The Best Christmas Cookie Recipes
Baking cookies during the holiday season is one of my favorite traditions that I look forward to every year. My collection of Christmas cookie recipes features tons of holiday classics, family favorites, traditional cookies and plenty of seasonal twists. They're great for cookie swaps and filling holiday tins, plus, they'll make your house smell incredible as they bake!
It's Not Christmas without Cookies!
Every December, my kitchen turns into a full-blown cookie workshop. The smell of butter, sugar, and warm spices just makes this time of year feel magical.
Cookies are the heart of the holiday season in my house. I love having a mix of different textures and flavors, from bright citrus cookies to rich chocolate and the classic Italian treats I look forward to all year.
This collection brings together the cookies I make every December. Some are quick and simple, some feel a little more special, and all of them belong on a Christmas cookie tray.
These recipes should give you plenty of holiday baking inspiration!
Why These Recipes Work
- A mix of classic holiday flavors and modern twists to keep your cookie trays festive and fun!
- Most are quick to make and most can be frozen and baked off later.
- Every recipe is reliable and approachable, so you can bake with confidence even during the busiest time of year.
- You'll find a variety of different styles, textures, colors, and flavor profiles.
Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes
When you need something fast but still festive, these are the cookies to reach for. They come together with simple ingredients, bake up beautifully, and are perfect for gifting, parties, or stocking your freezer for the holiday rush..
Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles
A fun twist on a nostalgic favorite, these cookies bring just enough spice to feel festive and make a great addition to any holiday assortment. They're tangy and chewy, rolled in warm spices that make them taste just like a cozy cup of masala chai tea.
Brown Butter Ginger Molasses Cookies
Soft, warm, and full of winter spice, these cookies fit right in with all the classic Christmas flavors. They're chewy in the middle, crispy on the outside, with a mild spice and intense buttery flavor, and are easy to bake in big batches for sharing.
Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies
Quick, simple, and perfect for last minute baking, these cookies have 5 ingredients and are ideal when you need an easy win. The chocolate dip makes them feel special enough for the holidays.
Frosted Grapefruit Shortbread
Buttery, tangy, sweet and slightly bitter, these Frosted Grapefruit Shortbread cookies are any grapefruit lovers dream. The mildly sweet shortbread is scented with grapefruit zest and topped with a sugar citrus glaze.
Cinnamon Toast Cookies
Only 3 basic ingredients and a really simple technique are all you need to make these addictive little treats. They're the most delicious cookies you've never tried before.
Lemon Pistachio Sandwich Cookies
These little sandwich cookies feel fancy without any extra effort, which makes them perfect for holiday gifting. They add a bright, colorful touch to any cookie tray.
Italian Christmas Cookie Recipes
Growing up in a big Italian American family, Christmas cookies were just as important as the holiday meal. These Italian cookie recipes bring that same warmth and tradition to your holiday baking, whether you grew up with them or you're discovering them for the first time.
Sicilian Chocolate Spice Cookies
These Italian chocolate spice cookies are soft, tender, and warm with spices that instantly taste like the holidays. They're simple to make, filled with nostalgia and perfect for sharing all season long.
pizzelles
These crisp Italian pizzelles are a holiday staple here in New Jersey, and they always feel like Christmas the moment they hit the cookie tray. They're light, stack beautifully, and make the kind of homemade gift everyone gets excited about.
Italian Pignoli Cookies
These chewy almond cookies are a true Italian Christmas classic. They stand out on every cookie platter and pair beautifully with coffee or dessert wine.
Chocolate Espresso Shortbread Cookies
Though not a traditional Italian cookie, these are rich and crisp with a hint of espresso, which brings a little Italian cafe energy to your holiday spread. They make a great grown-up cookie to balance out the sweeter treats.
Italian Wedding Cookies
Italian wedding cookies are tender, lightly sweet almond cookies dusted in powdered sugar. They fit right in with classic holiday treats and disappear fast.
Italian Butter Cookies
These Italian butter cookies are tender, buttery, and practically melt the moment you take a bite. They look elegant on a holiday tray and are simple to make with just a few basic ingredients.
Italian Fig Cookies
Cuccidati bring a taste of Sicilian tradition to the holidays with their soft pastry shell and fragrant fruit filling. The glaze and sprinkles make them as pretty as they are nostalgic.
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes
Chocolate chip cookies are always the first to disappear from the cookie tray. These recipes give you plenty of ways to enjoy the classic, from crispy edges to chewy centers or rich brown butter flavor. They're reliable crowd-pleasers and great when you want something familiar and comforting during the holidays.
Crispy Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies strike that perfect middle ground between crisp edges and soft centers. They're always one of the first treats people reach for during the holidays.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brown butter adds depth and richness that makes these feel extra special for Christmas. Once you try these, you'll never be the same! They're great for gifting because they stay chewy and flavorful.
Chocolate Toffee Chip Cookies
These cookies bring a satisfying mix of textures and sweetness that stands out on any dessert table or cookie tray. They make an easy way to add something a little different to the holiday lineup.
Mom's Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
This is my mom's recipe for the most amazing chewy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! They're comforting and familiar, which makes them perfect for sharing during the holidays.
Paleo Chocolate Chunk Cookies
A great option when you want to offer something everyone can enjoy, these cookies still feel festive and indulgent. They're simple to make and perfect for mixed dietary needs.
Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie for Two
This one is a great reminder that holiday baking doesn't always need to be a big production. This warm skillet cookie is perfect for quiet December nights or as a fun dessert after decorating the tree.
Brownies and Bar Cookies
Bars and brownies are a holiday lifesaver when you need desserts that slice cleanly, serve a crowd, and travel well. They're easy to stack on a platter, wrap up as gifts, or bring to a party without worrying about them falling apart. These recipes offer a mix of rich chocolate, fruit, and shortbread so you can add a little variety to your Christmas cookie spread.
Nutella Bars
With a crackly top, soft blondie center, and rich swirls of chocolate-hazelnut spread, these Nutella bars bring just the right amount of indulgence to your holiday dessert table. They bake quickly, slice cleanly, and taste amazing warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Fudgy Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownies
Decadent and festive, these brownies feel like a holiday treat even in small squares. They slice easily, making them great for dessert plates and serving a crowd.
Apple Custard Bars
Soft and creamy with a subtle fruitiness, these bars make a great bridge between fall baking and holiday flavors. They plate beautifully for any dessert table.
Tiramisu Brownies
A twist on two favorite desserts this Tiramisu Brownie gives you a squidgy fudge brownie with espresso dipped lady fingers and topped with a creamy vanilla mascarpone layer. Serve with a dusting of cocoa for an elegant and decadent dessert.
Espresso Brownies
These Espresso Brownies are rich, buttery, chocolatey, super fudgy and have an extra kick of coffee. They bring a rich, bold flavor that pairs nicely with all the sweeter cookies.
Apple Almond Shortbread Bars
These bars are simple to serve and stack beautifully on a platter, which makes them great for parties or boxed gifts. They add a nice change of pace from traditional Christmas flavors.
Peanut Butter Grape Shortbread Bars
A playful twist on a familiar pairing, these bars add something fun and unexpected to your cookie lineup. Buttery Shortbread topped with creamy peanut butter frangipane and sweet, juicy grapes make a combination that tastes like peanut butter and jelly, only better!
Christmas Cookie FAQ's
Most cookies stay fresh for 3-5 days, and many freeze well for weeks. I like to bake sturdier cookies early and save the delicate ones for closer to Christmas so everything tastes its best.
Keep cookies in airtight containers at room temperature. If you're stacking them, separate delicate cookies, and different flavors with parchment paper.
Yes. Most cookies freeze great. Freeze cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a container or freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature. Freezing the dough is my favorite way to make ahead and freeze. Shape dough into balls before freezing so you can bake fresh cookies anytime during the holiday season.
The key is to include all kinds of different cookies. Mix shapes, colors, and textures. Include at least one chocolate cookie, one citrus or spiced cookie, something nutty, and something festive like a powdered sugar or sprinkle cookie. Add pieces of candy like my homemade salted caramels or Irish potato candy for variation.
Store them in a sealed container or zip top bag at room temperature. Adding a slice of bread inside the container can help keep them soft longer.
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