Posted Dec 04, 2020, Updated Sep 17, 2024 We take cookies seriously in our house, especially around Christmas time. So I decided it was time that I compiled our list of the best Christmas Cookie Recipes to help you decide what to bake this holiday season! Baking Christmas Cookies with my kids is my absolute favorite holiday tradition. My mom baked with my sister and I as far back as I can remember, and over the years I’ve worked hard to perfect our favorite Christmas cookie recipes. So here’s a list of the best Christmas Cookie recipes, all in one place, plus some tips and tricks on preparing and packaging Christmas cookies!
Christmas Baking Essentials
Classic Christmas Cookie Recipes
Check out these classic Best Christmas Cookie Recipes! The ones we return to year after year because it just doesn’t feel like Christmas without them!
Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
The Best Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe! They are soft, chewy and hold their shape perfectly! Plus an easy sugar cookie frosting that tastes great and hardens with a beautiful shine.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
The best Peanut Butter Blossoms cookie recipe! A soft peanut butter cookie is coated in sugar and topped with a chocolate kiss!
Snickerdoodles
These snickerdoodle cookies have crispy edges, chewy centers, and a rich cinnamon flavor. They’re easy to make with no chilling or strange ingredients! This is a classic Christmas cookie recipe passed down from my grandma that I have been baking since I was a little girl.
Pecan Snowball Cookies
Pecan Snowball Cookies are easy to make with 6 ingredients. They are buttery, nutty, and melt-in your mouth delicious. These butterball cookies are an old family recipe, and a must-make Christmas cookie!
Soft Gingerbread Cookies
These Soft Gingerbread Cookies have crispy edges with soft and chewy centers and are perfectly spiced! They are so easy to make – no rolling or cutting-out necessary to enjoy this rich & nostalgic gingerbread recipe!
Millionaire Shortbread Bars
These are to die for and always a favorite amongst the rest of the Christmas cookies.
Chocolate Kiss Cookies
A rich chocolate cookie is rolled in sugar (or sprinkles) and topped with a chocolate kiss. These Hersey kiss cookies are Christmas cookies for chocolate lovers!
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are chewy & fudgy with a rich chocolate flavor.
Best Oatmeal Cookies
These are, hands down, the most delicious oatmeal cookies you’ll ever bake or eat! The perfect addition to your Christmas cookie tray!
Best EVER Chocolate Chip Cookies
With almost 10,000, five-star reviews, these classic Chocolate Chip Cookies need to be on your Christmas cookie tray this year!
Gingerbread Man Cookies
Make these gingerbread man cookies that are delicious as they are cute!
M & M Cookie Bars
Easy to make and extra festive with red & green M & Ms, these m and m cookie bars are a great treat to make when you’re short on time.
Butter Cookies
I created this recipe for the best butter cookies as a copycat of my favorite bakery from my hometown. They’re buttery, sweet and irresistibly delicious!
Thumbprint Cookies
These jam-filled, shortbread thumbprint cookies are festive and delicious!
Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
I spent many years creating these peanut butter cookies that are better than your local bakery! With tons of peanut butter flavor, they’re the perfect Christmas cookies for peanut butter lovers.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
These oatmeal raisin cookies are soft and chewy and full of plump sweet raisins! The perfect addition to any Christmas cookies tray!
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Festive and delicious, with red and white mix-ins, these white chocolate cranberry cookies are a must-make during the holidays.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Level up your Christmas cookies and make these Brown Butter chocolate chip cookies. They are rich with notes of caramel from the browned butter and topped with the chef’s kiss of flaky sea salt!
Shortbread Cookies
These classic, buttery shortbread cookies are perfect for the holidays. Dip them in chocolate and add some sprinkles to make them festive!
Toffee Cookies
I definitely associate toffee with the holidays, and these toffee cookies are irresistible!
Chocolate Snowball Cookies
These chocolate snowballs are rich and chocolatey treats perfect for everyone!
White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Buttery, sweet and loaded with festive white chocolate chips – these white chocolate chip cookies are among the first to disappear on any platter of Christmas cookies!
Double Chocolate Cookies
One of my top 10 favorite cookies, these chocolate cookies actually use three kids of chocolate. Topped with flaky sea salt, they are a cookie even grown ups will go crazy over!
Sugar Cookie Bars
Easier than rolling and cutting but just as delicious, dress these sugar cookie bars up with some holiday sprinkles, or dye the vanilla buttercream frosting red or green (or a swirl of both)!
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
A chocolate peppermint cookie dough is loaded with chopped peppermint bark for an irresistible & festive Christmas treat!
Caramel Cookies
Insanely delicious – these salted caramel chocolate chip cookies are beloved by all who try them. And they’re easy to make- no chilling required.
Monster Cookies
There’s nothing scary about these delicious monster cookies – named for the monster amount of delicious ingredients like M&Ms, peanut butter, oatmeal and chocolate chips. Use red and green candies to give them a Christmas flare.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Again – skip the rolling and baking multiple batches and make these irresistibly gooey chocolate chip cookie bars! Add some holiday sprinkles and make Christmas cookie bars!
Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
Another Christmas cookie for chocolate lovers – a chocolate shortbread cookie is rolled in sugar and filled with chocolate ganache. There’s nothing not to love about these chocolate thumbprints.
Butterscotch Cookies
These butterscotch cookies are a nostalgic and delicious treat – perfect for any Christmas cookie tray!
Coffee Cookies
Have a coffee lover in your life? These espresso cookies are a must-make, gooey & chocolaty with a big espresso flavor!
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
These classic macadamia cookies are even more delicious than your favorite bakery – and a must-make to add to your list of Christmas cookie recipes!
Maple Cookies
These maple cookies evoke so many nostalgic holiday memories. They’re soft and moist and the perfect addition to any tray of Christmas Cookies.
No-Bake Christmas Cookies & Treats
Sometimes you need to run to a party and just don’t have enough time to bake Christmas cookies. These no-bake Christmas cookies, balls and bars are great holiday treat recipes to make when you’re short on time.
BEST No Bake Cookies (Ever)
These chocolate peanut butter delights are easy to make and are truly the best of the best.
Scotcheroos
So nostalgic and so easy, these scotcheroos are made without corn syrup and taste amazing.
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
These are on the top of every one of my family members’ must-make Christmas cookies list. They are so delicious and taste like a Reeses cup but better.
Peppermint Bark
Better than store bought, this homemade peppermint bark is easy to make and doesn’t require any baking!
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
These peanut butter balls taste like a Reese’s cup but in ball form. So easy and delicious!
Oreo Balls
Made with only 4 ingredients, these Oreo Balls are so easy to make festive using holiday Oreos and sprinkles!
Reindeer Food
Are you sensing a theme with these no bake treats? They’re mostly chocolate & peanut butter. Can you blame me? It’s only the best combination?! Anyway – you have to try this Christmas Puppy Chow. Give it as gifts with our free printable label.
Classic Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)
If you want to go the classic route – you cannot go wrong with my perfected method and recipe for the best puppy chow ever.
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars
These are my go-to when I need to make Christmas cookies fast.
Honorable Mention Christmas Treats
Christmas cookies usually steal the show, but here are some honorable mentions in the category of “Christmas treats” that aren’t cookies.
Homemade Almond Toffee
Buttery with nutty crunch in every bite – almond toffee is a must-make for sure.
Homemade Caramel
Perfect for gift-giving, these homemade caramels are soft, flavorful and delicious!
Homemade Chocolate Fudge
Just like grandma used to make, this old-fashioned chocolate fudge is a delicious holiday treat.
Candied Pecans
I make these year round, but especially at Christmas time. They are delicious treats to give as gifts. Also try candied almonds and candied walnuts.
Peppermint Brownies
Christmas brownies need to be a thing as much as Christmas cookies! 🙂 These are fudgy and loaded with peppermint bark! Wash it down with a glass of peppermint hot chocolate too!
Homemade Eggnog
What’s Christmas without eggnog? This homemade eggnog recipe is the absolute best, and a great drink to enjoy with all your favorite Christams cookies!
Freezing Dough & Cookies
If you would like to start preparing farther in advance than one day, you can. The dough for almost every cookie recipe on this list can be made, rolled into balls, and frozen in an airtight container to be baked off later. Gradually let the dough thaw in the refrigerator or on the counter before baking – never ever microwave frozen cookie dough!
What is your favorite?
There are so many options when it comes to holiday baking! What is your favorite Christmas cookie?! My all-time favorites are Peanut Butter Blossoms! This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!
