50 of the Best Holiday Cookies that need to be devoured this Christmas season. Bake up a batch or two and start spreading some holiday {cookie} cheer.
Happy Holidays friends! It’s time to go and grab a glass of milk then dunk in a few of these bad boys. I know Santa would enjoy a few of these Christmas Cookies, too!
While all the other desserts of cakes, pies, and fudge are nice and all, cookies are the best way to celebrate the holidays. Usually easier to make, assemble and eat, the best way to bring the jolly into your “ho ho ho” is a dozen or two of one of these cookies.
Of course, I had to put in the traditional favorite cookie recipes like Cut-Out Sugar Cookies, Ginger, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Laced Cookies and Peanut Butter Blossoms. I had to add a few that may not be known as a holiday cookie but seriously they are the best. Like German Chocolate Cake Cookies, Pecan Pie Cookies and Mint Brownie Cookies.
And seriously, I love all 50 of these holiday cookies. All of them are perfect for cookie platters and a cookie exchange. Sad to say it was even hard to limit to 50! My friends are rock star bakers making it hard to select from such cookie amazing-ness.
Holiday Baking Tips
Baking cookies this holiday season? Here are some of the tips for making and storing the best holiday cookies! If you’re making batches for a cookie swap or to giveaway, these tips will make things easier.
Put your cookies in an airtight container such as Tupperware once they are cool. Then you can place a piece of bread or a moist paper towel into the container with the cookies (but not directly on them) and seal the container with a lid.
Most cookie dough can be refrigerated, well-sealed, for three to five days before you bake them. You can make them even further in advance and freeze the dough.
I highly recommend for any type of cookie that requires frosting, such as sugar cookies, to just freeze the cookies unfrosted and make the frosting fresh right before you want to serve. The exception would be my German Chocolate Cake Cookies – these cookies freeze so well.
Pin this collection of 50 of the Best Holiday Cookie Recipes to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
German Chocolate Cake Cookies, by A Dash of Sanity | Our holiday favorite, this German Chocolate Cake Cookies always spreads holiday cheer. They’re soft, chewy chocolate cookies with a rich caramel, coconut, and pecan frosting.
Holiday Cut-Out Sugar Cookies & Easy Icing, Sally’s Baking Addiction | My kids love decorating Cutout Sugar Cookies over Christmas. Are cutouts a tradition in your home? Check out one of our favorite recipes here.
Oatmeal Laced Cookies, Add A Pinch | I love how pretty these delicate Christmas tree cookies are. These crunchy crisp cookies are so unique and perfect for Christmas.
Ginger Snap Cookies, A Dash of Sanity | Gingernaps are a true holiday classic. We’ve made ginger cookies in our home as long as I could remember a tradition now for 3 generations.
Red Velvet Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies, Something Swanky | These Red Velvet cookies with a cheesecake filling look so festive and delicious!
Pecan Pie Cookies, Spend with Pennies | I love these beautiful Pecan Pie cookies, a bite-sized twist on the classic Thanksgiving pie.
Best Ever Soft Peanut Butter Cookies, Dash Of Sanity | These Peanut Butter Cookies have gone viral on Pinterest. With hundreds of reviews and pictures, this recipe can’t be beat!
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Rasa Malaysia | These brownie-like Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are so pretty. They fudgy cookies are coated in confectioners sugar – They make a delicious gift for your friends and neighbors.
Mint Brownie Cookies, Chelsea’s Messy Apron | These Mint Brownie Cookies made from a brownie mix with a festive green mint frosting will add such a fun pop of color to your Christmas cookie tray.
Grandma’s Ginger Cookies, A Dash of Sanity | Nothing will ever beat my Grandma’s Ginger Cookies. These are one of my all-time favorite holiday cookies.
Candy Cane Kiss Cookies, Sally’s Baking Addiction | Aren’t these the most festive bite-sized cookies? These Candy Cane Kiss Cookies with peppermint Kisses are so fun to make and just as delicious.
White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies, Cooking Classy | I love how elegant these White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies look on my cookie tray. They are simple but festive and delicious.
The Perfect Gingerbread Cookies, Sweetapolita | Aren’t these just the cutest?! These really are The Perfect Gingerbread Spice Cookies. The kids love decorating their own gingerbread men with sprinkles and icing.
Amazing Soft Sugar Cookies, A Dash of Sanity | This is my favorite Sugar Cookie recipe. I love how amazingly soft they are. It is so fun to decorate them with festive sprinkles and icing for the holidays!
Candy Cane Cookies, Kitchn | These classic Candy Cane Cookies are perfect with a glass of milk. Kids will love rolling their own dough and twisting them into candy canes.
Peanut Butter Buckeyes, Shugary Sweets | You will love these Peanut Butter Buckeyes. They are simple with a soft peanut butter filling dipped in chocolate. They taste just like Reeses but better!
Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies, Julie’s Eats and Treats | Everyone will love these simple Peanut Butter Ritz Sandwich Cookies. With sweet almond bark coating salty crackers and peanut butter, these are perfect for the holidays.
Red Velvet Cake Cookies, A Dash of Sanity | This recipe for Red Velvet Cookies is so easy and only requires a few ingredients. Chewy & filled with chocolate chips, this makes a great holiday goodie.
Sugar Cookie Christmas Wreath Cookies, I Am Baker | These Christmas Wreath Cookies are classic and beautifully simple. They are a perfect festive addition to your Christmas dessert table.
Rainbow Chip Cookies, I Am Baker | The kids love to help me make these adorable Rainbow Chip Cookies. They are so simple but fun shortbread cookies that anyone will love to eat.
Chocolate Pecan Pie Cookies, A Dash of Sanity | Chocolate Pecan Pie Cookies are a delicious twist on traditional pecan pie filling. I love the chocolatey flavor with the caramel and pecans.
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies, The Slow Roasted Italian | These are super fun and festive Christmas cookies. I love how creative these are!
Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies, Center Cut Cook | Look how soft and fluffy these Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies are! They are a perfect combo of these delicious fall flavors.
Lemon Sugar Cookies, A Dash of Sanity | Lemon desserts are my husband’s favorite, so these Lemon Sugar Cookies are a must during the holidays.
Gooey Salted Caramel Vanilla Butter Cookies, Kevin and Amanda | Soft Vanilla Butter Cookies filled with ooey-gooey Salted Caramel, these buttery cookies are absolutely mouth-watering.
Soft Baked White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies, Sally’s Baking Addiction | These Soft-Baked White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies are perfect all year round but are even better during the holidays. The combination of white chocolate and cranberries is to die for.
Caramel Stuffed Brown Sugar Cookies, Carlsbad Cravings | Using browned butter to make sugar cookies is simply amazing! I love the rich flavor with the gooey caramel center.
White Chocolate Caramel Snickerdoodles, Dash of Sanity | This is one of our favorite cookies all year long. It is perfectly festive for the holiday season. A classic Snickerdoodle Cookie topped with homemade caramel and sprinkled with sea salt.
M&M Cookies, My Baking Addiction | These simple M&M Cookies take two favorite treats and combine them, making one delicious kid-friendly treat.
Turtle Ritz Cookie Sandwiches, The Gunny Sack | Another delicious sweet and salty treat, these make perfect gifts for the holidays. Turtle Ritz Cookies are filled with rich caramel, dipped in almond bark, and topped with pecans.
Thin Mint Cookies, Sally’s Baking Addiction | I’m obsessed with these Homemade Thin Mint Cookies. They taste just like the real thing, so they perfectly satisfy any Thin Mint craving.
Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Blossoms, A Dash of Sanity | During Pumpkin Season these are one of my favorite treats. They make a delicious fall holiday dessert or gift.
Salted Caramel Turtle Thumbprint Cookies, Cooking Classy | Just look at how gorgeous these Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies are. All the flavor of classic chocolate turtles, but in rich chocolate cookie form.
Copycat Starbucks Chocolate Chips Cookies, A Dash of Sanity | I love Starbucks, especially this time of year. These Copycat Starbucks Chocolate Chip Cookies are crisp and delicious just like the real thing.
Sprinkle Chocolate Chip Cookies, Two Peas and Their Pod | These Sprinkle Chocolate Chip Cookies are such a fun twist on the classic cookie. The kids will love rolling these in colorful or festive sprinkles.
Lemon Snowball Cookies, Crazy for Crust | These classic Lemon Snowballs are so light and unique. They’re inspired by Mexican wedding cookies and will be a refreshing addition to your holiday spread.
Cherry Pie Cookies, The Recipe Critic | These Cherry Pie Cookies are like bite-sized versions of a classic holiday dessert and thumbprint cookies. They are so pretty and simple to make.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies, Mel’s Kitchen Cafe | Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies is a twist on classic cookies that sound so delicious and perfect for the holiday.
Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies, Inside BruCrew Life | Oreo Peppermint Crunch Cookies are loaded with an amazing combo of Oreos, Andes Peppermint Crunch candies, and dark chocolate chips. These are perfect for Christmas!
Apple Pie Cookies, OMG Chocolate Desserts | I love this idea! Bite-size, easy to make Apple Pie Cookies taste just like the classic pie but without the baking time or mess.
Oatmeal Pecan Cookies, Chelsea’s Messy Apron | Oatmeal Cookies with pecans are stuffed with rolled oats, chocolate chips, and chopped pecans. If If you love soft and chewy cookies, this is a simple recipe you won’t want to miss.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Snickerdoodles, The Recipe Critic | Combining three favorite fall treats, these Pumpkin Cheesecake Snickerdoodles are so flavorful and will please anyone.
Maple Cinnamon Sugar Cookies, Design Eat Repeat | These Maple Cinnamon Sugar Cookies with Maple Cream Cheese Icing are full of delicious fall flavors, making them perfect this time of year.
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies, Buns In My Oven | This combination of two classic cookies hits the spot. Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies are a great twist to add to your cookie jar.
Peppermint Patty Cookies, A Treats Affair | These Double Mint Peppermint Patty Cookies are so addictive. They are the perfect winter treat.
Chocolate Sprinkle Cookies, Julia’s Album | These adorable Chocolate Cookies with sprinkles are so simple yet soft and tasty. They are a perfect bright addition to your holiday spread.
Easy No-Bake Avalanche Cookies, Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts | My kids are obsessed with No-Bake cookies, so these Easy No-Bake Avalanche Cookies are their favorite winter treat. Simply mix Rice Krispies, marshmallows, white chocolate, and peanut butter.
Easy Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies, Sugar and Soul | I love these crisp buttery Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies. Add the lemon glaze and these are perfect for serving at parties.
Rocky Road Cookies, Let’s Dish Recipes | Based on the classic ice cream flavor, these Rocky Road Cookies are addictive. Chocolate cookies topped with almonds, marshmallows, and drizzled with more chocolate.
Sour Cream Cookies, Taste and Tell Blog | These old-fashioned Sour Cream Cookies are oh-so-soft and flavorful. They are a simple yet traditional cookie that everyone (including Santa!) will love.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, The Recipe Critic | Using Brown Butter in classic Chocolate Chip Cookies takes them to another level of rich flavor. That makes these perfect for holiday treats.
This list is so full of the best Christmas cookies recipes – I hope you find some new favorites to make this year. Have an amazing holiday season! XOXO San
More Holiday Treats
Be sure to check out more of my favorite recipes for the holidays:
- 50 of the Best Holiday Appetizers
- 50 of the Best Holiday Candies
- 50 of the Best DIY Christmas Decorations
- 25 Thanksgiving Desserts That Are Not Pie
- 25 of the Best Thanksgiving Pies
Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
This post has recently been updated from the original post date 11/2016.
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Thanks for including our cookies! I want to make them all!
They all look so yummy and I will be making a bunch of them for Christmas!
Thanks so much for including my Oatmeal Lace Cookies in this roundup of holiday cookies! It is a family recipe we love and always make every holiday! I hope you enjoy it! Thanks!
Robyn xo
These cookies look amazing! The Christmas tree sugar cookies are so cute. The gingerbread men are also really cute, and such a classic Christmas treat. These really got me in the mood for the holiday season!
These all look so delicious, it’s hard to pick a favorite — better try them all! Thanks for recommending these recipes
Thanks for reading!
I have to make all of these! The ones I tried were so good!
So glad to hear that!
Oh my goodness! How many delicious cookies ideas! Love them!
Enjoy!
Thank you!
I want to make them all!! They are amazing!
Enjoy!
OH my, these are all fantastic!! I want them all!!
Enjoy!
These look so delicious and yummy! My family is going to love these recipes! I can’t wait!
I hope they enjoy!
German choco cookies are my fave from this list – they rule!