Top 10 Christmas Cookie Recipes Everyone Should Bake This Year

Christmas without cookies feels slightly suspicious. Where are the buttery smells coming from the kitchen? Where’s the tray you promised you wouldn’t touch until guests arrived but somehow “tested” four times?

These Christmas cookie recipes bring all the good stuff: buttery centers, crisp edges, chocolate, peppermint, warm spices, festive colors, and enough powdered sugar to decorate your shirt while you’re baking.

Better yet, you don’t need professional decorating skills or an entire weekend to make them. Some look fancy, some stay wonderfully simple, and all ten deserve a spot on your Christmas cookie tray.

Whether you need cookies for a holiday party, homemade gifts, a Christmas cookie exchange, or a quiet evening involving hot cocoa and questionable portion control, you’ll find something worth baking here.

1. Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies

Nothing says Christmas quite like a tray of colorful sugar cookies shaped like trees, stars, snowflakes, and gingerbread people.

These cookies hold their shape beautifully while staying buttery and tender. Decorate them extravagantly or slap on some frosting and sprinkles—the cookies won’t judge you.

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional
• Royal icing or buttercream
• Christmas sprinkles

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Beat the softened butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy.
3. Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
4. Mix until everything looks smooth.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients.
6. Mix just until a soft dough forms.
7. Divide the dough into two discs and wrap them tightly.
8. Chill for at least 1 hour.
9. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
10. Roll the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
11. Cut out your favorite Christmas shapes.
12. Arrange them on parchment-lined baking sheets.
13. Bake for 8–10 minutes until the edges look barely golden.
14. Cool completely before decorating.

Why You’ll Love It

These cookies give you that classic Christmas sugar cookie experience without turning into dry little cardboard stars.

Chilling the dough matters. Skip that step and your adorable Christmas tree might emerge from the oven looking suspiciously like a potato.

Make the cookies a day ahead and host a decorating night with bowls of icing and sprinkles.

2. Soft Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread should taste warmly spiced and buttery—not like something you could use to repair a roof.

This recipe creates soft centers, slightly crisp edges, and plenty of molasses flavor.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Whisk the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
2. Beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
3. Mix in the egg.
4. Add the molasses and vanilla.
5. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
6. Divide the dough into two discs.
7. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
8. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
9. Roll the dough about 1/4 inch thick.
10. Cut out gingerbread people, stars, or other festive shapes.
11. Bake for 8–10 minutes.
12. Cool completely before adding icing.

Why You’ll Love It

Molasses gives these cookies their deep, old-fashioned flavor, while ginger and cinnamon provide that unmistakable Christmas aroma.

I prefer slightly thicker gingerbread cookies because they stay softer in the middle. Thin cookies get crunchier, which works beautifully if you plan to decorate them heavily.

Either way, your kitchen will smell ridiculously good.

3. Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Imagine a brownie wearing a snowy powdered-sugar coat.

That basically describes these chocolate crinkle cookies, and frankly, I see no problem with it.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup crushed candy canes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
2. Mix the sugar and oil in a separate bowl.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
4. Add the vanilla and peppermint extract.
5. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
6. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours.
7. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
8. Scoop the dough into small balls.
9. Roll each ball generously in powdered sugar.
10. Place them on a lined baking sheet.
11. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
12. Sprinkle lightly with crushed candy canes while warm.

Why You’ll Love It

These cookies look dramatic without requiring piping bags, food coloring, or an art degree.

The centers stay fudgy while the powdered sugar creates those beautiful cracks across the surface.

Go gently with peppermint extract. Peppermint has confidence. Too much can make your cookie taste like toothpaste, and nobody requested dental-care dessert.

4. Christmas M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent a classic. You just need to throw red and green candy into it.

These Christmas chocolate chip cookies stay thick, chewy, buttery, and packed with chocolate.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup red and green candy-coated chocolates

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Beat the butter with both sugars until creamy.
4. Add the eggs one at a time.
5. Mix in the vanilla.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients.
7. Fold in the chocolate chips and most of the candies.
8. Scoop balls of dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
9. Press a few remaining candies onto each cookie.
10. Bake for 9–11 minutes.
11. Let the cookies rest on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack.

Why You’ll Love It

These cookies require almost zero decorating effort yet look instantly festive.

Pressing a few candies into the tops before baking also makes a huge visual difference. Otherwise, half your colorful pieces hide inside the dough like they’re avoiding family Christmas photos.

Add flaky sea salt on top if you love salty-sweet desserts.

5. Buttery Christmas Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread proves that simple ingredients can produce seriously good cookies.

You get crisp edges, a delicate crumb, and rich buttery flavor without needing a mile-long ingredient list.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup festive sprinkles
• Melted chocolate, optional

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Beat the butter and powdered sugar until smooth.
2. Mix in the vanilla.
3. Add the flour and salt gradually.
4. Fold in the Christmas sprinkles.
5. Shape the dough into a log.
6. Wrap tightly and chill for 1 hour.
7. Preheat your oven to 325°F.
8. Slice the chilled dough into rounds.
9. Arrange the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
10. Bake for 12–15 minutes until the edges turn lightly golden.
11. Cool completely.
12. Dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate if desired.

Why You’ll Love It

Shortbread tastes rich without feeling complicated. It also holds up well in cookie tins, making it a great option for homemade Christmas gifts.

IMO, dipping half the cookie in dark chocolate gives you the perfect balance. You still taste the butter while getting a little chocolate in every bite.

Who needs complicated decorating when melted chocolate exists?

6. Snowball Cookies with Pecans

These little powdered-sugar-covered cookies look like tiny snowballs and crumble beautifully when you bite into them.

Just don’t wear black while eating one. Consider yourself warned.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar for coating

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Beat the butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until creamy.
3. Add the vanilla.
4. Mix in the flour and salt.
5. Fold in the chopped pecans.
6. Roll tablespoon-size portions into balls.
7. Arrange them on a lined baking sheet.
8. Bake for 12–14 minutes.
9. Let them cool for about 5 minutes.
10. Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar.
11. Cool completely.
12. Roll them in powdered sugar a second time.

Why You’ll Love It

The double sugar coating gives snowball cookies their signature snowy appearance.

Pecans bring a warm, toasted flavor that works beautifully with all that butter. Toast the nuts before chopping them if you want an even deeper flavor.

These cookies practically melt in your mouth. Keeping powdered sugar off your sweater? Different challenge entirely. 🙂

7. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

These cookies basically dress themselves for Christmas.

Ruby-red cranberries and creamy white chocolate create festive colors naturally, while the tart berries keep the cookies from tasting overly sweet.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachios, optional

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Beat the butter with both sugars until fluffy.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla.
5. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
6. Fold in the white chocolate chips and cranberries.
7. Add pistachios if using.
8. Scoop the dough onto lined baking sheets.
9. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
10. Cool for 5 minutes on the pan before moving the cookies to a rack.

Why You’ll Love It

White chocolate and cranberry make a fantastic pair because one brings sweetness while the other adds tanginess.

Pistachios add green color and crunch, but you can skip them if you want a simpler cookie.

These also look fantastic inside holiday gift boxes without requiring a single drop of icing.

8. Hot Chocolate Cookies with Marshmallows

Why drink hot chocolate when you can apparently turn it into a cookie?

These soft chocolate cookies come loaded with chocolate chips and gooey marshmallows for maximum winter-dessert energy.

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup mini marshmallows

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Whisk the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. Beat the butter with both sugars.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla.
5. Mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
7. Scoop the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
8. Bake for about 7 minutes.
9. Carefully press several mini marshmallows into each cookie.
10. Return the cookies to the oven for 2–3 minutes.
11. Remove them once the marshmallows soften and the cookie edges set.

Why You’ll Love It

Adding the marshmallows near the end prevents them from completely disappearing into the cookies.

The result tastes somewhere between a brownie, chocolate chip cookie, and mug of cocoa.

Serve one slightly warm and tell me you don’t immediately want another. Exactly.

9. Jam-Filled Christmas Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies bring a little jewel-box energy to a Christmas cookie platter.

Their buttery base pairs beautifully with bright raspberry or strawberry jam, and you don’t need fancy decorating skills to make them look gorgeous.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup raspberry or strawberry jam
• Powdered sugar, optional

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy.
3. Mix in the egg yolks and vanilla.
4. Add the flour and salt.
5. Mix until a soft dough forms.
6. Roll tablespoon-size portions into balls.
7. Place them on a lined baking sheet.
8. Press your thumb or the back of a measuring spoon into each center.
9. Spoon a small amount of jam into every indentation.
10. Bake for 11–13 minutes.
11. Cool completely.
12. Dust lightly with powdered sugar if desired.

Why You’ll Love It

The jam cuts through the buttery cookie with just enough tartness.

Raspberry remains my favorite because its sharp flavor balances sweet dough particularly well. Apricot jam also works beautifully if you want something a little different.

FYI, don’t overfill the centers. Jam expands as it heats, and overflowing jam turns your baking sheet into sticky Christmas chaos.

10. Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Cookies

We’re finishing strong with chocolate, because obviously.

These buttery cookies get dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies for an easy Christmas treat that looks bakery-worthy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces dark or semisweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup crushed candy canes

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
2. Add the egg, vanilla, and peppermint extract.
3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt separately.
4. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture.
5. Chill the dough for 30–60 minutes.
6. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
7. Roll the dough and cut it into circles or festive shapes.
8. Bake for 9–11 minutes.
9. Cool the cookies completely.
10. Melt the chocolate until smooth.
11. Dip half of each cookie into the chocolate.
12. Sprinkle crushed candy canes over the wet chocolate.
13. Place the cookies on parchment until the chocolate sets.

Why You’ll Love It

Chocolate and peppermint immediately make an ordinary cookie taste like Christmas.

I prefer dark chocolate because it balances the sweet cookie and candy cane coating. Milk chocolate works, but the final cookie tastes much sweeter.

These look particularly pretty stacked inside clear gift bags with ribbon.

How to Create the Perfect Christmas Cookie Platter

You’ve baked ten cookies. Now comes the surprisingly satisfying part: arranging them.

A beautiful Christmas cookie tray needs contrast more than perfect decorating.

Mix different shapes, colors, and textures. Place darker chocolate cookies next to pale shortbread, colorful sugar cookies beside snowballs, and jam thumbprints between chocolate-heavy options.

For a balanced tray, combine:

• Sugar cookies for festive shapes
• Gingerbread cookies for warm spices
• Chocolate crinkles for rich chocolate flavor
• M&M cookies for color
• Shortbread for buttery crunch
• Snowballs for a powdered-sugar finish
• Cranberry cookies for fruity flavor
• Hot chocolate cookies for gooey indulgence
• Thumbprints for bright jam centers
• Peppermint cookies for a minty finish

Stack some cookies while laying others flat. That creates height and makes the platter look fuller.

And yes, strategically filling empty spaces with smaller cookies absolutely counts as styling.

Tips for Baking the Best Christmas Cookies

A few tiny baking habits can make the difference between thick, beautiful cookies and sad little pancakes.

Measure Your Flour Carefully

Too much flour creates dry cookies.

Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level the top rather than packing the flour down.

Chill Soft Dough

If your cookie dough feels warm, sticky, or unusually soft, chill it before baking.

Cold dough spreads less and usually creates thicker cookies.

Don’t Overbake

Cookies often continue cooking after you remove them from the oven.

Pull chewy cookies when the edges look set but the centers still appear slightly soft. They’ll finish setting on the baking sheet.

Use Parchment Paper

Parchment keeps cookies from sticking and makes cleanup much easier.

Because after baking ten kinds of Christmas cookies, who wants to scrub three baking sheets?

Let Cookies Cool Before Decorating

Warm cookies melt icing and chocolate.

Patience feels deeply unreasonable when fresh cookies sit two feet away, but give them time.

How to Store Christmas Cookies

Most plain cookies stay fresh for several days when you keep them in airtight containers at room temperature.

Separate strongly flavored cookies when possible. Peppermint and gingerbread can transfer their aromas to delicate sugar cookies and shortbread.

Layer delicate cookies between sheets of parchment paper so they don’t stick together.

You can also freeze many baked cookies for several weeks. Let them cool completely, pack them into freezer-safe containers, and thaw them at room temperature.

For decorated sugar cookies, wait until the icing dries completely before stacking them.

Which Christmas Cookies Should You Bake First?

If you want a traditional Christmas baking project, start with classic sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies.

Need something easy for a cookie exchange? Christmas M&M cookies, cranberry white chocolate cookies, and snowballs give you big holiday flavor without complicated decorating.

Chocolate lovers should head directly toward the peppermint crinkles and hot chocolate cookies. No detours necessary.

For edible gifts, shortbread, thumbprints, and chocolate-dipped peppermint cookies look especially polished inside tins and bakery boxes.

And if choosing feels impossible?

Make several varieties and build a cookie tray. December has never exactly been famous for dessert restraint.

Related Recipes

• 7 Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipes That Taste Like Fall Perfection
• 7 Pumpkin Bundt Cake Recipes That Make Fall Dessert Gorgeous
• 7 Easy Crockpot Recipes With Few Ingredients for Lazy Dinners

Final Thoughts

The best Christmas cookie recipes combine festive flavor with recipes you’ll actually enjoy making. Nobody needs a holiday dessert that requires six hours, twelve piping tips, and the emotional stability of a professional pastry chef.

These 10 Christmas cookies give you everything from classic sugar cookies and soft gingerbread to chocolate crinkles, snowballs, jam thumbprints, peppermint cookies, and gooey hot chocolate treats.

Bake them for a Christmas party, cookie exchange, family movie night, or homemade holiday gifts. Better yet, choose three or four recipes and create one seriously irresistible Christmas cookie platter.

Just remember to hide a few cookies before you put the tray out.

Consider it the baker’s tax.