Bake Your Holiday Best

Cookies are suitable for all manner of occasions and tastes, but the fun doesn't have to stop there. Cannoli, candy, cakes and puddings also round out our sweetest recipe collection of the year.

Tasty Tip:

Lots of holiday recipes, including many of these, call for melted chocolate. The easiest way to do this is in the microwave. Melt chocolate in a heat-safe dish on 50% power, stirring between 60 sec. intervals. As chocolate becomes more fluid, cut interval time to 30 sec., then 15 sec., stirring between intervals.

Santa's Favorite Cookies

Santa's Favorite Cookies

Leave these out for the big guy or save them for yourself. These sweet and salty treats feature white chocolate chips, chocolate candies, pretzels and oats.

Molasses Cookies

Molasses Cookies

Super moist, these are great for sharing and even sending in holiday care packages. They stay soft for up to a week.

Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Gluten-Free Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Crisp-tender cookies like cutouts are ideal for gluten-free baking because they don't require sticky, gluey gluten to hold them together or make them chewy. Plus, they're so good that everyone will love them.

Sticky Toffee Puddings

Sticky Toffee Puddings

This rich and decadent dessert favors the British definition of pudding: It's essentially a steamed date cake with a thick homemade caramel sauce. No matter what you call it, it's a Kowalski's Test Kitchen favorite.

Pistachio Cannolis

Pistachio Cannolis

Our recipe is made traditionally with ricotta cheese, but you can also make a smoother, richer filling by substituting the same amount of mascarpone cheese. The filling is also delicious when you add ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon and/or 1 tsp. freshly grated orange peel. You can also try it as a dessert dip with cinnamon pita chips.

Salted Mendiants

Salted Mendiants

These French chocolate candy discs are traditionally studded with specific dried fruits and nuts that represent four Catholic religious orders – Augustinians, Carmelites, Franciscans and Dominicans – but other fruits and nuts may be substituted. The addition of sea salt, while not typical of the confection, is a modern twist that especially enhances the flavor of the chocolate.

Double Chocolate Cheesecake

Double Chocolate Cheesecake

One type of chocolate simply isn't enough for this decadent dessert. Allowing the cheesecake to cool slowly by leaving it in the oven after it's done helps prevent unsightly cracks.

Very Vanilla Cake Roll

Very Vanilla Cake Roll

This simple cake may also be frosted with whipped cream or Kowalski's Buttercream Frosting. Try it with your favorite fruit sauces and fresh fruit garnishes, too. It can be filled with just about anything, from mascarpone cheese or lemon curd to pastry cream, buttercream or jam.

Pumpkin Panna Cotta

Pumpkin Panna Cotta

This silky, smooth dessert tastes like pumpkin pie. We recommend Kowalski's Pure Maple Syrup, but you can top this dish any way you like – with or without nuts, whipped cream or caramel sauce. While panna cotta is beautiful when it's unmolded, you can also serve it right in the dish.

Selection and availability of products and ingredients vary by market.