Cookies without any fuss

Sometimes selecting which holiday cookies to bake can be more trouble than the actual baking.

With magazines and celebrity chefs offering scores of ideas for holiday treats, how do you pick between one gingerbread man or oatmeal-chocolate chip something-or-other and the 20 other similar recipes?

You don’t. Associated Press has done it for you, leafing through dozens of magazines and stacks of books in search of just the right mix of holiday favorites that are easy, light on labor and look and taste great.

Chewy cranberry oatmeal cookies

Every tin of holiday cookies needs something oatmealy. And these cookies from the December issue of Fine Cooking magazine are a great choice, combining the traditional oats and brown sugar with tangy dried cranberries.

Like many drop cookies, these really spread as they cook. Be sure to leave ample space around them on the baking sheet.

Oil to prepare pans (optional)

11/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

teaspoon salt

teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups rolled oats

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, slightly softened

1 cup packed light brown sugar

cup granulated sugar

Story Continues →