18 Christmas cookies recipes

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Christmas baking instantly fills your home with warmth, sweetness, and the unmistakable aroma of holiday cheer.

Whether you’re hosting a festive gathering, contributing to a cookie swap, or simply making treats for your family, these 18 Christmas cookie recipes will bring joy to every bite.

Each recipe includes a detailed description, full ingredients list, and step-by-step instructions to make your baking experience smooth and enjoyable.

1. Sugar Cookies

A timeless Christmas favorite! These cookies bake soft, buttery, and perfectly shaped for decorating with icing and sprinkles.

Kids love helping with the cutters!

Ingredients

  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

  • ½ tsp almond extract

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

  2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then mix in egg, vanilla, and almond extract.

  3. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until a dough forms.

  4. Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut shapes.

  5. Bake 8–10 minutes until edges are just golden.

  6. Cool completely before decorating.

2. Gingerbread Men Cookies

Spiced, chewy, and deeply flavored with molasses—these gingerbread men are the true essence of Christmas baking.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour

  • ¾ cup butter, softened

  • ¾ cup brown sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • ½ cup molasses

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 1 tbsp ginger

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • ½ tsp nutmeg

  • ¼ tsp cloves

  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs and molasses.

  2. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.

  3. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients; mix to form dough.

  4. Chill dough 1 hour.

  5. Roll out and cut gingerbread shapes.

  6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes.

  7. Decorate with icing once cooled.

3. Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Soft, fudgy, crackled cookies coated in powdered sugar with a refreshing peppermint twist.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cocoa powder

  • 2 cups sugar

  • ½ cup vegetable oil

  • 4 eggs

  • 2 tsp peppermint extract

  • 2 ½ cups flour

  • 2 tsp baking powder

  • ½ tsp salt

  • Powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions

  1. Mix cocoa, sugar, and oil. Add eggs and peppermint, mixing well.

  2. Add flour, baking powder, and salt.

  3. Chill dough at least 3 hours.

  4. Scoop into balls and roll in powdered sugar.

  5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.

4. Snickerdoodle Christmas Cookies

Soft and buttery cinnamon-sugar cookies with a festive holiday aroma and chewy center.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups flour

  • ½ cup butter

  • ½ cup shortening

  • 1 ½ cups sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 2 tsp cream of tartar

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • Cinnamon + sugar for rolling

Instructions

  1. Cream butter, shortening, and sugar. Add eggs.

  2. Mix dry ingredients separately, then combine.

  3. Roll dough into balls. Coat in cinnamon sugar.

  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes.

5. Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

Chewy sugar cookies topped with a melted Hershey’s candy cane kiss. Perfect for cookie trays!

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour

  • ½ tsp baking soda

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • ½ cup butter

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 24 candy cane kisses

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and vanilla.

  2. Add dry ingredients and mix.

  3. Scoop dough into balls and bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes.

  4. Press a candy cane kiss into each cookie while warm.

6. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Soft, sweet, and tart—these cookies combine creamy white chocolate with festive dried cranberries.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup butter

  • 1 cup sugar

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 cup white chocolate chips

  • 1 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla.

  2. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt.

  3. Combine and fold in chocolate chips and cranberries.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.

7. Hot Cocoa Cookies

These cookies taste like a warm cup of hot chocolate with gooey marshmallows baked in.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 2 ½ cups flour

  • ½ cup cocoa

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 cup mini marshmallows

  • 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugars; add eggs and vanilla.

  2. Mix dry ingredients and combine.

  3. Stir in chocolate chips and marshmallows.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

8. Snowball Cookies

Buttery, crumbly cookies rolled in powdered sugar—perfectly resembling snowy little balls.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter

  • ½ cup powdered sugar

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Mix butter and powdered sugar. Add vanilla.

  2. Add flour and pecans.

  3. Roll into small balls.

  4. Bake at 375°F for 10–12 minutes.

  5. Roll in powdered sugar while warm.

9. Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies

A festive twist on the classic, loaded with green and red holiday M&Ms.

Ingredients

  • 2 ¾ cups flour

  • 1 cup butter

  • ¾ cup sugar

  • ¾ cup brown sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 cup chocolate chips

  • 1 cup red & green M&Ms

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.

  2. Mix dry ingredients and combine.

  3. Fold in chips and M&Ms.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.

10. Almond Crescent Cookies

Delicate crescent-shaped cookies with a nutty almond flavor and a snowy sugar coating.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup ground almonds

  • 1 tsp almond extract

  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Beat butter and sugar; add almond extract.

  2. Add flour and almonds.

  3. Shape into crescents.

  4. Bake at 325°F for 12–15 minutes.

  5. Dust with powdered sugar.

11. Red Velvet Cookies

Soft, velvet-smooth cookies with a festive red color and white chocolate chips.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour

  • ⅓ cup cocoa

  • ½ tsp baking soda

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • ½ cup butter

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 1 tbsp red food coloring

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Mix dry ingredients.

  2. Cream butter and sugar; add egg, vanilla, and food coloring.

  3. Add dry ingredients and chips.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.

12. Linzer Christmas Cookies

Beautiful sandwich cookies filled with raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup butter

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • ½ tsp baking powder

  • Raspberry jam

Instructions

  1. Mix butter and sugar; add egg and vanilla.

  2. Add dry ingredients.

  3. Roll dough thin and cut shapes.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.

  5. Sandwich with raspberry jam and dust with sugar.

13. Melted Snowman Cookies

Fun cookies with marshmallow “heads” and decorative icing that resemble melting snowmen.

Ingredients

  • Basic sugar cookies (from recipe #1)

  • Large marshmallows

  • White icing

  • Colored icing for faces and scarves

Instructions

  1. Bake sugar cookies.

  2. Press a half-melted marshmallow on each cookie while warm.

  3. Pipe white icing around to make the “melt.”

  4. Use colored icing for details.

14. Chocolate Dipped Shortbread

Crisp, buttery edges dipped in smooth chocolate make these perfect for gifting.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup butter

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 cup melted chocolate for dipping

Instructions

  1. Mix butter and sugar; add vanilla.

  2. Add flour until dough forms.

  3. Shape into rectangles or rounds.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.

  5. Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate.

15. Oatmeal Raisin Christmas Cookies

Warm, hearty cookies with cinnamon, oats, and plump raisins.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 ½ cups flour

  • 3 cups oats

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 1 cup raisins

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugars; add eggs and vanilla.

  2. Mix dry ingredients and add to wet ingredients.

  3. Fold in oats and raisins.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.

16. Coconut Macaroons

Chewy, golden coconut mounds—simple, quick, and perfect for gluten-free guests.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups shredded coconut

  • ¾ cup condensed milk

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • Optional: chocolate for dipping

Instructions

  1. Mix coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla.

  2. Scoop into mounds.

  3. Bake at 325°F for 12–15 minutes.

  4. Optional: dip in chocolate.

17. Mint Oreo Truffle Cookies

Decadent no-bake cookie balls made from crushed Oreos, cream cheese, and chocolate.

Ingredients

  • 1 package Mint Oreos

  • 8 oz cream cheese

  • 2 cups melted chocolate

Instructions

  1. Crush Oreos into crumbs.

  2. Mix with softened cream cheese.

  3. Roll into balls and freeze 20 minutes.

  4. Dip in melted chocolate.

  5. Chill until firm.

18. Fruitcake Cookies

A modern twist on traditional fruitcake—soft cookies packed with nuts, cherries, and festive spices.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour

  • 1 cup butter

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • ½ tsp nutmeg

  • 1 cup mixed candied fruit

  • 1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.

  2. Mix dry ingredients and combine.

  3. Fold in fruit and nuts.

  4. Bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes.

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