Christmas baking brings cozy aromas, nostalgic flavors, and festive fun to your holiday kitchen.

Whether you’re preparing treats for a party, gifting homemade goodies, or filling your dessert table, these 15 Christmas baking recipes are delicious, easy, and perfect for celebrating the season.

1. Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Warm spices and deep molasses flavor make these gingerbread cookies a timeless Christmas favorite. Perfect for decorating with icing.

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour

• 1 tbsp ginger

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ½ tsp nutmeg

• ½ tsp cloves

• ¾ cup butter

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• 1 egg

• ½ cup molasses

• 1 tsp baking soda

Instructions

1. Beat butter and sugar until creamy.

2. Add egg and molasses.

3. Stir in dry ingredients.

4. Chill dough 1 hour.

5. Roll, cut shapes, bake at 350°F (175°C) for 9–11 minutes.

2. Peppermint Chocolate Brownies

Rich fudgy brownies topped with crushed candy canes and peppermint frosting for a wintery twist.

Ingredients

• Brownie batter

• 1 cup crushed candy canes

• Peppermint extract

• Frosting of choice

Instructions

1. Bake brownie base.

2. Mix frosting with ½ tsp peppermint extract.

3. Spread frosting and sprinkle candy canes.

3. Christmas Sugar Cookies

Soft sugar cookies perfect for decorating with festive shapes, sprinkles, and colorful icing.

Ingredients

• 2¾ cups flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup butter

• 1 egg

• 1½ tsp vanilla

• 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar.

2. Add egg and vanilla.

3. Stir in dry ingredients.

4. Roll out dough, cut, bake 10 minutes at 350°F.

Read More: 17 Breakfast Baking Recipes

4. Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree

Soft, gooey cinnamon rolls arranged into a festive tree shape and topped with icing.

Ingredients

• 1 dough sheet or homemade dough

• ½ cup cinnamon sugar

• ¼ cup melted butter

• Icing

Instructions

1. Spread butter and cinnamon sugar on dough.

2. Roll, slice, and arrange as tree.

3. Bake 20 minutes at 375°F.

5. Eggnog Cupcakes

Light, fluffy cupcakes flavored with eggnog and nutmeg—perfect for holiday parties.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups flour

• ½ cup butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup eggnog

• 1 tsp nutmeg

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugar.

2. Add eggs, eggnog, and nutmeg.

3. Add flour and mix.

4. Bake 18 minutes at 350°F.

6. Hot Chocolate Cookies

Soft chocolate cookies topped with melty marshmallows, giving the flavor of a cozy cup of cocoa.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour

• ½ cup cocoa powder

• ½ cup butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 egg

• Marshmallows

Instructions

1. Mix dough ingredients.

2. Scoop onto sheet and bake 10 minutes.

3. Add marshmallows and bake 2 more minutes.

7. Cranberry Orange Loaf

A bright and festive loaf combining tart cranberries and fresh orange zest.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ cup butter

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup cranberries

• Zest of 1 orange

Instructions

1. Mix butter and sugar.

2. Add eggs and zest.

3. Fold in flour and cranberries.

4. Bake 50–55 minutes at 350°F.

8. Christmas Shortbread Bars

Buttery shortbread topped with festive red and green sprinkles—simple and delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter

• ½ cup sugar

• 2 cups flour

• Holiday sprinkles

Instructions

1. Beat butter and sugar.

2. Add flour.

3. Press into pan and sprinkle.

4. Bake 25 minutes at 325°F.

9. Snickerdoodle Christmas Cookies

Soft vanilla cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar, a warm and classic holiday favorite.

Ingredients

• 2¾ cups flour

• 2 tsp cinnamon

• 1½ cups sugar

• 1 cup butter

• 2 eggs

• 2 tsp cream of tartar

Instructions

1. Mix butter and sugar.

2. Add eggs.

3. Stir in dry ingredients.

4. Roll in cinnamon sugar.

5. Bake 10–12 minutes at 350°F.

Read More: 17 Quick and Easy Baking Recipes

10. White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Smooth white chocolate topped with crushed candy canes, perfect for gifting.

Ingredients

• 12 oz white chocolate

• Crushed candy canes

Instructions

1. Melt chocolate.

2. Spread on sheet.

3. Sprinkle candy canes.

4. Chill 1 hour and break into pieces.

11. Christmas Red Velvet Cake

A festive red cake topped with creamy white frosting, perfect for holiday celebrations.

Ingredients

• 2½ cups flour

• 1½ cups sugar

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 2 eggs

• Red food coloring

• Frosting

Instructions

1. Prepare batter.

2. Add red coloring.

3. Bake 28–30 minutes at 350°F.

4. Frost when cooled.

12. Peppermint Swirl Cheesecake Bars

Creamy cheesecake with festive red peppermint swirls baked over a sweet cookie crust.

Ingredients

• Graham crust

• Cheesecake filling

• Peppermint extract

• Red gel coloring

Instructions

1. Bake crust.

2. Add coloring to part of cheesecake mix.

3. Pour, swirl, bake 35 minutes.

Also Check: 18 Banana Baking Recipes

13. Holiday Thumbprint Cookies

Soft cookies filled with red or green jam for a simple but festive touch.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour

• 1 cup butter

• ½ cup sugar

• Jam

Instructions

1. Mix dough ingredients.

2. Scoop and press thumbprint.

3. Add jam.

4. Bake 12 minutes at 350°F.

14. Spiced Christmas Muffins

A cozy combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves baked into soft, fluffy muffins.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup milk

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ½ tsp nutmeg

• ¼ tsp cloves

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients.

2. Add wet ingredients.

3. Bake 18 minutes at 350°F.

15. Chocolate-Dipped Christmas Biscotti

Crunchy holiday biscotti dipped in melted chocolate and sprinkled with festive toppings.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla

• Melting chocolate

• Sprinkles

Instructions

1. Mix batter and form log.

2. Bake 25 minutes at 350°F.

3. Slice and rebake 10 minutes.

4. Dip in chocolate and sprinkle.