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Gluten Free: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Guests will stand in line to kiss the cook when these treats are served! For a change of pace, try them with chunky peanut butter, too. —Canada60, Tasteofhome.com Community
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Gluten Free: Snowballs
I took a classic holiday cookie and made it gluten-free. It’s now my husband’s favorite Christmas cookie. They’re so buttery, nutty and sweet—and everyone loves how they crumble in your mouth. —Joan Sarge, Asheville, North Carolina
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Gluten Free: Spritz Delights
My daughter has Down syndrome and loves hosting parties, especially on holidays. Cookies always took center stage until she was diagnosed with celiac disease. I decided then to take on gluten-free baking, and these are the best yet—a cross between a shortbread and a sugar cookie. —Cheryl Costilow, Amherst, OhioLooking for more recipes? Here learn how to make gluten-free shortbread cookies.
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Gluten Free: Italian Orange-Fig Cookies
This is one of the first holiday cookies I made when I found out I could no longer eat gluten. In those eight years, six of my family members and friends have also had to give up gluten, so these delicious Italian cookies have now become a treasured holiday tradition for all of us. By the way, no one will know they’re gluten free unless you tell them! These gluten-free cookies last for weeks if stored in a dry place. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
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Gluten Free: Sparkly Meringue Snowmen
For my son’s first Christmas home from Iraq, I wanted everything to feel magical. He loves meringue cookies, so I made a big batch of minty snowmen and snowflakes. —Patricia Lindsay, Independence, Kansas
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Gluten Free: Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints
I had been searching for a dessert to make for my brother's girlfriend (who is gluten intolerant), and I came across a naturally gluten-free dessert—a flourless peanut butter cookie. After tweaking the recipe a bit and adding Nutella and a sprinkling of sea salt, I finally found the perfect cookie for her. —Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
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Nut Free: Lemon Shortbreads
Every year my mom and I collect cookie recipes we want to try and then get together in early December for an afternoon of baking. These no-fail lemon cookies have become an annual tradition. They're a wonderful homemade holiday gift. —Kristen Stecklein, Glendale, Wisconsin
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Nut Free: No-Bake Cookie Butter Blossoms
Chewy and sweet, these easy treats mix Rice Krispies, cookie spread and chocolate kisses in an unforgettable spin on an old favorite. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
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Nut Free: Easy Gingerbread Cutouts
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Nut Free: Mint Chocolate Snaps
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Nut Free: Shortbread Sandwich Cookies
I layer a creamy, coffee-flavored filling between buttery shortbread, then dip the sandwiches in chocolate. Guests always love them.—Bertha Seyer, Oak Ridge, Missouri
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Nut Free: Swirled Mint Cookies
No one will believe that these rich and buttery cookies are light, but they are! With their colorful swirls, each one of these minty, sugary bites has its own look. —Lois Hill, Thomasville, North Carolina
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Nut Free: Chocolate Gingersnaps
When my daughter Jennifer was 15 years old, she created this recipe as a way to combine two of her favorite flavors. They're perfect with a glass of milk. —Paula Zsiray, Logan, Utah
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Nut Free: Amish Sugar Cookies
These easy-to-make, old-fashioned Amish sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! I've passed this recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won best of show. —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri
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Nut Free: Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses
Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.—Amy Tong, Anaheim, California
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Nut Free: Soft Honey Cookies
These old-fashioned honey cookies have a subtle honey-cinnamon flavor and a tender texture. This recipe has been a favorite in my family for years and now it can be one at your house, too. —Rochelle Friedman, Brooklyn, New York
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Egg Free: Pixie Dust Cookies
These crisp and buttery cookies are based on a favorite Scottish shortbread recipe. They're just the right amount of sweet—and fun to decorate! —Peggy Goodrich, Enid, Oklahoma
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Egg Free: Orange Shortbread with Spicy Dark Chocolate
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Egg Free: Key Lime Pie Cookies
The classic creamy filling, graham cracker crust and burst of lime are all mixed together in every bite of these rolled cookies. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Egg Free: Chocolate-Glazed Doughnut Cookies
My little nieces love to help decorate these doughnut-shaped cookies. They top them with sprinkles, chopped pecans or crushed candy canes. —Jolie Stinson, Marion, Indiana
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Egg Free: Blue Moon Crescent Cookies
I love my grandma's vanilla crescent cookies, but wanted to add my own twist. These have a touch of lemon and cinnamon, plus flecks of dried blueberries.—Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
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Dairy Free: Mint Twist Meringues
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Dairy Free: Dipped Gingersnaps
I get tremendous satisfaction making and giving time-tested yuletide treats like these dipped gingersnaps. Dipping them in white chocolate makes much-loved gingersnaps even more special. —Laura Kimball, West Jordan, Utah
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Dairy Free: Italian Pignoli Cookies
Cookies are the crown jewels of Italian confections. I can’t let a holiday go by without baking these traditional almond cookies rolled in mild pine nuts. —Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts
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Dairy Free: First-Place Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macaroon cookies earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. They remain my husband's favorites—whenever I make them to give away, he always asks me where his batch is! I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin
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Dairy Free: Orange Crispies
Add a splash of little sunshine to your cookie jar with this recipe. When I want to spread some cheer, I'll bake up a double batch to share. —Ruth Gladstone, Brunswick, Maryland
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Dairy Free: Molasses Crackle Cookies
You can treat yourself to one or two of my crackle cookies without guilt. Most molasses cookies are loaded with butter and have way too much sugar, but not mine. You would never know these are so low in fat.— Jean L. Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin
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Dairy Free: Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
As a competitive figure skater, I need high-energy snacks to keep me going. These cookies are loaded with nuts, chips and fabulous flavor. Coaches at my skating rink are always sneaking two or three when I bring them in! —Cassandra Brzycki, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Originally Published: November 28, 2018