Christmas cookie recipes are one of my favorite ways to start planning for the holidays. From buttery shortbread and powdered sugar snowballs to colorful Grinch cookies, this collection has plenty of ideas for cookie exchanges, homemade gifts, and a holiday tray to share with family and friends.
Choose a few different flavors, gather your ingredients, and invite someone to bake with you! Whether you’re filling cookie boxes for neighbors or planning a Christmas tea party, there’s something here to make sharing a little sweeter.
Christmas Cookie Prep and Baking Tips
- Get the kids together and start prepping for your favorite baking day of the year. Start by choosing which cookies you will be making.
- Get your list of ingredients together and purchase. I usually do this a day or two before.
- Set out your eggs, butter, and milk so they are at room temperature.
- Make sure you are using fresh ingredients, like eggs, baking powder, and soda.
- Measure and weigh the flour correctly. Remember, baking is a science.
- Use Homemade Vanilla Extract. This is great to give as gifts, also.
- Some cookies are best if they are frozen at least 10 minutes before baking. They will keep their shape better and not flatten.
- Use an oven thermometer to check temperature accuracy. Also, check cookies a minute or two early.
Best Christmas Cookie Recipes
1
Easy Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are the perfect blend of rich cocoa flavor, vibrant holiday color, and that irresistible powdered-sugar crinkle top. If you love classic red velvet cake, these soft, chewy cookies bring all the same nostalgic charm in an easy, bite-sized treat.
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2
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
These cranberry orange shortbread cookies have all the flavors of the holidays and are easy to make with just a few ingredients.
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3
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies with Sprinkles
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies will melt in your mouth for a special holiday treat. The powdered sugar and sprinkles are a fun addition for your holiday gathering that everyone will enjoy!
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4
Lemon Shortbread Cookies drizzled with White Chocolate
Shortbread doesn't use eggs so it is a great allergy-friendly option when making cookies. White chocolate pairs nicely with the citrusy lemon.
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5
Easy Grinch Cookies with Cake Mix and Candy Hearts
These easy Grinch Cookies are soft, chewy cake mix cookies rolled in powdered sugar and topped with adorable red candy hearts. Perfect for Christmas parties, holiday cookie exchanges, Grinch movie nights, and Dr. Seuss birthday celebrations on March 2!
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6
Rolo Pretzel Cookies
A delicious pretzel cookie wrapped around a caramel Rolo. A combination of sweet and salty. Try to eat just one.
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7
Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Hershey Kisses
These cinnamon pumpkin spice kiss cookies, they are so easy to make. The name says it all. Cinnamon and Pumpkin goodness all rolled up into one cookie.
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8
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies (Easy Button Cookies)
These rich and buttery Chocolate Shortbread Cookies are made with cocoa powder and shaped into adorable little buttons. Perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday tea parties, and homemade gifts.
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9
Christmas Snowball Cookies With Pecans
Buttery Christmas snowball cookies made with finely chopped pecans and vanilla, then rolled in powdered sugar. This five-ingredient recipe requires no chilling and makes a festive treat for cookie trays, exchanges, and homemade gifts.
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10
Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies
Enjoy the flavors of sweetness and earthiness with our Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies. These tea cookie treats blend the subtle flavor of matcha with buttery goodness, resulting in a harmony of taste and texture.
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11
Gluten Free Monster Cookie Recipe with M&Ms
Baking this Gluten Free Monster Cookie Recipe with M&Ms was just the right choice this week. Using gluten free oats and almond butter makes this cookie a favorite among friends and family.
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12
Peppermint Twists and a Cookie Exchange
Peppermint Twists are a yummy cookie that combines the flavors of chocolate and peppermint. Perfect for a Christmastime treat!
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13
Cereal Holly Cookies are Festive and Easy
These no bake Cereal Holly Cookies are a quick and festive cookie recipe for your holiday party. Perfect for Christmas cookie swaps and easy for kids to help too.
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14
Chocolate Dipped Gingersnaps: Best Christmas Cookie Recipe
Chocolate dipped gingersnaps are the perfect chewy cookies with the sweetness of white chocolate to make for a delectable treat to serve at holiday parties.
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15
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies + Video
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies fun, festive, and deliciously sweet. Make this recipe with either homemade or store bought cookie dough.
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16
BEST Brown Butter Sugar Cookies – Cut Out No Chill Recipe!
Rolled cut out brown butter sugar cookies are the BEST recipe for Christmas! The brown sugar frosting is so perfect on these easy soft browned butter cookies!
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17
Soft Peppermint Frosted Sugar Cookies
Peppermint Frosted Sugar Cookies for your next cookie exchange! Pillowy soft sugar cookies frosted with a hint of peppermint, topped with crushed candy canes, for some extra special holiday flavor.
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18
Anise Christmas Cookies Recipe
This Anise Christmas Cookies Recipe is full of holiday flavors with a hint of cinnamon, a hint of nutmeg, and a sweet, licorice-like taste.
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19
Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies Recipe | Drugstore Divas
These Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies will be the star of your Christmas cookie platter. Find out how to make them in this post.
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20
Christmas Light Cookies (2 Ways)
A classic sugar cookie with candy decorations that look just like festive light strands, these gorgeous Christmas light cookies will be the star of any holiday cookie spread!
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21
Cardamom Cookies
This easy cardamom cookies recipe with cardamom frosting makes soft, warmly spiced cookies that are both cozy and unique. Perfect for the holidays!
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Ways to Celebrate this Season with Christmas Cookies
These Christmas Cookies aren’t just fun to bake—they’re perfect for creating memorable holiday moments. Use this easy Christmas cookie collection to build a festive cookie platter for a Christmas tea party, package them as homemade Christmas gifts, or set up a DIY cookie exchange table with sprinkles, icing, and kid-friendly toppings.
You can even create a beautiful holiday dessert tray or cookie box to bring to parties or share with neighbors. Whether you’re gifting, entertaining, or looking for simple holiday cookies to round out your Christmas celebration, these recipes add warmth and sweetness to every gathering.
Let’s Get Started Baking
Are you getting hungry now? Wouldn’t a cup of hot cocoa or Christmas Tea be good with some of these wonderful cookies?
Do you have a favorite holiday cookie you like to bake each year?
If you love these Christmas Cookies, visit our Christmas Cupcake selection, also.
Mitzi says
I’ve been on the hunt for some new cookie recipes to try this Christmas–thanks!!
Heather M says
Caramel Filled Pretzel Cookies – YES PLEASE! Great list of cookie recipes. I bought the other cookie rack you recommended recently. LOVE it. So sturdy.
Clare says
Yummy – you can never have too many Holiday Cookie recipes in your collection I say. I need to give some of these a try.
Jennifer at Making Our Life Matter says
I love cookie recipes. But it is my Jeremy that loves to make them! Can’t wait to show these to him, maybe he’ll make them for me!
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
I never say no to new holiday cookie recipes!
ang says
thanks for including my link – pinning! 🙂
Christina @ It Is a Keeper says
So many great recipes! Thanks for sharing!
Sherry says
These look fantastic! That’s the good thing about the holidays…lots of awesome cookies:-) Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.