We Rank Our Favorite Holiday Cookies From Worst To Best

There's one thing that no holiday season is complete without. No, we're not talking about snow or family or presents. We're talking about cookies. Yes, while you can technically eat cookies any time of year, Christmas is the ultimate cookie holiday. Every holiday party worth its salt has at least a few platters full of these sweet delights. But no two cookies on that platter were created equal. Some are going to go much, much faster than the others. So we made it our business to rate our favorite holiday cookies from worst to best.

Pfeffernüsse translates from German to English as "pepper nut," and that's what these cookies are made of. Yes, black pepper combines with anise, cloves and other spices for a holiday cookie that has quite a bite to it. Let's just say this ethnic holiday cookie is an acquired taste.

There's something simple and delightful about a shortbread cookie. At its core, this cookie has just a few simple ingredients, but it brings a lot of delight. Shortbread can then be customized for the holidays with some festive ingredients and decoration, but there are better alternatives on the cookie tray.

For the uninitiated, pecan tassies are like tiny pecan pies. Really! And just like a proper pecan pie, they're delicious. But because they're bite-sized, they're beautiful and a perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray. So why are they just No. 10? Well, as anyone who has ever made a pecan tassie will tell you, they're a pain in the butt to make. Maybe just stick to a classic, regular-sized pecan pie.

A holiday cookie needs to be three things to be considered a classic. It needs to be sweet and delicious, of course. It needs to have a festive color scheme or flavor profile. And it needs to be beautiful when presented on a tray. The thumbprint has all three things. This jam-filled cookie recipe is endlessly customizable and always a winner.

Somewhere between a cookie and a brownie, chocolate crinkles are the answer to the holiday question: Why don't more cookies taste like cocoa? The powdered sugar topping that shows through the cracks of a perfectly baked crinkle mimics snow on the sidewalk, making this cookie as celebratory as it is scrumptious.

If you think about the classic holiday flavors of the season, it's peppermint, hot cocoa and gingerbread. Yes, no festive season is complete without this molasses and spice cookie. It's warming, inviting and oh-so-perfect for those long, cold December nights. Whether you like your gingerbread snappy or soft and doughy with tons of icing, you have to admit, it's the perfect holiday delight.

Speaking of cookies that just melt in your mouth, don't downplay the snowball. This festive treat just screams holiday season. It looks like a freakin' snowball, after all! How fun is that! Traditionally, this cookie is made with chopped pecans (or other nuts), which adds to the warm festive feeling of this treat. But if you want to make a snowball truly feel like Christmas, consider this peppermint snowball recipe.