Nothing says the holidays are here quite like the smell of fresh Christmas cookies baking in the oven. Whether you’re planning a festive party, filling a Christmas cookie box for gifting, preparing for a Christmas cookie exchange, or creating a little festive cheer at home, the right holiday cookie recipes can make your season sparkle.
This collection of the best Christmas cookies recipes brings together everything you need for holiday baking success. From decorated sugar cookies and classic gingerbread to unique Christmas treats with festive flavors, you’ll find unique cookie ideas to suit every taste and occasion.
Whether you’re planning Christmas baking with kids, gifting homemade cookies, or preparing for a Christmas bake sale, this recipe collection has you covered. With cookies for Christmas that range from royal icing designs to quick and simple bakes, there’s something here for every skill level.
If you love holiday baking, also take a look at these Christmas food gift ideas, these gourmet espresso cookie recipes, christmas cupcakes, these New Year’s bite size desserts, or one of these pistachio cookie ideas.
Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
This chocolate pinwheel cookies recipe is a must-have for anyone who loves classic Christmas cookies. With layers of rich chocolate and buttery vanilla dough rolled into elegant swirls, they’re a show-stopping addition to your holiday desserts spread.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies
Tiramisu Cookies
Bring a touch of Italian flair to your Christmas baking with these indulgent tiramisu cookies. Perfect for your holiday dessert table, these gourmet cookies combine espresso and mascarpone flavors for a festive treat.
Get the recipe: Tiramisu Cookies
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
These colorful pinwheel cookies are a fun Christmas cookies idea that brightens any holiday cookie tray. With their festive swirl design, they’re perfect to include in a Christmas food gift basket, or as an eye-catching Christmas treat to enjoy with family.
Get the recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
Add festive flair to your dessert table with these Christmas tree cookies. Perfect for Christmas parties, a cookie exchange, or holiday baking days, these Christmas cut out cookies are buttery, fun edible ornaments, and full of seasonal flavor.
Get the recipe: Christmas Tree Cookies
Peppermint Butter Cookies
Buttery and melt-in-your-mouth, these classic butter cookies are a holiday baking must-have. Perfect for your Christmas cookie trays or a Christmas bake sale, they’re a traditional favorite for holiday gatherings.
Get the recipe: Peppermint Butter Cookies
Christmas M&M Cookies
Loaded with red and green candies, these Christmas M&M cookies are fun Christmas cookie that the kids and adults will love. Perfect for a Christmas potluck dessert or festive family gathering, these holiday goodies to are easy to bake and share.
Get the recipe: Christmas M&M Cookies
Gingerbread Men
No Christmas baking is complete without classic gingerbread men cookies. Spiced to perfection and decorated with royal icing, they’re a festive treat that belongs in every holiday cookie tray. Perfect for Christmas baking with kids, these cookies are a timeless favorite during the holidays.
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Men
Peppermint Meringue Cookies
Light, airy, and full of holiday cheer, peppermint meringue cookies are a festive twist on classic holiday treats. With their sweet peppermint flavor and candy cane look, they’re perfect for Christmas cookie boxes, or as a fun Christmas treat for parties.
Get the recipe: Peppermint Meringue Cookies
Christmas Crack Cookies
Sweet, crunchy, and totally addictive, Christmas crack cookies are a holiday baking favorite. Packed with toffee, chocolate and saltine crackers, they’re a yummy chewy cookie for Christmas!
Get the recipe: Christmas Crack Cookies
Christmas Tree Cookies
These frosted Christmas tree cookies are one of the most unique Christmas cookies to make at home. A fun idea for Christmas baking with kids, simple sugar cookies are decorated with frosting for a gorgeous holiday cookie tray idea everyone will love.
Get the recipe: Christmas Tree Cookies
Decorated Sugar Cookies
Beautifully decorated with royal icing, these snowflake sugar cookies are a festive and elegant addition to your Christmas sugar cookie recipes. Perfect for cookie exchanges or an elegant holiday cookie box, these royal icing Christmas cookies add some sparkle to your day.
Get the recipe: Snowflake Sugar Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies
These Italian amaretti cookies are chewy almond delights that bring a touch of Italian Christmas tradition to the holidays. Easy to make and naturally festive, they’re perfect for anyone looking for some Italian Christmas cookies to add to your holiday cookie boxes.
Get the recipe: Italian Amaretti Cookies
Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Buttery, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth, whipped shortbread cookies are a holiday baking classic. These simple, traditional, and festive cookies for Christmas are ideal for gifting or enjoying with family during the holidays.
Get the recipe: Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Christmas Reindeer Cookies
Adorable and festive, these Christmas reindeer cookies are fun Christmas cookies that kids will love. Decorated with candy eyes and pretzel antlers, they’re perfect for a Christmas bake sale, classroom treats, or as a holiday baking project for the family.
Get the recipe: Reindeer Cookies
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut butter blossoms are a classic Christmas cookie topped with a chocolate kiss. These easy and festive cookies are perfect for holiday cookie trays and cookie boxes. A traditional recipe that never goes out of style, they’re one of the best Christmas cookie recipes to bake this season.
Get the recipe: Peanut Butter Blossoms
Grinch Cool Whip Cookies
These Grinch-inspired Cool Whip cookies are a fun green cookie idea that’s perfect for holiday baking with kids. Bright green and super festive, they’re perfect for classroom Christmas treats or Christmas parties for kids.
Get the recipe: Grinch Christmas Cookies
Love Grinch inspired desserts? Find more Grinch treats here.
Easy Sugar Cookies
These easy sugar cookies are the best base for holiday decorating. Perfect for royal icing Christmas cookies, they’re a classic addition to any Christmas cookie tray. Simple cut out cookies in festive shapes, they’re perfect for holiday baking with kids.
Get the recipe: Easy Sugar Cookies
Christmas Thumbprint Cookies
Sweet and festive, thumbprint cookies filled with icing are a holiday favorite. Perfect for Christmas baking, these simple yet elegant treats bring color and charm to your holiday goodies.
Get the recipe: Christmas Thumbprint Cookies
Santa’s Whiskers Cookies
Santa’s whiskers cookies are super easy Christmas cookies made with candied cherries, coconut, and nuts. Rolled in coconut and sliced, they’re a unique addition to your holiday baking.
Get the recipe: Santas Whiskers Cookies
Pomegranate Chocolate Cookies
Add a fresh twist to your Christmas baking with easy pomegranate cookies. Bursting with fruity flavor, these festive cookies are quick and easy to make and look so pretty too!
Get the recipe: Pomegranate Chocolate Cookies
Eggnog Snickerdoodles
Eggnog snickerdoodles bring holiday flavor to a classic cookie recipe. Rolled in cinnamon sugar with a festive eggnog twist, they’re perfect for Christmas cookie trays or Christmas food gift baskets.
Get the recipe: Eggnog Snickerdoodles
Gingerbread Blossoms
These gingerbread blossoms pair spiced gingerbread cookies with Hershey kisses for a perfectly festive holiday baking idea. Soft and chewy and easy to make, add them to your Christmas treats to bake this season.
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Blossoms
Almond Crescent Cookies
Almond crescent cookies are a delicate, buttery treat dusted with powdered sugar. A traditional holiday baking favorite, they’re perfect for Christmas cookie boxes, or a holiday cookie exchange. These simple and classic cookies for Christmas bring old-fashioned charm to your holiday goodies.
Get the recipe: Almond Crescent Cookies
Eggnog Cookies with Buttercream
Eggnog cookies topped with rich buttercream frosting are a festive Christmas cookie idea perfect for the holidays. The eggnog flavored cookie topped with an eggnog buttercream is a yummy seasonal treat to try these holidays.
Get the recipe: Frosted Eggnog Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Gingersnaps
Crisp gingersnap cookies dipped in chocolate make a festive holiday treat. These cookies for Christmas are have a lovely spiced flavor and a sweet finish, decorated with holiday sprinkles.
Get the recipe: Gingersnap cookies
Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
Soft gingerbread cookies sandwiched with creamy cream cheese filling make these whoopie pies a festive favorite. Perfect for Christmas party desserts or neighbor food gifts, these unique Christmas cookie sandwiches are a fun twist on classic gingerbread.
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
Red Velvet Kiss Cookies
Red velvet kiss cookies are a colorful and festive treat that stand out in any Christmas cookie tray. With their vibrant hue and chocolate kiss, they’re perfect for cookie exchanges or Christmas cookie boxes too.
Get the recipe: Red Velvet Kiss Cookies
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Packed with holiday mix-ins, Christmas kitchen sink cookies are loaded with flavor and festive fun. Add them to your holiday baking list for goodies everyone will enjoy.
Get the recipe: Kitchen Sink Cookies
Lemon Snowball Cookies
Bright and festive, lemon snowball cookies are a zesty twist on classic holiday baking. Rolled in powdered sugar, they look like little snowballs, perfect for Christmas cookie trays, and gift boxes. These unique Christmas cookies are a refreshing addition to your holiday treats.
Get the recipe: Lemon Snowball Cookies
Christmas Wreath Cookies
Fun and festive, these Christmas wreath cookies are shaped like holiday greenery and decorated with candies. A creative Christmas cookie idea for kids and families, they’re perfect for holiday baking.
Get the recipe: Christmas Wreath Cookies
Chocolate Florentines
Thin and elegant, chocolate Florentines are a sophisticated addition to your holiday cookie tray. Packed with nuts, fruit, and dipped in chocolate, they’re a traditional Christmas treat that make holiday baking feel extra special.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Florentines
Creme Brulee Cookies
Inspired by the classic dessert, crème brûlée cookies are a unique Christmas cookie idea with a caramelized sugar topping. Perfect for Christmas party treats, these festive goodies are sure to impress.
Get the recipe: Creme Brulee Cookies
Chocolate Turtle Cookies
Rich chocolate cookies topped with caramel and pecans make these turtle cookies a decadent Christmas treat. Perfect for holiday party treats, these festive cookies are a must for chocolate lovers during holiday baking season.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Turtle Cookies
Lemon Snowdrop Cookies
Soft and chewy with a hint of lemon, these snowdrop cookies are a festive twist on classic Christmas cookies. Rolled in powdered sugar, add these bright and unique cookies to your holiday baking lineup.
Get the recipe: Lemon Snowdrop Cookies
Copycat Lofthouse Cookies
These lofthouse-style sugar cookies are soft, fluffy, and topped with festive frosting. Perfect for Christmas baking with kids, they’re a holiday baking favorite you’ll make again and again.
Get the recipe: Lofthouse Sugar Cookies
White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Festive and flavorful, white chocolate peppermint cookies are a holiday baking must. With creamy white chocolate and peppermint crunch, they’re perfect for Christmas cookie trays or your annual cookie exchange.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Festive Sour Cream Cookies
Old-fashioned sour cream cookies are a soft and simple Christmas cookie recipe that brings back memories of classic holiday baking. Perfect for every occasion, these traditional cookies are easy, festive, and a timeless addition to your Christmas goodies.
Get the recipe: Sour Cream Cookies
More Christmas Baking Recipes
If you loved these recipes, here are some more great Christmas recipes to make at home:
- Mini Tiramisu Cakes
- Mini Trifle Desserts In Cups
- Gourmet Cupcake Recipe Ideas
- Easy Grinch Treats Recipes
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