29 Last-Minute Holiday Bakes You Can Make in 30 Minutes

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29 Last-Minute Holiday Bakes You Can Make in 30 Minutes2/29 Christmas M&M’s Cookies 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These M&M Christmas cookies make any cookie platter feel festive. Swap in pastel M&M’s for Easter and orange and brown for Halloween. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 3/29 Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Here’s proof that peanut butter and chocolate

just belong together

just belong together. These peanut butter blossom cookies are an easy family favorite and never fails to make my children smile. —Tammie Merrill, Wake Forest, North Carolina 4/29 Raspberry Coconut Balls 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Raspberry Coconut Balls Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings about 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family loves Hostess Zingers, especially the raspberry flavor coated with coconut, inspiring this treat to make for school bake sales. We can make about four dozen in 30 minutes, and they sell out fast! —Pam Clark, Wheaton, Illinois 5/29

The blend of chocolate and mint is a big hit at our house

Contest-Winning Chocolate Mint Cookies 7 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 32 sandwich cookies Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My dad sandwiches mint patties between two tender chocolate cookies to create these chewy treats. The blend of chocolate and mint is a big hit at our house. Best of all, these cookies are easy and fun to make. —Christina Burbage, Spartanburg, South Carolina 6/29 Chocolate Cherry Cookies 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cherry Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe photo by Jena Carlin for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings

about 1-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These rich, fudgy cookies are chewy and studded with tangy dried cherries. It’s a good thing the recipe makes only a small batch, because we eat them all in one night! —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho 7/29 Peppermint Puff Pastry Sticks 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Peppermint Puff Pastry Sticks Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I wanted to impress my husband’s family with something you’d expect to find in a European bakery, and these chocolaty treats

are what I came up with

are what I came up with. The flaky pastry melts in your mouth. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon 8/29 Cherry Cookies 21 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cherry Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: With a tall glass of ice-cold milk, a couple of these cherry cookies really hit the spot for dessert or a snack. The coconut and bits of cherries provide a fun look and texture. —Judy Clark, Elkhart, Indiana 9/29 Cherry Blossom Cookies 43 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cherry Kiss Cookies Recipe photo by

Share them with family and friends

Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Topped with a chocolate kiss, these cherry-flavored cookies look super cute on a dessert tray. Share them with family and friends. —Joy Yurk, Grafton, Wisconsin 10/29 Coconut Cranberry Cookies 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Coconut Cranberry Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When my husband came home from the grocery store with six bags of fresh cranberries, I launched a full-scale effort to creatively use

Help yourself to one of our soft cinnamon-sugared cookies and see for yourself

them all. Bursting with tart and sweet flavors, these cranberry coconut cookies are my favorite result from that experiment. —Amy Alberts, Appleton, Wisconsin 11/29 Snickerdoodles 122 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Snickerdoodles Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The history of these whimsically named treats has been widely disputed, but their popularity is undeniable. Help yourself to one of our soft cinnamon-sugared cookies and see for yourself. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 12/29 Holiday Thumbprint Cookies 3 Reviews Holiday Thumbprint Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home

These are so tasty and simple to prepare!

Total Time 25 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Speckled with chopped nuts and topped with a candied cherry, these tender cookies will disappear fast.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen 13/29 Cranberry Pecan Cookies 18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cranberry Pecan Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 3-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These are so tasty and simple to prepare! Each delightful little cookie is loaded with cranberries, nuts and vanilla, giving them the taste of a treat that’s been slaved over. —Louise Hawkins, Lubbock, Texas

You’ll love the spicy taste, plump raisins and crunchy walnuts

14/29 Pumpkin Muffins 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 25 min Servings 2-1/4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: At pumpkin harvest time, these muffins are a favorite at our house. You’ll love the spicy taste, plump raisins and crunchy walnuts. They freeze well, too. 15/29 Chocolate Chip Blondies 140 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Folks who adore the classic cookies will enjoy that same beloved flavor in these chocolate chip bars.

I make at least six batches for Noel nibbling and give some away as gifts

This blondie recipe can be mixed up in a jiffy, tastes wonderful, and is perfect for occasions when company drops by unexpectedly or you need a treat in a hurry. —Rhonda Knight, Hecker, Illinois 16/29 Chocolate Mint Creams 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Mint Creams Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings about 6 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe came from an old family friend and is always high on everyone’s cookie request list. I make at least six batches for Noel nibbling and give some away as gifts. —Beverly

But I like them because they’re lower in fat and easy to mix and bake

Fehner, Gladstone, Missouri 17/29 Chocolate Crinkle Cookies 21 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 25 min Servings about 3-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I baked these moist, fudgy cookies for the first time, my three preschool children went wild over them! But I like them because they’re lower in fat and easy to mix and bake. —Maria Groff, Ephrata, Pennsylvania 18/29 Red Velvet Cookies 21 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved KRISTINA VANNI FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

My student job in college was in the bakery

My student job in college was in the bakery. These dreamy morsels take me back to that special place and time. Red velvet lovers will appreciate this fun take on the cake. —Christina Petri, Alexandria, Minnesota 19/29 Big Soft Ginger Cookies 177 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Big Soft Ginger Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These nicely spiced, big soft ginger cookies are perfect for folks who like the flavor of ginger but don’t care for crunchy gingersnaps. —Barbara Gray, Boise, Idaho 20/29 Gluten-Free Snowballs

It’s now my husband’s favorite Christmas cookie

3 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Gluten-Free Snowballs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings about 6 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I took a classic holiday cookie and made it gluten-free. It’s now my husband’s favorite Christmas cookie. They’re so buttery, nutty and sweet—and everyone loves how they crumble in your mouth. —Joan Sarge, Asheville, North Carolina 21/29 Sinterklaas Cookies 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Sinterklaas Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: After opening our

gifts on Christmas Eve as children, we would make these cookies for Santa Claus to snack on with his glass of milk. The crisp spice cookies are delicious dipped in that milk—or in your coffee on Christmas morning. —Charli Fontana, Pella, Iowa 22/29 Candied Fruit Cookies 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 7 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These no-fuss candied fruit cookies are both nutty and fruity, so they’re always a hit at holiday time. —Florence Monson, Denver, Colorado 23/29 Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies 7 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen

The recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies, and they go fast

Approved Total Time 25 min Servings about 1-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Cookie butter and ground ginger add a new layer of flavor. The recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies, and they go fast. You may want to make a double batch. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio 24/29 Chocolate Snowball Cookies 35 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Snowball Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These dainty cookies just melt in your mouth. I enjoy making them for get-togethers when there are lots

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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