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Are you ready to bake and spread some holiday cheer? Christmas cookie season is here! Whether you need inspiration for your cookie platters, homemade gifts for teachers and neighbors, or a festive potluck dessert, these Christmas cookies have you covered all season long. From gingerbread guys and gals to chocolate biscotti, there is something for every cookie lover on this list. Be sure to read my best baking tips before you get started to ensure success. Break out your cookie cutters and let the baking begin!
25 Best Christmas Cookies
1. Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Sweet but not cloying, these buttery, nutty, sugar-crusted shortbread cookies come from pastry chef Lisa Kolb Ruland of the blog Unpeeled. They are perfect to serve with coffee or tea any time of day, and they make a lovely homemade gift. GET THE RECIPE
2. Old-Fashioned Molasses Cookies
These chewy and soft molasses cookies with a sparkly sugar crust are loved by kids and grown-ups alike. The recipe calls for a hint of ground black pepper; you won’t know it’s there, but it adds a subtle heat that lingers on the palate. GET THE RECIPE
3. Holiday Cut-Out Butter Cookies
Buttery and crisp, these almond-scented sugar cut-out cookies are a dream to make. The dough comes together in minutes, is easy to work with, and holds its shape perfectly when baked. GET THE RECIPE
4. THE BEST Chocolate CHIP Cookies
These classic chocolate chip cookies are reliably thick, chewy on the inside, and crisp around the edges—and they have the perfect balance of salty, sweet and chocolaty flavor. GET THE RECIPE
5. Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies are quite possibly the cutest holiday cookies but, they often taste like cardboard! Not so with these darling gingerbread guys and gals: flavored with ginger, molasses and warm spices, and with a perfect crispy-chewy texture, they taste just as good as they look. GET THE RECIPE
6. Snickerdoodles
Sweet and buttery sugar cookies coated with cinnamon-sugar—who can resist an old-fashioned snickerdoodle? This is a great recipe to make with young kids; little ones love forming the squishy dough into balls and rolling them in cinnamon-sugar before baking. GET THE RECIPE
7. Viennese Crescents
Fondly known as Kipferl in Austria, Viennese crescents are nutty and delicate cookies shaped like whimsical half-moons. A dusting of powdered sugar makes it look like they’ve been covered with freshly fallen snow. GET THE RECIPE
8. LINZER COOKIES
Linzer cookies are nutty, buttery sandwich cookies filled with jam inspired by the famous Viennese Linzer torte. The small cut-out on the top cookie creates a beautiful stained-glass-window effect. Get the recipe
9. The Best Sugar Cookies
These crave-worthy cookies are rich and buttery with a crisp, sugary exterior and soft, chewy interior. The secret ingredients? Cream cheese, which makes the cookies tender, and a hint of almond extract, which gives the cookies a delicate almond flavor. For a festive twist, roll them in holiday-themed sprinkles instead of sugar before baking. GET THE RECIPE
10. Scottish Shortbread
Crisp, ultra-buttery, and not too sweet, shortbread cookies are easy to make with just a few ingredients. Traditionally baked in large rounds and cut into wedges, shortbread is served in Scotland on winter solstice and holidays. It’s delicious with tea or coffee any time of day, and since it’s plain (in a good way), kids love it too. GET THE RECIPE
11. Crispy Ginger Cookies
Featuring a spot-on mix of ginger, cinnamon, allspice and cloves, these ginger cookies deliver a buttery, sweet crunch with just the right touch of chewiness in the center. GET THE RECIPE
12. Double Chocolate Biscotti
My son calls these chocolate biscotti “crunchy brownies.” They might seem like fancy grown-up cookies, but children love them too. Serve them with a glass of hot chocolate or warm milk for dunking and you will have very happy kiddos. GET THE RECIPE
13. Peanut Butter Blossoms
Easy to make and sinfully good, peanut butter blossoms are chewy peanut butter cookies topped with Hershey’s kisses—and they are some of the cutest cookies around. GET THE RECIPE
14. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate crinkle cookies are what happens when you cross a brownie with a chocolate chip cookie. To get the crinkled exterior, you roll the chocolate dough balls in powdered sugar. As the cookies bake, they spread, causing the sugar to crack and reveal the chocolate cookie underneath. GET THE RECIPE
15. Christmas Wreath “Cookies”
These treats make a fun kitchen project for kids and adults alike, and the finished wreaths are as cute as they are delicious. Made with cornflakes, marshmallows, green food coloring, and mini candies, they are a holiday twist on classic Rice Krispie treats. GET THE RECIPE
16. Almond Biscotti
Inspired by the cookies served at Zuni Cafe in San Francisco, these biscotti are made by shaping an almond-studded cookie dough into loaves, baking it, slicing it, and then baking it again. They are lightly sweet, buttery, crunchy but not tooth-shattering, and good any time of day. GET THE RECIPE
17. Marbled Peppermint Bark
With delightful swirls of white and dark chocolate adorned with crushed peppermint candy canes, this bark offers a simple yet festive addition to your holiday treat lineup. While it may not be a traditional cookie, it certainly deserves a place on your holiday dessert table! GET THE RECIPE
18. Chocolate Chip Meringues
These gorgeously light meringue cookies have a crisp outer shell and marshmallowy interior filled with chocolate chips. Bonus: they’re naturally gluten-free. GET THE RECIPE
19. Coconut Macaroons
Chewy inside and golden-crisp outside, these coconut macaroons are wonderful plain but even more irresistible dipped in melted dark chocolate. They keep well for days on end, making them the perfect cookie to bake ahead or gift to friends and neighbors over the holidays. GET THE RECIPE
20. Toffee Almond Sandies
A longtime family favorite, these toffee almond sandies are buttery, sweet shortbread cookies studded with caramelized toffee bits and slivered almonds. The recipe makes a ton and the cookies keep for a long time – the perfect holiday cookie! GET THE RECIPE
21. Chocolate Kisses (Baci di Cioccolato)
These sophisticated chocolate cookies come from Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen by the late Gina DePalma. A variation of baci di dama (Italian lady’s kisses), which consist of two tiny hazelnut cookies and a rich chocolate filling, they are perfect Christmas cookie for the chocolate lovers in your life. GET THE RECIPE
22. Canadian Butter Tarts
Though they may not be cookies in the traditional sense, these buttery mini pies are a splendid addition to any cookie tray. With a crisp, flaky crust cradling a gooey filling made from butter, sugar, syrup, and egg, they often include additions like nuts or raisins. GET THE RECIPE
23. Oatmeal CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
If you’re a fan of classic chocolate chip cookies, you’ll want to try this oatmeal version. With their hearty oat texture and a hint of nutty flavor, they might just become your new favorite chocolate chip cookies! GET THE RECIPE
24. SnowBall Cookies
Covered with powdered sugar like a blanket of snow, these cookies (aka Mexican wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, or butter balls) are a must for the holiday season. GET THE RECIPE
25. Spritz Cookies
Press, bake, enjoy! Easily whip up dozens of adorable spritz cookies using a cookie press. Kids will love helping to make, press, and decorate the cookies. GET THE RECIPE
- Comments (31)
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Comments
I have limited cooking and baking time, but have made a few of Jenn’s recipes and they are wonderful! “Christmas” cookies can be whatever one likes to serve on Christmas – there are zero rules or restrictions! Whenever I intend to cook or bake something new, I always head to “once upon a chef”. And I love the inclusion of recipes from many different cultures. I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year!
- — Scott J. on December 21, 2023
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Thanks for sharing these. Smiled when I saw that you also call Russian Tea cakes/Mexican wedding cakes snowballs. That is what they have been called for generations in my family but have never had anyone else use that term. Have made and loved your chocolate chip and sugar cookie recipes and this year will try the oatmeal chocolate chip recipe. Instead of chips will use red and green mini M&Ms to give it that Christmas vibe.
- — Cheri T on December 10, 2023
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5 of your recipes are on my Christmas cookie platters – and I’m adding your Candied Pecans and Bailey’s Chocolate Truffles to the mix this year. Love the Toffee Almond Sandies – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked for that recipe! Kids love the Hershey’s Kisses cookies – and they have been a traditional Christmas cookie recipe since I was in HS almost 50 years ago.
- — Jane on December 10, 2023
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I can personally vouch for the Toffee-Almond Sandies. I make them every year and they are to die for! Everyone loves them and expects a tin from me during the holidays (I also always make your Crispy Ginger Cookies!). Can’t wait to try more from this list! <3
- — Sarah Pfennigs on December 5, 2023
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13 of the 25 “Christmas Cookies” are in no way Christmas Cookies. Really? Chocolate Chip cookies and variations on them? Those are not Christmas! And Hershey’s Kisses jammed into anything equates to limited imagination and effort.
- — Geoff on December 21, 2022
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wow looks like the Scrooge stopped by.
- — Ally on December 22, 2022
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If you want someone to take constructive criticism, a great way to start off is by not delivering it in such a critical tone. Additionally, not everyone agrees with your idea of what a Christmas cookie entails, and that shouldn’t be difficult for you to disagree with sans the condescension. Thank you, Jenn, for sharing your recipes with us.
- — Amanda on November 16, 2023
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Since when are Chocolate Chip cookies not a Christmas cookie? I’m 51 years old and they have been a part of every Christmas I can remember.
- — Cerebus on December 8, 2023
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My family has never made chocolate chip cookies for Christmas but other families do. Why would it bother someone either way? Regarding the Peanut Butter Blossoms, I just read elsewhere that they are the most popular, most baked Christmas cookie in the country, so not everyone agrees with Mr. Grumpy. My sister and I started baking those back in the 1970’s and my daughter still bakes them every year because all the grandchildren love them. I love the differences in the way each ethnic group and family celebrates Christmas!
- — Giselle on December 10, 2023
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Someone with limited imagination and definitely a lazy Christmas cookie baker agrees that Geoff is absolutely a scrooge! At least give us credit for trying.
Priscilla December 11, 2023- — Priscilla H. Geer on December 10, 2023
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I am 79 and both of these cookies were baked by mom and myself for Christmas for as long as I can remember. Jen does a fantastic job sharing recipes. Just because they are not part of your tradition doesn’t mean they are not others traditional Christmas cookies.
- — Diane on December 10, 2023
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Really? Any cookies on your Christmas tray can be “Christmas Cookies”. I ask my family what they want on the tray each year and several family members say “chocolate chip”. For some people, chocolate chip is the only cookie they want and would be disappointed if it were not included among “Christmas Cookies”.
- — Madeleine on December 11, 2023
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wrong
- — Tina Vivian on December 12, 2023
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Chocolate chip cookies are Santa’s favorite, didn’t you hear Mr. Scrooge?
- — Mamachill on December 16, 2023
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Just tried your molasses cookies.Yum! My family recently voted your chocolate chip cookies the new favorite. Next time around I’m going to do blind dates 🙂
- — Bill on December 4, 2022
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Just made your incredible chocolate biscotti. They came out fabulous so much so I’ll have to probably make another batch for the Christmas tray. Look forward to trying some of your others.
Thank you
Diana- — Diana Rich on December 3, 2022
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