Where to Buy the Most Festive Christmas Cookies in Philadelphia

Take cookie-baking off your to-do list and kick back with treats from one of these local spots.

Isgro’s cookie selection | Photo by Dominic Episcopo courtesy of Food Collective

In an ideal world, every day of December would be filled with cookies — dipping them in your morning coffee, pairing them with your afternoon snack. Enjoying at least one (or three) after dinner should be a foregone conclusion during the holiday season.

But you certainly can’t be expected to bake them all, which is why we’ve pulled together a list of our favorite holiday cookies, available now to stock your home (and to give as gifts).

Isgro PastriesItalian Market
In general, lines around the holidays aren’t exactly festive, but there’s something about the crowd that gathers outside Isgro right before major holidays that feels distinctly celebratory. Join the multigenerational crowd of Philadelphians who know that no Christmas celebration is complete without at least one box of Isgro’s cookies. We’re particularly fond of the pignoli, but there’s really no wrong choice.

Mighty Bread, East Passyunk
Last year Mighty Bread almost caused a small riot when it introduced a South Philly row home gingerbread house kit. It’s coming back this year with a few new rules: The kits will be available for walk-up order only (no preorders!) starting on December 4th. Di Bruno Bros. stores will also have them for sale locally and for nationwide shipping.

 

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New June Bakery, Fairmount
Preorder New June’s holiday cookie box for a broad selection of treats including matcha-cocoa swirl cookies, peppermint-bark shortbread, and pretzel and salted caramel linzer.

Bredenbeck’s BakeryChestnut Hill
Bredenbeck’s has an entire seasonal menu of gingerbread cookies, ranging from simple, undecorated cookies that are ideal for simplifying your own afternoon of cookie decorating, all the way to custom gingerbread houses that come pre-decorated to resemble whatever building you choose.

Feel Goodiespop-ups
Find Feel Goodies at pop-ups across the city throughout the month of December selling all kinds of treats including double chocolate peppermint cookies, malty-salty brownies, fresh marshmallows, cookie decorating kits and more.

Small Oven Bake Shop, Point Breeze
Small Oven owner Chad Durkin has a way of peeking inside our brains and creating the festive, imaginative treats that we simply must have. The holidays are no exception: The anise-scented biscotti are perfect for all-day dipping without too much of a sugar rush, and the shop’s also offering a hot-chocolate-flavored sugar cookie kit for those of us who need a little baking support.

 

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Crust Vegan Bakerymultiple locations
Once again, Crust proves that vegans also get to have fun. The seasonal decorated sugar cookies will please everyone, and only the vegans need to know they’re completely free of dairy and animal products.

Jezabel’sWest Philly
If you need a thoughtful, local gift mailed nationwide, Jezabel’s alfajores are ideal: They travel well and always impress the receiver. Opt for the chocolate-dipped, rose-petal sprinkled versions for a special touch.