Jamielyn Nye
Updated
- 41 comments
30+ of the best Christmas cookies for your holiday baking! Lots of easy and delicious homemade ideas to make your next party or cookie exchange a success!
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Table of Contents
- Most Delicious Holiday Cookies
- Favorite Baking Staples
- Traditional Recipes
- Chocolate Cookies
- Decorated Cookies
- Easy
- Full List of Cookie Ideas for Christmas
Most Delicious Holiday Cookies
I love to host a cookie exchange around Christmas time each year.It’s one of my favorite ways to celebrate the holidays with loved ones AND enjoy all of the delicious Christmas cookies. Talk about a win-win!
One of my favorite things about the holidays is coming up with new cookie recipes to share with family and friends. I have so many wonderful memories of baking over the years, and love when I find yummy recipes to add to my collection.
On this list, you’ll find the top Christmas cookies to make this season. These would be fun to make for one of your Elf on the Shelf Ideas or any holiday party.
Whether you’re looking for traditional recipes, chocolate cookies, ones with decorations or easy recipes that still taste delicious – you’re bound to find all of your favorites here!
Favorite Baking Staples
Below are some of my favorite baking staples that I can’t live without! These make my holiday baking each year so much easier and enjoyable. Being prepared in the kitchen is key during the season and these make everything from Christmas morning breakfast ideas, to cookies, and finally Christmas dinner that much better!
Appliances
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer (5-quart)
- Edge Beater for KitchenAid
- Dough Hook for KitchenAid
- Glass Bowl for KitchenAid
- Hand Mixer
Bakeware
Utensils
- 2A Frosting Tip
- 1M Frosting Tip
- Frosting Bags
- Large Coupler
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Cookie Scoop (small, medium and large)
Traditional Recipes
There’s nothing like traditional Christmas cookies. My personal favorites are snickerdoodles because I’m a sucker for the cinnamon sugar coating. And above all, they are so soft and fluffy. Yum!
- Christmas Sugar Cookies. This my favorite recipe to use when decorating sugar cookies for Christmas!
- Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe. Super soft and chewy, these are a hit at any holiday party.
- Peanut Butter Blossoms. Peanut butter and chocolate come together to create the perfect sweet treat.
- Gingerbread Cookies. Overflowing with ginger spice goodness, these adorable little men are the perfect cookie to decorate this season.
- Colorful M&Ms adds a sweet festive note to these addictive cookies.
- Mexican Wedding Cookies. Just 5 ingredients needed to make pillowy bite-sized treats coated in powdered sugar.
- Iced Oatmeal Cookies. Made with chunks of oats, brown sugar, and a hint of cinnamon, these cookies are sure to bring the happy to any holiday.
- Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies. A flavor combination made in holiday heaven and so simple to make.
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. These two flavors are perfectly paired for a cookie that tastes just as good as it looks.
- Spritz Cookies. Grab your cookie press and your favorite sprinkles to make these festive cookies in under an hour!
- Shortbread Cookies. This recipe can be cut-out, pressed, or stamped to make the most adorable shortbread cookies.
- Thumbprint Cookies. A classic buttery cookie filled with sweet jam is the perfect addition to any Christmas cookie platter!
- Linzer Cookies. The prettiest cookie with two buttery cookies sandwiched between raspberry preserves! The signature cut-out on the top makes these looks so elegant.
- Meringue Cookie. With a melt-in-your mouth texture these bite-sized cookies can be colored with festive red or green food dye to match the season!
- Almond Cookies. With a delicate almond taste these buttery cookies will dissapear off the cookie tray.
- Cream Cheese Cookies. Cream cheese adds a soft texture to these cookies that melt-in-your-mouth!
- Candy Cane Cookies. Cute and festive, these Christmas candy cane cookies are a must for any cookie platter.
Chocolate Cookies
I love all things chocolate, and especially love chocolate Christmas cookies! Combine chocolate with peppermint at the holidays and it’s a heavenly match.
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. Chocolate lovers, this one is for you. Decadent and sweet, these cookies are a real treat.
- Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Recipe. Thesefudgy chocolate cookies are filled with fresh peppermint flavor.
- Peanut Butter Stuffed Cookie Recipe. A chocolate cookie with a surprise soft peanut butter center is a real treat any time of year.
- Oreo Balls. These decorative cookies do not look like they only require 3 ingredients to make.
- Hot Chocolate Cookies. All the flavors you love in a mug of hot chocolate, rolled up into one delicious baked good.
- Chocolate Mint Cookies. Make these with cake mix and save a little time.
- Turtle Cookies. Combine crunchy pecans, chewy caramel, and melted chocolate to create a rich chocolate cookie.
- Andes Mint Cookies. These super easy, one-bowl cookies come together in a flash.
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. Fudgy with both cocoa powder and chocolate chips these cookies disappear off of any cookie platter when chocolate lovers are around!
Decorated Cookies
Decorated Christmas cookies are perfect for entertaining, and are always a big crowd pleaser. Whether you dip in chocolate, cover with sprinkles or create a fun design, these decorated treats will be a hit!
- Christmas Oreos. Just 2 ingredients to make adorable and festive treats.
- Melted Snowman Cookies. With a marshmallow belly, peanut butter cup hat and chocolate chips for the eyes, it doesn’t get cuter than these cookies.
- Ginger Molasses Cookies. Drizzle or dip in white chocolate for the ultimate holiday cookie,.
- Sugar Cookie Truffles. Made with crushed sugar cookies, cream cheese and vanilla, what’s not to love?
- Snowman Oreo Balls. Made with Oreo cookies, cream cheese and melted chocolate, these are a fun, festive, and delicious DIY activity for the kids.
- Grinch Cookies. Theseare another fun version ofcake mix cookies.
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies. This dessert combines two of my favorite sweet treats —cinnamon rollsandsugar cookies.
- Cornflake Wreaths. These are a yearly traditional Christmas treat that comes together in minutes.
Easy
Things get so busy during the holidays, so I’m always looking for easy recipes to quickly whip up. These recipes below are fun, festive and super simple to make.
- Pistachio Cookie Recipe. Made with a pistachio pudding and maraschino cherries, these cookies scream Christmas.
- Spice Cake Mix Cookies. Just 3 ingredients, this flavorful cookies are ready in less than 20 minutes.
- 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies. 15 minutes is all takes to have soft, chewy and full of creamy peanut butter flavor cookies.
- . These bars are chocked full of chocolate chips and M&Ms. Need I say more?
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies. Say hello to a peanut butter cookie topped with strawberry jam and a vanilla glaze.
- Eggnog Cookies: All the flavors of the classic holiday drink staple in a delicious cookie
- Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies. These nostalgic treats are filled with a fluffymarshmallow cream frosting.
- Ricotta Cheese Cookies. Similar tosugar cookies, these cookies are huge, puffy and soft but have a hint of tartness.
- Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies. Made with a cake mix, these cookies take so little time to impress.
- Snickerdoodle Cake Mix Cookies. Your favorite cinnamon-sugar coated cookie in no time at all.
- Brown Sugar Cookies. Chewy with a hint of nuttiness from browned butter, these chewy cookies will be a holiday hit!
- Cherry Almond Cookies. A hint of almond infuses these cherry cookies with the best flavor! Flecks of maraschino cherries make them festive and colorful while cream cheese keeps them soft.
Full List of Cookie Ideas for Christmas
Click on the links below to find the recipes for all of the delicious Christmas cookies mentioned above.
Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
This super soft snickerdoodle cookie recipe will instantly win you over! It truly is the best. It's a classic recipe that makes soft and chewy snickerdoodle cookies with lots of flavor every time.
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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Christmas Sugar Cookies
This is the best Christmas sugar cookies recipe. They have a sweet buttery taste plus are soft, chewy and easy to roll out then cut into shapes.
Total Time: 1 hour hour 28 minutes minutes
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Peanut Butter Blossoms
Soft sugar coated peanut butter blossoms topped with a chocolate Hershey's kisses. Perfectly soft and chewy and perfect for a holiday cookie exchange.
Total Time: 18 minutes minutes
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Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
Soft and chewy gingerbread man cookies full of ginger spice flavor. This classic Christmas treat is the perfect cookie to decorate with your family this season!
Total Time: 1 hour hour 32 minutes minutes
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Cherry Almond Cookies
Cherry almond cookies are soft, buttery and bursting with cherry and almond flavor! The perfect sweet treat to enjoy at the holidays.
Total Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
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M&M Christmas Cookies
Thick and chewy M&M Christmas cookies with crispy edges, a soft center and bursting with chocolate flavor. These are the ultimate cookie recipe to make this holiday season!
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
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Mexican Wedding Cookies
These Mexican wedding cookies are so simple and take only 5 ingredients to make! The perfect bite-sized cookie recipe that will literally melt in your mouth.
Total Time: 28 minutes minutes
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Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Level up your everyday oatmeal cookies with icing on top!Iced oatmeal cookiesare a soft, chewy, and buttery sweet treat made with chunks of oats, brown sugar, and a hint of cinnamon. They're easy to make and even easier to eat!
Total Time: 1 hour hour
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Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
These cranberry orange shortbread cookies are so rich and buttery, with the most delicious combination of flavors. They're the perfect cookie to share with friends and family this holiday season!
Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
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White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
White chocolate cranberry cookies are soft, chewy, and chunky loaded with white chocolate and dried cranberries. A delicious festive cookie perfect for the holidays!
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
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Spritz Cookies
These spritz cookies are a melt in your mouth holiday classic! All you need is a hand full of ingredients, a cookie press, and your favorite sprinkles to make these festive cookies in under an hour!
Total Time: 46 minutes minutes
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Shortbread Cookies
These shortbread cookies are so easy to make with only 5 ingredients, melt in your mouth, and turn out beautiful every time. They are perfect to make cut out, pressed or stamped shortbread cookies.
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These chocolate crinkle cookies are fudgy on the inside with a crisp outside edge! So rich and decadent and adored by any and all chocolate lovers.
Total Time: 38 minutes minutes
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Andes Mint Cookies
These Andes Mint cookies are a soft-baked chocolate cookie with an Andes Mint melted on top. This chocolate mint treat is perfect for the holiday season!
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
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Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Recipe
Chocolate peppermint cookies are a double chocolate cookie filled with fresh peppermint flavor. The perfect Christmas cookie!
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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Candy Cane Cookie Recipe
These candy cane cookies are the star of Christmas cookie trays and deserve the spotlight! Bright red and white dough twists together to make these festive cookies.
Total Time: 4 hours hours 34 minutes minutes
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Almond Cookies
Create almond cookies like a pro with my step-by-step guide. Elevate your baking game with these buttery, almond-scented delights with a luscious powdered sugar glaze.
Total Time: 1 hour hour
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Peanut Butter Stuffed Cookie Recipe
A rich and flavorful chocolate cookie filled with a delicious soft peanut butter center. These decadent stuffed cookies are an absolute dream!
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
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Oreo Balls
These OREO balls are made with just 3 simple ingredients and are such an easy dessert recipe to make. Drizzle with chocolate or top with your favorite colored sprinkles for the perfect decorative treat!
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
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Hot Chocolate Cookies
These hot chocolate cookies have all the flavors you love in a mug of hot chocolate, rolled up into one delicious baked good. Add these to your baking list this season—just don't forget the melty, gooey, roasted marshmallow topping. It's my favorite part!
Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
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Chocolate Mint Cookies
These chocolate mint cookies are soft chocolate cookies loaded with mint chips! If you love the combination of chocolate and mint, you will love these easy to make cookies.
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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Turtle Cookies
Rich and decadent these turtle cookies are made with soft chocolate cookies, rolled in pecans, filled with caramel and then topped with a chocolate drizzle!
Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
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Ginger Molasses Cookies
Molasses cookies that are soft and chewy on the inside and crisp around the edges. Full of delicious ginger flavor and taste just like Christmas! Drizzle or dip in white chocolate for the ultimate holiday cookie!
Total Time: 33 minutes minutes
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Melted Snowman Cookies
Ginger melted snowman cookies with a marshmallow belly, peanut butter cup hat and chocolate chips for the eyes. Such a creative and kid-friendly dessert for the holidays!
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
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Sugar Cookie Truffles
No-bake sugar cookie truffles made with only 4 ingredients! An easy and delicious treat for the holidays that is super easy to make.
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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Snowman Oreo Balls
Adorable snowman Oreo balls are a fun, festive, and delicious DIY activity for the kids! Made with Oreo cookies, cream cheese and melted chocolate, these super easy snowmen are always a hit!
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
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Grinch Cookies
These Christmas Grinch cookies are another fun version of cake mix cookies!Turn them green and add a heartto make them look like the "Grinch."
Total Time: 18 minutes minutes
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Christmas Oreos
These chocolate covered Christmas Oreos are an adorable, classic and easy treat the whole family can help make! Only 2 ingredients and 10 minutes needed to make this easy dessert.
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
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Cinnamon Roll Cookies
These cinnamon roll cookies are soft, filled with cinnamon flavor and topped with a cream cheese frosting.
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
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Cornflake Wreaths
Cornflake wreaths are a yearly traditional Christmas treat that comes together in minutes. They're an easy yummy dessert perfect for sharing with friends, family, and neighbors!
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
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Spice Cake Mix Cookies
Easy spice cake mix cookies made with 3 main ingredients in just 20 minutes. These delicious cookies have crisp edges, a soft inside and are filled with the perfect spice flavor.
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
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3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Easy peanut butter cookies made with only 3 ingredients in just 15 minutes. These cookies are soft, chewy and full of creamy peanut butter flavor.
Total Time: 14 minutes minutes
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Pistachio Cookie Recipe
Soft, chewy and festive pistachio cookies are easy to make with instant pistachio pudding mix. A little green food coloring makes them perfect for Christmas or St. Patrick's Day!
Total Time: 1 hour hour
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M&M Cookie Bars Recipe1
Christmas M&M Cookie Bars – Gooey, soft and fluffy cookie bars loaded with M&M’s and chocolate chips. Only 30 minutes to make and less than 10 ingredients. Perfect treat for a cookie exchange or holiday party!
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Soft and tender peanut butter and jelly cookies are reminiscent of the classic sandwich but in delicious cookie form. These peanut butter cookies topped with jam and a vanilla glaze will soon become your new favorite treat!
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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Eggnog Cookies
All the flavor of the classic holiday drink staple in a delicious cookie! These eggnog cookies are the perfect treat to bring to holiday parties this year.
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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Oatmeal Cream Pie Cookies
These homemade oatmeal cream pies cookies are soft and chewy with a rich, creamy marshmallow frosting filling. A nostalgic childhood treat better than Little Debbie!
Total Time: 1 hour hour
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Ricotta Cheese Cookies
Soft and moist ricotta cheese cookies have a cake-like texture and sweet taste. Topped with a light frosting they are a classic Christmas cookie perfect for sharing!
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Soft and delicious red velvet cake mix cookies are loaded with white chocolate chips in every bite. Ready in less than 30 minutes with only a handful of ingredients, they will become a new holiday favorite!
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
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Snickerdoodle Cake Mix Cookies
Snickerdoodle cookies with cake mix are the same thick, soft, and chewy cookies they've always been but with half the ingredients and made in a fraction of the time!
Total Time: 1 hour hour
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Categorized as: Christmas, Cookies, Desserts, Recipe Roundup
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
More about Jamielyn Nye
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Add a comment
41 comments
- Janelle
Can you please post the link for the m&m bars?
- Reply
- I Heart Naptime
Hi Janelle! You can find the M&M bars recipe here: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/mm-cookie-bars/
- Reply
- Janelle
Thank you so much! They are our favorite!
- Liz
Let the Christmas baking begin! So exciting!
- Reply
- Alli
This is such a great list. I cannot wait to bake from it!
- Reply
- Lori
This is the best collection!!
- Reply
- Carolyn
Christmas cookies bring me joy! Seriously, I love making huge amounts of them and sharing.
- Reply
- Cheryl Sousan
WOW what a fabulous list! I can’t wait to get started!
- Reply
- Donna Berard
I really need to try these cookies
- Reply
- Sandra Garcia
In love with these recipes
- Reply
- Heather @ My Overflowing Cup
Thank you for this wonderful collection. I’m pinning them now. The jello cookies are beautiful!
- Reply
- Jamielyn
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Heather! Hope you enjoy making some of these yummy Christmas cookies!
- Reply
- Donna
I can’t wait to try these!!
- Reply
- Ruth Shepherd
What wonderful ideas, almost too pretty to eat.
- Reply
- jill martin
looking foward to this baking season
- Reply
- Andrea Fogleman
WoW! Lots of yummy ideas. Each year my girls and I make tons of cookies and its fun to mix things up. Thanks
- Reply
- Vanessa
Awesome Christmas Cookies temptations!
- Reply
- Jamielyn
Definitely temptations. ;) I hope you have a happy holiday!
- Reply
- Sunee
This is the first time that I have seen this website and the funny thing is, I actually have a chance to look at it because my daughter is napping right now. LOL Thanks for sharing!
- Reply
- Silvia (Córdoba – RA)
Hi !
I´m from Córdoba – Argentina. This post is wonderful. I loved it.
Thanks.- Reply
- Roxana | Roxana’s Home Baking
Such a great round-up. You can never have too many Christmas cookies.
- Reply
- ashley
love these all!! disappointed however, the reindeer link has no recipe
.- Reply
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