Growing up, I loved Christmas time! For obvious reasons (yes, the presents!) but I always enjoyed leaving out cookies for Santa too. We typically had two traditions in my house which involved chocolate chip cookies and a tin of Royal Dansk Danish Butter Cookies.
We would bake some Chocolate Chip Cookies (snack on a few) and leave a cookie out along with a glass of milk for Santa Claus and his reindeer. To be honest, as an adult I’m surprised my parents actually let me keep a cup of milk out by the Christmas tree all night, but that’s neither here nor there. I would also then carefully select a cookie or two from the Danish Butter Cookie tin to leave out as well as an extra special treat (I think it was my attempt to get more presents).
As an adult, my love for cookies during the holiday season has not wavered. The chocolate chip cookie tradition lives on, sometimes as classic cookies, but when I’m feeling fancy I love making a batch of brown butter chocolate chip cookies.
I also love stepping out-of-the-box when I’m bringing cookies to a holiday party (and this list has a ton of great ideas). Red velvet cookies, black and white cookies, and eggnog cookies are among the recipes that will make this holiday season extra special (and extra delicious).
Whether you’re a cookie traditionalist during the holiday or you like to mix things up, there is a cookie (or three!) for everyone on this list.
1. Christmas Sugar Cookies
Claudia Cash
It’s not Christmas until there’s sugar, sprinkles and flour all over the kitchen, right?! Sweet sugar cookies are a classic way to spend a cold afternoon during the holiday season.
2. Candy Cane Cookies
Festive red and white twists with a sweet peppermint flavor! Kids love making them as much as they do eating them.
3. Gingerbread Cookies
Ok, so you can make men, women, and really, any other shape out of this dough! Whatever shape your cookies take, this recipe is a snappy, gingery classic for the holidays.
4. Thumbprint Cookies
Here’s a cookie that’s a lot of fun to make with kids. Roll the dough in nuts, sanding or sanding sugar and fill the centers with your favorite jam (think apricot, raspberry or strawberry).
5. White Chocolate Peppermint French Macarons
Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
These whimsical French macarons are so festive, and they are even gluten free! The shells are made with almond flour and meringue then sandwiched together with a peppermint white chocolate ganache filling. These small sandwich cookies taste like Christmas in every bite. Make a batch or two and give them as gifts this season!
6. Linzer Cookies
Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
These pretty shortbread cookies are like mini tarts inspired by the Austrian classic linzertorte. Almond flour gives them a distinctive flavor..
7. Rum Balls
The ultimate in simplicity, these rum balls don’t require baking, they’re highly adaptable and get better with age. Roll half of them on powdered sugar and the other half in cocoa powder.
8. Easy Marshmallow Fudge Recipe
Nutty, creamy, chewy—how many adjectives can we squeeze in here to describe these decadent treats? This recipe makes a ton, so it’s great for sharing!
9. Walnut Snowball Cookies
These wintry looking cookies go by several names, but this one gets the point across pretty easily. You may know them by alternate names—Russian Tea Cakes or Mexican Wedding cookies.
10. Holiday Pinwheel Cookies
Some holiday cookies are all about gathering a bunch of people in the kitchen and taking turns mixing, shaping, and baking batch after batch. And then eating the delicious results. This is just such a cookie, and it is a MUST for the holiday dessert table.
11. Chocolate Crinkles
Anything sprinkled or coated with powdered sugar automatically looks festive. These cookies are soft and cakey, and look so fun on a cookie platter.
12. Best Sugar Cookies
Get your frosting, royal icing, and sparkling sugar because you’ll be decorating Christmas cookies this year like no other.
13. Stained Glass Cookies
You can’t resist the appeal of a cookie you can hang in the window or on your tree. So pretty! These are a little delicate, though, so not necessarily ones to ship to your friends and family.
14. Pfeffernüsse Spice Cookies
If you want the best holiday flavors wrapped up into one cookie—spicy and sweet, with a snowy cap from a powder sugar glaze this is the cookie for you! Even better, these keep well for a week or two and ship well.
15. Classic Shortbread Cookies
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Buttery shortbread, simple and elegant. Perfect for filling tins or cookie boxes.
16. Lofthouse-Style Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
These soft and cakey Lofthouse-style cookies will be calling your name this season. Add a layer of frosting and festive sprinkles, and it’s time to get the party started.
17. Slice-and-Bake Pistachio Butter Cookies
These rich cookies are the ultimate in convenience, with a green jewel-like appearance on the edges. This batter comes together in a flash in the food processor, and keeps in the fridge for last-minute cookie emergencies—like extra house guests.
18. Almond Crescent Cookies
Amazing with a cup of tea or a mug of cocoa! They’re sturdy, keep well, and are great for shipping. Instead of buying traditional gifts this year, ship your family and friends some cookies.
19. Christmas Cracker Candy
Chocolate, brown sugar and saltines come together in a whole new addictive way. This confection keeps forever, and ships and freezes well, which is great because portion control is a real concern with these cookies.
20. Pecan Pralines
Pralines are a traditional Southern treat: pecans held together with a thick, sugary glaze. Like candied nuts, but better. They are an easy to make edible holiday gift.
21. Peppermint Bark Chocolate Cookies
If you find yourself trying to decide between minty or chocolatey, you can have both with these indulgent drop cookies that combine chocolate cookies with peppermint bark (yup, you heard that right!)
22. Peanut Butter Balls (Buckeyes)
This one is for all the chocolate and peanut butter lovers in your life. This treat keeps well in the fridge, so shipping it during the chilly holiday season should be easy to accomplish. You can also make them ahead of time and freeze them. Cross one cookie off the list!
23. English Toffee
Gift alert! Gift alert! Pack shards of this toffee in glass jars or cute boxes and ship to friends. It keeps forever, but we bet it won’t last that long.
24. 7-Layer Magic Bars
When you can’t decide what you want, make these bars: butterscotch, nuts, chocolate, coconut, all come together for some make-ahead, ahem, magic.
25. Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies
Chocolate and gingerbread may initially seem like odd bedfellows, but give it one bite and the pairing makes a whole lot of delicious sense. Dunk these in milk (or even coffee in the morning). Don’t worry your secret is safe with me!
26. Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread
Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan
So festive! Who could resist?
27. Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies
There’s no such thing as having too many chocolate chip cookie recipes, and this one is nutty from the browned butter and creamy and from milk chocolate.
28. Chinese Almond Cookies
These are too good to save just for Lunar New Year.
29. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Leaving out chocolate chip cookies for Santa always happened in my house every year. This year I’m thinking about an upgrade with these extra fluffy and chewy peanut butter cookies.
30. Black and White Cookies
Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
If you’re throwing a holiday party this year, then these Black and White Cookies need to be at the center of your dessert spread. These cookies have a cake-like texture and are sure to impress everyone at first bite.
31. Hungarian Butterhorn Cookies
Meet the cookie that will blow your holiday gift exchange out the water. These cookies are rolled up and filled with a walnut meringue and dressed in a snowy glaze that makes for a jaw dropping cookie that is both beautiful and delicious.
32. Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
This cookie is a cross between a chocolate chip cookie and a coconut macaroon. They’re soft, chewy and packed with chocolate chips (yum!) and coconut.
33. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Here’s another classic for you: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies packed with brown sugar, handfuls of raisins, and old-fashioned oats. It’s nostalgia at first bite.
34. Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Okay, there are people who LOVE chewy cookies and then there are people who LOVE crunchy cookies. I am on team chewy cookies, but if you so happen to be on team crispy cookie—then this recipe is for you!
35. No Bake Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookies
Sometimes, you just don’t want to turn your oven on and that is totally okay! Here is an extra special no bake cookie recipe loaded with cocoa powder, oats, peanut butter, and milk. When assembled, it’s drizzled with even MORE peanut butter.
36. Monster Cookies
Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Rich, oaty, and peanut buttery, these drop cookies are a colorful addition to a cookie tray.
37. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Brown butter is the secret ingredients to these insanely delicious Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. The brown butter adds extra nuttiness—if you haven’t tried brown butter cookies, here is your chance!
38. Red Velvet Cookies
If you’re a lover of red velvet cake, then you’ll love this take on red velvet cookies made with cream cheese and white chocolate chips which provides both tang and sweetness for a perfectly balanced cookie.
39. Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
It’s always nice to have options for special diets around the holidays. It’s even better when those options taste amazing regardless of your food restrictions. A bowl and a fork is all you need to make these oh-so-easy flourless, gluten-free cookies.
40. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
It’s chocolate on chocolate! These Double Chocolate Chip Cookies are chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside (it’s the best of both worlds).
41. Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
I don’t know about you, but this is definitely one of my favorite childhood cookies and I enjoy making them EVERY holiday season. A peanut butter cookie base gets “kissed” with a chocolate kiss to create a to-die-for flavor combination.
42. Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are a staple for the holiday season and just in case you were on the hunt for a gluten-free version, we’ve got you covered! These are made with oat flour and rolled oats for a nutty twist on a classic cookie.
43. Brookies (Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies)
It’s a brownie, no it’s a cookie. Wait. It’s both! It takes a bit of time to create the two doughs, portion them out and roll them together, but this dessert duo is totally worth it.
44. Butter Pecan Cookies
I LOVE butter pecan ice cream and I am totally down to always make anything that mimics that flavor. These cookies melt in your mouth and only take 15 minutes to make.
45. Pecan Meringue Cookies
All you need for this cookie recipe is 3 ingredients: Egg whites, sugar, and pecans. The earthy sweetness of the pecans offsets the crispy sugary bit from the meringue.
46. Oatmeal Almond Breakfast Cookies
If you want a cookie recipe that doubles as a breakfast snack for Christmas morning, then this treat is for you. Oatmeal, almond butter, and chocolate chip cookies sounds like the perfect breakfast to me.
47. Brown Sugar Snickerdoodle Cookies
A snickerdoodle is both crisp with a little chew and has a signature crackled topping with cinnamon sugar. A great holiday cookie (but honestly, I keep this in my rotation year round, don’t tell anyone). It’s our little secret.
48. Molasses Spice Cookies
Think gingersnap cookies, but chewier and thicker. The star of these cookies are all of the wonderful spices: ginger, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon and when you combine that with sugar and molasses, you’ve got a cookie that just became a new holiday favorite.
49. Marzipan Shortbread
Simply Recipes / Coco Morante
With their patterns from ornate molds, these have an old-fashioned appeal.
50. Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Any cookie that incorporates candy instantly qualifies as fit for the holidays.
51. Butterscotch Cookies
Are you in love with butterscotch? Add these cookies to your must make list. These crisp and crunchy cookies are made with browned butter and brown sugar. Grab a glass of milk and get ready to dunk ’em.
52. Oatmeal Lace Cookies
The Spruce / Elaine Lemm
These aren’t your traditional oatmeal cookies. When making them (it’s less like cookie dough) and more like cookie batter. And when they bake in the oven, they’ll spread and become a thin and crisp cookie that will look wildly impressive on your cookie tray.
53. Oat and Tahini Breakfast Cookies
Simply Recipes/Sally Vargas
Cookies for Christmas morning breakfast?! Sign me up! I’ll take any excuse to nosh on dessert for breakfast. These cookies oatmeal based cookies are chock full of dried fruit, tahini, and nuts.
54. Nutella Cookies
Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker
The perfect cookie for hazelnut lovers.
55. Pecan Tassies
Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
They’re basically tiny pecan pies. So adorable!
56. Orange Poppy Seed Cookies
I’m a huge fan of lemon poppy seed EVERYTHING, so having a cookie with orange zest and poppy seeds, just takes my poppy seed cookie love to the next level. You get bright citrus flavor from the orange and a textural contrast from the poppy seeds that makes an out of this world cookie,
57. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
If you couldn’t tell by now, I love cookies! But I do have to say this is probably one of my favorite cookie recipes. Not only do I make them for the holidays, but I make them any chance I get really.
58. Giant Ginger Cookies
Ginger cookies are good, but extra-large ginger cookies are even better! Impress the cookie monsters in your life with a giant ginger treat made with warm spices like ground ginger, clove, and and cinnamon.
59. Maple Cookies
Maple syrup isn’t just for French toast. It’s used in these cookies to make a soft and chewy holiday treat. Oh, and let’s not forget about the chopped walnuts here that add crunch and flare.
60. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Are you looking for a show stopping cookie this season? Look no further than these White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. They’re tart from the sweet dried cranberries and have loads of sweetness from the white chocolate pieces.
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