The New York Times - Nom nom nom

An assortment of iced and decorated holiday cookies, on a white surface.

Photo: Michael Sullivan

With December just days away, you may find yourself beginning to dream of sweet little somethings: holiday cookies. The tools you use to bake these treats can make all the difference, allowing your dough to bake evenly and your decorations to shine.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing cookie-related essentials to find the best gear—cookie cutters, mixing bowls, and more—to make holiday baking fun and stress-free.

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Our guide to cookie-baking tools→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

Baking’s BFFs

A Nordic Ware baking sheet with six cookies on it.

The best baking sheet

Our favorite sheet pan bakes sugar cookies to a beautiful, even golden brown.

The Whetstone rolling pin being used to make pie dough.

The best rolling pin

Our top pick is more agile than a handled pin and doesn’t stick to the dough as much as cheaper models we tested.

A white KitchenAid stand mixer on a counter surrounded by a green border.

We’ve been testing stand mixers since 2013. KitchenAid’s is still the best.

It’s a workhorse worthy of heirloom status, whipping up cakes, cookies, and creams with ease.

Plus: Make a sweet little village

A gingerbread house that has been fully built and decorated and is underneath a glass cover, surrounded by a holiday wreath.

Photo: Taryn Mohrman

After testing gingerbread house kits, we know firsthand how to avoid cookie collapses, icing avalanches, and missing gumdrops. To keep your family tradition from going from merry to mayhem, try these tricks for sweet success.

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Expert advice for making great gingerbread houses→

One last thing: It’s Cookie Week at NYT Cooking

Photo: Bobbi Lin for The New York Times

It’s the most wonderful week of the year. Sign up for NYT Cooking’s Cookie Week newsletter to get a brand-new cookie recipe sent straight to your inbox every day, December 1 through December 8.

And if you’ve ever wondered what the Cookie Monster is eating, apparently we have the answer.

You can reach the Wirecutter newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

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The New York Times - Nom nom nom

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