Sweeten up the season and unleash your inner baker with these three simple, delicious, and festive holiday cookie recipes.

335 days. That’s how much time has passed since last December, which means we’ve been waiting a heck of a long time for the holidays. Now don’t get us wrong – we’ve indulged in our fair share of sweets throughout the entire year, but there’s something extra special about holiday baking. Maybe it’s because the celebrations only happen once a year, maybe it’s because people are in an especially festive mood, or maybe it’s a combination of the two. Whatever the case, we’re not complaining. These cookies make the most wonderful time of the year just a tad bit sweeter. And as a bonus, they’re equally as fun to make as they are to eat.

The hum of the oven working its magic is just the kitchen cheering you on, so GET BAKING!

1. Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients:

• 1 Lemon
• 2 Cups Shredded Coconut
• 1 Cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• Pinch of Salt
• 3 Egg Whites
• Hazelnuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Zest lemon, then combine in a large bowl with shredded coconut, condensed milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Adjust with more shredded coconut if mixture is too liquidy.
3. Whip egg whites with an electronic mixer and carefully fold into coconut mixture.
4. Use a spoon or ice cream scoop to form evenly sized cookies on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Top each with a hazelnut.
5. Bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

2. Linzer Tarts

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Unsalted Butter, Melted
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• 4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• Pinch of Salt
• Jam
• Powdered Sugar

Instructions:

1. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla extract together until light and fluffy. Stir in flour and salt.
2. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic warp, and refrigerate about 45 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 325ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Use a rolling pin to roll out dough onto a lightly floured surface.
5. Use a cookie cutter to cut out as many circles as possible.
6. Use mini cookie cutters to cut out stars on half the cookie rounds.
7. Place cookies on baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes. (The cut-out halves will brown faster so be careful!)
8. Let cool 20 minutes before spreading a thin layer of jam on cookie rounds without stars.
9. Make a “cookie sandwich” by placing a cut-out cookie on top of a whole cookie round. Press down gently. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

3. Orange Walnut Cookies

Ingredients:

• Juice of 1 Large Orange
• 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Melted Butter
• 1.5 Cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Walnuts
• 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• Powdered Sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF.
2. Combine orange juice with 3 Tablespoons brown sugar in a small pot. Bring to a boil until it reaches a syrupy consistency. Set aside to cool.
3. Beat butter and remaining brown sugar with an electronic mixer, then incorporate flour and 2 Tablespoons orange syrup.
4. Knead until a dough forms.
5. Wet hands and roll mixture into balls.
6. Press thumb into ball to form a small indent for filling.
7. Prepare filling by combining walnuts, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and remaining syrup in a medium bowl.
8. Add 1 teaspoon filling to center of each cookie and place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
9. Bake until slightly golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

Looking for something to wash down these treats? We thought so. Look no further than these three festive cocktails.