15+ easy Christmas cookies 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 the best parts of the holiday season!
Even Santa requests cookies when he is dropping off presents. If he can’t resist cookies, we shouldn’t either, right?
My favorite cookies are shortbread cookies because they are easy to bake and they can be decorated in so many ways. How do you pick your favorite Christmas cookie?
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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?
- 15+ Easy Christmas Cookies
- More Recipe Collections
Christmas Cookie Tips
- I learned very early in my life as a mom that I have to always make big batches of holiday cookies, lol. I used to estimate 2 cookies per person and that was never enough. Have you ever known someone to eat only 2 cookies?? Now, I make about 5 cookies per person and no one fights over who gets the last cookie! Problem solved, right?
- I like to bake the cookies on Christmas Eve morning, if possible. The cookies are fresh and their baking aroma fills the whole house.
- Get the kids involved when baking holiday cookies. They can help with the icing and decorating, especially if they are cookies for Santa.
- If you make them in advance, bake the cookies, but don’t decorate them until you are closer to the holiday. A defrosted cookie is easy to decorate.
- To freeze the cookies, use freezer safe containers or heavy duty zip-lock bags.
- Freeze cookie dough into 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 prefer 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 2 weeks. After that, they start to go stale or lose their crunch. 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 are ready to serve. I like to bake Christmas cookies about an hour before I will 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 before I can even sing the Twelve Days of Christmas!
Can you freeze Christmas cookies with icing?
I don’t recommend freezing cookies that have icing on them. The icing tends to lose it’s taste and some of the icing 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.
15+ Easy Christmas Cookies
Who wants to spend hours baking Christmas cookies, right? Christmas morning and the days leading up to it should be about spending time with the family.
So, I am putting together some of the best Christmas cookies, meaning that they are easy to bake and taste delicious. This collection has chocolate cookies, shortbread cookies, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies ... so many cookie recipes!
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 are usually made with 3 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 my favorite 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.
For the top decoration, I drizzle it 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 my home. 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 bake them 2-3 weeks ahead and freeze them.
If I am giving them 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
Christmas is not complete, if it doesn't have a gingerbread cookie recipe made at least once! If you don't eat a gingerbread cookie, is it even considered Christmas? (lol!)
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 and make them look like you could easily eat a baker's dozen!
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.
I like to get kids to help bake and decorate these cookies. Although while they are decorating, I will be hiding in the kitchen, licking the bowl!
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! Don't you just love these delicious whoopie pie cookies??
Sweet Tea and Time took two of my favorites: Gingerbread cookies and whoopie pies, turning them into the perfect holiday cookies! If you want to make cookies for a cookie exchange, these cookies are always a big hit.
(PS: Have you tried my pumpkin whoopie pies?)
What shapes are perfect for Christmas Cookies?
- 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 Belgium chocolate! Chocolate Christmas cookies are some of the most popular cookies to make during the holiday season!
These chocolate cookies are perfect to bake for your friends, family or for a Christmas cookie exchange. They are easy to make and they taste like you are eating a piece of heaven!
Double Chocolate Crunch Cookies
What's better than a single chocolate cookie? Why, its a double chocolate cookie, of course!
These double chocolate crunch cookies are made with dark chocolate and semi sweet chocolate. To give them a little crunch, I added crispy rice cereal.
What are your favorite chocolate cookies?
Chocolate Covered Oreo
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!
(PS: Did you know that you can also stuff an Oreo into a chocolate chip cookie?)
Strawberry Cream Truffles
Strawberries and Chocolate are a match made in heaven! They make any holiday look festive.
These truffles are elegant looking and perfect to give as edible gifts. Or bake a batch just for yourself.
Best part is that they take only 10 minutes to make. After that, refrigerate until you are ready to eat them.
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!
I dipped pretzels in yogurt and topped it on the bark. It gives them a snowy look and makes them festive.
Vegan Christmas Cookies
These vegan cookies are simply irresistible! They have all the flavorings of the holiday season and take no time to bake.
Give these vegan Christmas cookies as gifts to the vegan in your family. They will definitely fall in love with the cookies instantly.
Vegan Gingerbread Cookies for Santa
Don't you just want to bite the heads of the gingerbread men?! These gingerbread cookies by The Banana Diaries are completely dairy free and egg free!
The icing is also easy to make using just 3 ingredients. So, make a big batch of the cookies and icing in just 24 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 the perfect 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. She adds just a hint of matcha to give these colors that extra Christmas look.
No-Bake Christmas Cookies
Let's face it! During the holiday season, our ovens are working overtime! Sometimes, they are on all day and into the evening. From cooking the turkey to baking cakes and pies, our ovens hardly get a break.
There is only so much room in our ovens. Plus, it's a great time management strategy to make the desserts ahead and not worry about baking them as close as possible to the time of serving.
That's why these bloggers came up with the perfect no-bake Christmas cookies that anyone can "bake"!
Moose Farts
Oh, you read that correctly! These no-bake cookies are really called moose farts. It's the funniest name of a cookie that I have ever seen.
Strange name aside, these cookies are actually a delight to make and eat. Rock Recipes says that you can make 40 of these cookies in 20 minutes!
Find out why he calls them Moose Farts!
No-Bake Chocolate Covered Ritz Cracker Cookies
Even Ritz Crackers can be covered in chocolate to make a delicious cookie recipe. Look at those beautiful colors on this cookie!
Belly Full uses just 5 ingredients to make these cookies. In 10 minutes, you can coat 20 of these Ritz cracker cookies. Refrigerate for 20 minutes and serve it to your guests!
(PS: Ritz crackers are versatile ingredient! Using Ritz crackers, I made witch hat cookies and even used them to add a crunch to a chicken recipe.)
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 good. Life Currents made sure she gave us the perfect and easy Christmas cookie to make.
Christmas Pretzels
OK, so 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 will love the gooey process of dipping the pretzels and then decorating them with festive holiday sprinkles.
Christmas cookies for kids
Kids are huge consumers of holiday cookies. Can you imagine telling your kid, 'sorry, no Christmas cookies this year'. That would not go over well!
But, if they are gonna eat 'em, they should help to make 'em! Plus, when they are part of the baking process, they have an extra appreciation of the cookies. And it gives them something to be proud of as well.
These cookies are great for baking and decorating with kids from ages 5 and up. Even teenagers will love coloring Santa's ears on the cookies!
Christmas Donut Cookies
I can't get over how much they look like actual donuts!
These cookies are donut shaped but they are cookies! They are the brainchild of Brooklyn Farm Girl who knows how to entice kids to bake in the kitchen.
The sugar icing is so easy to slather on the donuts, so, kids should have no problem doing that. Forget the kids, I wouldn't mind baking a batch of these cookies just for me, haha!
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.
Reindeer Sugar Cookies
Regular sugar cookies are too plain and boring. So, Persnickety Plate invites children to come into the kitchen and draw reindeer faces on them!
I say that it's a very smart way to get kids involved in the kitchen. Draw reindeer antlers on them using chocolate or other frosting. She even has ideas for drawing Christmas lights on the cookies.
Snowman Cookies
How about making a snowman inside not just in the front yard? Conservamom has done just that.
She bakes regular sugar cookies and has the kids decorate a snowman's face on them, earmuffs and all.
This is a fun activity for kids, especially on a day when they are snowed in.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies
Ugly Christmas sweaters may not be fun to wear, but, they sure are fun to eat! Umami Girl has found a way to make ugly Christmas sweaters look scrumptious.
It's easy for the kids to decorate these cookies. Umami Girl gives tips throughout the process, so kids will not get intimidated when decorating them. Bake a dozen of these and give them as gifts. Trust me, they will be better received than the actual sweater.
Healthier Christmas Cookies
Even though the holidays are all about indulgence, it's nice to try out some healthy-ish Christmas cookies. I found a few cookies that are delicious and at least 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 at my house!
Ripe bananas make for a delicious cookie recipe. I mash them in a light batter and sprinkle with a graham cracker coating. Then, I 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.
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 on a low carb diet, Kim Inspired DIY has you covered. She knows how much everyone loves gingerbread man cookies, so, she made a keto version of these cookies.
You can easily bake a batch of these cookies in under 20 minutes.
High Protein and Gluten-Free Blossoms
Instead of using flours in this recipe, Hello Spoonful bakes these blossoms using protein powder and ground flaxseeds. They are soft, chewy and pack quite a protein punch.
It takes just 12 minutes to bake 14 of these cookies, so, run into your kitchen and bake them now! 🙂
More Recipe Collections
I hope you enjoyed all this easy Christmas cookies collection. Be sure to share let me know what you think comments below or find me on social media - Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram.
And 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.
50+ Popular Christmas Treats
70+ Cheap Chicken Recipes
16 Slow Cooker Breakfast Recipes
Easy Cake Pop Recipes
Looking for some unique and useful kitchen items?
Check out my BEST KITCHEN GADGETS Amazon store list!
Thanks for stopping by and I wish you the very happiest of holidays!
Happy cooking!
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