By: Lainey Font

     With the new year approaching and Christmas right ahead, bakers are beginning to get in the kitchen for holiday baking. Christmas time is the most popular time of the year for bakers to show off their skills and make all kinds of cookies for others around them, whether it’s for friends and family to enjoy, or to sell and earn a little money for all of those Christmas presents.

     A common tradition at this time of the year is to give friends, neighbors, and families a platter of assorted cookies. However, deciding what cookies to make, how many, and what variety can be very difficult. Finding the perfect guide can be super hard, but, lucky for you, The Squire can help, so here is a guide of what cookies are necessities for your platter.  

     1. Chocolate Chip Cookies – It should be no surprise that the first item needed in your platter is a basic chocolate chip cookie. This idea might feel simple at first thought, but it is actually very broad. You can use any kind of chocolate like dark, semi-sweet, milk, or white. It is also popular to chop up your own chocolate pieces from a bar for chunkier pieces of chocolate throughout the cookies.

     2. Cutout Sugar Cookies – One kind of cookie that is a necessity for your basket is a cutout sugar cookie. Since it is Christmas time, some good shapes that are simple and easy to decorate are trees, ornaments, and candy canes. Sugar cookies are often frosted with buttercream frosting to add spirit and uniqueness. These are an easy way to add festivity to your platter.

     3. Spiced Cookies – Another must-have is a spiced cookie, like gingerbread or molasses. There are so many ways you can go about making this kind of cookie. You can leave them plain, add frosting, or make it into a sandwich with frosting in between. Either way, it is a classic to add to your perfect platter.

     4. Candy Add-Ins – Cookies are loved for being flexible with add-ins, so at least one cookie with a candy add-in is a necessity. One very popular one is the peanut butter blossoms. When The Squire asked Eisenhower’s family consumer science teacher about her cookie preferences, Mrs. Criswell shared, “I think my personal favorite cookie is the Peanut Butter Blossom!… I love chocolate and peanut butter together – enough said!” Other popular ideas include cookies and cream with Oreos, or peanut butter cup cookies with Reese’s minis in the middle.

     5. Jam Cookies – A sweet, jam filled cookie is something you should not pass up on for your platter. This cookie adds sweetness and variety. Popular jams to use on cookies include raspberry, apricot, apple, blueberry, and, really, the possibilities are endless. Jam can be incorporated into thumbprint cookies, a cookie bar, sandwich cookies with a festive cutout on top, or just as a topping.

     6. No-bakes – No-bakes can be made in many flavors, so adding this simple cookie would be perfect. The no-bakes add a perfect touch of variety with the oats. The most popular flavors are peanut butter, chocolate, or a mix of the two. These cookies are easy to get creative with by adding toppings, so they are a must-have for the holiday season.

     Now that you know what kind of cookies to make, it is important to prepare accordingly if making large batches. Prior to baking, plan what cookies you have decided to bake and how much of the ingredients will be needed. Then, make the dough the day before, and use the whole next day for baking to ensure time for every step of the process.

     Baking is all about having fun, especially over the holidays. Criswell added, “Have fun and bake with friends and family.  Really the cookies are the end result of the time you get to spend with others.”