The best holiday cookies in New York City 2012

Butter + Love Ninjabread Men
Karate chop your Christmas cookie box with these high-kicking crispy gingerbread cookies, from standout Brooklyn Flea bakers Butter + Love. Available at butterpluslove.com. Three for $6.

Poppy-orange sablés and curry-vanilla pecan sandies
Pedigreed baker Zachary Golper turns out sophisticated, not-too-sweet cookies—nutty poppy-orange sablés and fragrant curry-vanilla pecan sandies—just in time for yuletide cheer. Available at Bien Cuit, 120 Smith St between Dean and Pacific Sts, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn (718-852-0200, biencuit.com). $1.25 each.

Zucker Bakery holiday cookies
Pastry maven Zohar Zohar has three superb treats for the holidays: tender quince-and-pomegranate thumbprints ($1.50), chewy pecan bars slicked with caramel ($2), and delicate baklava rugalach filled with pistachio ($2). Available at Zucker Bakery, 433 E 9th St between First Ave and Ave A (646-559-8425, zuckerbakery.com)

Whimsy & Spice chocolate gingersnaps
Light and crisp, these earthy, cocoa-based cookies betray just a hint of ginger spice. Dip them in tea or nibble them alongside a postprandial dram of Scotch. Available at whimsyandspice.com. 7oz sleeve of 15 cookies $9.

The Tucker
Baking legend Dorie Greenspan’s jewellike coconut confections—fragrant with rose and lightly tinged a petal pink—will stand out on any holiday cookie platter. Available at Beurre & Sel, Essex Market, 120 Essex St between Delancey and Rivington Sts (917-623-3239) • 1590 Park Ave at 115th St • beurreandsel.com. $1 each.

Boubouki butter almond cookies
Among the Hellenic delights turned out at this charming Essex Street vendor are the tea cookie kourabiedes. Each powdered-sugar-dusted sweet is dense with ground almonds and shaped like a waning moon. Available at Boubouki, Essex Market, 120 Essex St between Delancey and Rivington Sts (718-344-4202, bouboukinyc.com). $2.