‘Tis the season to make the best Christmas cookie recipes of all time! These Christmas cookie recipes will put you in the holiday spirit. Bring any of them to your next cookie swap, and you’ll easily win first place!
Cookies are a Christmastime staple. They are always a favorite, especially for Santa! There are so many amazing cookie recipes to choose from, so lucky for you, we’ve narrowed things down to the best Christmas cookie recipes for you to make this holiday season.
There are the must-make classics—let’s face it, the holidays would not be complete without a red and white pinwheel cookie, a peanut butter blossom, or a classic spritz cookie. And then there are the more unique recipes that are sure to please, like brown butter toffee cookies and chewy oatmeal cranberry. Whichever ones you try, they’re destined to be winners!
The Best Christmas Cookies to Make for the Holidays
Each one of these cookies is better than the next, and any of the recipes below will be sure to win you first place at your cookie swap. Here are the best Christmas cookie recipes to make this holiday season.
1. Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Take the festivities to the dessert table with these Christmas pinwheel cookies. The red and green cookies are the perfect bite to celebrate the holiday season.
2. No-Bake Christmas Crunch Cookies
Save the space in the oven this holiday season and whip up a batch of these no-bake Christmas crunch cookies. The cookies only have four ingredients and they’re fun to make with the entire family.
3. Christmas M&M Cookies
Red and green M&Ms turn these simple soft cookies into a holiday favorite. The cookies have chewy centers and crispy, golden edges, just like from the bakery!
4. Italian Christmas Cookies
Italian Christmas cookies are always a good idea. The festive cookies have a cake-like texture making for an irresistible bite.
5. Candy Cane Cookies
Turn your favorite holiday treat into cookies with these festive candy cane cookies. Save this one to make with the kids—it will be just as fun making them as it will be to eat them.
6. Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
Red and green sprinkles become the star of the show in these Christmas ooey gooey butter cookies. The cookies only have 6 ingredients—one being cake mix—making them a breeze to whip up.
7. Classic Spritz Cookies
Would it really be Christmas if you didn’t make some classic spritz cookies? There is a reason this classic cookie doesn’t go out of style. The flavors and festive look are always top notch.
8. Easy Cutout Sugar Cookie Recipe
Take your artistic skills into the kitchen and whip up a batch of these easy cutout sugar cookies. Grab your favorite holiday cookie cutters and all the green and white decorations you can find. The cookies are almost too pretty to eat!
9. No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Truffles
If your favorite part about making chocolate chip cookies is the cookie dough, then these cookies are for you. These little balls of cookie dough goodness are covered in chocolate and topped with red and green sprinkles for the perfect finishing touch.
10. Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Is there anything better than chocolate and peanut butter? Savor the classic combination and fill your holiday cookie plate with these peanut butter kiss cookies. They are so tasty, it’s a recipe you’ll want to make all year round.
11. Pecan Crescent Cookies
These pecan crescent cookies are not lacking when it comes to flavor. The butter-based cookies are teeming with chopped pecans to make for a rich, nutty bite.
12. Linzer Cookies
Linzer cookies are a classic when it comes to holiday baking. The rich butter shortbread cookies are sandwiched between a sweet layer of fruit jam to create the best flavor combination.
13. Gingerbread Cookies
Is it really the holiday season if you don’t make a batch of gingerbread cookies? Make a whole family of gingerbread and more with this seasonal cookie recipe.
14. Snowball Cookies
If you are looking for a cookie that melts in your mouth, look no further than these snowball cookies. The rich butter cookies are rolled in a thick layer of powdered sugar to give them that traditional snowy look.
15. Thumbprint Cookies
For a simple recipe that will wow your guests, go with these thumbprint cookies. The easy shortbread cookie recipe couldn’t be easier to make. The little windows of jam make them irresistible to the eyes—and they taste just as good as they look!
16. Peanut Butter Cookies
Sometimes it’s great to stick with a classic when it comes to Christmas cookies. Case in point: these peanut butter cookies. They are exactly what they sound like. Super simple and very delicious.
Tasty Christmas Cookie Recipes
17. Stained Glass Cookies
These beautiful cookies get their stained glass look from melted rock candy. You’ll be surprised by how fun and easy these cookies are to make.
18. Butterscotch Cookies
Give your tastebuds a break from all the mint and chocolate cookies and switch it up with these butterscotch cookies. The butterscotch flavor, combined with the soft cookie dough, makes for a delicious holiday treat.
19. Soft Molasses Cookies
Want to make ginger cookies without fussing with cookie cutters? Try these soft molasses cookies instead. The cookies still have that same amazing bold ginger flavor, but in classic drop cookie form.
20. Gooey Butter Cookies
Turn a simple box of cake mix into gooey butter cookies with only 4 other additional ingredients. The cookies truly live up to their name with their gooey and buttery texture.
21. Shortbread Cookies
It doesn’t get more classic than a shortbread cookie. The simple cookie is often the most memorable on the plate. Dip them in melted dark chocolate to make them even more decadent!
22. Brown Butter Toffee Cookies
There is no lacking of flavor when it comes to these brown butter toffee cookies. The brown butter flavor adds a rich, nutty flavor to the cookies to make a sweet and irresistible bite.
23. Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Switch up the classic shortbread cookies this year, and add some pecans to the mix with these pecan shortbread cookies. The pecans complement the buttery flavor of the shortbread to make a classic holiday cookie.
24. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
There is no such thing as too much chocolate. Just look at these double chocolate chip cookies! These cookies are a dream come true for chocolate lovers.
25. Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
There is something about the holiday season that makes me crave these oatmeal cranberry cookies. The tart cranberries play off the sweet white chocolate chips in the cookie to make an outstanding flavor combination.
26. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Brownie lovers will fall in love with these chocolate crinkle cookies. The little cookies are basically like brownies in disguise. The rich, fudgy dough balls get rolled in powdered sugar before they hit the oven to create that classic crinkle cookie look.
27. Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
If you are looking for a quick and simple cookie to bring to your cookie swap, go with these red velvet cookies. The bright red cookies use cake mix and 3 other everyday ingredients to come to life. If you want to make them extra festive, add some green sprinkles to the batter.
28. Snickerdoodles Cookies
Cinnamon and sugar team up to create the coziest flavor in these snickerdoodle cookies. The classic cookie is always a fan favorite when it comes to the holiday season.
29. Hot Chocolate Blossom Cookies
Take your hot chocolate and turn it into cookie form with these hot chocolate blossom cookies. The hot chocolate cookies get their inspiration from peanut butter blossom cookies. Top the cookies with marshmallows for an extra treat!
30. Double Chocolate Mint Cookies
Mint is basically the unofficial mascot of Christmas—or Christmas cookies and desserts, at least! These double chocolate mint cookies prove why. The chocolate and mint combo is one that you just can’t beat.
31. Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
There is never a wrong time to eat a chocolate chip cookie. They may not be the most festive cookie when it comes to Christmas, but they will be a hit on the plate no matter what.
32. Cowboy Cookies
Cowboy cookies are truly the cookie that has it all! The dough combines chocolate chips with oats, pecans, cinnamon, and coconut to make a cookie that is out of this world.
33. Frosted Sugar Cookies
Take your sugar cookies to the next level with these frosted sugar cookies. Turn your frosting red and green and go crazy with Christmas sprinkles to make these tasty cookies extra festive.
