How to Participate in the Holiday Cookie Bracket 

While some may find gift-giving to be the most exciting part of the holidays, we’d argue that baking, decorating, and eating cookies are truly the most magical moments. And over the last 10 years of Savory, we’ve collected our fair share of holiday delights. From creative classics like gingerbread men made with cake mix to kid-friendly like thumbprint and innovative red velvet goodies, the holiday cookie possibilities are endless. Last year we launched our very first Savory Holiday Cookie Bracket to ask Savory readers what the ultimate festive recipe is. And this holiday season, we’re back for round two!  

We’ll kick off the second annual Savory Holiday Cookie Bracket on National Cookie Day (Dec. 4) with 32 of our very best contenders. You’ll see some returning competitors and some new cookies joining the lineup. After three weeks of sweet and sugary competition, we’ll announce our final winner on National Cookie Exchange Day (Dec. 22). This year, the ultimate holiday cookie is up to YOU!  

How the Bracket Works  

Just like your favorite sporting event, we’ve created a bracket with 32 of our all-time favorite holiday cookie recipes. To change up the competition, we’ve divided them into four regions this time—classic cookies, international favorites, kid treats, and cookie innovations—and assigned them a number from one to eight based on their online popularity. The number one ranked spot will face off against eight, ranking two against seven, three against six, and so on. After each round, the number of cookies will be cut in half, and we’ll continue with quarter finals, semifinals, and then the final to find our winner. The cookie bracket is a single-elimination tournament, so once a cookie is voted out, it’s out of the game.  

How to Vote  

Head to our Instagram page (@savory.online) between December 4 and December 22 to join in on all the fun. The voting will take place on our Instagram stories, and you’ll have 24 hours to vote on your favorite recipes once they’re posted. Then, we’ll tally the scores and post an updated recipe selection twice a week.  

Alternatively, you can print your own version of our bracket, fill out your thoughts, post it to Instagram, and tag us @savoryonline!  

Meet the Competition  

Our holiday cookies are treats that embody the spirit of the season with ingredients or decorations that make you think about holiday cheer. Introducing the 2025 Savory Holiday Cookie Bracket lineup:  

Classic Cookies 

1. Chocolate Peppermint Bars 
2. 4-Ingredient Butter Cookies 
3. Chocolate-Almond Spice Cookies 
4. Cinnamon-Raisin Rugelach 
5. Chocolate Crinkles 
6. Cake Mix Gingerbread Men 
7. Pistachio Snowball Cookies 
8. Christmas Sprinkle Cookies 

International Favorites 

1. Chocolate-Pistachio Biscotti 
2. Easy Chocolate Palmiers 
3. Norwegian Butter Cookies 
4. Italian Rainbow Cookies 
5. Mexican Hot Chocolate Bomb Cookies 
6. Spritz Cookie 
7. Alfajores 
8. Raspberry Linzer Cookies

Kid Treats  

1. Reindeer Cookies 
2. Jammy Thumbprints 
3. Christmas Sugar Wafer Cookies 
4. Gift Box Cookies  
5. Easy Ball Ornament Cookies 
6. Melted Snowman Cookies 
7. Eggnog Cutout Cookies 
8. Christmas Tree Brownies 

Cookie Innovations 

1. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies (our 2024 winner!) 
2. No-Bake Millionaire Shortbread Bars 
3. Cookie Butter Bars 
4. Marbled Cookies 
5. Fruitcake Sugar Cookie Bars 
6. Gingerbread Shortbread 
7. Peanut Butter-Miso Blossoms 
8. Vanilla Wafer Sandwich Cookies 

The Final Results 

Check back soon for our ultimate winner, and don’t forget to vote!