30+ Christmas Cookie Recipes

Celebrate the holiday season with these festive and delicious Christmas cookie recipes, including classic favorites and new ideas!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Searching for the ultimate list of Christmas cookie recipes to add to your holiday baking lineup? Look no further. Christmas is synonymous with heartwarming traditions, and there’s no tradition quite like baking cookies that fill your home with a scent of holiday cheer. This roundup has over 30 of the most searched and loved Christmas cookie recipes perfect for making just because or as part of a cookie exchange!

4 image collage of Christmas cookies.

Table of Contents

  1. Why you Should Make More Holiday Cookies this year
  2. Tips for Making the Best Christmas Cookies
  3. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes
  4. How to Store Cookies
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. Full List of Recipes

From the classic gingerbread men awaiting their decorative touches to snickerdoodles and sugar cookies that never go out of style, we’ve got every craving covered. Whether you’re preparing for a festive cookie exchange or just want to treat your family to some holiday favorites, this collection is your one-stop destination for the best Christmas cookies. Dive in and let the merry baking begin!

Why you Should Make More Holiday Cookies this year

  • Make sweet and delicious personalized gifts. Homemade cookies make thoughtful gifts that can brighten anyone’s day. Double the cookie recipe and wrap them up in decorative packaging to make a unique gift that is truly unforgettable.
  • Connect with loved ones. Baking cookies together is an excellent way to connect with family and friends. Or participate in a cookie exchange, where you can show off your sweet culinary masterpiece and taste many other cookies. It’s especially a great opportunity to get your kids involved and have fun in the kitchen – be sure to check out my tips for holiday baking with kids.
  • Make one batch to enjoy, one to freeze. You may have a round of visitors in and out of your home over the holidays – make a large batch of cookies and freeze the cookie dough so you’re ready for unexpected guests with the convenience of freshly baked cookies. With so many options to choose from, you’ll be set for the season.
  • Create a cozy atmosphere. Nothing is more comforting than the aroma of freshly baked cookies as it fills your home. It will instantly put the most reluctant Scrooge into the holiday spirit because who can resist a good cookie?

Tips for Making the Best Christmas Cookies

  1. Follow the recipe. For best results, stick to the recipe measurements and instructions, especially when it comes to leavening agents like baking powder, baking soda, and flour ratios.
  2. Start with the correct supplies. Invest in good quality baking sheets for even heat distribution, which can make a big difference in the baking process. Be sure you’re stocked up on parchment paper to prevent cookies from sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
  3. Know the basics. Brush up on your basic baking skills, how to soften butter, how to melt chocolate, and how to make self-rising flour. And if you’re looking for simple ways to jazz up cookies, top them with frosting, drizzle icing, or chocolate ganache. Knowing these basic skills will help you have a stress-free cookie baking experience.
  4. Store properly. All recipes should list proper storage instructions, including freezing directions. I recommend that you follow them so your cookies last longer to avoid them going stale or losing flavor.
  5. Have fun with gift wrapping. Get creative to make your cookie gifts extra special. Choose decorative packaging, such as seasonal tins, boxes, or jars, and add a personal touch like tying a ribbon or attaching a handwritten note.

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

Get into the festive mood with some of the best Christmas cookies! Discover classic Christmas favorites, holiday cookies with fruit, indulgent treats for the chocolate lovers in your life, and easy Christmas cookies that deliver sweetness without the fuss. Whether you’re looking for a simple dessert for a weekend gathering or a contribution to a cookie exchange, this collection offers something for everyone.

Classic Christmas Cookies

  • Gingerbread Cookies – This traditional Christmas cookie is fun to make and even more enjoyable to eat. With cozy spices such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, these gingerbread cookies are a must during the holiday season.
  • Old Fashioned Italian Christmas Cookies – With a subtle sweetness, cake-like texture, and anise flavor peeking through in every bite, these holiday cookies will be a hit at any gathering. The glaze is a nice backdrop for adding green and red sprinkles.
  • Chewy Oatmeal Cookies – This is one of those classic comfort food cookies that feels more like a warm hug on a cold day than a sweet dessert. It’s chewy, hearty, and oh-so-delicious. Make a generous batch and pack them up in festive gift boxes to share the warmth and coziness of these hearty cookies.
  • Pistachio Cookies – Tis the season for pistachio nuts, and adding them to cookies adds a unique twist that will capture the essence of the holidays. They’re festive, delicious, and have a hint of green that makes them stand out against the others.
  • Gourmet Biscotti Recipe – Cozy up with a hot cup of coffee or tea and this traditional twice-baked treat. They have a long shelf-life and sturdy structure, making them a perfect homemade gift or as part of a cookie exchange. Plus, you have four flavors to choose from: almond, chocolate chip, pistachio lemon, and cranberry orange.
  • Shortbread Cookies with Tahini – When it comes to the best Christmas cookies, shortbread cookies easily make the cut. But have you considered giving them a Mediterranean flare by adding tahini? Try it! They’re rich, buttery, and oh-so-perfect!
  • Copycat Lofthouse Cookies – A collection of Christmas cookie recipes wouldn’t be complete without this iconic number. Make bakery-quality frosted sugar cookies at home. They’re not overly sweet and topped with the smooth frosting for irresistible holiday cookies you won’t be able to say no to.
  • Cardamom Spice Cookies – Warming flavors are such a welcome addition during the holiday season – that’s why these cookies are such a hit! They’re perfectly spiced, have a soft texture, and rich flavors with molasses and lemon in every bite.
6 image collage of classic Christmas cookies.

Quick and Easy Christmas Cookies

  • Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies – So simple yet offer so much flavor. There are no complicated steps or techniques here, even if you’re not an experienced baker. Plus, they bake up quickly, so you can enjoy fresh from-the-oven cookies in no time at all.
  • Ginger Molasses Cookies – Soft and chewy, these ginger snap cookies make an ideal holiday baking treat. They’re quick and easy to whip up and showcase the goodness of molasses and powdered ginger in every bite.
  • Simple Peanut Butter Cookies – It doesn’t get any simpler than a 3-ingredient cookie. It’s such a classic, perfect, old-fashioned recipe and is a hit with kids and adults alike. These are one of my favorite holiday cookies to make for other people because they are flourless, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
  • Easy Sugar Cookies – I just love these easy Christmas cookies. These holiday sugar cookies come with a festive twist – dipped in white chocolate and peppermint so I assure you they will brighten any holiday celebration. Of course, it helps that they are oh-so-delicious too!
  • Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies – Made with peanut butter, applesauce, oat flour, and sugar, these cookies are a dream come true. Packed with fantastic flavor, with a great balance of sweet, salty, and delicious! Plus, they’re rich in fiber and protein.
  • Banana Oatmeal Cookies – Quick and easy to make with only 3 ingredients, including oatmeal, banana, and chocolate chips, you’ll feel good about making these on repeat all season long.
  • Tahini Honey CookiesTahini is a sesame seed paste often used in Middle Eastern baking to add a creamy, savory taste to the cookies, much like butter. These honey tahini cookies are perfect for parties and snacking and are made with almond flour, honey, tahini, and sesame seeds.
4 image collage of quick and easy christmas cookie recipes.

Holiday Cookies with Fruit

  • Thumbprint Christmas Cookies – Made with a buttery shortbread base and a delicious jam-filled center, this is one of the best Christmas cookies to bring to any holiday gathering, including a cookie exchange. Use your favorite jam or learn how to make jam at home so you can control the sweetness.
  • Healthy Applesauce Cookies – These applesauce cookies are a game changer. Made with better-for-you swaps like applesauce and very simple ingredients, most of which you likely already have on hand. But don’t let the swaps fool you – they still have that classic soft and chewy texture that we love in a good chocolate chip cookie.
  • Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Recipe – Crisp around the edges and perfectly chewy throughout, with white chocolate chips and fresh cranberries in every bite. These easy Christmas cookies add a welcoming touch of red and white to the table.
  • Old Fashioned Apple Butter Cookies – Embrace the cozy flavors of the season with these elevated oatmeal cookies. Made with apple butter, rolled oats, flour, and warming cinnamon, these holiday cookies are perfect to share with a friend or enjoy on a rainy afternoon with a hot cup of tea.
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies – These cookies are soft and chewy with a cake-like texture and are oh-so-addicting! The best part? They’re made with better-for-you ingredients like pumpkin puree, applesauce, a little oil, and of course, some chocolate chips for rich, chocolatey goodness in every bite.
  • Date Cookies – You’ll love these Mediterranean-inspired cookies. They’re sweet, nutty, a little bit chewy, and completely irresistible! Easy to make, rich in flavor, and a total crowd-pleaser. Some say these holiday cookies taste like pecan pie, and we can’t argue with that.
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies – These cookies are like individual servings of pillowy banana bread but in cookie form. They’re the perfect treat for kids, holiday gatherings, or just a Friday night cookie craving.
  • Maamoul Cookies – Made with semolina flour and filled with creamy dates and crunchy walnuts, these Middle Eastern cookies are perfect for sharing in your cookie exchange. Their intricate designs resemble snowflakes, making them the best Christmas cookies this season.
  • Cinnamon Apple Cookies – If the smell doesn’t lure you; the warm, chewy, comforting flavors will. Fresh apples blended with molasses-rich brown sugar and earthy cinnamon come together to make a homey yet sophisticated dessert you will instantly love.
4 image collage of holiday cookies.

Christmas Cookies with Chocolate

  • Chocolate Crackle Cookies – These easy Christmas cookies are the best of both worlds: fudgy brownie and classic cookie all wrapped in one. Plus, that dusting of powdered sugar really makes them pop on the plate.
  • Soft Peanut Butter Blossoms – This jackpot of a cookie has just the right amount of sweet, slightly salty, peanut buttery, and finished off with a shiny Hershey’s kiss to add a lovely chocolatey touch. These blossoms have everything you could ask for in a cookie.
  • Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies – The only thing better than a classic peanut butter cookie is a peanut butter cookie dunked in chocolate ganache. These two flavors are so good together and you can add some holiday sprinkles to the chocolate to give them extra festive appeal.
  • Tasty Chocolate Chip Cookies – Forever a classic, this made-from-scratch chocolate chip cookie is hard to resist. Of course, it’s a special treat for any occasion, but especially during the holidays to bring that nostalgic comfort to your home.
  • Chewy Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies – Deliciously chewy, rich, and simple to make (just 5 minutes to prep and 4 ingredients, including homemade nutella!), these cookies are the best way to get your chocolate fix and spoil your friends and family too!
  • Chocolate Tahini Cookies – You know I love a good tahini-for-butter swap and that’s what’s happening in these cookies. But don’t worry – while it gives these cookies a slight hint of savory flavor, they are still perfectly sweet and irresistible with chocolate chunks in every bite.
  • Almond Joy Cookies – These easy Christmas cookies are perfect for festive holidays and special occasions. They’re soft on the inside with perfectly crispy edges and generously filled with the tempting combination of coconut, chocolate, and almonds – just like the almond joy candy bar.
  • Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – There’s something so comforting about taking a bite out of a freshly baked, hot-out-of-the-oven oatmeal cookie, especially one with chocolatey goodness. It’s so simple and easy to make and has the added benefits of hearty oatmeal.
4 image collage of recipes with chocolate.

How to Store Cookies

  • Avoid moisture: All cookies should be stored in an airtight container to prevent moisture and help them maintain proper texture. Store them in a cool, dry place, and avoid storing them near heat sources or direct sunlight.
  • Storage for dry and soft cookies: Most dry cookies, like shortbread and biscotti cookies, can be stored at room temperature. Soft cookies, like chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies, can be kept at room temperature for a few days, and then transferred to the fridge for longer storage. I recommend following the storage suggestions listed in individual recipes to ensure your cookies are properly stored.
  • Mind the ingredients: Cookies with fresh ingredients, like those with fruit or dairy, may have a shorter shelf life. Be mindful of these and eat them within that timeframe.
  • Freezing cookies: Most cookies are freezer-friendly and can be frozen for longer storage. You can place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Again, for best results, follow the freezing instructions as listed in the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular Christmas cookie every year?

According to the report by General Mills, peanut butter blossoms are the most popular holiday cookie in the United States overall, closely trailing the all-time favorite year-round cookie, the chocolate chip cookie.

How far in advance can I bake Christmas cookies?

Many Christmas cookie recipes can be baked ahead of time of the gathering as long as they are stored properly. I recommend that you check the specific recipe for guidance on storage times.

What are the best cookies to package for gifts?

You want to look for cookies that hold up well during transit, maintain freshness, and have a festive appeal. Thankfully, most cookies are excellent candidates for gifting but some popular options are sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, biscotti, gingerbread cookies, and any of the various oatmeal cookies. Avoid delicate cookies like frosted cookies that may break or smudge during transit.

Italian iced christmas cookies with decorated with holiday green and red sprinkles with a small bowl of extra sprinkles nearby and a cooling rack with more cookies.

I hope these Christmas cookie recipes bring you joy and warmth to your holiday season. Whether you’re looking for traditional Christmas cookies or ones with fruit or chocolate – there’s truly something for everyone in this collection of the best Christmas cookies.

Full List of Recipes

Check out the picture cards for all the recipes listed above. You can click on any of the recipes cards to take you directly to those recipes.

Gingerbread cookies stack in a parchment lined square tin.
Dessert

Gingerbread Cookies

Simple, Gingerbread Men Cookies! These gingerbread cookies are easy to make and fun to decorate with a simple 2-ingredient royal icing for decorating!
 
5 from 11 votes
Decorated Italian Christmas cookies stacked on a round plate.
Dessert

Italian Christmas Cookies

Make your holidays merrier with Italian Christmas Cookies infused with anise seeds and topped with colorful sprinkles for extra festive fun.
 
1 hour 5 minutes
5 from 8 votes
Oatmeal cookies stacked up with one having a bite taken out.
Dessert

Oatmeal Cookies

This classic oatmeal cookie recipe is made with rolled oats, a hint of cinnamon and molasses-y brown sugar. It's the best, simple oatmeal cookie recipe!
 
1 hour 25 minutes
5 from 15 votes
Plate of holiday pistachio cookies topped with pistachio pieces
Snacks

Pistachio Cookies

These pistachio cookies are a healthier version of my favorite Middle Eastern cookies. Gluten free with no added refined sugar. Delicious and easy to make.
 
20 minutes
5 from 56 votes
Four biscotti flavors on an oval platter.
Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Biscotti Cookies

Try four flavors of biscotti – almond, chocolate chip, pistachio lemon, and cranberry orange. Easy recipe for delicious homemade biscotti!
 
1 hour 5 minutes
5 from 50 votes
Tahini shortbread cookies on a plate
Dessert, Snack

Tahini Shortbread Cookies

The classic holiday shortbread cookie recipe is updated slightly to add tahini – which gives it a Mediterranean flavor that's rich and nutty.
 
1 hour 25 minutes
4.9 from 14 votes
Soft baked Lofthouse cookies topped with icing and sprinkles on a round plate next to a cooling wire rack with more cookies. Small bowls of icing and sprinkles nearby.
Dessert

Soft Baked Lofthouse Cookies

Craving those classic store-bought sugar cookies? Bake your own homemade soft-baked Lofthouse cookies with frosting with this copycat recipe!
 
1 hour 10 minutes
5 from 5 votes
Stack of cardamom spiced cookies on a small plate
Dessert, Snack

Cardamom Cookies

Easy and quick to make, these cardamom cookies are perfectly spiced and bursting with flavor. Perfect to enjoy with a cup of coffee on a dull day!
 
20 minutes
5 from 72 votes
Snickerdoodles stack tall on a round plate with extra cookies nearby and a glass of milk in the background.
Dessert

Snickerdoodles

Learn how to make perfect Snickerdoodle cookies with this simple recipe for chewy, cinnamon-sugar goodness. Bake them any time of year!
 
25 minutes
5 from 5 votes
Plate of ginger snap cookies with red napkin on the side
Snack

Ginger Snap Cookies

Quick and easy to make, these ginger snap cookies and bursting with flavor. Ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes.
 
20 minutes
5 from 32 votes
Dessert

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are quick, easy-to-make & tasty. They're made with peanut butter, egg & sugar so they're naturally flourless & dairy-free
 
20 minutes
5 from 2735 votes
White plate on marble background of sugar cookies dipped in white chocolate
Dessert

Peppermint Sugar Cookies

These pepper sugar cookies dipped in white chocolate & crushed peppermint are a wonderful treat for the holidays – dairy free and made with simple pantry items!
 
20 minutes
5 from 75 votes
Bowl of the gluten free peanut butter cookies with a bite taken out of one of them
Dessert

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

This recipe for Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies uses oat flour for a light and chewy consistency with a rich taste of sweetened peanut butter
 
10 minutes
5 from 8 votes
Banana oatmeal cookies on a plate with chocolate chips
Dessert, Snack

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Easy and quick to make with 3 ingredients only, these healthy banana oatmeal cookies are gluten-free, refined sugar free and kid-friendly!
 
20 minutes
4.9 from 142 votes
Honey Tahini Cookies covered with sesame seeds
Snacks

Sesame Tahini Cookies

Sesame Tahini Cookies are chewy delicious gluten-free cookies with a Middle Eastern flavor. Instead of butter, tahini paste is used to add a rich nutty taste
 
23 minutes
5 from 353 votes
Three different jam filled thumbprint cookies on a wire rack with a jar of jam nearby.
Dessert

Thumbprint Cookies

This jam thumbprint cookie recipe is so easy and so good! With its shortbread cookie base and sweet jam filled center you can't go wrong!
 
25 minutes
5 from 15 votes
Plate of applesauce chocolate chip cookies with glass of milk next to them
Dessert

Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies

These easy Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies are super soft with great taste and texture but less fat than traditional chocolate chip cookies
 
20 minutes
5 from 59 votes
Dessert

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

The best Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies you’ll ever make – they’re crunchy around the edges, incredibly chewy throughout and filled with chocolate chips!
 
32 minutes
5 from 75 votes
Apple butter cookies on a plate.
Dessert

Apple Butter Cookies

These Apple Butter Cookies are infused with rich apple flavor and warm seasonal spices, making them a delicious Autumn treat.
 
15 minutes
5 from 17 votes
Hand grabbing a cookie from a plate full of pumpkin chocolate chips cookies
Dessert

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are chewy, moist and perfect treat for fall – made healthier by using applesauce and whole wheat flour, but no butter!
 
15 minutes
5 from 64 votes
Date cookies on a white plate
Dessert

Date Cookies

A fun mediterranean inspired cookie recipe, these buttery date cookies are sweet, nutty, chewy and completely irresistible – perfect for cookie exchanges 
 
30 minutes
5 from 492 votes
Final baked banana chocolate chip cookies
Dessert

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you like banana bread, you’ll love these Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are a great way to use up overripe bananas and have a soft cake-like texture
 
24 minutes
5 from 251 votes
Maamoul cookies on a round decorative plate with extra walnuts dusted with powdered sugar.
Dessert

Maamoul

These Maamoul cookies are made with semolina flour + two classic fillings – creamy dates & crunchy walnuts – a delicious Middle Eastern treat!
 
13 hours 5 minutes
4.9 from 47 votes
view of a couple of baked apple crisp cookies on wire cooking rack with fresh sliced apples on side
Dessert, Snack

Cinnamon Oatmeal Apple Cookies

These chewy cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies are easy to make, taste like fall in a bite and are perfect for leftover apples! Soft and delicious!
 
22 minutes
5 from 39 votes
Chocolate crinkle cut cookies on a wire rack with a small bowl of powdered sugar nearby.
Dessert

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These deliciously rich and fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies have a fun crackled exterior and chewy, chocolate center – and they're easy to make!
 
1 hour 5 minutes
5 from 7 votes
Dessert

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Delicious peanut butter cookies topped with a Hershey's Kiss! These peanut butter blossoms, or Hershey Kiss cookies, if you prefer, are soft, chewy, and oh-so good!
 
55 minutes
5 from 38 votes
Round plate with cookies stacked on top of eachother with a few off plate and broken and a small dish of chocolate chips.
Dessert

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies

These Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies are easy to make in one bowl, soft and chewy and so festive for cookie exchanges and holiday gatherings!
 
20 minutes
4.8 from 20 votes
Dessert

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic, made-from-scratch soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies! These tasty cookies are the best homemade chocolate chip cookies to add to your repertoire!
 
1 hour 25 minutes
5 from 10 votes
A plate of chocolate hazelnut cookies with a glass of milk
Dessert

Chocolate Hazelnut Nutella Cookies

These easy chocolate hazelnut cookies are made with Nutella along with one egg, flour and chopped hazelnuts- quick, easy and a crowd favorite
 
17 minutes
5 from 7 votes
Close up shot of many tahini chocolate chip cookies on a parchment paper background
Dessert, Snack

Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies have a Middle Eastern twist by swapping half the butter in traditional chocolate chip cookies with tahini (sesame paste)
 
25 minutes
5 from 86 votes
Hand picking up one almond joy cookie
Snack

Almond Joy Cookies

These Almond Joy Cookies are quick and easy to make and are wonderfully soft and fluffy! Ready to enjoy in 20 minutes for any coconut and chocolate lovers!
 
20 minutes
5 from 16 votes
Stack of oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips on parchment paper with one cookie infront with bite taken out and a small dish of chocolate chips in the back.
Dessert

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft & chewy, these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies go from prep to in your mouth in 30 minutes! Made with semi-sweet chocolate chips for the perfect balance!
 
27 minutes
5 from 77 votes

For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Holiday Appetizers, Cozy Winter Recipes, Christmas Morning Breakfasts, and Festive New Years Recipes.

If you found this recipe roundup for Christmas Cookie Recipes helpful or if you try any recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipes! It helps others who are thinking of trying out this tutorial and we would love to hear about your experience. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

Leave a comment