Searching for the all-time best Christmas cookies? We've got you covered. From simple family favorites to gift-worthy treats, there's a cookie here for everyone on your list, and the first 20 come straight from the All She Cooks kitchen.
Christmas is probably my favorite time of year. I love the decorations, the family get-togethers and giving gifts, and my favorite gifts to give are homemade ones. For me, that usually means cookies! I love packing dozens of them into cute Christmas cookie boxes for siblings, neighbors and friends. Is there anything better than opening a box full of homemade goodies?
We start with our own reader favorites, like Peppermint Snowball Christmas Cookies and Mama's Jumbo Snickerdoodles. Then come vegetarian bakes from our friends at Oh My Veggies, one vegan cut-out cookie from VegKitchen, and a batch of classics from some of our favorite food bloggers.
Tips for a Stress-Free Cookie Exchange
- Pick sturdy cookies. Drop cookies, shortbread, crinkles and bars travel better than delicate lace cookies or anything with soft frosting.
- Bake the right amount. Plan on one dozen cookies for each guest, plus an extra dozen for tasting at the party.
- Coordinate flavors. Have everyone share what they're bringing ahead of time so you don't end up with six batches of chocolate chip.
- Label everything. Add a small card with the cookie name and any common allergens like nuts, peanut butter or coconut.
- Bring your own containers. Lined boxes or tins make it easy to take home a mix, and a sheet of parchment between layers keeps icing from sticking.
- Share the recipe. Print a few copies or share a link so friends can bake their favorites again.
How to Bake Ahead and Freeze Christmas Cookies
- Freeze the dough. Scoop drop cookie dough into balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, freeze until firm, then store them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the bake time.
- Make slice-and-bake logs. Icebox and shortbread doughs can be wrapped tightly in logs, frozen, and sliced when you're ready to bake.
- Freeze baked cookies plain. Cool them completely on a cooling rack, then freeze in an airtight container with parchment between layers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
- Decorate after thawing. Add glazes, powdered sugar and sprinkles once the cookies have thawed so they stay pretty.
- Plan your baking days. Start with doughs that freeze well about a month out, and save no-bake treats and delicate cookies for the last few days before Christmas.
Whether you're giving homemade gifts, joining a Christmas cookie exchange or just need something special to leave out for Santa, these 85 Christmas cookie recipes will make your holidays even sweeter. You're bound to find a new favorite!
85 Christmas Cookie Recipes
Buttery pecan snowballs get a hit of crushed peppermint, a double roll in powdered sugar and a chocolate drizzle with sprinkles. They look like a holiday party on a plate and hold up beautifully on a cookie tray.
Big, soft and pillowy, these jumbo snickerdoodles are rolled in plenty of cinnamon sugar. A family recipe that always disappears first at a cookie exchange.
Molasses, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and ginger make these soft spice cookies taste like Christmas. A snowy coat of powdered sugar finishes them off.
Glacé cherries, blanched almonds and a little coconut dress up these easy butter cookies. They're ready in about 30 minutes and look so pretty on a holiday platter.
Make the dough ahead, slice and bake whenever you need a batch. Half-dipped in chocolate and covered in sprinkles, these buttery icebox cookies are a make-ahead holiday hero.
Rich chocolate cookies loaded with peanut butter and milk chocolate morsels plus semi-sweet chips. Chocolate and peanut butter fans both get exactly what they want.
Soft, chewy peanut butter cookies with the classic fork crisscross on top. Simple pantry ingredients and a taste just like grandma's cookie jar.
Each cinnamon-spiced cookie hides a gooey caramel center and gets a salty pretzel on top. That sweet and salty mix makes them a standout at any cookie swap.
A box of red velvet cake mix turns into crinkly, powdered-sugar-dusted cookies in under 30 minutes. Their bright red color is perfect for Christmas trays.
Soft chocolate cookies sandwich a silky green mint cream cheese filling. They're a fun homemade twist on the classic and festive in red-and-green cookie boxes.
Egg whites, honey, vanilla, coconut and a pinch of salt are all you need. These chewy, golden macaroons are naturally flourless and so easy to make in a big batch.
Devil's food cake mix cookies are loaded with pecans and gooey toasted marshmallows. Only five ingredients stand between you and a plate of these.
Bright lemon cookies with crunchy poppy seeds and a sweet, sticky lemon glaze. A fresh, zesty break from all the chocolate on the holiday cookie tray.
Thick, chewy oatmeal cookies packed with chocolate chips. A dependable favorite that everyone at the cookie exchange will reach for.
Chocolate, peanut butter and oats come together on the stovetop, no oven needed. Handy when the oven is full of holiday baking.
These no-bake drops mix cocoa, coconut and oatmeal into chewy, fudgy bites. They set up in minutes, so they're great for last-minute cookie plates.
All the fudgy chocolate-oat goodness of classic no-bakes, without the peanut butter. Just five ingredients, and they're a good nut-free-friendly option for mixed crowds.
Warm, gooey cookie bars made in one bowl with a box of cake mix and your favorite mix-ins. Swap in red and green candies for an easy holiday version.
Fudgy chocolate bars topped with chocolate hazelnut spread and chopped walnuts. Cut them into small squares for a rich addition to any dessert table.
All the flavor of chocolate chip cookies baked in one pan, so there's no scooping. Slice into bars for gift boxes or serve warm with ice cream.
Chewy chocolate cookies studded with crushed candy canes and mini chocolate chips. Chocolate and peppermint is the flavor combo of the season.
Tender five-ingredient shortbread cookies filled with bright spoonfuls of jam. Use a few different jams for a colorful holiday tray.
Melt-in-your-mouth crescents scented with almond and vanilla and dusted in powdered sugar. A timeless Christmas cookie that belongs in every tin.
Dark chocolate cookies sandwiched with a cool peppermint cream. They taste like an after-dinner mint in cookie form.
Spiced gingerbread cut into little trees and decorated with royal icing and green sanding sugar. A fun one to decorate with the kids.
Molasses and warm spices go into these wreath-shaped cookies sparkling with green sugar. Tie them with ribbon to hang as edible decorations or give as gifts.
Crunchy biscotti studded with tart red cranberries and green pistachios, finished with a chocolate drizzle. They keep well, so they're ideal for mailing or gifting.
Slice-and-bake shortbread flecked with chai tea, so every bite tastes of cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. Lovely with a cup of tea or coffee.
Buttery shortbread scented with cardamom and lemon zest and studded with pistachios. Elegant enough for the fanciest cookie tray.
Fudgy dark chocolate crinkles packed with toasted hazelnuts and rolled in powdered sugar. They crack into pretty snowy tops as they bake.
Strawberry cake mix cookies rolled in pink sugar and crowned with a chocolate kiss. Easy blossom-style cookies that add a pop of color to your holiday spread.
Intense 70% chocolate and fresh orange zest make these cookies extra rich. Add a pinch of cayenne if you like a little kick.
Four kinds of chocolate plus sweetened condensed milk make these some of the easiest, fudgiest cookies you'll ever bake. A chocoholic's dream for the holidays.
Chocolate cookies topped with peppermint cream and coated in dark chocolate, a homemade take on the Australian favorite. Perfect for mint lovers.
Dorie Greenspan's famous slice-and-bake chocolate sablés with bittersweet chocolate and a touch of fleur de sel. Crumbly, rich and very grown-up.
Rich, gluten-free chocolate cookies finished with a sprinkle of smoked sea salt. Ready in under 30 minutes and a great option for gluten-free guests.
Buttery French madeleines with a gingerbread twist of ginger and warm spices. Make the batter the night before and bake them fresh on Christmas morning.
Classic cut-out sugar cookies made without dairy or eggs and decorated with a homemade dairy-free icing. A great pick if anyone on your list bakes or eats vegan.
A peppermint twist on the classic blossom cookie, topped with a candy cane kiss. They're easy to make and adorable on a Christmas cookie plate.
Red and white swirled peppermint cookies with a candy kiss pressed into the center. Light, minty and very festive.
Soft cookies flavored with eggnog and finished with a delicate eggnog icing. All the cozy flavor of the holiday drink in cookie form.
Soft gingerbread men with a mild ginger flavor, from an old family recipe. A Christmas classic for decorating together.
Soft peanut butter cookies rolled in sugar and topped with a chocolate kiss. A holiday staple that looks as cute as it tastes.
Classic buttery snowball cookies get chopped almonds and toffee bits, then a double roll in powdered sugar. An old favorite with extra crunch.
Jam-filled almond sandwich cookies with a little window on top, dusted with powdered sugar. They're ready in about an hour and look bakery-perfect.
Soft, glazed anise cookies topped with colorful sprinkles. A traditional favorite for Italian-American holiday cookie trays.
Buttery shortbread with white chocolate and peppermint. Cut them into rounds or roll out the dough for any holiday shape.
Mint Oreos dipped in chocolate and decorated with festive sprinkles. A quick no-bake treat for gifting to neighbors.
An old family recipe for chocolate rum balls made extra flavorful with spiced rum. A no-bake grown-up treat for holiday parties.
Chocolate cookies packed with cherry chunks and topped with a chocolate kiss. They taste just like a cherry cordial candy.
Chocolate sandwich cookies filled with cherry pie filling and cream. All the flavor of Black Forest cake in a handheld treat.
Bite-size cream cheese butter cookies with a light lemon glaze. They really do melt in your mouth.
Chewy old-fashioned molasses cookies finished with a white icing. A nostalgic cookie that tastes like the holidays at grandma's house.
Chewy gingerbread molasses cookies with a lighter twist and plenty of chocolate chunks. All the holiday spice with a chocolatey surprise.
Ground ginger and crystallized ginger give these crackly cookies a double dose of spice. Great for cookie trays or snacking all winter.
Soft, chewy ginger cookies with warm molasses flavor that take about 10 minutes to prep. A quick classic for busy baking days.
Sugar-rolled molasses cookies that stay soft and chewy, with an optional white chocolate drizzle. A traditional Christmas cookie that's easy to love.
Buttery shortbread rounds dotted with glacé cherries that look like stained glass. A pretty, old-fashioned holiday cookie.
Soft cookies with tart cranberries, yogurt and a hint of orange. Bright and not too sweet.
Browned butter oatmeal cookies with white chocolate and dried cranberries. Crisp edges, soft centers and red-and-white holiday colors.
Buttery, shortbread-like Middle Eastern cookies stuffed with a sweet spiced date filling. A beautiful addition to an international cookie tray.
Thin, crispy lace cookies with a nutty caramel flavor and a dark chocolate finish. A little more work, but gorgeous on a gift plate.
Red velvet cookies swirled with cream cheese for a cheesecake-meets-cookie treat. Their red and white look is made for the holidays.
Soft, chewy red velvet cookies loaded with chocolate chips and topped with cream cheese frosting. They freeze well, so you can bake them early.
Soft, fudgy brownie cookies with a deep red velvet color. A rich treat that stands out on any cookie plate.
Chocolate cookies inspired by a mug of hot cocoa. Pair them with the real thing for a cozy winter night.
Chocolate pudding cookies with creme de menthe that taste a lot like Thin Mints. They make lovely homemade gifts.
Cinnamon Red Hots candies bake into these cookies for chewy pops of spicy cinnamon. Cheerful and red for the holidays.
Tiny, sweet and slightly tangy cookies with all the spiced flavor of a cinnamon roll. Perfect alongside a cup of cocoa.
Spiced coconut cookies with brown sugar and cinnamon, crispy on the edges and chewy in the middle.
Little turnover cookies filled with maple, cinnamon and walnuts. Crumbly and perfect with coffee, tea or mulled cider.
Also called magic cookie bars, these are layered in a pan with just seven ingredients. Chewy, sweet and always a crowd-pleaser.
Soft cookies with all the flavors of turtle candy: chocolate, pecans and caramel. Hard to stop at one.
Little cookie cups filled with caramel, nuts and chocolate. Bite-size, pretty and easy to pack in gift boxes.
Creamy peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. One batch makes dozens, so there's plenty to share.
Ritz crackers sandwiched with peanut butter and dipped in chocolate. Sweet, salty and incredibly easy.
Peanut butter cookies stuffed with a peanut butter cup and drizzled with chocolate. Double the peanut butter, double the fun.
A chocolate kiss bakes right inside these peanut butter cookies, turning them into little mountains. Especially good warm.
Soft, chewy peanut butter cookies loaded with chocolate chunks. A simple, reliable cookie for holiday baking.
Gluten-free peanut butter thumbprints filled with marshmallow. Sweet, salty and nostalgic.
Chocolate chip sugar cookie bars spread with creamy peanut butter frosting. Easy to bake in one pan and slice for a crowd.
Each cookie hides a cookies-and-cream kiss inside, with a little crunch from cereal. A fun surprise in every bite.
Soft butterscotch pudding cookies loaded with three kinds of chips. Great when you need a big, easy batch.
Browned butter plus cinnamon, ginger and cloves give chocolate chip cookies a holiday makeover. A new twist on an old favorite.
Bite-size cookies that taste like a slice of apple pie. A cozy, homey addition to a mixed cookie tray.
I hope you've found the Christmas cookies of your holiday dreams here. If you love these, be sure to check out these other festive ideas too:
Judy says
Hi Jaime, thanks for including Grandma's Molasses Cookies in your line-up! What a great list you've put together. Merry Christmas!
Karen says
this is just awesome - maybe I can find some new recipes here!