7 Delicious Ways to Revamp Your Stale Holiday Cookies

We've hit the final stretch of the holiday season. That moment when the Christmas tree no longer sparkles with festive joy but instead serves as a reminder that it’s time to pack up the decorations. By now, your leftover cookies from holiday baking are probably pretty stale. But don't despair just yet.

Even cookies that have lost their freshness can still be put to good use. Upcycling your holiday sweets is a fantastic way to keep the festive spirit alive and bring a bit of creative flair into the new year.

Cookie Crumb Crust

For pies, bars, cheesecakes, or any dessert that requires a crumb crust, your leftover holiday cookies are the perfect solution. Simply choose a cookie variety (or two, like shortbread and ginger snaps, if their flavors complement each other) that will pair well with your filling, pulse them in a food processor to create crumbs, add melted butter, and press into your pan. No food processor? No problem—just put the cookies in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin. If you prefer a sweeter crust, add a couple of tablespoons of sugar to the mix.

The amount of crumbs you'll need depends on your recipe and pan size. For a standard 9-inch pie, this simple Butter Cookie Crust recipe is a perfect starting point.

Cookie-Powered Milkshakes

If there’s a way to make a milkshake even better, this is it. A cookie-infused milkshake is your chance to wow your loved ones with a personalized treat. Pick an ice cream flavor that complements your cookies, toss it into the blender with milk and a few cookies, then blend until smooth.

This Oreo Milkshake recipe is a great way to start figuring out your measurements, but feel free to use any cookie you like for your unique creation.

Homemade Cookies-n-Cream Ice Cream

The leftover cookies on your holiday platter may not look too appealing right now, but they can easily elevate a tub of plain vanilla ice cream. Let the ice cream soften slightly, then fold in the crumbled cookies. Return it to the freezer to firm up again, and voilà—you’re all set. You can use any ice cream flavor, but it's best to choose one that doesn't already have mix-ins.

Cookie Crunch Frosting

Just as people add nuts for crunch in frosting, why not cookies? This is one of my favorite ways to repurpose leftover cookies. By mixing finely crushed cookie crumbs into frosting, you introduce a whole new texture and flavor to your cake. You can use your favorite buttercream recipe, or even upgrade a can of store-bought frosting. I learned this trick from my mom, who, in her quest to waste nothing, mixed crumbled ginger cookies into a batch of orange-cream cheese frosting. The flavor combinations were a mystery, but the result became a family favorite.

Cookie Truffles

Store-bought cookies often take center stage in indulgent treats like Oreo Balls or classic bourbon balls, but there's no reason you can't use crumbs from your homemade holiday cookies. In fact, you absolutely should.

Cookie Butter

If you’re not familiar, it’s like nut butter, but made from cookies. And trust me, it’s just as amazing as it sounds. While cookie butter is usually made with Speculoos cookies, making it with your homemade shortbread sounds like a fun experiment. This Homemade Cookie Butter recipe is the perfect guide to get you started.

Or Simply Save Them

Still hesitant? Totally fair. After all the holiday craziness, you might be feeling a little burned out on baking. Here's an easy solution: crush those cookies, pop them in a zip-top bag, and freeze them for later. Cookie crumbles have endless possibilities, so save them for when you’re ready to get creative. And if you don’t want to dive into a big project, just sprinkle the crumbs over vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce. Suddenly, a quiet January night feels like a special treat.

Here’s the lesson I want to carry into the new year: Instead of chasing perfection, embrace the possibilities that come with every mess. If inspiration can be found in a plate of stale cookie crumbs, who knows what else is waiting to be discovered?