Sharing food with your friends and family members allows you to get closer and enjoy delicious snacks. During Christmas, many people opt to bring desserts, and cookies allow everyone to sample a variety of styles without eating too much. Whether you’re preparing for a family dinner, office party, or festive soiree with friends, below are several styles to bring with you.

What Types of Cookies Should You Bring to a Holiday Party? 

1. Ginger

The stars of this variety are ginger and cinnamon, providing a warming, sweet taste that is distinctly reminiscent of the Christmas season. They come in many forms, from crunchy ginger snaps to chewy gingerbread people. The latter are particularly festive, and if you are attending a party with children, bring icing and small candies so that the kids can decorate their treats before eating them.

2. Snickerdoodles 

Snickerdoodles, or cinnamon sugar cookies, originated in New England in the 1800s. German immigrants likely brought the recipe from Europe. This is a simple type that is rolled in cinnamon and sugar after baking, giving each bite a sweet, slightly spicy taste. These are common around the holidays, and they pair well with egg nog and other festive drinks.

3. Linzer Tarts 

Linzer tortes or tarts are a traditional Austrian pastry that’s become another festive favorite in the United States. Named after the city of Linz, they consist of a lightly-spiced shortcake cookie topped with fruit jam and sliced almonds. Then, they are dusted with powdered sugar to give them extra sweetness with each bite. While the traditional variation uses blackcurrant jam, raspberry has also become popular.

4. Sugar

Sugar cookies come in a broad array of shapes, sizes, and designs. While the fundamental ingredients of most recipes remain consistent, you can completely customize how they look to make them appropriate for the gathering. For example, you can create small snowmen, decked-out trees, or ornaments. These sweet, buttery treats are a holiday staple, regardless of the shape they take.

5. Chocolate Chip 

While this type is not strictly a Christmas cookie, it is one of the most well-known and delicious variations available. This option has a distinctive trio of butter, chocolate, and vanilla flavors. It originated in the U.S. in 1938 when Ruth Graves Wakefield chopped up a semi-sweet chocolate bar and incorporated the chunks into her cookie recipe. Since then, this style has been enjoyed by countless people because of its sweet, simple recipe.

If you need a variety of delicious cookies to bring to a holiday gathering, visit Emerson’s Bakery in Florence, KY. With fives locations throughout northern Kentucky, this local bakery serves an array of mouthwatering treats to residents in the Tri-State area, from Christmas cookies and donuts to wedding and birthday cakes. Call (859) 371-9228 to place an order, and visit the website to learn more about their products.