from real vanilla bean paste.
I like making these for New Year’s Eve because they are decadent and simple to put together when tired from baking.
The visible vanilla bean specks in the cookies also make them appear expensive in comparison to store-bought cookies.
2. Molasses Crinkle Cookies
These cookies have a crackled appearance reminiscent of fireworks and are perfect for New Year’s Eve.
The combination of melted brown butter and molasses create a deep, rich flavor that works well with champagne or coffee.
They also have a chewy texture (the best kind of chewy).
3. Chocolate Snickerdoodles
Think of the decadent flavor of chocolate combined with the traditional snickerdoodle cookie: the tangy taste comes from using cream of tartar, just as with traditional snickerdoodles.
The cinnamon sugar coating gives these cookies just the right sparkle for use at celebrations.
4. Red Velvet White Chocolate Cookies
The colour red alone makes these cookies entirely appropriate for use during your New Year’s party.
These cookies are soft, fudgy and full of melted white chocolate chips.
I always receive numerous compliments on how gorgeous they look on a cookie tray.
5. Soft Amaretti Cookies
The Amaretti Cookie is one of the most popular Italian Cookies, made with only almonds and egg whites.
It is also gluten-free and has an elegant crinkle on top that can easily be distinguished as an Italian Cookie.
This type of Italian Cookie is associated with the New Year and is made in accordance with tradition.
6. Rum Refrigerator Cookies
The Rum Refrigerator Cookie is an easy cookie to make since you can prepare the dough ahead of time.
When you want to serve these cookies, you can slice them thinly.
The combination of cardamom, dark rum and fresh lemon zest yields excellent flavor, thus being a great way to start the New Year.
The chopped almonds provide a nice crunch.
7. Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
While traditional thumbprints are typically made with sugar, these thumbprint cookies use a fudgy chocolate cookie instead.
The dense consistency of the cookie is due to melting butter.
They look elegant displayed on a party tray.
You can use different types of jam in the center of the cookie, which adds interest and color.
8. White Chocolate Cherry Jam Cookies
These cookies feature swirls of cherry jam, which make for a great marbled effect when baked.
The way I fold in the jam allows for distinct ribbons of flavor.
Adding white chocolate to the cookie adds a layer of richness, making this cookie feel indulgent.
9. Coconut Oatmeal Rum Raisin Cookies
There is just something about the flavor of coconut oatmeal cookies that makes me feel like I’m living in a tropical paradise.
The coconut and oatmeal combination is delicious on its own, but the addition of dark rum-soaked raisins takes it to an entirely new level.
They’re definitely a grown-up version of oatmeal cookies, which feels right for starting a new year.
10. Chocolate Filled Cookies
If you’re looking for an impressive cookie recipe that is also very easy to make, look no further.
Chocolate filled cookies are quite simply the best of both worlds!
A frozen ball of chocolate-hazelnut spread sits inside each cookie, creating a gooey center that will make you smile every time you take a bite!
I used melted butter to make the dough, which means no mixer is required!
11. Chocolate Peanut Butter Marbled Cookies
Looking for a way to impress your guests on New Year’s Eve?
These beautiful marbled cookies are incredibly simple to make!
You can create two different doughs (chocolate and peanut butter), and when swirled together, they create an amazing marbled cookie!
Chocolate and peanut butter go so well together, and when you combine them in this way, everyone will love the taste of your holiday baking!
12. Iced Oatmeal Cookies
No more hard, dry, tasteless oatmeal cookies from the grocery store!
Iced oatmeal cookies are extremely soft and chewy due to the use of brown butter, and the icing gives the cookie an added touch of elegance (not to mention being one of the best comfort foods!).
These cookies make great gifts for New Year’s celebrations and parties.
13. Spiced Hermit Cookies
These classic New England cookies are packed with warm spices, dates, raisins and walnuts.
The combination feels cozy and traditional — perfect for those quiet New Year’s moments when you want something that tastes like home.
14. Coffee Cake Cookies
All the best parts of coffee cake — the buttery base and crunchy cinnamon streusel — packed into one cookie.
They’re perfect with your morning coffee while you’re making New Year’s resolutions, or as an afternoon treat with friends.
15. Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
If you like the gooey center of a cinnamon roll, then these are your type of cookie.
They are made with dark brown sugar which gives them a nice, rich flavor of molasses.
They stay soft and chewy due to the ingredients in them.
The top has a cinnamon sugar coating that gives them just enough sparkle from all the sugar.
16. Easy Lemon Bar Cookies
The easy preparation has a bottom layer made from cream cheese that is spread with lemon curd to create the perfect combination of sweet and sour flavors.
Bright citrus will remind you of the freshness associated with starting the New Year off right.
17. Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
Unlike many peanut butter cookie recipes, most of them are either too dry or too cake-like.
These Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies are crispy on the edges and have a chewy middle, and will literally melt in your mouth.
Classic recipes are often classic for a reason, and these cookies are certainly no exception.
18. Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you like Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies, try these cookies made with cold cubes of unsalted butter!
This means there is no need for you to chill the dough before baking!
They will stay soft in the center while remaining tasty throughout the entire cookie.
If you need to impress your friends and family with a sure-fire winner, these cookies are the perfect choice!
