Welcome back to The Cookie Elf File! It’s that time of year when we send you cookie recipes, cookie trivia and simple baking tips to give you easy ways to bake 12 days of Christmas cookies.

This year, we’re sending you two recipes in each email to cut down on the mail in your inbox. Bookmark or pin these recipes so you can use them in your holiday baking.

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12 Days of Christmas Cookies, Day 11 - Christmas Wreath Cookie Recipe - Easy No-Bake Cookie Recipe

Image: The Cookie Elf

Christmas Wreath Cookie Recipe: Christmas Wreath Cookies Recipe – this favorite has been around for decades! It’s a take-off on Rice Krispie Treats, but corn flakes replace the crispy rice cereal.

And they're no-bake cookies!

For years I shied away from making these adorable little wreaths – “Too messy,” I said to excuse myself. My fingers struggled to get wayward cornflakes to shape into small little circles. That is until I discovered some mess-saving tips. The key was to find a way to give the wreaths a hole in the center without having all the gooey cornflake mixture stick to your fingers.

The answer: water on your fingertips as you handle the mixture and using the rounded end of a spoon to poke a hole in the center of preformed balls to make the wreaths (see Cookie Baking Tip below.)

Prep time: 15-20 minutes
Setting time: 20-30 minutes, divided
Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Get the full Christmas Wreath Cookie Recipe … and check out more No-Bake Cookies on our Pinterest board.

12 Days of Christmas Cookies, Day 12 - Ginger Shortbread Cookies - Easy Ginger Bread Cookies Variation

Image: The Cookie Elf

Ginger Shortbread Cookies is a terrific recipe if any of these are true:

1. You love ginger
2. You don’t have time to make ginger bread cookies because they take longer to roll, cut, and decorate
3. You like shortbread and want to try different kinds

You can save money by making your own candied ginger. (Bonus! Grab the recipe here.) And you can vary the intensity of the ginger flavor by eliminating the candied ginger on top.

Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Setting time: 18- 20 minutes, divided
Makes about 5-6 dozen triangular slices

Get the full recipe for Ginger Shortbread Cookies: … and check out more Shortbread Recipes on our Pinterest board.

The Un-Santa Book: Plan Now for a Meaningful Christmas

It's filled with fun, meaningful Christmas activities for your kids, homeschool group, class, or event - with reproducibles!

You can even use the book to host a complete festival or sponsor a unique holiday event or simply doing Christmas crafts with kids during this special time of year.

Good gift idea, too! Learn more.

Cookie Baking Tip: Save Sticky Cookie Dough Mess

Image: The Cookie Elf

See more helpful cookie baking tips on The Elf’s Baking Tips Pinterest Board .

Have Fun During Your Holiday Break

Make your own gingerbread house! Wilton and other kits	Measuring cups from Prepworks, others	Silicone, quilted, and padded oven mitts or potholders of all kinds

More Easy No-Bake Cookie Recipes

Happy baking,