Over the last couple weeks I have made Cookie Monster look like an amateur.
Cookies are not even my favourite category of dessert, but its easy to make room for them. Calling them biscuits makes me feel less guilty about it, too, although who am I kidding? I never really feel guilty unless I eat 10 in one sitting.
Here are 10 stand-out holiday cookies, and many are even available throughout the year. They arent necessarily the best, because we all know how I feel about the best anything, but they are 10 that I wouldnt mind having all at once.
10 Holiday Cookies
(in no particular order)
Holiday Spiced Whipped Shortbread from Bel Café Pastry Chef Wayne Kozniko killed his shortbread from last year with his new and improved version. The addition of rice flour and confectioners sugar always gives shortbread a melt-in-your-mouth consistency, and whipping the batter makes it extra light. Buttery flavour, hint of vanilla, and soft and tender texture makes it my favourite new shortbread this season.
Santas Milk & Cookies and Vin de Noix Macarons from Soirette Macaron & Tea Pastry chef Shobna Kannusamys Santas Milk & Cookies macaron comes with an unexpected homemade, egg-free cookie dough in the centre, and her Vin de Noix macaron is filled with a dark chocolate ganache infused with Vista Doro Farms & Winerys flagship fortified walnut wine. Both are exclusive to her holiday collection of macarons.
Ginger Chocolate Cookies from Kitchening & Co. Carly Wintschel specializes in macarons, but I actually prefer her new ginger chocolate cookies now. Theyre soft and chewy, not too sweet, and made with freshly grated ginger, cocoa and chocolate.
Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies from Beaucoup Bakery Jackie Kai-Ellis opened her store with these and it was an instant favourite. Its rich, sweet, and decadent, and it will make you question the other ones in the city. She offers them in a mini stocking stuffer size this year, too.
Polvoron from Goldilocks Its a Spanish-style shortbread cookie and theyre available all year at Goldilocks, a Filipino bakery. The cookie itself is almost creamy, but the Pinipig Polvoron has Rice Crispies in it for contrasting texture. Its my favourite kind of polvoron.
Gorgonzola & Pistachio Shortbread from Coach House Shortbread Company Its based in Toronto, but you can order them online. They are a shortbread pioneer in shortbread and one of my all-time favourites. Their savoury collection is hard to beat.
Parmesan & Rosemary Shortbread from PÉCHÉ MIGNON If youd rather buy local, then this all-natural sweet and savoury artisan shortbread is also very good.
Chocolate Sparkle Cookies from Thomas Haas Its nothing new, but a classic. The recipe is online, or you can buy them in cookie dough form and bake them at home. Made with ground almonds and chocolate, this rich cookie is gluten free.
Okinawa Matcha Shortbread from Cake-Ya It is a quaint little Japanese bakery with to-go items in Port Moody. Their matcha shortbread is like biting into a sandcastle in a very good way. I need to do a back-to-back comparison with Bel Cafés, the texture was similar.
Gluten Free Marzipan Ginger Cookies from Chef Kev Youll find Pastry Chef Kev at various Christmas Markets in Vancouver. These soft, moist and tender cookies and made with ground almonds, fresh candied ginger and a bit of ginger powder. Its my favourite from his cookie collection.
Mijunes next Follow Me Foodie adventure: Exploring Oaxacan cuisine with Iron Chef Rob Feenie and company in Oaxaca, Mexico. Follow #FMFinOaxaca for updates or tweet interview questions to @followmefoodie. Also find her with the Sake Association of British Columbia at the Emperors Birthday Reception conducted by the Consulate General of Japan on Dec. 17. Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter @followmefoodie.
