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Many families participate in the time-honored tradition of leaving out milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. And considering how many cookies Santa consumes each year, it's even more impressive that he's able to fit down all those chimneys.
In an article for Delish, Kiri Tannenbaum writes that "Approximately one billion cookies are left out around the world for Santa, and since Santa needs something to help wash them down, about 500 million glasses of milk are set out."
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Visit and like our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BradDeBryLawFirm) for a chance to win weekly meal giveaways. 801-685-1000 * Brad DeBry is not associated or affiliated with Robert J. DeBry & Associates, P.C.If you want to distinguish yourself from the other households and potentially sweeten the deal with St. Nick, you will need something special.
Here are 12 of the best cookies to leave Santa this year, which includes the most popular Christmas cookie in Utah (perhaps open for debate). Can you guess what it is?
Tried and True Chocolate Chip Cookies
Santa's probably had his fair share of chocolate chip cookies, but these ones are sure to stand out from the crowd. This Tried and True Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe from A Bountiful Kitchen is just as the name suggests — tried and true.
Having made literally tens of thousands of these cookies through the years, Bountiful Kitchen's Si Foster figured out exactly what it takes to get those perfect, crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside morsels. Say goodbye to flat, pancake cookies!
Milano Reindeer Cookies
Between the holiday parties and the late-night gift wrapping, you might be too tuckered out to whip out a batch of fresh cookies on Christmas Eve. Well, this recipe requires neither an oven nor a mixing bowl and it's about as easy as you can get. Your kids will love assembling these cute Milano Reindeer Cookies from Delish.
Santa Claus Cookies
If you're going to make reindeer cookies, you might as well throw some Santa cookies into the mix, too. These Santa cookies from A Girl Who Ate Everything are just as easy — and equally adorable. Grab some Nutter Butter cookies, white baking chocolate, red-colored sugar, chocolate chips and mini M&Ms and you're all set.
Christmas Magic Cookie Bars
Red and green M&Ms can transform any traditional cookie recipe into a festive holiday treat. The Christmas Magic Cookie Bars from Passion For Savings have a 4.4-star rating with over 250 reviews because they're scrumptious and super simple. Who doesn't love crushed graham crackers topped with silky smooth sweetened condensed milk, butterscotch, oats and chocolate?
Snickerdoodles
Country singer Trisha Yearwood knows a thing or two about baking. Her highly-rated Snickerdoodle recipe from the Food Network is likely to get a thumbs up from the big guy with the beard. (That includes her husband Garth Brooks.)
Soft Gingerbread Swig Sugar Cookies
The name alone probably has you licking your lips. You can't have a Christmas cookie list that doesn't include gingerbread and this recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe is popular for a reason. Inspired by the cookies at one of your favorite drive-through soda shops, these Soft Gingerbread Swig Sugar Cookies will certainly satisfy Santa's sweet tooth. And if you want to swap the milk for a Dirty Dr. Pepper, that might score you even more points.
Eggnog Cookies
Turn your favorite seasonal drink into a melt-in-your-mouth cookie with this recipe from Preppy Kitchen. Even if you're not a fan of the liquid version, these spiced and glazed eggnog cookies might just win you over.
Ted Lasso Shortbread Cookies
Sure, you could just leave out the plain, store-bought shortbread cookies that come in those metal tins. But if you really want to show Santa you "believe" in him, this copycat recipe for Ted Lasso's Shortbread Cookies on Mashable is a winner. Bonus points if you leave it out in a pink box.
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Few recipes will take you back to your childhood faster than these classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. (Fun fact: Betty Crocker reports that these are the most popular Christmas cookies in America.) The sweet and salty combo and ease of preparation make this the perfect Christmas Eve treat. Check out this version from New York Times Cooking which has more than 4,000 reviews and a five-star rating.
Chocolate Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
And now for the Christmasey version of the Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie: Chocolate Candy Cane Kiss Cookies from Six Sisters' Stuff. It's the same concept, but now you've got a decadent chocolate cookie with a peppermint kiss.
Melted Snowmen Oreo Balls
Here's another oven-free, low-stress recipe from A Girl Who Ate Everything. With a little extra creativity, you can transform a plain Oreo truffle into a melted snowman. All you need is Oreos, cream cheese and some vanilla candy coating for this one.
Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies
In case Santa's not a fan of Oreos, he might enjoy these Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies. Interestingly, Betty Crocker Kitchens lists this as the top Christmas cookie recipe in Utah. That could be up for debate, however, because Reader's Digest lists Christmas Eve Mice as the favorite Utah Yule cookie and Taste of Home gives the nod to Mint-Filled Cookies.
A plate full of any of these cookies is definitely going to secure your spot on the nice list. Just don't forget the milk!
