9: Gimme Some Sugar, Baby!

Regardless what recipe you're using or what kind of cookie you're making, sugar is likely one of the primary ingredients. Sugar helps define a cookie's taste and its texture, so choosing which kind of sweetener to use can be a daunting challenge.

According to the Cake Boss, the type of sugar used for each batch of cookies at Carlo's Bakery changes "depending on the recipe." Buddy and the crew often combine different types of sugars to make cookies taste their best. He says, "Some recipes call for granulated; some call for a powdered sugar, but we mostly use [a combination of] granulated and powdered sugar."

Of course, just because Buddy Valastro and the crew at Carlo's Bakery use two sugars in most of their holiday treats doesn't mean this sweet combination will solve any of your Christmas cookie woes. If you've been rubbed raw by turbinado sugar, or your experience with brown sugar is making you see red, you may want to give one -- or both -- of Buddy's recommended sweeteners a try.