Let's agree that December, is a month to treat ourselves with nice homemade sweets. There is no better way to say thank you than by giving a little box of cookies prepared with love in your kitchen.

Get your apron on and choose a recipe!

You can easily gift them, carefully sealed in a container. Even though they probably won't last too long, just know that you can store them up to one week in an airtight container. But who am I kidding, the cookies weren't even cooled, and half of the batch was already gone. I had to hide a few to be able to share these cuties with you! 

I know the statement "My diet starts next week." very well, I say it month after month. If that's the case for you, you might want to consider this quinoa salad. If not, here are some tasty recipes for you.

If you are baking for a nut-free environment or want to stay classic, you can't go wrong with those shortbread cookies. The warmth of the sugary-buttery mix will make you eat them by the handful.

Classic Shortbread cookies

(Yield 15-20)

Ingredients: -

1 cup of butter, diced 

1/2 a cup of sugar 

1 cup of flour, sifted

Vanilla, optional

Preparation:  - Preheat oven to 370 degrees F. In a bowl, mix the butter, sugar, and flour until it holds together. Refrigerate 15-20 min. Roll the dough out half an inch thick. Using a cookie cutter, make squares. Repeat until finished. On a baking sheet, place the shaped cookies. Bake 25 minutes. 

Is it cold outside? Are you are in a hot chocolate and marshmallows kind of mood? No problem, we got you covered with those oh so addictive almond-chocolate shortbread bites. Don't try to control yourself in front of those, you can't. They are a buttery treat with the perfect balance of chocolate and almond, plus a sweet touch of marshmallow. Irresistible.

'Hot chocolate cookie', almond-chocolate and marshmallow

(Yield 15)

Ingredients: -

1 cup of flour

1/2 a cup of almond ground 

1/4 a cup of sugar 

A pinch of salt 

2 tablespoon of cocoa powder

1 cup of soft butter, diced 

1 egg yolk, medium size

Preparation: - Preheat oven to 325 F. In a bowl, put the flour, ground almond, sugar, salt and cocoa powder. Mixing well, add in the butter, it will be crumbly. Add the egg yolk and continue to mix. Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.

If you want to add a little European twist, with a world-flavored cookie, you'll impress your friends with your pronunciation of Maaantecaos, if you make these delicious cookies! You'll be the Christmas star of the evening... not the one on the tree! You'll love that little orange flavor... Close your eyes, you could be on the street of a little town in Andalucia, where Orange trees make the shadows on the sidewalk...

Spanish Mantecaos (Yield 15)

Ingredients: -

1 and 1/2 half cups of flour 

1/2 cup of sugar 

100ml of oil 

2 teaspoons of orange blossom water

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Preparation: - Preheat oven to 370 degrees F. In a bowl, put the flour and the sugar. Mix. Pour the oil and the orange water. Mix well until it holds together. Make little balls of 1.5 inches diameters. Bake 25 minutes or until golden. Decorate with icing sugar and sprinkle with cinnamon on top.

Written and photographed by Melanie from Bon Appét'Eat.