The Most Iconic Holiday Cookies In Every State
You won't believe what people are baking across the country.
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Picking a favorite Christmas cookie seems like a nearly impossible task, we know. But somehow, every state in the U.S. has managed to show an allegiance to a specific type. Some remain loyal to classic chocolate chip or festively decorated sugar cookies, while others are baking varieties we've never even heard of.
Many of the more outlandish cookies are rooted in tradition, local restaurant recipes, and what crops and ingredients are seasonal to the area during the holidays. Before you go ahead and see what cookies you should be baking this year, take your guesses. What cookies do you always see local bakeries in your area churning out come December? Are there certain grocery store shelves you see cleared out when the holiday season hits? What's the family recipe kept under lock and key in your home from your great grandmother's great grandmother? You get the gist.
Take your guess and see how accurate you are by scrolling to your state. If you're extra curious or just want some fun holiday baking trivia knowledge, you should go ahead and memorize all 50 states. Why not? It gives you something to impress all the guests are your holiday party or dinner table.
Inspired to get baking? Check out our favorite holiday cookie recipes, then make sure you've got all the equipment you need: the best cookie sheets, the most popular stand mixers, and more. For the inevitable leftovers you'll have, this is everything you need to know about freezing cookies.
Alabama
Traeger's Bakery in Demopolis, AL, made turtleback cookies famous within the state. They're crisp on the outside and soft on the inside with plenty of warm spices and a cinnamon or caramel glaze, giving them a shell-like topping.
Get the recipe from The Yule Log 365.
Alaska
Wildnerness Place Lodge in Lake Creek, AK, is said to be responsible for the popularity of these oatmeal cookies, baked with tons of chewy goodness, including chocolate chips, coconut, raisins and walnuts.
Get the recipe from Alaska From Scratch.
Arizona
These white, powdery confections have many names, including Russian tea cakes and snowball cookies, but in Arizona they're most often called Mexican wedding cookies or polvorones, made with butter, powdered sugar, flour and chopped nuts.
Get the Polvorones recipe.
Arkansas
In Arkansas, cocoa, pecans and caramel combine to form the decadent, chocolate turtle cookie. The fudgy treats are soft with just the right amount of crunch, making them statewide favorites.
Get the recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction.
California
The crispy, plastic-wrapped cookies that come with your Chinese food were first popularized in California, where they were mass produced for the first time. Homemade fortune cookies have a more personal touch, and you can fill them with a custom note.
Get the Fortune Cookies recipe.
Colorado
With all of the trails along Colorado's Rocky Mountains, it's no wonder they love trail mix in all of its forms. These oatmeal cookies pack in plenty of nuts and dried fruit. And since we all know that chocolate is the best part of any hiking snack, this recipe gets a boost from chopped up peanut butter cups.
Get the PB Cup Trail Mix Cookies recipe.
Connecticut
Connecticut's state cookie is the sugary snickerdoodle, a sweet thought to have been introduced to America by immigrants from England, Scotland, and the Netherlands. Our version amps up the warm and toasty cinnamon with the addition of brown butter.
Delaware
Thanks to the importance of peach farming in Delaware, you're bound to see peach desserts galore. In the cookie category, these peach pie oatmeal numbers are unique and delicious.
Get the recipe from Amy's Healthy Baking.
Florida
Key lime pie is king in the Sunshine State, and the flavors translate seamlessly to crunchy cookies as well. Whether you prefer key lime coolers or these key lime pie sandwich cookies filled with tangy cream, you really can't go wrong.
Get the recipe from Cookies & Cups.
Georgia
Did you know that Georgia produces 49 percent of the United State's peanuts? That makes peanut butter cookies a real winner here. If you really want to step it up, make these surprise cookies, stuffed full of peanut butter.
Hawaii
Hawaii has a corner on the macadamia nut market within the U.S., and combining them with white chocolate bits makes for an epic cookie that's sweet, creamy and crunchy all at once.
Get the recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction.
Idaho
There's no shortage of potatoes in this state, so it's no surprise that they manage to make their way into some desserts. Those who love sweet-and-salty combinations won't be able to get enough of a batch of potato chip cookies. For a holiday spin, try making these Santa's Trash cookies.
Get the Santa's Trash Cookies recipe.
Illinois
Frango chocolate mints were one delicious reason to visit Marshall Fields in downtown Chicago back in the day, and though they're not made in melting pots in front of your eyes any longer, the state's craving for mint chocolate sweets still remains. Get your fix with these homemade peppermint patties that totally beat the store bought version.
Get the Peppermint Patties recipe.
Indiana
Clabber Girl baking powder got its start in Terre Haute, and the ingredient is still a key for making chocolate crinkle cookies. The powder gives the cookies just the right amount of lift and spread to form those tantalizing cracks on top.
Iowa
When you think of Iowa, you probably picture fields of swaying corn stalks. Even in more urban parts of the state, people can get on board with subtly sweet corn cookies.
Get the Corn Cookies recipe.
Kansas
Russian immigrants who immigrated to Kansas in the 1800s are said to have brought this unique recipe with them. Peppernuts or pfeffernüsse are spicy cookies, and our recipe tops them off with a sweet cardamom glaze.
Get the Pfeffernüsse Cookies recipe.
Kentucky
Just because it's not a Derby party doesn't mean there can't be bourbon involved. Kick up your holiday cookies, Kentucky-style, by making these boozy no-bake truffles.
Get the Bourbon Balls recipe.
Louisiana
The French influence in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana is apparent in the food, and that goes for cookies, too. One of the most popular confections is the palmier cookie, also known as the elephant ear. This super simple recipe is delicious on its own, or you can customize it with flavors like coconut or chocolate.
Get the Palmier Cookies recipe.
Maine
New Englanders are mighty fond of one old-school ingredient: molasses. The sticky syrup, when paired with warm spices, form a chewy, not-too-sugary cookie that stands the test of time.
Get the Molasses Cookies recipe.
Maryland
You can't be a true Baltimore resident without trying Berger cookies. The semi-sweet rounds are merely a vehicle for the topping: a layer of hand-dipped, chocolate fudge that's about 1/2-inch thick.
Get the recipe from Home. Made. Interest.
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