Cooking Channel is joining Food Network for our first annual cookie swap, 12 Days of Cookies. Each day, visit us here for a look at new holiday cookies, party-planning tips and top techniques for rolling, spooning, slicing, baking and decorating delicious sweet treats to give — or keep — from favorite chefs and Food People. Then visit FoodNetwork.com/12daysofcookies for great takes on holiday baking from Food Network chefs — cookies by the dozen to celebrate all season.

Laura Calder's Crisp Chewy Meringues are simple yet elegant. Once the little drops of sweet goodness are all gobbled up, you'll wish you had time to make some more. Oh wait, you will — these guys take only ten minutes to whip up before it's time to pop them into the oven.

The chameleon of all cookies, you can flavor their basic egg white and sugar base with almost anything... vanilla, orange flower water, maple extract — you name it! But no matter what flavor you choose, their crisp outer layers and soft, chewy insides make for one serious textural treat.

• Make Laura's Crisp Chewy Meringues.
• See who's joining in: Laura Calder, Nigella Lawson, Chuck Hughes and more.
• Food Network is swapping cookies, too.
• Check out more of Laura's recipes on Cooking Channel.
• Share your Holiday cookie pix with us on Facebook.

Melanie Rehak, author of Eating for Beginners, has been baking cookies since she was old enough to climb onto the kitchen stool. She's partial to Zimtsterne—cinnamon stars—for the holidays, but loves most cookies all year long.