A collection of festive Christmas cookie recipes including favorites like molasses cookies, stained glass cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies and other sweet treats.
These cookie recipes are perfect for baking exchanges, gift giving and parties.
There’s nothing more satisfying than a warm cookie and some hot chocolate or coffee on a cold day. The holidays are full of magic, and in my own personal opinion, a good cookie only adds to that magic. I suppose just about any cookie could be made into a holiday cookie, however, there are some cookies that just scream Christmas for me.
I’ve listed some of my favorite cookies, along with some other holiday treats that I would love to make this year. I’m sure you’re just like me and have those holiday cookie recipes you never miss making every year. However, I enjoy finding a new recipe or two to try every year as a tradition of sorts.
Baking cookies is a fun way to unleash your creativity. Whatever recipe you choose, there’s always room to add your own touch and customize them. It’s even fun to get the kids involved!
30 Christmas Cookie Recipes
Brownie Cookies
These brownie cookies are rich, fudgy cookies filled with plenty of dark chocolate chunks. This decadent treat is perfect for all of the chocolate lovers in your life!
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Cake Mix Cookies
These cake mix cookies are a 5 ingredient dessert that can be made in tons of different flavors and decorated for any occasion. An easy treat that takes just minutes to put together.
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Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies
These chocolate dipped gingerbread cookies are the perfect treat for the holiday season!
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Chocolate Covered Oreos
These chocolate covered Oreos are Oreo sandwich cookies dipped in either dark or white chocolate and decorated with colorful sprinkles.
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These chocolate crinkle cookies are soft, fudgy cookies rolled in powdered sugar and baked to perfection. A super easy treat that's the perfect dessert for any occasion.
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Christmas Crack Recipe
This Christmas crack is saltine toffee made with crackers, brown sugar, butter, chocolate and holiday sprinkles. A sweet and salty treat that’s addictively delicious and perfect for feeding a crowd!
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Chocolate Spritz Cookies
These chocolate spritz cookies are buttery cookies piped into decorative designs, then baked to perfection and topped with chocolate and sprinkles. A classic and beautiful holiday cookie that’s a welcome addition to any gathering!
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Christmas Sugar Cookies
These Christmas sugar cookies are roll out cookies that are frosted with an easy vanilla buttercream and decorated with sprinkles. A fun and classic holiday cookie that's perfect for school parties and gift giving!
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Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
The classic combination of chocolate and peppermint make these dark chocolate candy cane cookies the perfect treat for the holidays!
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Christmas Wreath Cookies
This recipe for no-bake Christmas wreath cookies has just six ingredients and can be made in 10 minutes. These cornflake wreaths are a festive addition to your holiday dessert table!
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Can you freeze Christmas Cookies?
Many types of holiday cookies can be made in advance then frozen for future use. If your cookie recipe calls for frosting, I find it’s best to freeze the cookies plain, then frost them after they’ve thawed. Store your cookies in a single layer in resealable freezer bags for up to 2 months.
Double Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Double chocolate sandwich cookies are a perfect dessert recipe for the holidays or special occasions. They are super soft chocolate cookies sandwiched around delicious homemade chocolate frosting!
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Eggnog Cookies
These eggnog cookies are soft and chewy cookies topped with a homemade eggnog buttercream frosting. An easy and festive cookie that’s perfect for any holiday party!
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Gingerbread Christmas Cookie Tree
This beautiful Christmas dessert is made from star-shaped gingerbread cookies that form a Christmas tree!
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Gooey Butter Cookies
These gooey butter cookies are a handheld version of the famous cake. They’re soft, gooey and totally irresistible! Roll them in sprinkles for a fun and festive look.
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Nutella Cookies
These Nutella cookies are chocolate cookies filled with a gooey Nutella center, then topped with a drizzle of both dark and white chocolate. An easy and impressive cookie recipe that will have everyone coming back for seconds!
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Italian Cookies
These Italian cookies are soft, almond flavored cookies topped with icing and colorful sprinkles. A classic dessert that's perfect for the holidays or any other special event.
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Molasses Cookies
These molasses cookies are chewy brown sugar cookies infused with plenty of aromatic spices, then baked to golden brown perfection. A classic holiday cookie that's easy to make and is sure to get rave reviews!
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Monster Cookies (Christmas Version)
These monster cookies are the classic oatmeal peanut butter cookies all dressed up for Christmas with red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips and holiday sprinkles. A fun and festive treat for cookie exchanges and gift giving!
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Oreo Balls
This recipe for Oreo balls is Oreo cookie filled truffles dipped in chocolate, then decorated in a variety of sprinkles. Oreo balls are perfect for gift giving around the holidays and also make great party favors.
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Peanut Butter Blossoms
These peanut butter blossoms are chewy sugar coated peanut butter cookies topped with a chocolate kiss. A classic cookie that’s perfect for the holidays, family gatherings or an after school snack.
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How to package Christmas cookies for gift giving
There’s nothing better than a homemade holiday gift, and I love to give cookies to friends and family. You can get creative with the packaging to make your gift extra special.
- Holiday Tins: I buy festive tins at my local dollar store, then line them with parchment paper.
- Christmas Plate: I choose a festive porcelain Christmas themed plate at the housewares store, then arrange my cookies on the plate.
- Cellophane Bags: Pack your cookies into little clear bags, then tie them shut with a festive bow.
- Mason Jars: Stack your cookies in a glass jar, seal the jar, then tie a ribbon around it.
Peppermint Bark Cookies
A decadent double chocolate cookie topped with white chocolate and crushed candy canes.
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Pizzelle
This pizzelle recipe is flat crispy vanilla flavored cookies that are baked in an iron, then finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. A classic Italian dessert that's perfect for parties and gift giving!
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Peppermint Cookies
These peppermint cookies are loaded with white chocolate chunks, candy canes and Oreo pieces for a unique holiday cookie that everyone will love!
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Red Velvet Cookies
These easy red velvet cookies start with a cake mix and are loaded with white chocolate chips. A simple yet impressive cookie that yields fabulous results!
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Stained Glass Cookies
These beautiful stained glass cookies are buttery sugar cookies with a candy center. A holiday classic that tastes as good as it looks!
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Snowball Cookies
These snowball cookies are light and tender cookies studded with pecans and chocolate chips, then rolled in powdered sugar. A melt in your mouth treat that’s perfect for the holidays!
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Twix Cookies
These Twix cookies are rounds of shortbread topped with caramel and milk chocolate. An easy and impressive cookie that tastes even better than the popular candy bar!
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Rocky Road Cookies
Rocky road cookies are a chocolate lover’s dream! They are loaded with melted chocolate and cocoa powder and filled with chocolate chunks, marshmallows and walnuts.
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Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
These cream cheese spritz cookies are the best spritz cookie recipe ever! They’re tender, full of flavor and so pretty when dipped in chocolate and sprinkles. A must have for any holiday celebration!
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Thumbprint Cookies
These thumbprint cookies are soft vanilla cookies filled with fruit jam and baked until golden brown. An easy and classic cookie that's perfect for parties, after school snacks and special occasions.
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Whether you love chocolate, fruit, molasses or other great flavors, these recipes will make your holiday merry and bright! For a festive Christmas try these fantastic cookies.
Charles A Lewis says
Wow the chocolate chocolate chip and the sprinkles are gonna be great on Christmas Eve! Thanks!
Nancy says
This round up is just what I need to start planning my Christmas cookie box
Gina Abernathy says
My family started a cookie swap several years ago and we plan to continue this year as well. This is a wonderful selection of so many delightful cookies to make and share for the cookie swap.
Robin G. says
Thank you. This collection of cookies made my holiday planning so much easier.
MacKenzie says
Saving this list for the holidays. So many good choices. Can’t wait to try the monster cookies and chocolate spritz.
Sam says
There are so many yummy options to choose from! You can never go wrong with sugar cookies, but the red velvet & peppermint bark are delicious too.
Jasmine Hewitt says
the holidays tend to bring out the best cookies! this is a great list
Samantha -Raising Twincesses says
all of those cookies look and sound so delicious! Great recipe roundup!
Romy Schorr says
You have my undivided attention! So many to choose from and all will definitely go over!
Annette, 3 Little Buttons says
Oh wow! Look at all those holiday cookies. They are adorable. I know where to come when I’m trying to find a festive recipe 🎄
Yeah Lifestyle says
What an amazing array of cookies, I am going to get my kids to pick one each so we can bake together as a family
Alexandra Cook says
Can I just say YUM? Give me all the cookies, yes please 😀 Can’t wait to try.
Stacie says
It wouldn’t be the holidays without cookies! Your list is amazing, and the red velvet and cream cheese spritz cookies caught my eye!
Francesca Jacklin says
These cookies look gorgeous. I’ve been looking for inspiration for less wasteful Christmas Gifts and you’ve inspired me to make some of these to give away as Gifts over the Holidays 🙂
Aymen says
That does look like a great recipe and it can be served any time of day. I hope I can put together something so nice for my kids this season.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Great roundup! Pinned 🙂
Linda says
Can hardly wait to try out these recipes.
Summer says
Such a lovely giveaway ♥
Nancy says
Nice Christmas cookie recipe lineup!
cheri says
Amazing holiday cookie line-up Sara and giveaway!