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Holiday Cookies with a Twist: Make Your Bakes Stand Out with These 4 Creative Tips

There’s something about winter and the holidays that brings out the baker in us all. This year, expand your horizons beyond your go-to recipes and have a little extra fun by trying something outside-the-box. You never know when a new recipe might become a holiday tradition!

Whether you’re baking cookies for gifts, for parties, or for afternoon snack time, here are a few tips for getting creative with your next batch of holiday cookies.

1. Warm up with a Touch of Heat

Cinnamon, vanilla, ginger. Those flavors are long-time holiday favorites but there’s also payoff in grabbing something a bit more unexpected from your spice cabinet. Spices like cayenne, chili powder, and chipotle powder can be used in recipes to give your cookies extra kick. And while spicy cookies might not be your kid’s first pick, that just means more cookies for you.

2. Serve Sandwiches for Dessert

Why settle for single cookies when you could do a cookie sandwich? Think about it. Two cookies with a filling all in one bite. Plus, there’s an extra benefit—the filling in a cookie sandwich gives you even more room to experiment with fun, festive flavors and colors. For fillings, think Nutella, mint cream, a chocolate-peanut butter mix, eggnog flavored frosting, and everything in between.

3. Pull from the Pantry

Your spice cabinet isn’t the only place to look for holiday cookie inspiration. Your fruit bowl is a good go-to for any dessert. Lemons, limes, orange zest, strawberries, peaches—you name it, you can find or create a cookie recipe that uses it! And there are still more items in your cabinets, pantry, and fridge you could incorporate. Bacon, potato chips, and cereal are all ingredients you can use that will be a pleasant surprise for anyone who gets their hands on your cookies.

4. Think Two-in-One

Remember the movie Inception? Bakers have come up with their own version—cookies within cookies—and we are here for it. The most common inception cookie you’ll find online involves an Oreo cookie inside a chocolate chip cookie, but your options are open. There’s no need to limit yourself!

Turn Your Passion into a Career

Obsessed with baking and testing out new recipes year-round? At The Art Institutes system of schools, we can help you follow your passion and pursue a culinary career with our degree, diploma, and certificate Culinary programs in:

• Baking & Pastry
• Culinary Arts
• Culinary Management
• Hospitality, Food, & Beverage Management

Our programs are led by experienced faculty who’ve spent years working in the culinary industry honing their skills. Providing one-on-one attention and support at every step, we can teach you the techniques and tools of the trade you’ll need to succeed in the competitive, fast-paced culinary world. Request information to speak with an admissions representative about your academic and professional goals today.