"cookies" news and stories

The weekend's coming, and there's no better time for baking. The brains behind "Big Girls, Small Kitchen" at The Huffington Post have six great recipes to fill up your cookie jar. But beware: If you aren't careful, these cookies -- from espresso biscotti to double ginger snaps -- might not make it past the baking tray. (Yes, they're that good.)

Read The 6 Best Cookie Jar Cookies at The Huffington Post.

Today's recipe is a purely personal choice. For this editor, a white-chocolate lover among her dark-chocolate-loving pals here at Slashfood, chef and KitchenDaily expert Curtis Stone's white chocolate and macadamia nut cookies are about as good as it gets in the dessert department. Super-rich, buttery, and with high notes of sweetness that only white chocolate provides, this is the answer to sugar lust.

Recipe for Curtis Stone's White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Cookie

Watch this how-to video for Curtis's take on this cookie.

I have a feeling I'm not alone in one of my Christmas-cooking traditions. As the cookies are rising in the oven -- a mix of sweet and savory recipes, some frosted, others not -- I'm sipping a glass of wine. Now, while it's true you could drink any wine with a cookie and it's all good, why not have fun with it? Here we bring you a cheat sheet with wine and Christmas-cookie pairings, designed to celebrate (and not cover up: hello, jug wine?) the nuances in each grape varietal. (Click on the cookie names to link to recipes.)

Rum (or Bourbon) Balls
If you're going to bite into a sweet that's got this much alcohol, then you need to have an equally high-alcohol beverage. A late-harvest Zinfandel or late-harvest Riesling will do the trick.

Frosted Sugar Cookies
With this type of cookie, there is so much going on (cake flavors in the cookie, sugar-shock in the frosting) that you can choose either a red or white wine as a pairing. A Riesling from Washington State or a jammy Shiraz with black-pepper notes from Australia will do just fine.

Jam-filled Cookies
The rich raspberry notes in a glass of Zinfandel would go with this type of cookie no matter if it's blueberry, blackberry, cherry, strawberry or raspberry preserves you've jammed into the dough.

Shortbread is sort of the essential cookie: flour, sugar, a little salt, and lots of butter -- sweet cream butter, that is. With a delicate crumb and an incredibly rich flavor, this cookie, along with a cup of strong Darjeeling tea, can make for the best afternoon teatime nosh you've ever had.

Shortbread Cookies Recipe

More Shortbread Cookie Recipes

When it comes to sugar cookies and Christmas, the only thing left to be said is, "Make them. Now." Break out the cookie cutters in all the holiday shapes, and gather the kids, the old people, and even the middle-aged curmudgeons -- decorating cookies can make even a grinch smile a little.
Here's a sugar cookie recipe from KitchenDaily contributor Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez that may be the only one you'll ever need.

More Christmas Cookie Recipes