Sugar Cookie Ideas from the Backyard Life Ambassadors

Nothing screams “home for the holidays” quite like a soft, chewy sugar cookie. We all have at least one fond memory of baking—or maybe just eating—some of these sweet treats alongside our loved ones. So, whether you’re into sugar, spice, or something even nicer, our Backyard Life ambassadors have you covered with these tasty, irresistible sugar cookie ideas.

History of Holiday Cookies

Holiday cookies got their start as a survival staple, rather than a celebratory treat. They were often spread around during solstice festival feasts, where it was tradition to share food with the community to prepare for the harsh winters ahead.

It wasn’t until Christmas became popular, and the need to store food for the winter declined, that the sweet treats we all love came to be. The gift of giving remained, but the spirit of the sweets changed. Sugary and sweet dishes—such as pies and cakes—grew in popularity; however, the cookie became king because it would stay fresh much longer than the others.

Now, there are hundreds—if not thousands—of holiday cookie ideas and recipes ranging from sweet and delicate all the way to hearty and spicy. (After all, Santa has to have something to eat when he’s hard at work!) It’s no wonder why cookies have quickly become a national Christmas pastime.

But what good is knowing about the history of holiday cookies if you can’t at least taste them? Read on to discover some of our ambassadors’ favorite sugar cookie ideas and get into the holiday spirit.

Greg Mrvich’s Spiced Sugar Cookies

Be the envy of the holiday party with this recipe for spiced sugar cookies from Exmark Ambassador Greg Mrvich. Get your ingredients ready and get baking.