Christmas is a time for family, friends, and delicious holiday cookies. From classic butter cookies to iced gingerbread cookies, this list of ultimate Christmas cookie recipes has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for festive colors, unique seasonal ingredients, or just a cookie that’s super easy to make, these Christmas cookie recipes will help you find the perfect cookie for the season.
This will be the 7th year Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck has participated in a Christmas Cookies Week event. Below you can find links to all of the recipes we have contributed throughout the years, however, you can also CLICK HERE to find an entire list of our past cookie recipes. Don’t be afraid to let a non-traditional cookie recipe play a role in your holiday baking this year because when it comes to Christmas cookies, variety is always a good thing. Merry baking y’all.
2024
Red & White Sparkling Brown Sugar Cookies
These easy-to-make brown sugar cookies are soft, chewy, and made with simple pantry staples that you probably already have stashed in your kitchen cabinets. They get a dazzling holiday makeover with a sprinkle of vibrant red and white sparkling sugar, adding a festive flair and a little crunch that will make every bite feel like a celebration.
Honey Roasted Peanut Chocolate Kiss Cookies
This is a non-fussy, straightforward recipe, made with simple ingredients, that can most likely be found in your pantry. Chopped honey roasted peanuts and Hershey’s Kisses give these soft and chewy brown sugar cookies a nutty, crunchy texture with a chocolatey decorative finish. This delightful cookie combo is sure to satisfy almost anyone’s sweet tooth.
Coconut & Dried Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peanut Butter Frosted Jammy Bits Cookies
Cornmeal Dried Cranberry Brown Sugar Cookies
2023
Ginger’s Cherry Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are everyone’s favorite, and this cookie recipe is one that my mom, Ginger, would have loved at first bite. These delicious cookies are loaded with miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles, and dried sweetened cherries, making them the perfect combination of crunchy and chewy. If you’re someone who loves chocolaty cookies with lots of texture, these are the cookies for you.
Sparkling Sugar Irish Butter Slice & Bake Cookies
These sparkly slice-and-bake cookies with Irish butter are buttery, crisp, and full of flavor. Everyone will absolutely adore them. They’re also fairly easy to make and require very few ingredients. The buttery flavor combined with the sparkle of the white sparkling sugar makes these cookies truly special. They’re the perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray or platter.
White Chocolate Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Cake mix cookies are a delicious way to enjoy a sweet treat without having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. These red velvet cake mix cookies are soft, cakey, and absolutely delicious. Plus, the addition of chopped white chocolate to the cookie dough gives these vibrant red velvet cookies a festive red-and-white color combination that’s perfect for the holidays.
Orange Mixed Berry Glazed Thumbprint Cookies
These gorgeous mixed berry preserves-filled orange thumbprint cookies, topped with a simple orange and vanilla extract powdered glaze, are a delicious treat that combines buttery, sweet, citrusy, and fruity flavors to create a cookie worthy of any cookie tray or platter. Whether you bake these cookies during the holidays or just because you’re craving something sweet, they’re guaranteed to be an instant hit with anyone who tries them.
Cinnamon Powdered Sugar Panko Cookies
Panko bread crumbs are the secret ingredient to these cinnamon-flavored powdered sugar cookies. The panko’s light and airy texture provides a delightful crunch that perfectly complements the sweetness of the powdered sugar and the subtle hint of ground cinnamon. These buttery cookies are incredibly easy to make and are guaranteed to be an instant crowd-pleaser.
2022
Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Toffee Cookies
These HEATH Milk Chocolate English Toffee Bar-stuffed oatmeal cookies are everything you desire a cookie to be. They’re perfectly chewy, chocolatey, and crunchy, with just the right oatmeal-to-cookie ratio. This is definitely one chocolate toffee oatmeal cookie recipe that you’re going to want to bake immediately. Run, don’t walk to the kitchen. It’s time to start baking.
Chocolate Fudge Brownie Oatmeal M&M Cookies
When you can’t decide between an oatmeal cookie, a chocolate fudge brownie, or a handful of M&M’s, bake up a batch of these Chocolate Fudge Brownie Oatmeal M&M Cookies. You can satisfy all of your cravings with one rich, delicious, and super-chocolatey cookie and spread a little bit of seasonal cheer with the addition of festive holiday M&M’s.
Pecan Sandies, Russian Tea Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies, and Snowball Cookies all have one thing in common; they almost always contain ground or chopped pecans. For those severely allergic to nuts, this can be an extremely dangerous thing. Instead of using pecans, this recipe uses roasted salted pumpkin seeds, making it safe for those with nut allergies to finally enjoy these crumbly, sweet, and powdery traditional holiday cookies.
Lemon Iced Gingerbread Cookies
These lemon iced gingerbread cookies are a cookie lover’s dream come true because they’ve got pretty much everything going for them. They’re soft, chewy, sweet, salty, and have a lovely spicy ginger kick. And, once they’re topped with a fresh lemon zest and juice-infused icing, they’re just as gorgeous as they are sweet and citrusy.
These whimsical sugar plum pinwheel cookies are the perfect cookie recipe to help make your cookie tray or platter really stand out this holiday season. And since the cookie dough for this large-batch cookie recipe is very similar to pie dough and extremely easy to work with, why not spend a little extra time this year to impress your friends and family with these charming plum preserve-filled holiday cookies?
2021
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with Grape Nuts
When you’re looking for the perfect peanut butter oatmeal cookie recipe, look no further than this one. The secret to this cookie’s perfection is the addition of Grape Nuts to the cookie dough. The cereal adds just the right nutty crunch without actually having to add nuts. Seriously, this may just be the best peanut butter oatmeal cookie you’ll ever eat.
Cappuccino Swirl Butter Cookies
These amazing cappuccino swirl butter cookies are definitely a sweet treat your entire family will enjoy. They have just the right hint of coffee flavor, thanks to the espresso powder and sugar mixture they are rolled in before baking. And, once a Hershey’s Kisses Hug is added to each cookie after baking, and then gently swirled after a few minutes of melting, these tasty, buttery, and delicious cookies definitely resemble an irresistible cup of fragrant cappuccino. Seriously, what’s not to love about this amazing cookie combination?
Dark Rum Cherry Almond Thumbprint Cookies
What’s better than a Christmas thumbprint cookie? A boozy Christmas thumbprint cookie made using dark rum and cherry preserves. Add on a drizzle of powdered sugar rum glaze and a few sliced almonds, and these boozy Christmas cookies will certainly grab your attention with their festive presentation if not their amazing and absolutely delicious taste.
Chocolate Chip Cocoa Powder Cookies
You can’t celebrate the holidays without a chocolate chip cookie or two on your cookie platter. And, if you did try to celebrate without them, I’m fairly certain that Santa would be pretty disappointed. So, this Christmas, why not make Santa really merry with these chocolate chip cocoa powder cookies? They’re super chocolatey and have just a hint of sea salt to make this almost irresistible. Even to Santa.
Old-Fashioned Jubilee Jumbles Cookies
This old-fashioned cookie recipe for Jubilee Jumbles will easily become a Christmas go-to recipe that your friends and family will look forward to each year. These large-batch cookies are soft, puffy, and have a cake or muffin-like texture. Plus, once you add on a dollop of butter icing and a few festive sprinkles, these cookies immediately become an attractive, not to mention an extremely delicious holiday treat.
2020
Cinnamon Chip Holiday Spice Cake Mix Cookies
Not everyone has time around the holidays to bake homemade, completely from scratch Christmas cookies. That’s where using a boxed spice cake mix comes in handy. Simply add a few extra ingredients to create an easy, quick, and absolutely delicious “homemade” Christmas cookie with a serious cinnamon punch. No one will even guess that these cookies came from a boxed cake mix.
Just because Thanksgiving is over, doesn’t mean that you can’t crack open a can of pumpkin to make a few Christmas cookies. And, when you use that canned pumpkin to make moist and chewy gingerbread cookies, well, I’m pretty sure that just about no one in this world is going to have anything bad to say about you combining holidays to make this flavorful, zesty, delicious, and festive sweet holiday treat.
Peppermint Cream Cheese Crushed Oreo Cookies
These soft oreo-stuffed cookies practically scream Christmas. Made with cream cheese, super-loaded with crushed oreo cookies, and topped with just the right amount of peppermint, these holiday cookies are simply too good to resist. I think you’ll definitely agree that they have just the right amount of holiday flavor, festive color, and delicious cookie texture to get anyone into the holiday spirit.
Cran-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies with Grape Nuts
Classic holiday cookies are often just that, simply because they are so classic. This recipe puts a new spin on the traditional and classic oatmeal cookie recipe by adding Grape Nuts cereal for added texture. If you’re a real oatmeal cookie fan, then you are definitely going to love these oatmeal cookies, packed full of delicious dried sweetened cranberries and golden raisins.
Sadie’s Double Pecan Butter Cookies
Around the holidays, it only seems right to dig through the pantry or freezer to find that bag of pecans stashed away earlier in the year. After all, nuts just seem to scream Christmas. During the holiday season, they add that extra touch of something just a little bit special. I sincerely hope that these tender, flakey, and nutty cookies become a family favorite of yours because they certainly are a treasure to our family.
2019
Cream Cheese Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies
These festive sugar-coated thumbprint cookies are the perfect Christmas cookie, thanks to their red color and shimmery appearance. And, after being filled with a cream cheese filling, they’re just as delicious as they are beautiful.
Chocolate Hazelnut Winter Wonderland Cookies
This is truly a chocolate holiday cookie recipe you can make your own. A basic cookie recipe that is a great base to garnish with either milk, dark, or white chocolate. Sprinkle on some finely chopped hazelnuts, sprinkles, or decorative sugar, and you’ll have a festive Christmas cookie that tastes as good as it looks.
Coconut Grinchy Christmas Breakfast Cookies
Perhaps the reason you’re feeling like a grinch this holiday season is that you forgot to eat breakfast. Easily remedied. These breakfast cookies, made with quick-cooking oats, banana, coconut, peanut butter, and chocolate, will help get rid of any grinchy feelings you have going on and make you excited for breakfast.
Soft Cinnamon Apple Pecan Cookies
Every holiday cookie platter needs a nutty cookie to make it complete. This apple and pecan cinnamon iced cookie is that cookie. If you like soft, sweet, crunchy, fruity, cinnamon packed Christmas cookies, this is one recipe you’re absolutely going to love.
Chocolate-Dipped Christmas Butter Cookies
What’s better than a holiday butter cookie? A festive Christmas holiday butter cookie dipped in chocolate and covered with sprinkles. Yup, chocolate-dipped butter cookies definitely make the holidays worth celebrating.
2018
Chocolate Espresso Brown Sugar Cookies
These crunchy sugar-coated chocolate Christmas cookies are a perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray. With just the right hint of espresso, they are a cookie that both kids and adults alike will both find equally delicious.
White Christmas Peppermint Holiday Cookies
Not only do these peppermint holiday cookies practically melt in your mouth, but due to their flaky texture, they almost crumble apart at the gentlest touch. Thankfully the white chocolate they are drizzled with helps keep them together just long enough for you to get them from your hand to your mouth. Sure there may be a few crumbs dropped during the process, but who can’t live with a few crumbs at Christmas time?
Chocolate Chip Vanilla Cookies
These simple and unassuming chocolate chip cookies are so much more than they first appear. They’re soft and chewy, but also have an intense vanilla flavor that helps to bring out the taste of the semi-chocolate chips in them as well. In addition, they somehow manage to get even better after sitting for a few days after they are baked, which makes them the perfect Christmas cookie to add to a holiday cookie tray.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Cereal Cookies
Every Christmas cookie tray needs a little something special on it, especially if that little something special takes so very little time to make, but still tastes absolutely amazing. These sweet no-bake cookies are made using cereal and peanut butter cups, and they literally take less than ten minutes to make, leaving you more time to spend with your friends and family during the holiday season and less time in the kitchen.
Whoville Christmas Wreath Sugar Cookies
All the little Whos in Whoville will simply adore these Whoville Christmas Wreath Sugar Cookies. To decorate these vivid green and pink buttercream icing frosted Christmas sugar cookies, simply break out your brightest and most whimsical sprinkles. When it comes to decorating these Christmas wreaths, there’s no need to be a Grinch, don’t hold back. In this case, more sprinkles is definitely a good thing.
2017
Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies
Every cookie exchange, cookie swap, or cookie tray should include a gingerbread cookie, and this chocolate chip cookie version is one everyone will enjoy.
Dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and a generous amount of orange zest make these chewy and crunchy Christmas holiday cookies simply irresistible.
These crumbly and buttery shortbread Christmas cookies are topped with sliced almonds and then drizzled with a heavenly eggnog-infused almond glaze.
Mexican Chocolate Chip Crinkle Cookies
A hint of cinnamon and spice make these traditional Christmas chocolate chip crinkle cookies coated in powdered sugar a real holiday treat.
Lemon and ginger add a unique twist to these traditional crinkle cookies, making each bite sweet, tart, and just a little bit spicy.
MISCELLANEOUS CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES
Snowy Eggnog Melt-Away Cookies
One bite of these sweet buttery melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and you’ll be transported to a winter wonderland. With their dusting of white sparkling sugar snow, simple eggnog and powdered sugar icing, and warm nutmeg and cinnamon spices, these Snowy Eggnog Melt-Away Cookies are the ideal treat for the chilly holiday season.
Cherry Liqueur Icing Filled Thumbprint Cookies
After baking, these buttery thumbprint cookies are filled with a smooth powdered sugar cherry liqueur icing and sprinkled with finely chopped maraschino cherries. The result is a delicious, bite-sized treat that is as attractive as it is delicious. These cookies are just the cookie recipe you need to add some gorgeous holiday color to your cookie tray this season.
Iced Eggnog Chewy Spice Cookies
These delicious holiday cookies are spiced with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves for a festive flavor. To make them even better, they are topped with a delicious eggnog powdered sugar icing. With the combination of spices and sweet eggnog icing, these iced eggnog chewy spice cookies are sure to please.
Reindeer Molasses Spice Cookies
These molasses spice cookies are the perfect sweet treat to leave out for Santa this Christmas Eve. And, with the addition of mini pretzel antlers, candy eyeballs, and chocolate M&M’s noses, these easy-to-decorate sweet spice-filled molasses reindeer cookies will definitely ensure that you make Santa’s Nice List this holiday season.
5 Christmas Cookies – 1 Batch of Cookie Dough
Around the holidays, it’s always nice to have a cookie tray or platter around when you are entertaining guests. However, it’s not always easy or convenient to bake several batches of cookies in order to have that cookie tray or platter on hand. With this 5 in 1 cookie recipe, you can turn one batch of cookie dough into five different and absolutely delicious Christmas cookies. It’s a fun way to make a gorgeous cookie tray, without having to spend hours in the kitchen baking.
Salted Honey Pecan Thumbprint Cookies
What could be better than a buttery thumbprint cookie? A buttery thumbprint cookie rolled in finely ground pecans, topped with a pecan half, and then drizzled with just the right touch of sweet honey and a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt. This is one sweet and salty thumbprint cookie you simply won’t be able to resist.
Crumbly Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Two ingredients give these gluten-free chocolate chip cookies their amazing crumbly texture; peanut butter and corn starch. And thanks to the healthy dose of chocolate chips in these crumbly cookies, I can pretty much promise, that once you have one, you’re definitely going to want another. So, grab a glass of milk and a cookie or two, it’s time to enjoy this sweet gluten-free treat.
Cake Mix Cinnamon Oatmeal Reindeer Cookies
Santa’s not the only one who enjoys a few cookies at Christmas time, his reindeer look forward to them as well. These oatmeal and cinnamon-flavored cookies, made using a yellow butter cake mix, are the perfect cookie recipe to make with your children during the holiday season. Not only will your kids love eating these tasty cookies, but they’ll also be thrilled to leave a few out for Santa’s reindeer.
Malibu Winter Thumbprint Cookies
When the world outside is covered in snow and you can’t seem to put on enough layers of clothes to stay warm, these cookies help you feel like an island escape is possible and that sunshine and warmth are only one cookie away.
Santa’s Special Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies
Leave a cookie for Santa that he won’t be able to resist. Bacon, chocolate, and maple give these cookies that little something special, which will have Santa coming back year after year for more.
Sugar Plum Fairy Holiday Cookies
Searching for the perfect holiday cookie recipe for your next cookie exchange? Look no further. Everyone will love these glazed buttery jam-filled Sugar Plum Fairy Holiday Cookies.
Fat Mexican Reindeer Oatmeal Cookies
These chewy Mexican chocolate chunk cookies get a cozy and flavorful kick from ground cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s no wonder why Santa’s reindeer simply can’t resist these fat, plump, chunky, and oversized oatmeal cookies.
When it comes to winter treats, it can be hard to choose between hot chocolate, brownies, and cookies. But why choose when you can have all three in one cookie? These delicious cookies have a lovely brownie texture, are bursting with chocolaty goodness, and are topped with melted marshmallows just like the best hot chocolate. They’re the perfect cookie to celebrate a snow day with.
Cranberry and White Chocolate Frosted Biscuit Cookies
This holiday season, enjoy the deliciousness of a soft, buttery biscuit-based cookie combined with a light and creamy butter and cream cheese frosting, the zesty taste of lemon, and the sweetness of white chocolate and dried cranberries. With every bite, you’ll experience a burst of sweet delightful flavors.
Krakiowanki, also known as Polish Christmas Cookies, are butter and cream cheese slice-and-bake cookies, coated in sprinkles or colored sugar. With their colorful and festive presentation, these simple and delicious cookies make a great addition to any holiday cookie plate or tray.
Cherry & Spice Almond Shortbread Cookies
With their combination of sweet cherry preserves, crunchy almonds, and cinnamon-flavored white chocolate drizzle, these buttery thumbprint cookies are the perfect holiday cookie. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just making some treats to enjoy during the holiday season, festive, fruity, buttery, nutty holiday cookies are a great way to add some holiday cheer to your cookie tray.
Santa’s Mini Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
These holiday cookies are the perfect combination of salty and sweet while being crunchy and soft at the same time. Whether you’re looking for a tasty cookie to serve at your next holiday gathering or just a delicious snack to enjoy, these peanut butter and chocolate holiday cookies are sure to please. They’re loaded with mini peanut butter cups, festive Christmas M&M’s, and roughly chopped peanuts, making them an all-time favorite cookie. Enjoy these festive treats all season long and make sure to save some for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Raspberry-Cranberry Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies
These festive raspberry and cranberry thumbprint cookies, topped with a simple powdered sugar vanilla glaze, are a delicious treat that combines buttery, sweet, and fruity flavors to make them utterly irresistible. And, with the ability to use any brand or variety of mixed berry jam, jelly, or preserves, you can create an array of different flavors for your cookie tray or platter. Whether you bake these cookies for a special occasion or just because you’re craving something sweet, they’re sure to be a hit.
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