25 Christmas Cookies Perfect for Festive Baking and Gifting
Christmas cookies are a popular treat enjoyed during the holiday season. They bring people together, whether for sharing at gatherings, giving as gifts, or simply enjoying at home. Many families have their own favorite recipes passed down through generations.
Affiliate Disclosure
This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no cost to you when you shop through my links.
Content Integrity Statement (Human Editing)
I create content to inspire creativity and share ideas.  I use research tools, including AI, to help brainstorm, spark inspiration and outline content. All posts are then personally reviewed, fact-checked, rewritten, expanded, and edited by me to ensure they reflect my own voice, style & creative experience. All content is curated and refined with human judgement and purposeful intent. I often include styles and ideas that may not be my personal preference, because I want to support different tastes, personalities, and creative expressions — helping readers find what inspires them.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS.
This article offers 25 different Christmas cookie recipes that can inspire anyone to bake and enjoy festive treats.These recipes include a variety of flavors and styles, suitable for both traditional and new holiday baking ideas.
PIN TO YOUR CHRISTMAS RECIPES BOARDS ON PINTEREST
1) Classic Sugar Cookies
Classic sugar cookies have a simple, buttery flavor and a soft texture. They can be cut into festive shapes like stars or trees. Decorating with icing or sprinkles makes them a popular holiday treat for many families.
2) Gingerbread Men
Gingerbread men are a classic Christmas cookie. They are soft, chewy, and full of warm spices like cinnamon and ginger. People often decorate them with icing, candies, or raisins to make fun shapes and faces. They hold their shape well when baked, making them perfect for holiday decorations.
3) Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are soft and fudgy with a cracked powdered sugar coating. They have a chewy center similar to brownies. These cookies are popular for Christmas cookie trays and pair well with hot cocoa or coffee.
4) Peppermint Bark Cookies
Peppermint bark cookies combine chocolate and peppermint flavors. They often have a chocolate base topped with white chocolate and crushed peppermint candies. These cookies offer a soft texture with a refreshing minty crunch, making them a popular choice during the holidays.
5) Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy cookies coated in cinnamon sugar. They have a mild tangy flavor and a classic cinnamon taste.
For Christmas, they are often rolled in colored sugar or festive sprinkles. This makes them look bright and holiday-ready.
6) Butter Pecan Cookies
Butter pecan cookies have a rich, buttery flavor with toasted pecans inside. They are soft and chewy, making them a nice change from usual Christmas cookies.
These cookies often use brown sugar and real butter to boost their flavor. Many enjoy them alongside coffee or tea during the holidays.
7) Eggnog Cookies
Eggnog cookies are soft and spiced with flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon. They often have a rich eggnog frosting or glaze. These cookies are popular during Christmas and are enjoyed by many as a festive treat.
8) Pecan Snowball Cookies
Pecan Snowball Cookies are small, buttery shortbread treats with crunchy pecans inside. They are rolled in powdered sugar, giving them a snowy look. These cookies take simple ingredients and are easy to make, making them a popular choice during the holiday season.
9) Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies are soft and chewy, made with rich chocolate dough and plenty of chocolate chips. They often include both milk and white chocolate for extra flavor. They are simple to bake and popular during Christmas for their classic chocolate taste.
10) Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Oatmeal raisin cookies are soft and chewy with a hint of cinnamon. They combine oats, raisins, brown sugar, and vanilla for balanced flavor. These cookies are easy to make and a classic choice for Christmas baking.
11) Thumbprint Cookies with Jam
Thumbprint cookies have a soft, buttery shortbread base. They are shaped into rounds with an indentation filled with sweet jam.
These cookies are simple and classic. They often have raspberry or apricot jam and may be dusted with powdered sugar.
12) Linzer Cookies
Linzer cookies are a traditional Christmas treat. They are made with a buttery shortbread dough and filled with fruit jam. The tops have cut-out shapes like hearts or stars, showing the jam inside. They are often dusted with powdered sugar for a festive look.
13) Molasses Cookies
Molasses cookies are a classic holiday treat known for their warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. They have a soft, chewy texture with a slightly crackled top. These cookies bring a rich, deep flavor that fits well on any Christmas cookie tray.
14) White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
These cookies are soft and chewy with a slight crisp on the edges. They combine creamy white chocolate and crunchy macadamia nuts for a balanced texture. The buttery dough adds a rich flavor that pairs well with the sweet and salty mix.
15) Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread
This cookie combines buttery shortbread with a smooth chocolate coating. It is simple to make and works well for holiday trays or gifts. The chocolate adds a rich flavor that pairs nicely with the soft, crumbly texture of the shortbread.
16) Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Cinnamon roll cookies combine the flavors of cinnamon buns in a cookie form. They have a soft center with a swirled cinnamon sugar filling. A light glaze or icing often tops them for added sweetness. They are easy to make and suit holiday baking well.
17) Pumpkin Spice Cookies
Pumpkin spice cookies combine pumpkin puree with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. They are usually soft and moist, often topped with cream cheese frosting for added flavor. These cookies are popular during the fall and holiday seasons for their cozy taste.
18) Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mint chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy with a refreshing mint flavor. They often include chocolate chips and mint pieces or candies. These cookies are popular during Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day for their festive look and taste.
19) Almond Crescents
Almond Crescents are classic Christmas cookies with a soft, buttery texture. They are made with almonds, almond flour, and almond extract for a mild nutty flavor.
These cookies are shaped like crescents and dusted with powdered sugar. They melt in the mouth and are easy to bake in large batches.
20) Raspberry Pinwheel Cookies
Raspberry pinwheel cookies have a rich, buttery dough rolled with sweet raspberry jam. They are sliced to show a pretty swirl pattern before baking.
These cookies fit well on holiday trays. Their simple recipe and look make them a traditional choice.
21) Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut Butter Blossoms are classic Christmas cookies with a soft, chewy peanut butter base. Each cookie is topped with a chocolate Hershey’s Kiss, adding a sweet contrast to the nutty flavor. They are simple to make and popular for holiday cookie trays.
22) Salted Caramel Cookies
Salted caramel cookies blend sweet caramel with a touch of sea salt. They often use butter, sugar, and vanilla for a rich flavor. The caramel adds chewiness, while sea salt balances the sweetness. These cookies are popular for holiday gatherings and gift-giving.
23) Espresso Chocolate Cookies
Espresso chocolate cookies combine rich chocolate with a hint of coffee flavor. They often have a fudgy, soft center and slightly crisp edges. Espresso powder enhances the chocolate taste without overpowering it.
These cookies are popular during the holidays. They can be rolled in powdered sugar or filled with chocolate ganache.
24) Candy Cane Cookies
Candy cane cookies are soft sugar cookies with a mild peppermint flavor. They often have red and white dough twisted together to look like a candy cane.
These cookies are easy to make and great for holiday gifts or cookie exchanges. Peppermint extract and crushed candy canes add festive flavor and texture.
25) Toffee Crunch Cookies
Toffee Crunch Cookies combine the buttery flavor of toffee with a crisp, crunchy texture. They often include nuts or oatmeal for added bite.
These cookies are suitable for holiday gatherings or everyday treats. They offer a balanced sweet and salty taste without being too rich.
