#ATKRecipeChallenge: Perfect Holiday Cookies

Soft and Chewy Gingerbread People, Cranberry Swirl Shortbread, Noche Buena Chocolate Sandwich Cookies [Log In]( [America's Test Kitchen]( [FIND RECIPES]( [START FREE WEB TRIAL]( [#ATKRecipeChallenge The Perfect Cookie Week 2] It’s the most wonderful cookie baking time of the year. We’ll share a few recipes, how-to tips, and equipment picks from our new book [The Perfect Cookie]( each Thursday for the next month ([buy one and give one to a friend—you’ll save 50%](. The recipes will be free for one week from the date you open the email. More Gift Ideas: Check out our [Holiday Gift Guide]( Social Media: Post with hashtag [#ATKRecipeChallenge]( Email: Send your pictures directly to ATKRecipeChallenge@AmericasTestKitchen.com Christmas Cookies Crispy or chewy, dipped in chocolate or dressed up with silver sugar pearls, there’s a little magic in every one. Take a batch of one of the beauties below to a cookie swap (or start a cookie swap tradition this year). [Soft and Chewy Gingerbread People]( These cookies are nothing like the stale versions that you punch a hole in and trim the Christmas tree with. Our people, while still flat enough to decorate, are soft and chewy and brimming with ginger and molasses flavors—not overwhelmed by dusty spices. For ease, we used a food processor to make the dough. Bake until the cookies are just set around the edges and slightly puffed in the center. Let them cool, and then commence the embellishment with our [Decorating Icing](. [Cranberry Swirl Shortbread]( For a festive, colorful spin on classic, old-fashioned shortbread, add a swirl of cranberries; not only pleasing to the eye, a bright red spiral of pureed cranberries adds a welcome tartness to the rich, buttery shortbread. We cooked the cranberries with orange and cinnamon before pureeing them for a smooth texture that is easy to spread and pipe. In addition to swirling the puree on top of the dough, we sandwiched a layer in the middle of the shortbread. [Noche Buena Chocolate Sandwich Cookies]( These Christmas Eve treats are often the first to disappear from our holiday cookie tray. While we love the soft chocolate cookie component, the real star of these sandwich-style cookies is the dulce de leche filling. A bit of cayenne pepper contributed a spicy punch to our cookie dough, and a shot of coffee liqueur (use either Kahlua or Tia Maria) added deep, complex flavor that highlighted the chocolate. [How to decorate holiday cookies →]( [Decorating Gingerbread People Illustration]( Equipment: In the mix A stand mixer, with its hands-free operation, numerous attachments, and strong mixing arm, is a worthwhile investment if you plan on making cookies regularly. Heft matters, as does a strong motor that can mix stiff or chunky doughs with ease. Our favorite stand mixer is the [KitchenAid Pro Line Series 7-Qt Bowl Lift Stand Mixer](. Our Best Buy is the [KitchenAid Classic Plus Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer](. [The Perfect Cookie]( [The Perfect Cookie]( Bake cookies with 250 best-ever recipes and 25 years of test kitchen cookie-baking know-how at your fingertips. Looking for more baking inspiration this holiday season? Whip up batches of Eggnog Snickerdoodles, Peppermint Mocha Cookies, Pfeffernüsse, Stained Glass Cookies, Meringue Christmas Trees, and more from [The Perfect Cookie]( Christmas Cookies chapter. [Hardcover Price: $35]( [Your Price: $24.50]( [Additional copies are just $17.50]( [ORDER NOW]( [Next Week: Let's Get Fancy] [Cherry Cheesecake Cookies] [2017 Holiday Gift Guide. Perfect Presents for Every Cook. Shop Now.]( [America's Test Kitchen]( [Cook's Illustrated]( [Cook's Country]( [Cooking School]( America’s Test Kitchen is the home of Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country from America’s Test Kitchen public television shows, dozens of best-selling cookbooks, member websites, and the America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School. We have a single mission: to help you succeed every time you cook. FOLLOW US [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [Forward to a friend →]( View this email in a [Web browser](. We sent you this email because our records indicate that you requested to receive email from America's Test Kitchen. We don’t want you to miss out on our emails: Please [add our email address]( to your address book or “safe” sender list today. Unsubscribe or manage your [email preferences](. View our [privacy policy.]( DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Unfortunately, replies to this email will not be answered. If you have questions, please visit our [Customer Service]( page. America's Test Kitchen, 21 Drydock Avenue, Suite 210E, Boston, MA 02210