Our Favorite Christmas Cookies

Crème de la Cookie

The Experience

Our tester quickly and easily ordered a dozen assorted holiday cookies over the phone. We were quoted a pick-up time of the next day at noon, and they were ready on time. 

How They Looked

Adorable! The icing work was precise and detailed. The gift wrap on the present-shaped cookies even had patterns worked into it.

How They Tasted 

These were significantly thinner and firmer than the others we tried. But they weren’t overly sweet, which our testers liked, and had a slight pleasant almond flavor. 

Price 

$24

Pros

They were the cheapest of the bunch by a good margin, and they consistently got the highest marks for taste and décor. A clear winner!

Cons

If you like a thick, doughy cookie, these aren’t for you.

Cookies By Design

The Experience

Remember Cookie Bouquet? This is them, just with a new name. We placed an order over the phone and our dozen cookies were ready within three hours. Orders can also be placed online, and delivery is available. 

How They Looked

Very detailed, but testers thought the Santas looked more creepy than jolly. The icing colors bled a bit. Though we asked for cookies on sticks, they came individually wrapped in plastic bags tied with ribbon.  

How They Tasted 

Pretty sweet, but most notable was the consistency: very soft, dense, and thick—almost cake-y. By far the biggest cookies we ordered, they felt like they weighed a pound apiece.

Price 

$71.40

Pros

These were sizable enough that just one should satisfy. And with such a quick turnaround time, they’re handy if you need a last-minute teacher or corporate gift.

Cons

At nearly $72 for a dozen cookies, these will hit your wallet as hard as your waistline.

Celebrity Café & Bakery

The Experience

After some trouble connecting via phone, we decided to order in person. Our treats were to be ready the next day, but we were informed a few hours prior that they forgot to note our pickup time. They were ready
the next morning.

How They Looked

Very nicely done. The icing wrapped all the way around the edges of the cookies, giving them a finished appearance. 

How They Tasted 

Like a classic, crisp sugar cookie. Not overly sweet, with more of a floury taste than the others. Some testers found them a bit dry, but the thinner frosting gave it a good cookie-to-icing ratio.

Price 

$36

Pros

A classic sugar cookie that’s holiday-party presentable for a fair price.  

Cons

The customer service left more than a little to be desired. 

Unrefined Bakery

The Experience

We placed an order over the phone—a dozen is the minimum order for cookies—and were told they’d be ready the next day by 2 p.m. They were.

How They Looked

The cookies were uniformly round regardless of the decoration, which was piped in the center and underwhelming in terms of artistry. Their technique left a lot of the surface area icing-less. 

How They Tasted 

These were snicker-doodles disguised as sugar cookies. Not that they weren’t yummy—they were, especially for gluten-free—but the flavor and consistency were unexpected.

Price 

$36

Pros

The gluten-free set will appreciate this tasty, if nontraditional, take on the sugar cookie. Plus the decor looks homemade—so you could take credit for them!

Cons

The decor looks home-made—and your party guests will probably think so, too. Cheapskate.

Society Bakery

The Experience

When we called to order, we were asked what design and colors we’d like. Each design must be ordered in quantities of a dozen, so we opted for gift-shaped cookies. We were told they’d be ready the next day at noon, and they were.

How They Looked

Consistent and well decorated, though the lack of variety was a bit of a bummer. 

How They Tasted 

On the sweeter end of the spectrum. Both the icing and the cookie were thick, so you get a soft, chewy cookie with a healthy dose of icing.

Price 

$42

Pros

All the qualities you want in something (or someone) to bring to a holiday party: Cute, sweet, and reliable. 

Cons

If you want an assort-ment, you’ll have to go elsewhere—or order more.