Top 10 Christmas Cookie Recipes

‘Tis the season for baking! Here are our Top 10 Christmas Cookie Recipes to fit all your baking needs and make your holiday season extra festive!

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There is something for everyone with a sweet tooth when it comes to Christmas cookies. From simple sugar cookies to chocolate crinkle cookies, everyone will find a favorite hiding out in the Christmas cookie tin. Because there are always so many good options, we’ve rounded up our top 10 recipes to share with you. Pick one or bake them all for gifting, holiday parties, and adding festive flair to your days throughout the Christmas season. No matter which cookie recipes you choose, you can’t go wrong!

Turn your holiday gathering into a Christmas cookie overload. Each one of these recipes is better than the next. Plus, they are all Santa-approved!

1. Festive Pinwheel Cookies

Bring all the holiday vibes to the party with these festive Christmas Pinwheel Cookies. The super buttery dough gets dyed green and red and rolled out to make the signature pinwheels. Don’t worry about these basic cookies lacking in flavor. A splash of almond extract is the secret ingredient that allows these cookies to stand out from the crowd. It isn’t overpowering in flavor but complements the vanilla and buttery dough.

red white and green christmas pinwheel cookies on a plate.

2. Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies

Even if you are not a master chef in the kitchen, you’ll be able to master these Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies. The simple recipe uses a box of cake mix to make cookie dough easier than ever to make. The cake mix, plus the other five ingredients of butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and an egg, make these cookies super ooey and gooey to live up to their name. They are melt-in-your-mouth good!

plate of Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies.

3. No-Bake Christmas Crunch Cookies

Baking over the holidays can be a battle for oven space. Luckily, these Christmas Crunch Cookies are no-bake, keeping the oven available for other treats. The no-bake treats are a play on classic Rice Krispies. White chocolate and peanut butter mix in with the puffed rice cereal and marshmallows to make a combination that is out of this world. Feel free to get creative with this recipe, and add other favorites like chocolate chips or nuts, too.

plate of No-Bake Christmas Crunch Cookies.

4. Classic Spritz Cookies

Would it really be Christmas cookie season without a Classic Spritz Cookie? These traditional treats are a staple around the holiday season for a reason. A cookie press is the secret tool for getting the picture perfect shapes. A simple switch of the disk lets you create all types of shapes and patterns that are great for celebrating the festive season.

stack of five classic spritz cookies sitting on parchment paper.

5. Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut butter and chocolate are a match made in heaven, especially when they are combined in Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies. The kiss cookies, also known as peanut butter blossoms, are a staple on any dessert table around the holiday season. The trick to getting the kiss to stick to the cookie is to add it right after the cookies are baked and out of the oven. The warmth of the cookie melts the kiss just enough to make it stick without making a gooey mess!

peanut butter kiss cookies sitting on a wire cooling rack.

6. Snowball Cookies

Dreaming of a white Christmas? No matter where you are in the world, all your snowy Christmas dreams will come true with a batch of these homemade Snowball Cookies. The little bite-sized balls of goodness are covered in powdered sugar to give them a festive snowball look. Underneath all of the powdered sugar lies a buttery cookie with pieces of pecans in the dough. The sweet, melt-in-your-mouth combination is always a holiday favorite!

snowball cookies sitting on parchment paper.

7. Thumbprint Cookies

Need a break from all the chocolate cookies on the table? Make a batch of these Thumbprint Cookies to bring some fruity flavors to the Christmas cookie spread. While these cookies look complicated to make, they are actually pretty simple. A buttery dough gets rolled out into small balls. Then, a thumbprint is pressed down to create the hole for the jam. Use your favorite flavors of jam like Strawberry Jam or Strawberry Rhubarb Jam to fill them up and make the cookies complete!

thumbprint cookies served in a white bowl.

Bring your art skills to the kitchen, and make a batch of these Cutout Sugar Cookies. The simple recipe guarantees cookies that are perfect for decorating. They are smooth, soft, and chewy, and have a nice crisp edge to hold all the toppings. Use colored frosting, sprinkled, and candy to transform these simple shapes into characters and figures that come alive. It’s a fun activity that’s great for the whole family!

different christmas-shaped sugar cookies with white icing and green and red round sprinkles.

9. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Don’t worry about missing the brownies on the dessert table this holiday season when these Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are there. A cross between a chocolate cookie and a brownie, they’re super fudgy, rich, and have all the crinkly bits that everyone loves in a brownie. Before hitting the oven, the cookies get rolled in a coating of powdered sugar to make the signature crinkle look. You won’t want to let the holiday season go by without trying a batch of this dessert!

chocolate crinkle cookies served on a white round plate.

10. Christmas M&M Cookies

A simple classic, there’s a reason these Christmas M&M Cookies make an appearance year after year. Featuring a classic chocolate chip cookie dough, they’re given a colorful appearance and boost of flavor with the addition of red and green M&Ms. Loved by children and adults alike, these cookies are one recipe that never disappoints! Plus, they store well in the freezer, meaning you can make multiple batches to keep on hand and enjoy long after the holiday season comes to an end.