15 High Altitude Holiday Cookie Recipes (2024)

It’s the most fattening wonderful time of the year! Bust out the butter and sugar as I’ve put together a list of my favorite cookies to bake this time of year- all high altitude tested and approved! There is something for everyone on this 15 High Altitude Holiday Cookie Recipes post. Enjoy!!

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1. Snickdoodle Cookies

My kids favorite cookie- holiday or not! These are a classic and beloved by all. Often during the holidays I will use a sparkling finishing sugar to roll the cookies in to fancy them up a bit! Get the recipe here —> High Altitude Snickerdoodle Cookies
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2. Perfect High Altitude Sugar Cookies

This is MY favorite holiday cookie. I rarely make sugar cookies outside the month of December. Not because I don’t love them but because I don’t have any self control and will eat them ALL! Get the recipe here —->High Altitude Sugar Cookies
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3. Chocolate Crinkles with Coconut Oil

These are my favorite childhood cookie updated. My mom makes these every year! The original recipe calls for either canola or vegetable oil but I started using coconut oil a few years ago and love the taste and texture. Get the recipe here —->Chocolate Crinkles with Coconut Oil
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4.Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

A delicious gluten free and grain free cookie option and absolutely incredible! I am not either gluten or grain free and love these cookies just the same! Get the recipe here —-> Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
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5. Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies with Dulce de Leche

Have you ever had these no bake cookies? I was introduced to them by a friend years ago and they’re a favorite to make this time of year. I love the salty sweet combo and have a hard time stopping at just one! Get the recipe here —-> Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies with Dulce de Leche
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6. White Chocolate Citrus Snowballs

A fun twist on a classic. These snowballs have orange, lime, and lemon zest. Almond meal lends a nutty richness and these all butter cookies will melt in your mouth. So. Damn. Good! You can find the recipe here —-> White Chocolate Citrus Snowballs
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7. Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies

Peppermint and chocolate. Is there a more classic holiday combo? I know mint is one of those flavors that people either love or hate and I bet you can guess what camp I fall into! These aren’t overpowering and the frosting on top makes them creamy and buttery. I big time love these cookies! Get the recipe here —-> Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies
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8. Buddy the Elf Cookies

These are such a fun holiday cookie inspired by the movie Elf. A classic chocolate chip cookie recipe loaded with pop-tarts, mini-marshmallows, M&M’s, and sprinkles. Get the recipe here —-> Buddy the Elf “Breakfast” Cookies
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9. Clementine Butter Cookies

This is an older recipe (if you can’t tell by the photos…) but I love it none the less. These butter cookies have orange zest, just a hint of cinnamon, and the glaze has a double dose of citrus from orange zest and a splash of orange liqueur. Get the recipe here —-> Clementine Butter Cookies
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10. Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

I LOVE these cookies. While not totally biscotti, these cookies are baked twice. Think of them as your favorite chocolate chip cookie- extra crispy- and ready to dunk into a mug of coffee or tea! Get the recipe here —-> Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks
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10. Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cups

While not a cookie, I couldn’t NOT include this recipe. These homemade peanut butter cups are 10,000 better than store bought! Salted caramel, creamy peanut butter, and a mix of dark and milk chocolate…..these are insanely good! Get the recipe here —-> Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cups
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11. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know the pumpkin craze usually ends in November but I think pumpkin should get play all year round. This is a classic recipe but feel free to add white chocolate and dried cranberries or a mix of cinnamon chips for a more festive cookie! Get the recipe here —-> Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
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12. Chocolate Chunk Espresso Blondies

These cookie bars are decadent and downright scrumptious. Espresso cookie dough, chocolate chunks and toasted pecans. Plus they’re made in one pan so it’s a super easy recipe to make! Need I say more? Get the recipe here —-> Chocolate Chunk Espresso Blondies
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13. Lunch Lady Brownies

This brownie recipe is always a crowd pleaser. It is super versatile- you could add white chocolate chips, mint extract, festive sprinkles, or a peanut butter frosting….the options are endless! Get the recipe here —-> Lunch Lady Brownies
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14. Salted Peanut Butter Rolo Cookies

Read the title of these cookies again. They have everything you want in a cookie. Peanut butter cookie dough, Rolo candies, and sprinkled with sea salt. These are out of this world redonk. Get the recipe here —-> Salted Peanut Butter Rolo Cookies
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15. Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Another peanut butter cookie but you’re not going to get any apologies from me. Peanut butter cups are my favorite candy and they get stuffed into peanut butter cookie dough that is baked in a mini-muffin tin. Soooooo good! Get the recipe here —-> Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
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What’s your favorite holiday cookie? Have a great week, happy baking, and thanks for reading! xo, Kelley

photos by Kellie Hatcher/ recipes by Mountain Mama Cooks

15 High Altitude Holiday Cookie Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is considered high altitude for baking cookies? ›

WHAT IS CONSIDERED A HIGH ALTITUDE FOR BAKING? High altitude is considered 3,500 feet or more above sea level.

How do I adjust baking for high altitude? ›

Increase baking temperature by 15 to 25 °F to help “set” the batter before cells formed by the leavening gas expand too much. Note that baking time may be reduced so check during baking. Excessive evaporation of water at high elevation leads to high concentration of sugar, which weakens the cell structure.

How do you keep cookies from going flat at high altitudes? ›

Decrease Leavening Agents: The reduced air pressure at high altitudes causes leavening agents, such as baking powder and baking soda, to work more quickly and efficiently. To prevent your baked goods from rising too rapidly and then collapsing, it is suggested to decrease the amount of leavening agents by 15 to 25%.

How much longer do you bake at high altitude? ›

Changes at high altitude
What to changeHow to change it
Oven temperatureIncrease 15 to 25°F; use the lower increase when making chocolate or delicate cakes.
Baking timeDecrease by 5-8 minutes per 30 minutes of baking time.
SugarDecrease by 1 tablespoon per cup
2 more rows

Do you need more or less flour for high altitude baking? ›

For all altitudes, add up to 2 tablespoons more flour per cup called for in the recipe.

What is the best flour for high altitude baking? ›

You can also use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour and decrease the leavening and the fat. To avoid a dry cake, increase your oven temp, decrease your bake time and add a little extra liquid (about 1 to 2 tablespoons at 3000 feet and an additional 1½ teaspoons for every additional 1000 feet of elevation).

Is Denver considered high altitude for baking? ›

But if you live in Denver, Calgary, Johannesburg, or a host of other high-altitude locales, you'll face fallen cakes and overflowing batters if you don't. As elevation rises, air pressure falls, which means that bakers living at 3,000 feet (1,000 meters) will see different results than lowland bakers.

Why does my cake fall in the middle at high altitude? ›

Lower air pressure at high elevations causes air bubbles trapped in the batter to rise at a faster rate. When this happens, cakes rise very fast and high...then fall.

What is the least popular Christmas cookie? ›

On the naughty list of cookies, Americans gave the lowest win records to anise cookies, which only won 29% of its matchups.

What is the 1 cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the most Googled Christmas cookie? ›

Italian Christmas Cookies grow as top cookie

Zoom in: Italian Christmas Cookies were the top cookie in 13 states, more than double the six states from 2022, Google Trends curator Katie Seaton told Axios. Seaton said the Italian cookies dominated the East Coast both this year and last year.

Why are my cookies flat in Colorado? ›

Because of that, leavening agents tend to release gases more quickly at higher altitudes than at normal altitudes. By the time cookies are done, most gasses have expanded and already escaped from the cookies. Bottom line: your cookies flatten.

What is the secret to not flat cookies? ›

If your cookies come out of the oven looking flat, you may not have adequately chilled the dough before baking. Chilling times may vary depending on the cookie you're making, but you should typically chill cookie dough in the refrigerator for at least two hours before you pop it in the oven.

What is considered high altitude? ›

Altitude is defined on the following scale High (8,000 - 12,000 feet [2,438 - 3,658 meters]), Very High (12,000 - 18,000 feet [3,658 - 5,487 meters]), and Extremely High (18,000+ feet [5,500+ meters]). Since few people have been to such altitudes, it is hard to know who may be affected.

Is 2000 feet high altitude for baking? ›

Most cookbooks consider 3,000 feet above sea level to be high altitude, although at 2,000 feet above sea level, the boiling temperature of water is 208 °F instead of 212 °F.

Is Colorado high altitude for baking? ›

Many Colorado bakers have experienced demoralizing baking disasters due to Denver's high altitude and dry climate: collapsed cakes, overflowing batters, and dry, flavorless pastries. It's no surprise, since many recipes are developed for sea-level baking and require special adjustments for Denver's lofty elevation.

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