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Making cookies is a serious business in December. Do you go for a classic holiday cookie like gingerbread men, or try something new and exciting? Do you make a vegan treat for your friends, or go crazy with the chocolate and butter? Decisions need to be made.

Whether you’re attending a cookie exchange this year or want to make a small selection for your family, we’ve got 18 recipes that won’t let you down. From classic sugar cookies to chocolate thumbprints to peppermint cream-filled butter cookies, all of these recipes are winners.

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How well do you know your sugar varieties? What’s the difference between turbinado and demerara? Is caster sugar the same as powdered sugar?

From white sugar to cane sugar to rich brown sugar, here are 11 sugar varieties you need to know, plus our favorite ways to use them.

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What’s going on your holiday cookie plate this year? Chocolate chip cookies might not be on your Christmas cookie list, but let’s face it — they’re (almost) everyone’s favorite. Whether you’re baking them for a potluck or a party, the perfect chocolate chip cookie will always win out.

We talked to a professional baker to discover how she makes the best chewy, gooey chocolate chip cookies ever, and her three tips may surprise you.

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The ability to freeze cookies and cookie dough is a such a lifesaver when I don’t have time to spend the whole day baking. It also means that there isn’t a temptation to eat up the entire batch of cookies; the cookie dough is ready-to-go in the freezer for unexpected guests or when I need a comfort food fix; and if I get my act together and freeze a variety of cookies, a cookie plate is at my fingertips.

Here’s a guide on which cookies freeze well, which ones don’t, and tips on the whole freezing process!

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Barbecue Turkey Meatloaf

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Meatloaf just might be one of the very best comfort foods. It’s the farthest thing from a fancy meal, but it’s homeyness is exactly what makes it so wonderful. While the ingredients and process are simple, there are a few missteps that can easily turn this hearty, comforting meal into a less-than-desirable mound of overly dry, bland meat.

Here are five common mistakes to avoid, plus our best tips for making a really great meatloaf!

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Holiday baking season is descending upon us, which means it’s time for sugar cookies in all sorts of shapes. But how to make pretty cookies that hold their shape, without slaving for a day mixing, chilling, and rolling? Here’s the easiest and best way to save time and make the most perfect-looking cookies. It’s all in the chilling, and here’s how I do it.

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As long as you have a roll of parchment paper in your kitchen, you never need to worry about having muffin or cupcake liners again. Especially not when these liners are so very pretty! If you’re making treats for a party or to say thank you to someone special, I can’t think of a better way to send them over the top than this. No one needs to know how easy they really are.

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Recipe: Slow-Cooked Brisket and Onions

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When I first started using a slow cooker, I was delighted to prepare ingredients before I went to work so I could come home to a hot meal. Sometimes, however, there just isn’t time in my morning routine. Searing meat, cooking vegetables, and reducing liquids sometimes amounts to an hour of prep or more.

Then I decided to start using my slow cooker the other way: overnight instead.

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