40 Christmas Cookie Recipes

Celebrate the holiday season with the ultimate list of delicious Christmas cookie recipes, featuring classic favorites and fun new ideas.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Christmas cookies are one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. There’s just something about filling the kitchen with trays of gingerbread, sugar cookies, and anything with chocolate that makes it feel like Christmas is really here. I’ve pulled together 40 recipes that cover it all – from the classics that never get old to easy ones you can make when things get hectic, plus a few Lebanese-inspired treats that honor my heritage and bring in some extra-special flavors.

Ultimate list of christmas cookies in a 4 image collage.
Want to save this recipe?
Just type your email below and I’ll send it to you. And as a bonus you’ll get delicious new recipes from me!

From the classic gingerbread men awaiting their decorative touches to snickerdoodles and sugar cookies that never go out of style, I’ve got every cookie covered.

Why You Should Make More Holiday Cookies this Year

  • Christmas cookies make great personalized gifts. Homemade cookies make thoughtful gifts. Double the cookie recipe and wrap them up in decorative packaging.
  • Connect with loved ones. Baking cookies together is an excellent way to connect with family and friends. Or participate in a cookie exchange, where you can show off your cookies. It’s especially a great opportunity to get your kids involved and have fun in the kitchen – be sure to check out my tips for holiday baking with kids.
  • Make one batch to enjoy, one to freeze. You may have a round of visitors in and out of your home over the holidays – make a large batch of cookies and freeze the cookie dough so you’re ready for unexpected guests.
  • Creates a cozy atmosphere. Nothing is more comforting than the smell of freshly baked cookies. It will instantly put the most reluctant Scrooge into the holiday spirit because who can resist a good cookie?

Tips for Making the Best Christmas Cookies

  1. Follow the recipe. For best results, stick to the recipe measurements and instructions, especially when it comes to leavening agents like baking powder, baking soda, and flour ratios.
  2. Start with the correct supplies. Invest in good quality baking sheets for even heat distribution, which can make a big difference in the baking process. Be sure you’re stocked up on parchment paper to prevent cookies from sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
  3. Know the basics. Brush up on your basic baking skills, how to soften butter, how to melt chocolate, and how to make self-rising flour. And if you’re looking for simple ways to jazz up cookies, top them with frosting, drizzle icing, or chocolate ganache. Knowing these basic skills will help you have a stress-free cookie baking experience.
  4. Store properly. All recipes should list proper storage instructions, including freezing directions. I recommend that you follow them so your cookies last longer to avoid them going stale or losing flavor.
  5. Have fun with gift wrapping. Get creative to make your cookie gifts extra special. Choose decorative packaging, such as seasonal tins, boxes, or jars, and add a personal touch like tying a ribbon or attaching a handwritten note.

My Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

Below, you will find what I consider the best Christmas cookies, especially for a cookie swap! I did include classics, but also some of the cookies my family enjoys from our Lebanese heritage!

Classic Christmas Cookies

Some of the best Christmas cookies are the ones that have stood the test of time – classic recipes passed down through generations. These classic holiday cookies are perfect for sharing, gifting, or simply enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa bombs.

Dessert

Gingerbread Cookies

Simple, Gingerbread Men Cookies! These gingerbread cookies are easy to make and fun to decorate with a simple 2-ingredient royal icing for decorating!
 
5 from 11 votes
Decorated Italian Christmas cookies stacked on a round plate.
Dessert

Italian Christmas Cookies

Make your holidays merrier with Italian Christmas Cookies infused with anise seeds and topped with colorful sprinkles for extra festive fun.
 
1 hour 5 minutes
5 from 8 votes
Oatmeal cookies stacked up with one having a bite taken out.
Dessert

Oatmeal Cookies

This classic oatmeal cookie recipe is made with rolled oats, a hint of cinnamon and molasses-y brown sugar. It's the best, simple oatmeal cookie recipe!
 
1 hour 25 minutes
5 from 27 votes
Soft baked Lofthouse cookies topped with icing and sprinkles on a round plate next to a cooling wire rack with more cookies. Small bowls of icing and sprinkles nearby.
Dessert

Soft Baked Lofthouse Cookies

Craving those classic store-bought sugar cookies? Bake your own homemade soft-baked Lofthouse cookies with frosting with this copycat recipe!
 
1 hour 10 minutes
5 from 5 votes
Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Biscotti Cookies

Try four flavors of biscotti – almond, chocolate chip, pistachio lemon, and cranberry orange. Easy recipe for delicious homemade biscotti!
 
1 hour 5 minutes
4.9 from 97 votes
Iced oatmeal cookies.
Dessert

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

Iced oatmeal cookies blend hearty oats, aromatic spices, and a sweet and simple icing for a delightful mix of textures—crispy, chewy, and wonderfully flavorful.
 
1 hour 20 minutes
5 from 12 votes
Christmas sugar cookies on a round plate.
Dessert

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Christmas Sugar Cookies are deliciously tender and buttery cut-out cookies with a refreshing mint glaze and so much fun to make!
 
28 minutes
5 from 4 votes
Stack of cardamom spiced cookies on a small plate
Dessert, Snack

Cardamom Cookies

Easy and quick to make, these cardamom cookies are perfectly spiced and bursting with flavor. Perfect to enjoy with a cup of coffee on a dull day!
 
20 minutes
5 from 87 votes
Dessert

Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies melt-in-your-mouth with their buttery, nutty texture and sweet powdered sugar coating. A must-try for cookie lovers!
 
1 hour 5 minutes
5 from 21 votes

Quick and Easy Christmas Cookies

If you’re looking for an easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth without spending too much time in the kitchen, you’ll want to check out these easy Christmas cookies. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep, you can make a batch of delicious Christmas cookies in no time (well, actually, about 20 minutes!).

Plate of ginger snap cookies with red napkin on the side
Snack

Ginger Snap Cookies

Quick and easy to make, these ginger snap cookies and bursting with flavor. Ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes.
 
20 minutes
5 from 32 votes
Snickerdoodles stack tall on a round plate with extra cookies nearby and a glass of milk in the background.
Dessert

Snickerdoodles

Learn how to make perfect Snickerdoodle cookies with this simple recipe for chewy, cinnamon-sugar goodness. Bake them any time of year!
 
25 minutes
5 from 6 votes
Dessert

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies are quick, easy-to-make & tasty. They're made with peanut butter, egg & sugar so they're naturally flourless & dairy-free
 
20 minutes
5 from 2840 votes
White plate on marble background of sugar cookies dipped in white chocolate
Dessert

Peppermint Sugar Cookies

These pepper sugar cookies dipped in white chocolate & crushed peppermint are a wonderful treat for the holidays – dairy free and made with simple pantry items!
 
20 minutes
5 from 76 votes
Bowl of the gluten free peanut butter cookies with a bite taken out of one of them
Dessert

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

This recipe for Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies uses oat flour for a light and chewy consistency with a rich taste of sweetened peanut butter
 
10 minutes
5 from 8 votes
Banana oatmeal cookies on a plate with chocolate chips
Dessert, Snack

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Easy and quick to make with 3 ingredients only, these healthy banana oatmeal cookies are gluten-free, refined sugar free and kid-friendly!
 
20 minutes
4.9 from 149 votes
Peanut butter oatmeal cookies on parchment paper with a small jar of peanut butter and a spoon nearby.
Dessert

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

A perfect blend of two classic cookies, these peanut butter oatmeal cookies are soft, chewy, and easy to make!
 
20 minutes
4.9 from 33 votes

Holiday Cookies with Fruit

For a unique twist on traditional holiday baking, cookies with fruit bring a fresh flavor to your cookie tray. Whether they’re made with applesauce, tangy cranberries, or pumpkin puree (yes, pumpkin is a fruit!), these easy Christmas cookies are perfect for adding a little something fruity to your cookie spread.

Three different jam filled thumbprint cookies on a wire rack with a jar of jam nearby.
Dessert

Thumbprint Cookies

This jam thumbprint cookie recipe is so easy and so good! With its shortbread cookie base and sweet jam filled center you can't go wrong!
 
25 minutes
5 from 17 votes
Plate of applesauce chocolate chip cookies with glass of milk next to them
Dessert

Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies

These easy Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies are super soft with great taste and texture but less fat than traditional chocolate chip cookies
 
20 minutes
5 from 68 votes
Dessert

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

The best Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies you’ll ever make – they’re crunchy around the edges, incredibly chewy throughout and filled with chocolate chips!
 
32 minutes
5 from 93 votes
Apple butter cookies on a plate.
Dessert

Apple Butter Cookies

These Apple Butter Cookies are infused with rich apple flavor and warm seasonal spices, making them a delicious Autumn treat.
 
15 minutes
5 from 22 votes
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Dessert

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are chewy and moist—the perfect treat for fall! Be sure to make a double batch because they will disappear fast!
 
15 minutes
5 from 67 votes
Final baked banana chocolate chip cookies
Dessert

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you like banana bread, you’ll love these Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are a great way to use up overripe bananas and have a soft cake-like texture
 
24 minutes
5 from 332 votes
view of a couple of baked apple crisp cookies on wire cooking rack with fresh sliced apples on side
Dessert, Snack

Cinnamon Oatmeal Apple Cookies

These chewy cinnamon apple oatmeal cookies are easy to make, taste like fall in a bite and are perfect for leftover apples! Soft and delicious!
 
22 minutes
5 from 49 votes
Pumpkin snickerdoodle cookie recipe.
Dessert

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

These Pumpkin Snickerdoodles are chewy and full of warm Fall spices. They're easy to make and sure to be your new favorite pumpkin recipe!
 
26 minutes
5 from 2 votes
Blueberry cookie recipe.
Dessert

Blueberry Cookies

Now these are BLUEberry Cookies! Simply turn frozen blueberries into a quick homemade jam, mix with staple cookie ingredients, and bake!
 
27 minutes
5 from 2 votes

Christmas Cookies with Chocolate

If you have chocolate lovers in your life (or if that’s you!), the best Christmas cookies are the ones packed with rich, chocolatey goodness. Whether you reach for the classic peanut butter blossoms or Nutella-filled desserts, these cookies promise to make your holidays extra special.

Dessert

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These deliciously rich and fudgy chocolate crinkle cookies have a fun crackled exterior and chewy, chocolate center – and they're easy to make!
 
1 hour 5 minutes
5 from 8 votes
Dessert

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Delicious peanut butter cookies topped with a Hershey's Kiss! These peanut butter blossoms, or Hershey Kiss cookies, if you prefer, are soft, chewy, and oh-so good!
 
55 minutes
5 from 40 votes
Round plate with cookies stacked on top of eachother with a few off plate and broken and a small dish of chocolate chips.
Dessert

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies

These Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies are easy to make in one bowl, soft and chewy and so festive for cookie exchanges and holiday gatherings!
 
20 minutes
4.8 from 21 votes
Dessert

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic, made-from-scratch soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies! These tasty cookies are the best homemade chocolate chip cookies to add to your repertoire!
 
1 hour 25 minutes
5 from 11 votes
A plate of chocolate hazelnut cookies with a glass of milk
Dessert

Chocolate Hazelnut Nutella Cookies

These easy chocolate hazelnut cookies are made with Nutella along with one egg, flour and chopped hazelnuts- quick, easy and a crowd favorite
 
17 minutes
5 from 7 votes
Hand picking up one almond joy cookie
Snack

Almond Joy Cookies

These Almond Joy Cookies are quick and easy to make and are wonderfully soft and fluffy! Ready to enjoy in 20 minutes for any coconut and chocolate lovers!
 
20 minutes
5 from 17 votes
Stack of oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips on parchment paper with one cookie infront with bite taken out and a small dish of chocolate chips in the back.
Dessert

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft & chewy, these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies go from prep to in your mouth in 30 minutes! Made with semi-sweet chocolate chips for the perfect balance!
 
27 minutes
5 from 77 votes

Lebanese-Inspired Holiday Cookies

Infused with aromatic spices, nuts, and a touch of blossom water, these cookies celebrate the rich traditions of Lebanon. Perfect for sharing or eating yourself (I won’t judge!), these holiday treats will add a special touch to your festivities this year.

Tahini shortbread cookies on a plate
Dessert, Snack

Tahini Shortbread Cookies

The classic holiday shortbread cookie recipe is updated slightly to add tahini – which gives it a Mediterranean flavor that's rich and nutty.
 
1 hour 25 minutes
4.9 from 14 votes
Maamoul cookies on a round decorative plate with extra walnuts dusted with powdered sugar.
Dessert

Maamoul

These Maamoul cookies are made with semolina flour + two classic fillings – creamy dates & crunchy walnuts – a delicious Middle Eastern treat!
 
13 hours 5 minutes
5 from 91 votes
Close up shot of many tahini chocolate chip cookies on a parchment paper background
Dessert, Snack

Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies have a Middle Eastern twist by swapping half the butter in traditional chocolate chip cookies with tahini (sesame paste)
 
25 minutes
5 from 89 votes
Date cookies on a white plate
Dessert

Date Cookies

A fun mediterranean inspired cookie recipe, these buttery date cookies are sweet, nutty, chewy and completely irresistible – perfect for cookie exchanges 
 
30 minutes
5 from 604 votes
Honey Tahini Cookies covered with sesame seeds
Snacks

Sesame Tahini Cookies

Sesame Tahini Cookies are chewy delicious gluten-free cookies with a Middle Eastern flavor. Instead of butter, tahini paste is used to add a rich nutty taste
 
23 minutes
5 from 437 votes
Plate of holiday pistachio cookies topped with pistachio pieces
Snacks

Pistachio Cookies

These pistachio cookies are a healthier version of my favorite Middle Eastern cookies. Gluten free with no added refined sugar. Delicious and easy to make.
 
20 minutes
5 from 66 votes
Lebanese anise cookies.
Dessert

Lebanese Anise Cookies

This Lebanese Anise Cookies recipe is a Middle Eastern spiced cookie traditionally made during Eid al-Fitr and Easter. Also called Ka'ak il Eid, these cookies are crisp, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
 
40 minutes
5 from 6 votes
Large plate for ghraybeh shortbread cookies with pistachios on the side
Dessert, Snack

Ghraybeh

Simple to make with only a few ingredients, these Ghraybeh shortbread cookies are made with rosewater and filled with jam for a tasty treat.
 
1 hour 25 minutes
5 from 95 votes

How to Store Cookies

  • Avoid moisture: All cookies should be stored in an airtight container to prevent moisture and help them maintain proper texture. Store them in a cool, dry place, and avoid storing them near heat sources or direct sunlight.
  • Storage for dry and soft cookies: Most dry cookies, like shortbread and biscotti cookies, can be stored at room temperature. Soft cookies, like chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies, can be kept at room temperature for a few days, and then transferred to the fridge for longer storage. I recommend following the storage suggestions listed in individual recipes to ensure your cookies are properly stored.
  • Mind the ingredients: Cookies with fresh ingredients, like those with fruit or dairy, may have a shorter shelf life. Be mindful of these and eat them within that timeframe.
  • Freezing cookies: Most cookies are freezer-friendly and can be frozen for longer storage. You can place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Again, for best results, follow the freezing instructions as listed in the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular Christmas cookie every year?

According to the report by General Mills, peanut butter blossoms are the most popular holiday cookie in the United States overall, closely trailing the all-time favorite year-round cookie, the chocolate chip cookie.

How far in advance can I bake Christmas cookies?

Many Christmas cookie recipes can be baked ahead of time as long as they are stored properly. I recommend that you check the specific recipe for guidance on storage times.

What are the best cookies to package for gifts?

You want to look for cookies that hold up well during transit, maintain freshness, and have a festive appeal. Thankfully, most cookies are excellent candidates for gifting but some popular options are sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, biscotti, gingerbread cookies, and any of the various oatmeal cookies. Avoid delicate cookies like frosted cookies that may break or smudge during transit.

Italian iced christmas cookies with decorated with holiday green and red sprinkles with a small bowl of extra sprinkles nearby and a cooling rack with more cookies.

For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out: Holiday Appetizers, Cozy Winter Recipes, Christmas Morning Breakfasts, and Festive New Years Recipes.

If you found this recipe roundup for Christmas Cookie Recipes helpful or if you try any recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipes! It helps others who are thinking of trying out this tutorial and we would love to hear about your experience. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

Leave a comment