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Butter Cookies
This great buttery Valentine cookie recipe is a favorite of my nephews, who love the creamy frosting. —Ruth Griggs, South Hill, Virginia
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Chocolate Heart Cookies
For a dramatic presentation, I dust dessert plates with cocoa powder and drizzle on a bit of melted raspberry fruit spread. I place a couple of these melt-in-your-mouth Valentine cookies in the center, along with some fresh rasberries, lemon zest and a sprig of mint. —TerryAnn Moore, Vineland, New Jersey
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Be-Mine Sandwich Cookies
These simple cookies are the first thing to disappear from dessert tables. They’re cute, colorful and extremely fast to make.—Darcie Cross, Novi, Michigan
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Red Velvet Spritz Cookies
I had never come across a red velvet spritz recipe, so I decided to create one for Valentine’s Day. The hint of cocoa makes these taste like red velvet cake. Add peppermint flavoring for a little extra kick. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
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Truffle-Filled Cookie Tarts
I made chocolate truffles as a holiday tradition for many years. I created this recipe to incorporate my truffles into the center of fudgy cookies. It was a hit with friends and family.—Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania
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Peanut Butter Cutout Cookies
I used peanut butter in place of the butter in my take on a traditional cutout cookie, which turned out super nutty and soft. My children love to decorate the cookie for Valentine’s Day with frosting, sprinkles and some creativity. —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin
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Raspberry Pistachio Thumbprints
Thumbprint cookies are a Christmas classic, and I especially like my updated version with pistachios. The rich, buttery bites are not only delicious, but they are also pretty enough to give for gifts—if you manage to share them! —Laura Murphy, Columbus, Mississippi
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Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Everyone gets a kick out of this fun take on the popular red velvet cake. Take a shortcut and use packaged cream cheese frosting for the filling. —Judi Dexheimer, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
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Marbled Meringue Hearts
Pretty pastel cookies are a fun way to brighten Valentine’s Day or any special occasion. Replace the vanilla with a different extract for a change of flavor. —Laurie Herr, Westford, Vermont
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Sweetheart Cookies
These rounds filled with fruit preserves were blue-ribbon winners at the county fair two years running. A family favorite, they never last beyond February 14! —Pamela Esposito, Smithville, New Jersey
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Shortbread Hearts
These flaky cookies melt in your mouth. Dipped in chocolate, they look festive for Valentine’s Day. —Barbara Birk, St. George, Utah
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Berry-Cream Cookie Snaps
My mom and I made up this recipe by combining two others. These cute cookies are crispy on the outside and light and fluffy inside. You could also bake the cookies flat and serve the filling as a cookie dip if you like. —Crystal Briddick, Colfax, Illinois
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Cherry-Filled Cookies
This luscious cherry filling peeking out of these rounds is just a hint of how scrumptious they are. Using a doughnut cutter to shape each cookie top really speeds up the process.
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Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
Although these cookies require a little extra effort, they’re worth it. I make them for Valentine’s Day and every family gathering—and they never last long! —Marie Kinyon, Mason, Michigan
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Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies
These festive sugar-coated red velvet cookies are perfect for Valentine’s Day. They’re just as delicious as they are beautiful. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
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Strawberry Wedding Bell Cookies
To ring in a joyous occasion like Valentine’s Day, a bridal shower or wedding, I’m often asked to make these festive cookies. You can use different flavors of jam to suit your tastes. —Laurie Messer, Bonifay, Florida
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Raspberry Coconut Balls
My family loves Hostess Zingers, especially the raspberry flavor coated with coconut, inspiring this treat to make for school bake sales. We can make about four dozen in 30 minutes, and they sell out fast! —Pam Clark, Wheaton, Illinois
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Peppermint Cream Sandwich Cookies
My mother and I made these crisp chocolate peppermint sandwich cookies together. They are a perfect addition to any Valentine’s Day party. —Donna Williamson, Round Rock, Texas
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Secret Kiss Cookies
Here’s a recipe that’s literally sealed with a “kiss.” This cookie’s bound to tickle any sweet tooth. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana
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Chocolate Chip Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
Baking a fun treat is a must when my four grandchildren come to stay for “Grandma Camp.” Sometimes the grandkids help by piping the cake batter. —Linda Schend, Kenosha, Wisconsin
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Hazelnut Macarons
You don’t have to be an expert in French cooking to whip up these sandwich cookies. The crisp, chewy macarons take attention to detail, but they’re not hard to make—and they’re simply a delight, both for personal snacking and giving as gifts!—Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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White Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprints
When I pass around the cookie tray, all eyes land on these fancy thumbprints. The white chocolate filling and dab of jewel-toned jam will satisfy even the most discriminating sweet tooth. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
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Cherry Kiss Cookies
Topped with a chocolate kiss, these cherry-flavored cookies look super cute on a dessert tray. Share them with family and friends. —Joy Yurk, Grafton, Wisconsin
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Chocolate Marshmallow Cutouts
I make rich, fudgy Valentine cookies that taste like brownies with a marshmallow filling. I usually use heart-shaped cutters, but I’ve also left them uncut and filled with pink marshmallow creme.—Kelly Ward, Stratford, Ontario
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Cranberry Lime Macaroons
It wouldn’t be the holidays for my family and friends if I didn’t make these chewy lime-flavored macaroons. I usually make several batches a week during the season..—Alisa Costa, Chatham, New York
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Great-Grandma’s Oatmeal Cookies
This yummy cookie—a favorite of my husband’s—goes back to my great-grandmother. At Christmastime, we use colored sugar for a festive touch. —Mary Ann Konechne, Kimball, South Dakota
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Jeweled Coconut Drops
Red raspberry preserves add a festive flair to these tender coconut cookies. Perfect for Valentine’s Day and cookie exchanges, these shaped cookies never last long when I make them for my husband and two sons. —Ellen Marie Byler, Munfordville, Kentucky
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Chocolate-Dipped Cranberry Cookies
These pretty pink cookies always turn out so tender. They are the hit of my holiday! —Barbara Nowakowski, North Tonawanda, New York
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Mexican Chocolate Walnut-Cherry Biscotti
I love to combine flavors and spices from different cultures. These cookies have ground cinnamon in them, which is a classic flavor in Mexican chocolate. They are very crunchy and are loaded with maraschino cherries and toasted walnuts. —Nancy C. Evans, Phoenix, Arizona
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Strawberry Cookie Cups
I learned to bake beside my mom and grandmother. When I was on break from college, I knew just how to entertain myself: I made cookies. Sharing this recipe with my mom and grandmother was a proud moment.—Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
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Chocolate Chunk Shortbread
Chocolate is a nice addition to shortbread, as this scrumptious recipe proves. The shortbread cookies are delicious served with a cold glass of milk.—Brenda Mumma, Airdrie, Alberta
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Raspberry Ribbons
I make these attractive, buttery cookies to serve at our remote guest lodge, and all the cooks in the kitchen are addicted to them! —Patsy Wolfenden, Golden, British Columbia
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
When I baked this moist, fudgy chocolate crinkle cookie recipe for the first time, my three preschool children went wild over them! But I like them because they're lower in fat and easy to mix and bake. —Maria Groff, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
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Linzer Heart Cookies
This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the delectable results are well-worth it. I bake the tender jam-filled hearts when I need something fancy to serve for Valentine's Day or other special occasions. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin
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Jumbo Brownie Cookies
Take these deeply fudgy cookies to a party, and you're sure to make a friend. A little espresso powder in the dough makes them over-the-top good. —Rebecca Cababa, Las Vegas, Nevada
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Cherry Kisses
Cookies that melt in your mouth and are practically fat-free—is it any wonder these crispy meringue morsels disappear as fast as I can whip them up? Friends and family love them. —Jo Ann Blomquest, Freeport, Illinois
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Chocolate-Raspberry Whoopie Pies
I’ve saved this jam-filled whoopie pie recipe for years after cutting it out of a newspaper. It’s one of my grandson's personal favorites. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania
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Cherry Pinwheel Cookies
A crisp, light textured cookie with a mild cherry flavor will add great color to your holiday cookie tray.—Jenn Reagan, Maple Valley, Washington
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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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Glazed Strawberry Cookies
I learned to bake with my grandmother and mother. I knew I was giving them a sweet new family tradition when I shared this recipe with them. —Andrea Zulauf, Livonia, New York
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Chocolate-Cherry Sandwich Cookies
I make these often at Christmastime or around Valentine’s Day, but they’re a winner for summer parties, too. Chilling the cookies before you dip them into chocolate is important because it firms up the filling. —Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland
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Sweetheart Coconut Cookies
Ruby red jam and coarse sugar add a festive look to these crisp sandwich cookies that are the perfect gift for loved ones. My husband likes coconut, so I make these for his birthday. —Jo Ellen Helmlinger, Columbus, Ohio
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Berry Shortbread Dreams
Raspberry jam adds fruity sweetness to these rich raspberry-filled shortbread cookies. They will absolutely melt in your mouth! —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas
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Cherry Chocolate Nut Cookies
Each Christmas, I make about 600 cookies to share with family and friends. The holidays wouldn’t be the same without several batches of these colorful goodies. —Sybil Brown, Highland, California
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Double-Dipped Shortbread Cookies
My mom and her friend did a lot of cookie swaps together. They were always finding new recipes to share, including this one. There's something about a dipped cookie that makes it seem so special, so we usually save these for the holidays. —Ginger King, Big Bear Lake, California
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Frosted Red Velvet Cookies
My student job in college was in the bakery. These dreamy morsels take me back to that special place and time. Red velvet lovers will appreciate this fun take on the cake. —Christina Petri, Alexandria, Minnesota
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Palmiers
It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Cherry Crunch Cookies
These crispy cookies provide a nice change of pace from the traditional chocolate chip, sugar and peanut butter cookies. The cornflakes give them a tasty coating.
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Dipped Cherry Cookies
Our seven children and four grandkids voted this festive, flavorful Valentine’s Day cookie a “keeper.” We gave a batch to our mail carrier, in thanks for trudging through so much snow, and she asked for the recipe. —Ruth Anne Dale, Titusville, Pennsylvania
Originally Published: January 12, 2021