Our Most Coastal Holiday Cookies Ever

As pretty as they are yummy, these cookies were made using fun cookie cutters from coppergifts.com.

• Recipe: Cut-Out Butter Cookies with Royal Icing

These intricate cookies are created using a special springerle mold. Originally carved from wood, new molds are made from easy-to-clean, food-safe resin (we used House on the Hill Sloop Cookie Mold, $24; houseonthehill.net).

• Recipe: Eggnog-Scented Springerle Cookies

Update your cookie repertoire with a few new gingerbread shapes. You can find mermaid cutters at cookiecutter.com, and gingerbread boys from annclarkcookiecutters.com. Decorate with icing, sprinkles, and dragées for a sweet and spicy coastal treat!

• Recipe: Gingerbread Sailors and Mermaids

Finely chopped crystallized candied ginger and a sprinkling of sugar give a basic sugar cookie something extra, while slivered almonds mimic the look of sand dollars.

• Recipe: Ginger Sand Dollar Cookies

This simple dough is perfect for baking unique cutouts for any occasion. We used palm trees and sea life, but cut them into any shape you like.

• Recipe: Coastal Cutout Cookies

Delicious and oh-so cute, these sweet treats can be made using your favorite fishy cookie cutter (We used Tropical Fish, $14; coppergifts.com).

• Recipe: Fish-and-Chips Cookies

For an extra-nautical treat, take our basic Cutout Cookies recipe, cut out lifesaver-shapes, then sandwich two together with fruit preserves or frosting.

• Recipe: Lifesaver Cookies

To make Spritz Cookies, you'll need a cookie press, and the OXO Good Grips Cookie Press ($30; oxo.com) is a breeze to use. The set includes 12 cookie disks for making an assortment of adorable treats.

• Recipe: Spritz Cookies

This basic, but delicious, recipe is an ideal accompaniment to another dessert, such as our Lemon Verbena Crème Brûlée.

• Recipe: Sea Star Butter Cookies