During the holiday season, countless pies, cakes and candies are offered to friends and families to take center stage on dining room tables and office party displays. It appears the beloved cookie is neglected around this time of year, amidst the arrays of candy canes and pumpkin spice-flavored everything. To keep things fresh, consider stopping by one of the following local bakeries for impressive cookies that have the crunch, chew and cheer that are sure to bring a festive and tasty element to gatherings and get-togethers.

When looking for a traditional flavor element, one of the mainstays of the holiday season is gingerbread. For a fun take on this cozy treat, head down to Corina Bakery on Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma. Three-by-four-inch tiles are decorated with a rolled design, finished with a transparent and scrumptious glaze, then wrapped for gift-giving - making them a perfect delight to fill stockings or pass out to friends and coworkers.

"In addition to the gingerbread tiles, we are also featuring our buttery, flakey shortbread cookies shaped in traditional Christmas fare with glazes and sprinkles," enthused Molly Ott, who is the owner and general manager of Corina Bakery. Corina also offers vegan and gluten-free options, gift cards, and paid delivery.

The American Lake Conference Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord is offering an impressive assortment of scrumptious edibles, including decorated holiday sugar and gingerbread cookies, traditional sugar plums, and even rum and bourbon balls. These heavenly morsels are priced at $24 a dozen, with more elaborate designs optional upon request at an additional cost. Shortbread, peppermint meringues, thumbprint cookies, chocolate mint crackles, linzer stars and Italian meringues are also available for platter purchase, priced at $30 and $60 for a small and large, respectively.

If Thurston County is more convenient in proximity, consider popping into Blue Heron Bakery on Harrison Avenue in Olympia. Established in 1977, their "Natural from Scratch" philosophy has enabled them to turn out tasty, natural recipes that shine with simplicity. Blue Heron is currently showcasing their ginger cookies, pecan dream bars, macaroons and sugar cookie snowmen. Vegan and wheat-free options are available, as are gift basket arrangements and pre-ordered platters.

San Francisco Avenue in Olympia houses the aptly named San Francisco Street Bakery, where scrumptious treats have been beckoning patrons since 1989. This holiday season, cookie-gobblers can find powdered sugar-covered Russian tea cakes and German anise-flavored Springerle, which are embossed using antique molds that have been passed down through the family that owns the bakery. San Francisco Street Bakery's commitment to producing classic European treats without preservatives or artificial flavors is evident in its use of quality and local ingredients. Cookies as well as other yummy morsels are available for pre-order to fulfill any party or gathering needs.

Few people can resist the allure of a good cookie. With an abundance of confectionary options in Pierce and Thurston counties, finding the perfect one (or baker's dozen) for holiday enjoyment is easy - just be sure to save a few for Santa.