30+ Christmas Cookie Recipes For The Holiday Season

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Searching for the ultimate list of Christmas cookie recipes to add to your holiday baking lineup? Look no further. Christmas is synonymous with heartwarming traditions, and there’s no tradition quite like baking cookies that fill your home with a scent of holiday cheer. This roundup has over 30 of the most searched and loved Christmas cookie recipes perfect for making just because or as part of a cookie exchange!

Why you Should Make More Holiday Cookies this year
Tips for Making the Best Christmas Cookies
Best Christmas Cookie Recipes
How to Store Cookies
Frequently Asked Questions
Full List of Recipes

From the classic gingerbread men awaiting their decorative touches to snickerdoodles and sugar cookies that never go out of style, we’ve got every craving covered. Whether you’re preparing for a festive cookie exchange or just want to treat your family to some holiday favorites, this collection is your one-stop destination for the best Christmas cookies. Dive in and let the merry baking begin!

Why you Should Make More Holiday Cookies this year

Make sweet and delicious personalized gifts. Homemade cookies make thoughtful gifts that can brighten anyone’s day. Double the cookie recipe and wrap them up in decorative packaging to make a unique gift that is truly unforgettable.
Connect with loved ones. Baking cookies together is an excellent way to connect with family and friends. Or participate in a cookie exchange, where you can show off your sweet culinary masterpiece and taste many other cookies. It’s especially a great opportunity to get your kids involved and have fun in the kitchen – be sure to check out my tips for holiday baking with kids.
Make one batch to enjoy, one to freeze. You may have a round of visitors in and out of your home over the holidays – make a large batch of cookies and freeze the cookie dough so you’re ready for unexpected guests with the convenience of freshly baked cookies. With so many options to choose from, you’ll be set for the season.
Create a cozy atmosphere. Nothing is more comforting than the aroma of freshly baked cookies as it fills your home. It will instantly put the most reluctant Scrooge into the holiday spirit because who can resist a good cookie?

Tips for Making the Best Christmas Cookies

Follow the recipe. For best results, stick to the recipe measurements and instructions, especially when it comes to leavening agents like baking powder, baking soda, and flour ratios.
Start with the correct supplies. Invest in good quality baking sheets for even heat distribution, which can make a big difference in the baking process. Be sure you’re stocked up on parchment paper to prevent cookies from sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
Know the basics. Brush up on your basic baking skills, how to soften butter, how to melt chocolate, and how to make self-rising flour. And if you’re looking for simple ways to jazz up cookies, top them with frosting, drizzle icing, or chocolate ganache. Knowing these basic skills will help you have a stress-free cookie baking experience.
Store properly. All recipes should list proper storage instructions, including freezing directions. I recommend that you follow them so your cookies last longer to avoid them going stale or losing flavor.
Have fun with gift wrapping. Get creative to make your cookie gifts extra special. Choose decorative packaging, such as seasonal tins, boxes, or jars, and add a personal touch like tying a ribbon or attaching a handwritten note.

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

Get into the festive mood with some of the best Christmas cookies! Discover classic Christmas favorites, holiday cookies with fruit, indulgent treats for the chocolate lovers in your life, and easy Christmas cookies that deliver sweetness without the fuss. Whether you’re looking for a simple dessert for a weekend gathering or a contribution to a cookie exchange, this collection offers something for everyone.

Classic Christmas Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies – This traditional Christmas cookie is fun to make and even more enjoyable to eat. With cozy spices such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, these gingerbread cookies are a must during the holiday season.
Old Fashioned Italian Christmas Cookies – With a subtle sweetness, cake-like texture, and anise flavor peeking through in every bite, these holiday cookies will be a hit at any gathering. The glaze is a nice backdrop for adding green and red sprinkles.
Chewy Oatmeal Cookies – This is one of those classic comfort food cookies that feels more like a warm hug on a cold day than a sweet dessert. It’s chewy, hearty, and oh-so-delicious. Make a generous batch and pack them up in festive gift boxes to share the warmth and coziness of these hearty cookies.
Pistachio Cookies – Tis the season for pistachio nuts, and adding them to cookies adds a unique twist that will capture the essence of the holidays. They’re festive, delicious, and have a hint of green that makes them stand out against the others.
Gourmet Biscotti Recipe – Cozy up with a hot cup of coffee or tea and this traditional twice-baked treat. They have a long shelf-life and sturdy structure, making them a perfect homemade gift or as part of a cookie exchange. Plus, you have four flavors to choose from: almond, chocolate chip, pistachio lemon, and cranberry orange.
Shortbread Cookies with Tahini – When it comes to the best Christmas cookies, shortbread cookies easily make the cut. But have you considered giving them a Mediterranean flare by adding tahini? Try it! They’re rich, buttery, and oh-so-perfect!
Copycat Lofthouse Cookies – A collection of Christmas cookie recipes wouldn’t be complete without this iconic number. Make bakery-quality frosted sugar cookies at home. They’re not overly sweet and topped with the smooth frosting for irresistible holiday cookies you won’t be able to say no to.
Cardamom Spice Cookies – Warming flavors are such a welcome addition during the holiday season – that’s why these cookies are such a hit! They’re perfectly spiced, have a soft texture, and rich flavors with molasses and lemon in every bite.

Quick and Easy Christmas Cookies

Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies – So simple yet offer so much flavor. There are no complicated steps or techniques here, even if you’re not an experienced baker. Plus, they bake up quickly, so you can enjoy fresh from-the-oven cookies in no time at all.
Ginger Molasses Cookies – Soft and chewy, these ginger snap cookies make an ideal holiday baking treat. They’re quick and easy to whip up and showcase the goodness of molasses and powdered ginger in every bite.
Simple Peanut Butter Cookies – It doesn’t get any simpler than a 3-ingredient cookie. It’s such a classic, perfect, old-fashioned recipe and is a hit with kids and adults alike. These are one of my favorite holiday cookies to make for other people because they are flourless, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Easy Sugar Cookies – I just love these easy Christmas cookies. These holiday sugar cookies come with a festive twist – dipped in white chocolate and peppermint so I assure you they will brighten any holiday celebration. Of course, it helps that they are oh-so-delicious too!
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies – Made with peanut butter, applesauce, oat flour, and sugar, these cookies are a dream come true. Packed with fantastic flavor, with a great balance of sweet, salty, and delicious! Plus, they’re rich in fiber and protein.
Banana Oatmeal Cookies – Quick and easy to make with only 3 ingredients, including oatmeal, banana, and chocolate chips, you’ll feel good about making these on repeat all season long.
Tahini Honey Cookies – Tahini is a sesame seed paste often used in Middle Eastern baking to add a creamy, savory taste to the cookies, much like butter. These honey tahini cookies are perfect for parties and snacking and are made with almond flour, honey, tahini, and sesame seeds.

4 image collage of quick and easy christmas cookie recipes.

Holiday Cookies with Fruit

Thumbprint Christmas Cookies – Made with a buttery shortbread base and a delicious jam-filled center, this is one of the best Christmas cookies to bring to any holiday gathering, including a cookie exchange. Use your favorite jam or learn how to make jam at home so you can control the sweetness.
Healthy Applesauce Cookies – These applesauce cookies are a game changer. Made with better-for-you swaps like applesauce and very simple ingredients, most of which you likely already have on hand. But don’t let the swaps fool you – they still have that classic soft and chewy texture that we love in a good chocolate chip cookie.
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Recipe – Crisp around the edges and perfectly chewy throughout, with white chocolate chips and fresh cranberries in every bite. These easy Christmas cookies add a welcoming touch of red and white to the table.
Old Fashioned Apple Butter Cookies – Embrace the cozy flavors of the season with these elevated oatmeal cookies. Made with apple butter, rolled oats, flour, and warming cinnamon, these holiday cookies are perfect to share with a friend or enjoy on a rainy afternoon with a hot cup of tea.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies – These cookies are soft and chewy with a cake-like texture and are oh-so-addicting! The best part? They’re made with better-for-you ingredients like pumpkin puree, applesauce, a little oil, and of course, some chocolate chips for rich, chocolatey goodness in every bite.
Date Cookies – You’ll love these Mediterranean-inspired cookies. They’re sweet, nutty, a little bit chewy, and completely irresistible! Easy to make, rich in flavor, and a total crowd-pleaser. Some say these holiday cookies taste like pecan pie, and we can’t argue with that.
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies – These cookies are like individual servings of pillowy banana bread but in cookie form. They’re the perfect treat for kids, holiday gatherings, or just a Friday night cookie craving.
Maamoul Cookies – Made with semolina flour and filled with creamy dates and crunchy walnuts, these Middle Eastern cookies are perfect for sharing in your cookie exchange. Their intricate designs resemble snowflakes, making them the best Christmas cookies this season.
Cinnamon Apple Cookies – If the smell doesn’t lure you; the warm, chewy, comforting flavors will. Fresh apples blended with molasses-rich brown sugar and earthy cinnamon come together to make a homey yet sophisticated dessert you will instantly love.

Christmas Cookies with Chocolate

Chocolate Crackle Cookies – These easy Christmas cookies are the best of both worlds: fudgy brownie and classic cookie all wrapped in one. Plus, that dusting of powdered sugar really makes them pop on the plate.
Soft Peanut Butter Blossoms – This jackpot of a cookie has just the right amount of sweet, slightly salty, peanut buttery, and finished off with a shiny Hershey’s kiss to add a lovely chocolatey touch. These blossoms have everything you could ask for in a cookie.
Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies – The only thing better than a classic peanut butter cookie is a peanut butter cookie dunked in chocolate ganache. These two flavors are so good together and you can add some holiday sprinkles to the chocolate to give them extra festive appeal.
Tasty Chocolate Chip Cookies – Forever a classic, this made-from-scratch chocolate chip cookie is hard to resist. Of course, it’s a special treat for any occasion, but especially during the holidays to bring that nostalgic comfort to your home.
Chewy Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies – Deliciously chewy, rich, and simple to make (just 5 minutes to prep and 4 ingredients, including homemade nutella!), these cookies are the best way to get your chocolate fix and spoil your friends and family too!
Chocolate Tahini Cookies – You know I love a good tahini-for-butter swap and that’s what’s happening in these cookies. But don’t worry – while it gives these cookies a slight hint of savory flavor, they are still perfectly sweet and irresistible with chocolate chunks in every bite.
Almond Joy Cookies – These easy Christmas cookies are perfect for festive holidays and special occasions. They’re soft on the inside with perfectly crispy edges and generously filled with the tempting combination of coconut, chocolate, and almonds – just like the almond joy candy bar.
Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – There’s something so comforting about taking a bite out of a freshly baked, hot-out-of-the-oven oatmeal cookie, especially one with chocolatey goodness. It’s so simple and easy to make and has the added benefits of hearty oatmeal.

4 image collage of recipes with chocolate.

How to Store Cookies

Avoid moisture: All cookies should be stored in an airtight container to prevent moisture and help them maintain proper texture. Store them in a cool, dry place, and avoid storing them near heat sources or direct sunlight.
Storage for dry and soft cookies: Most dry cookies, like shortbread and biscotti cookies, can be stored at room temperature. Soft cookies, like chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies, can be kept at room temperature for a few days, and then transferred to the fridge for longer storage. I recommend following the storage suggestions listed in individual recipes to ensure your cookies are properly stored.
Mind the ingredients: Cookies with fresh ingredients, like those with fruit or dairy, may have a shorter shelf life. Be mindful of these and eat them within that timeframe.
Freezing cookies: Most cookies are freezer-friendly and can be frozen for longer storage. You can place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Again, for best results, follow the freezing instructions as listed in the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular Christmas cookie every year?

According to the report by General Mills, peanut butter blossoms are the most popular holiday cookie in the United States overall, closely trailing the all-time favorite year-round cookie, the chocolate chip cookie.

How far in advance can I bake Christmas cookies?

Many Christmas cookie recipes can be baked ahead of time of the gathering as long as they are stored properly. I recommend that you check the specific recipe for guidance on storage times.

What are the best cookies to package for gifts?

You want to look for cookies that hold up well during transit, maintain freshness, and have a festive appeal. Thankfully, most cookies are excellent candidates for gifting but some popular options are sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, biscotti, gingerbread cookies, and any of the various oatmeal cookies. Avoid delicate cookies like frosted cookies that may break or smudge during transit.

Italian iced christmas cookies with decorated with holiday green and red sprinkles with a small bowl of extra sprinkles nearby and a cooling rack with more cookies.

I hope these Christmas cookie recipes bring you joy and warmth to your holiday season. Whether you’re looking for traditional Christmas cookies or ones with fruit or chocolate – there’s truly something for everyone in this collection of the best Christmas cookies.

Full List of Recipes

Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipes cards to take you directly to those recipes.

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