As the season of cozy kitchens, twinkly lights and drop-in holiday guests continues, we took a nationwide look at some of the most popular treats for the holidays — gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies and shortbread cookies — to see which are winning hearts, and dessert plates, across all 50 states.
Holiday traditions may vary from state to state, but one thing is crystal clear this year: America has spoken, and the gingerbread cookie is king.
Nationwide cookie mood: Gingerbread takes the crown
When it comes to holiday cookies, there’s a runaway favorite. Gingerbread cookies are the top-purchased cookie in 38 states, officially making them the unofficial cookie of the 2025 holiday season.
Whether they’re stealing the spotlight on dessert tables or being dunked into a cold glass of Favorite Day Sugar Cookie Milk during a holiday movie marathon, the Gingerbread Man is having a very big year coast to coast.
Just like holiday traditions, every state brings its own personality to the cookie tray. This year’s picks serve up plenty of nostalgia, festive flair and a few delightful surprises.
The gingerbread nation (38 states)
From the Midwest to the South, mountain towns to coastal cities, 38 states proudly crown gingerbread man cookies as their holiday MVP.
Think of it as the cookie equivalent of a classic holiday movie: nostalgic, comforting and endlessly rewatchable — or in this case, re-snackable.
Sugar cookie states (8 states)
Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming turn up the holiday sparkle with sugar cookies topped with sugar sprinkles as their top pick.
These states make one thing clear: Subtlety is out; full festive mode is in.
Shortbread states (4 states)
Kansas, Maine, Montana and New Jersey embrace a buttery classic: shortbread cookies.
If cookies had a “heritage” category, shortbread would take home the ribbon — timeless, elegant and quietly confident.
At Target, holiday cookie magic starts with you
As we head into the heart of the season, Target is your go-to for everything cozy, festive and crowd-pleasing — from classic cookies to limited-time seasonal treats. Pair them with our holiday collections, hosting must-haves, and festive décor to build a cookie spread (and a full holiday spread) everyone will love — no matter what state they call home.
And for those of you who don’t prefer gingerbread, sugar or shortbread, there are plenty of other options to satisfy your sweet tooth at Target this season, including picks like Favorite Day Chocolate Chip Cookies, Favorite Day Tree Frosted Cookies, Favorite Day Holiday Christmas Hot Chocolate Cookies and many more! Because when it comes to the holidays, variety isn’t just nice. It’s delicious.
Source: Target cookie unit sales data, November 1 – December 6, 2025
