Here are 30 of the best Christmas cookie recipes to make this holiday season! This Christmas cookie recipe collection includes traditional Christmas cookies, gingerbread cookies, shortbread cookies, no-bake cookies, Christmas cookies for kids, and other unique ideas!
Christmas cookies are one of my favorite things when it comes to the holiday season!
In our house, we always set aside an entire afternoon to bake and decorate sugar cookies together, and in recent years we've graduated to having 3 or 4 different varieties of cookies during the holidays.
These easy Christmas cookie recipes offer so much variety and there's something for everybody here, you you'll be sure to find the right recipe for you and your loved ones. If you're looking to try some new easy cookie recipes that would make a great addition to your Christmas this year, I've got you covered!
Whether you want to impress Santa or to be the star of your cookie exchange, these are by far the best Christmas cookie recipes I've come across!
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- Christmas cookie tips
- How long will Christmas cookies keep?
- Can you freeze Christmas cookies with icing?
- When should I bake Christmas cookies?
- What shapes are perfect for Christmas cookies?
- What is the most popular Christmas cookie?
- 30+ Best Christmas Cookie Recipes
- More Recipe Collections
Christmas Cookie Tips
- I learned very early in my time as a mom that it's always better to make larger batches of cookies! I used to estimate 2 cookies per person but that was never enough. Now I aim for about 5 cookies per person but make several easy recipes, which means everybody gets plenty!
- Even though it can be handy to make a couple batches ahead of time, I also love to bake some cookies on the morning of Christmas Eve. This ensures that the cookies will still be fresh for Christmas, and it fills the whole house with the smell of baking.
- If you're looking for an activity to do with your kids, having them help with decorating cookies is a great way to spend time together during the holidays.
- If you make them in advance, bake the cookies, but don’t decorate them until you are closer to the holiday. You can freeze and defrost them!
- To freeze the cookies, use freezer safe containers or heavy duty zip-lock bags.
- You can also freeze unbaked cookie dough in smaller portions. This way, you don’t have to thaw out the whole batch and then deal with unused portions.
- To have the same size and shape cookies, I like to use Christmas cookie cutters. This way, all the cookies come out nice and even.
- I always put the cookies in the lowest rack so their tops don't burn. Another trick is to keep an empty cookie tray on the top rack to prevent the top of the cookies from baking too quickly.
How long will Christmas Cookies Keep?
The maximum shelf life of most Christmas cookies is about 2 weeks. After that, they start to go stale or lose their texture. Refrigerating Christmas cookies will extend their shelf life. I recommend not icing the cookies until you are ready to serve them.
For the yummiest cookies, freeze the cookie dough and bake the cookies right before you're ready to serve. I like to bake Christmas cookies about an hour before I serve them.
In the freezer, Christmas cookies will last over 6 months, but I never get the opportunity to freeze them because they always get eaten up!
Can you freeze Christmas cookies with icing?
I don’t recommend freezing cookies that have icing on them. The icing tends to lose some of its taste, and the colors can run while thawing and ruin the look of the cookie. It's definitely a better idea to freeze them without the frosting, and then frost them after thawing.
30+ Best Christmas Cookie Recipes
Who wants to spend hours baking Christmas cookies? Christmas morning and the days leading up to it should be about spending time with the family.
So, I've put together some of the best Christmas cookie recipes, meaning that they are easy to bake and taste delicious. This collection has chocolate cookies, shortbread cookies, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and more!
Pick your favorite and comment below. If you have pictures of the cookies you baked, be sure to share them with me on my Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest accounts.
Shortbread Christmas Cookies
Shortbread cookies come from Scotland, where they refer to them as shortbread biscuits. They're usually made with 3 main ingredients: sugar, butter, and flour.
In modern times, these cookies have evolved to include other ingredients like chocolate, nuts, and other ingredients.
What hasn't changed is that they are still delicious with any ingredient added to it. Below, I found some delicious ways to celebrate the shortbread cookie.
White Chocolate Dipped Coffee Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread Cookies are some of my favorites to bake and decorate. They are so easy to bake with just a few ingredients!
These shortbread cookies are dipped in white chocolate and coffee powder. I love to give these out as Christmas presents to co-workers and friends! It's a treat to see their face light up when they see these cookies.
I discovered a long time ago that dipping anything in chocolate can make it taste better. Have you tried dipping potato chips in chocolate? If not, you are missing out in the best comfort food snack.
Mint Chocolate Shortbread Snowflakes
There is something special about eating mint flavored cookies around the holidays!
These mint chocolate shortbread cookies are very special to me. The recipe was developed by Thing 1 (my older son) and they taste beyond delicious. Make them as snowflakes, little trees, or whatever shape you like!
For the top decoration, you can also drizzle them with a homemade decadent chocolate sauce.
Gingerbread Shortbread Cookies
These gingerbread shortbread cookies by We Are Not Martha have every holiday flavor in them. From eggnog to nutmeg, these cookies will put a smile on anyone's face.
They look so inviting, don't they?
Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
The Rising Spoon found 3 amazing ways to make shortbread cookies look chocolatey good!
She dipped them in dark chocolate, peanut butter and white chocolate. To add interesting texture and make them even more delicious, she tops them with other tasty ingredients.
Which one is your favorite?
When should I bake Christmas cookies?
Baking cookies on Christmas Eve morning is a tradition in our house; it makes Christmas feel extra special! However, you can bake them about 1-3 days before. For some of the basic cookies (sugar cookies, chocolate chip, etc), I like to bake them 2-3 weeks ahead and freeze them.
If I'm giving festive cookies as edible gifts, I like to bake them no more than a day before I am giving them. The longer they stay fresh for the recipient, the better!
Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies are a tradition all over the country. Everyone has their own version with a twist to the traditional recipe.
These bloggers have found creative ways to bake gingerbread cookies without losing those classic flavors and all of the nostalgia that comes with them!
Snowflake Gingerbread Cookies
These may not be your grandmother's gingerbread cookies, but they taste soooo good. Burlap and Blue makes them in the shape of snowflakes and gives them a simple icing.
Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
If you are like me, you LOOVE chewy cookies. These chewy gingerbread cookies by Confessions of a Baking Queen are my kind of gingerbread cookies.
One of her secret ingredients is Guinness, which helps make these cookies stand out. I know the power of Guinness in desserts because my chocolate cake and malted chocolate cake turn out super moist with the addition of the stout beer.
Do you use Guinness or another beer in your cooking and baking?
Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
Why have an ordinary gingerbread cookie when you have a gingerbread whoopie pie? While they're not quite cookies, I don't think anybody will complain about these treats!
Sweet Tea and Time took two of my favorites: Gingerbread cookies and whoopie pies and combined them for the perfect holiday dessert. If you want to make cookies for a cookie exchange, these are are always a big hit.
(PS: Have you tried my Pumpkin Whoopie Pies?)
What shapes are perfect for Christmas Cookies?
If you see something in this list of the best Christmas cookie recipes and you're looking for a way to transform it into an even more festive shape, here are just a few great ideas for fun holiday shapes!
- Santa shaped cookies
- Grinch cookies
- Candy cane cookies
- Snowflake shaped cookies
- Star shaped cookies
- Christmas tree shaped cookies
- Gingerbread man shaped cookies
- Snowman shaped cookies
- Christmas stocking shaped cookies
Chocolate Christmas Cookies
It doesn't matter if you like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate or all of the above! It wouldn't be a list of the best Christmas cookie recipes with some chocolatey entries.
These chocolate cookies are perfect to bake for your friends and family or for a Christmas cookie exchange.
Double Chocolate Crunch Cookies
These double chocolate crunch cookies are made with dark and semi sweet chocolate. To give them a little crunch, I added crispy rice cereal. Both soft and crunchy with a chewy center, these cookies will make a unique addition to your cookie spread this year!
Chocolate Covered Oreos
You haven't eaten Oreos like these before! The Monday Box dipped and covered Oreos in a sinful amount of chocolate! To give them a festive look, she decorated the top with Christmas tree icing.
I know I won't be able to eat just one of these cookies. I might have a hard time sharing it with anyone!
PB Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
These decadently sweet chocolate chip cookies are stuffed with peanut butter Oreos (or whatever kind you prefer) for a rich and delicious cookie that's perfect for any occasion!
Strawberry Cream Truffles
Strawberries and Chocolate are a match made in heaven! These truffles are elegant looking and perfect to give as edible gifts. Or make a batch just for yourself (I wouldn't blame you!).
The best part is that they take only 10 minutes to make!
Vanilla Wafer Holiday Bark
Take your favorite vanilla wafers and coat them with chocolate. Top with holiday colored sprinkles and you have the perfect holiday bark recipe.
Easy and festive, this colorful and delicious recipe is sweet, salty, and most importantly, so chocolatey!
Peanut Butter S'mores Cookies
These delicious peanut butter cookies are topped with marshmallow and melty chocolate chips. You can even bake some chocolate chips into the dough if you want even more chocolatey cookies!
What is the most popular Christmas cookie?
It's hard to say with certainty what the best Christmas cookies are since there are so many popular types of cookies at Christmas time. Peanut butter blossoms are one of the most common kinds of cookie you'll see around this time of year, or any cookie that combines chocolate and peanut butter.
Sugar cookies are also very popular, since those are perfect for decorating! Sugar cookies are also great because any number of mix-ins will elevate the cookies, which makes them versatile and customizable to your personal taste.
Whatever your tastes are, this list undoubtedly has some of the best Christmas cookie recipes I've tried, so it's just about impossible to go wrong!
Vegan Christmas Cookies
These vegan cookies are simply irresistible! They have all the best flavors of the holiday season and take little time to bake.
Give these vegan Christmas cookies as gifts to the vegans in your family. They'll definitely fall in love with these cookies!
Vegan Gingerbread Cookies for Santa
These snappy gingerbread cookies by The Banana Diaries are completely dairy free and egg free!
The icing is also easy to make using just 3 ingredients. You can make a big batch of the cookies and icing in just over 20 minutes.
Chewy Vegan Gingerbread Molasses Cookies
It's really easy to make chewy vegan gingerbread cookies. Delightful Adventures baked a batch of them using all the fall trappings.
There is nutmeg, ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves in these cookies. Look at those perfect cracks on those cookies!
I would love to dip these gingerbread cookies in my hot chocolate while sitting in front of the fire! You are welcome to join me.
Vegan Crinkle Cookies
Lemon cookies have a bright and cheery aroma. They light up any room with their delicate yellow or green color.
These vegan crinkle cookies by Healing Tomato are the perfect shade of green for the holiday season. With just a hint of matcha, these colors take on that special Christmas look. A unique cookie to add to your best Christmas cookie recipes list!
No-Bake Christmas Cookies
Let's face it! During the holiday season, our ovens are working overtime. Sometimes, they're on all day and into the evening. From cooking the turkey to baking cakes and pies, our ovens hardly get a break.
It's great time management strategy to make desserts ahead of time and not worry about baking them close to serving time.
That's why these bloggers came up with the perfect no-bake Christmas cookies that anyone can "bake." Just because they're easy doesn't mean they don't deserve a place in the best Christmas cookie recipes!
Moose Farts
Yes, you read that correctly! These no-bake cookies are really called moose farts. The name is a little silly, but these cookies are no joke. Sweet, chewy, and so flavorful!
Rock Recipes says that this easy cookie recipe is ready in just 20 minutes!
No-Bake Chocolate Covered Ritz Cracker Cookies
Even Ritz Crackers can be covered in chocolate to make delicious "cookies."
Belly Full uses just 5 ingredients to make these cookies in just 10 minutes!
Peppermint Mocha Candy Cookies
In just 10 minutes, you can make 20 of these peppermint mocha candy cookies! How awesome is that?
They don't take any effort to make and they taste so fantastic with the classic mint and chocolate flavor combination. Life Currents brings us a perfect and easy Christmas cookie to make.
Christmas Pretzels
While not technically cookies, these super-easy, no-bake Christmas pretzels are a perfect way to fill out your cookie tray.
Make this recipe with your kids for a fun afternoon kitchen activity! They'll love the gooey process of dipping the pretzels and then decorating them with festive holiday sprinkles.
Christmas Cookies For Kids
Kids are big consumers of holiday cookies; I know my kids are! Can you imagine telling your kid, 'sorry, no Christmas cookies this year'. That would not go over well!
So my logic is that if they're gonna eat 'em, they should help to make 'em! Plus, when they're part of the baking process, they have an extra appreciation of the cookies. No list of the best Christmas cookie recipes would be complete without some cute and festive recipes that your kids will adore!
These cookies are great for baking and decorating with kids from ages 5 and up.
Christmas Donut Cookies
I can't get over how much these cookies look like actual donuts!
This recipe is the brainchild of Brooklyn Farm Girl, who knows how to entice kids to bake in the kitchen.
The sugar icing is so easy to spread on the donuts, so kids should have no problem decorating these to their hearts' content!
Oversized Crinkle Cookies
How many times have you told your kids to take just one cookie?? Do they listen? No, of course not!
Orchid and Sweet Tea has found a way to get your kids to eat just one cookie. Bake an oversized crinkle cookie and the problem is solved!
These cookies are easy to decorate for kids. They can top them with extra sprinkles before you put them into the oven.
Maple Thumbprint Cookies
This simple but tasty maple thumbprint cookies would make a delicious addition to any cookie swap, holiday party, or gift basket! You can customize the royal icing to be any flavor you want or even use your favorite jam, which makes this recipe so simple and versatile!
Reindeer Sugar Cookies
Persnickety Plate invites children to come into the kitchen and draw reindeer faces to spruce up this classically delicious sugar cookie recipe!
Snowman Cookies
If you don't have snow this Christmas, here's a great way to make snowmen with your kids anyway! Conservamom's recipe will teach you how to make these adorable snowman cookies.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies
Umami Girl has found a way to make ugly Christmas sweaters look scrumptious.
These cookies are great for encouraging some creativity and individuality when decorating!
Healthier Christmas Cookies
Even though the holidays are all about indulgence, it's also nice to try out some healthy-ish Christmas cookies. I found a few Christmas cookie recipes that are delicious and at least a little on the healthy side.
Easy Banana Graham Cookies
Overripe bananas always have a place in my home. From adding them in a banana bread recipe to shallow frying ripe bananas for a snack, they never go to waste!
Ripe bananas make for a delicious cookie recipe. Mash them in a light batter and sprinkle with a graham cracker coating. Then bake them in the oven for about 12 minutes.
Serve these cookies over the holiday season or any time of the year!
Sesame Pretzel Cookie Bites
Made using pretzels and sesame seeds, these cookies are a nice way to enjoy delicious cookies with protein baked in them. They've got a unique sweet and salty flavor, and the crumbly texture will melt right in your mouth!
I made these cookies in just 40 minutes and they can be refrigerated.
Keto Gingerbread Man Cookies
If you are on the ketogenic diet or you are want to cut down on carbs, Kim Inspired DIY has you covered. She knows how much everyone loves gingerbread man cookies, so she made a keto version.
You can easily bake a batch of these cookies in under 20 minutes.
High Protein and Gluten-Free Blossoms
Instead of using flour in this recipe, Hello Spoonful bakes these blossoms using protein powder and ground flaxseeds. They're soft, chewy and pack quite a protein punch!
In under 15 minutes you can have a fresh and delicious baking sheet full of these Christmas cookies ready!
More Recipe Collections
I hope you enjoyed all this collection of the best Christmas cookie recipes! Be sure to share let me know what you think comments below or find me on social media - Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram.
Feel free to check out some of my other recipe collections! These themed recipes are collected in one place to make your life easier. If you have an idea for a collection, please feel free to contact me.
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Looking for some unique and useful kitchen items?
Check out my BEST KITCHEN GADGETS Amazon store list!
Thanks for checking out this collection of what I consider to be some of the best Christmas cookie recipes. I wish you the very happiest of holidays and good luck with all of your baking!
Happy cooking!
Artney
So many amazing cookies to choose from! Such a great round-up for the holidays! Looking forward to making these!
Cathleen
I love all of these ideas!! But I know I am going to be trying those chocolate covered oreos because they are so elegant and so easy! Thanks for the roundup 🙂
Andrea
What great recipes. Glad I found this page!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
This was amazing and such a treat! Thank you!
Sharon
So many wonderful Christmas cookie recipes on this list, I can't wait to try them all but I'm really looking forward to the gingerbread shortbread cookies.
Gina
Such a great list of holiday cookies. This will help me create the perfect cookie tray for Christmas! Love them all!
Anjali
Omg these cookies all look so delicious I don’t know which one to try first! It might have to be the vegan gingerbread cookies - they are adorable!