Looking for the best easy Christmas cookie recipes to bake this holiday season? From classic sugar cookies and peppermint bark to festive shortbreads and chocolate treats, these holiday baking ideas are perfect for cookie swaps, dessert tables, or cozy nights in. Whether you love simple drop cookies or beautifully decorated favorites, this roundup has everything you need for sweet holiday desserts that everyone will remember.
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Why We Love Baking Christmas Cookies
Nothing says Christmas like the smell of cookies fresh from the oven — warm, sweet, and filled with love.
The holidays just wouldn’t feel complete without the smell of cookies baking in the oven!
Whether you’re planning a cookie swap, gifting homemade treats to friends, or looking for new ideas for your holiday cookie trays, these easy Christmas cookie recipes are here to sweeten every moment of the season.
From classic Christmas cookie recipes like sugar cookies and peanut butter blossoms to festive cookie recipes filled with peppermint, pistachio, and chocolate — there’s something here for every baker. Each one brings its own cozy flavor to your kitchen.
Each of these homemade Christmas cookies brings a touch of nostalgia and fun to your kitchen — simple to make, beautiful to share, and perfect for creating cozy family memories.
In this roundup, you’ll find a mix of Christmas cookie swap recipes, elegant shortbreads, no-chill doughs, and slice-and-bake favorites that make holiday baking feel effortless.
So grab your apron, warm up the oven, and get ready to bake the best Christmas cookie assortment your family and friends have ever seen!
Easy & Festive Christmas Cookie Recipes
Before you dive into these delicious cookie recipes, here are a few of my favorite holiday baking essentials that make every batch easier (and a little more festive!).
I use these every Christmas — they help me stay organized and keep the kitchen mess to a minimum while still having fun with the family.
- Nonstick Cookie Sheets — reliable and easy to clean for perfect, evenly baked cookies every time.
- Christmas Cookie Cutter Set — festive shapes that make decorating sugar cookies so much more fun!
- Silicone Baking Mats — save money on parchment paper and get perfectly smooth cookie bottoms.
- Holiday Sprinkles and Decorating Kit — colorful, cheerful toppers for your decorated Christmas cookies and gifts.
- Airtight Cookie Storage Tins — keep your homemade cookies fresh for longer (and perfect for gifting!).
Here are 27 festive Christmas cookie recipes to brighten your holiday baking and make every cookie platter sparkle with cheer:
1. Mini M&M Christmas Cookies
This festive cookie recipe proves you can enjoy holiday sweets and still keep things light. Soft gluten-free dough studded with mini M&Ms bakes into colorful bite-sized cookies that are perfect for cookie swaps, Christmas movie nights, or a sweet homemade gift. Get the recipe.
2. Whipped Shortbread Cookies
This melt-in-your-mouth cookie recipe brings a tender, buttery bite to your holiday cookie tray. Topped with festive nonpareils for a simple yet elegant finish. With only seven main ingredients and a one-bowl mix, it’s a beautifully easy addition to any Christmas cookie collection. Get the recipe.
3. Hershey Kiss Chocolate Blossom Christmas Cookies
This classic Christmas cookie recipe gets a festive twist with bright sprinkles and creamy milk-chocolate kisses. Soft, chewy, and beautifully nostalgic, these chocolate blossom cookies are the perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray or gift box. Get the recipe.
4. White Chocolate Dipped Eggnog Cookies
This cozy cookie recipe captures the creamy flavor of eggnog in every bite. Each soft cookie is dipped in smooth white chocolate and sprinkled with a dash of nutmeg for a festive, elegant look that’s perfect for gifting or holiday dessert tables. Get the recipe.
5. 3 Ingredient Brown Sugar Cookies
When simplicity meets homemade sweetness, you get this quick and easy cookie recipe. With just three pantry staples, these brown sugar cookies bake into soft, buttery rounds that melt in your mouth — perfect for a last-minute Christmas treat. Get the recipe.
6. Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
This festive recipe turns cake mix and cream cheese into delightfully soft and chewy cookies that are stacked with holiday cheer. Finished with colorful sprinkles and a crackled powdered sugar coating, they’re a joyful pick for your Christmas cookie trays or festive dessert exchanges. Get the recipe.
Love peppermint and chocolate? These next Christmas cookie recipes add a sweet, minty sparkle to your dessert tray!
7. Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
This cozy holiday cookie recipe wraps everything you love about gingerbread into a soft, chewy crinkle cookie. Rolled in powdered sugar before baking, these cookies crackle beautifully in the oven and bring that nostalgic holiday aroma to your kitchen. Get the recipe.
8. Grinch Cookies
Add a little Christmas fun with this bright green cookie recipe inspired by the Grinch himself! Rolled in powdered sugar and topped with a red heart sprinkle, these cookies are soft, chewy, and guaranteed to make everyone smile at your holiday party. Get the recipe.
🎄 More Christmas inspiration: If you love easy holiday treats, check out my Make-Ahead Christmas Casseroles for stress-free dinners and my DIY Christmas Jar Gifts for adorable homemade presents to pair with your cookies!
Love peppermint and chocolate? These next Christmas cookie recipes add a sweet, minty sparkle to your dessert tray!
9. Everything But The Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
This fun cookie recipe is loaded with all your favorite mix-ins — from pretzels and potato chips to M&Ms and white chocolate chunks. Every bite delivers a mix of sweet, salty, and crunchy textures that make these cookies a crowd-pleasing hit for any holiday gathering. Get the recipe.
10. Cheesecake Stuffed Red Velvet Cookies
This decadent cookie recipe combines the rich flavor of red velvet with a surprise cheesecake filling inside. Each soft cookie is finished with white chocolate chips for a festive touch that’s sure to impress guests and make your Christmas dessert table shine. Get the recipe.
11. Christmas Cut-Out Shortbread Cookies
If you cherish holiday baking that invites creativity and fun, this cut-out shortbread cookie recipe is a perfect pick. With a buttery crisp dough ready to shape and decorate, these cookies are ideal for baking with little helpers, adorning your festive platter, or gifting sweetly wrapped. Get the recipe.
12. Peppermint Bark Cookies
This holiday cookie favorite takes the flavors of peppermint bark and turns them into soft, chewy bites perfect for your cookie tray. The chocolate base is dipped in creamy white chocolate and finished with crushed candy canes for a festive, eye-catching treat your guests will love. Get the recipe.
13. Butter Cookies
This recipe spots the classic charm of buttery sugar cookies with a simple, elegant twist—ideal for your holiday cookie trays or festive cookie swaps. With a piped swirl or dip into melted chocolate and sprinkles as a finishing touch, these cookies bring a homemade feel and timeless flavor to your Christmas dessert spread. Get the recipe.
14. Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies
If you love cookies with a festive surprise inside, this gingerbread cheesecake cookie recipe is a standout choice. Soft, warmly spiced dough hugs a creamy cheesecake center for a holiday treat that brings both classic gingerbread flavor and delightful indulgence in every bite. Get the recipe.
15. Frosted Christmas Tree Cookies
f you’re looking for a show-stopping cookie to brighten up your holiday dessert table, this frosted Christmas tree cookie recipe is a must-see. Stacked sugar cookies with layers of creamy green frosting turn into adorable little trees that are sure to delight kids and grown-ups alike. Get the recipe.
16. Candy Cane Cookies
Bring some peppermint cheer to your cookie tray with this fun twist on holiday baking. These soft sugar cookies are topped with a festive candy-cane kiss and the peppermint crunch of crushed candy canes — a perfect pick for a Christmas cookie swap or homemade gift that feels extra special. Get the recipe.
Ready for more show-stopping holiday bakes? These next cookies combine cheesecake, nuts, and festive color for the ultimate cookie swap lineup!
17. No-Spread Sugar Cookies
This cheerful cookie recipe offers a festive twist on a classic sugar cookie by mixing in colorful sprinkles for the holiday season. With easy-to-follow steps and a fun, no-fuss dough perfect for cutting out or shaping, these holiday sugar cookies are ideal for decorating, gifting, or adding sweet sparkle to your Christmas cookie trays. Get the recipe.
18. Chocolate Peppermint Slice-n-Bake Shortbread Cookies
This slice-and-bake shortbread cookie recipe blends buttery richness with a minty twist—just chill, slice, bake, and drizzle for an effortless holiday treat. Flecked with crushed peppermint candies and finished with a dark-chocolate drizzle, these cookies sprinkle a festive pop of flavor into your Christmas cookie assortment. Get the recipe.
19. Peanut Butter Blossoms
If you love classic Christmas cookies, this peanut butter blossom recipe is one to bookmark. Each soft, sugar-coated cookie is topped with a chocolate kiss, creating that timeless sweet-and-salty combination that looks beautiful on any holiday cookie tray or dessert table. Get the recipe.
20. Reindeer Linzer Cookies
Here’s a festive cookie recipe that turns the classic Linzer sandwich cookie into a playful Rudolph design—crisp hazelnut dough sandwiches a rich Nutella center and gets finished with a red-nose candy, piped chocolate antlers and powdered sugar. These eye-catching cookies are perfect for cookie swaps or holiday dessert trays when you want something whimsical and charming. Get the recipe.
21. German Christmas Cookies (Lebkuchen)
This recipe brings a timeless European twist to your holiday baking with soft and spicy Lebkuchen — the classic German Christmas cookie that combines warmth, walnuts, and festive tradition in every bite. These rich aromatic cookies blend honey, ginger, all-spice and citrus zest for a treat that’s perfect for holiday cookie boxes, gifting, or a cozy kitchen afternoon with hot cocoa. Get the recipe.
Looking for last-minute cookie ideas you can make ahead or gift? These final recipes are quick, fun, and perfect for sharing before Santa arrives!
22. Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
This elegant recipe transforms classic shortbread into a buttery, nut-filled holiday treat garnished with chopped pistachios and a chocolate dip. These cookies bring festive flavor and a touch of sophistication to your Christmas cookie collection—perfect for gifting or adding to upscale cookie trays. Get the recipe.
23. Ice-Box Maraschino Cherry Christmas Cookies
This old-fashioned cherry cookie recipe brings a cheerful pop of color to your holiday dessert spread. Studded with red and green maraschino cherries, these slice-and-bake cookies are as pretty as they are delicious — perfect for making ahead and freezing for Christmas. Get the recipe.
24. Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies
Here’s a festive cookie option that blends rich chocolate dough with a minty twist—ideal if you’re curating a holiday cookie tray with a little flair. The cookies are finished with a peppermint-infused chocolate filling and a sprinkle of candy-cane crunch for that classic seasonal sweetness. Get the recipe.
25. Thumbprint Cookies with Icing
This cheerful holiday cookie recipe takes the beloved thumbprint cookie and gives it a fun, festive makeover with colorful icing and sprinkles. The tender shortbread base is topped with a soft icing center that you can customize with sprinkles or nuts—ideal for cookie trays, family baking nights, or holiday gifting. Get the recipe.
26. Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
This ultra-easy cookie recipe is a lifesaver for holiday baking—just one box of cake mix, egg whites, oil, and your favorite mix-ins like M&Ms and chocolate chips. The result? Brightly colorful, fun-to-make cookies that are perfect for cookie swaps, classroom parties, or a stress-free addition to your festive dessert lineup. Get the recipe.
27. Frosted Snickerdoodle Cookies
If you’re in the mood for holiday baking that’s fun and full of cozy flavor, this frosted snickerdoodle cookie recipe brings the best of both worlds. Rolled in cinnamon sugar, baked soft and chewy, and topped with a sweet frosting swirl, these homemade Christmas cookies add a festive twist to a classic favorite. Get the recipe.
Final Thoughts on Christmas Cookie Recipes
The holidays move fast — but a little planning makes them feel so much sweeter. As you bake your way through these Christmas cookie recipes, remember that keeping track of holiday spending is just as important as timing your cookies perfectly!
That’s why I use my Simple Budget Spreadsheet — the same one I rely on each month to stay organized, especially during gift-giving season. It helps me manage grocery costs while showing exactly where every dollar goes. 👉 Check out the Simple Budget Spreadsheet here and make this your most stress-free (and joy-filled) Christmas yet.
✨ Planning your full holiday menu? Don’t miss my post about The Best Christmas Breakfast and Brunch Ideas to help your entire celebration come together with ease.
Wishing you a season filled with laughter, warm ovens, and sweet memories that last long after the cookies are gone. Merry Christmas, from my kitchen to yours!