The holiday season is the sweetest time of the year, quite literally! From the scent of warm sugar wafting through the kitchen to the joy of sharing homemade treats with family, nothing says Christmas quite like a plate of freshly baked cookies.
Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange, wrapping up edible gifts, or just filling your kitchen with festive cheer, these 19+ Christmas cookies recipes will bring a smile to every face.
Table of Contents
The Sweet Magic of Christmas Baking
Why Homemade Cookies Make the Holidays Brighter
There’s something heartwarming about homemade cookies. Maybe it’s the way they fill the house with that nostalgic scent of vanilla and sugar, or maybe it’s the joy of sharing them with people you love. Baking isn’t just about food; it’s a love language, a creative outlet, and a way to make memories that last long after the last crumb is gone.
The Secret to Perfect Christmas Cookies
Want bakery-quality cookies at home? The secret lies in chilling your dough, using high-quality butter, and measuring ingredients precisely. A pinch too much flour can make cookies tough, while room-temperature butter gives them that melt-in-your-mouth softness. Don’t skip the chill time, it’s what keeps them thick and chewy instead of flat and crispy.
Red Velvet Snowball Christmas cookies
Soft, buttery, and dusted in powdered sugar, these Red Velvet Snowball Cookies are as beautiful as they are delicious. Their cocoa-rich centers and festive red hue make them the perfect addition to your holiday dessert spread.
Why you’ll love them:
They melt in your mouth and look stunning on a cookie platter, like edible snowballs with a Christmas twist.
Pro Tip: Chill your dough before rolling for the perfect round shape.
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft, fudgy, and irresistibly rich, these Double Chocolate Chip Cookies are a chocolate lover’s dream come true. With gooey centers, melty chocolate chips, and a festive holiday glow, they’re perfect for cookie exchanges, Christmas parties, or cozy winter nights with a mug of hot cocoa. These decadent treats bring pure joy to any dessert table.
Why you’ll love them:
They’re ultra-chocolatey, perfectly soft, and stay chewy for days, ideal for gifting or stacking on a Christmas cookie platter.
Pro Tip:
Slightly underbake the cookies to keep that fudgy, molten-center texture everyone loves.
Caramel Stuffed Cookies
Get ready for a gooey surprise! These Caramel Stuffed Cookies are golden on the outside and filled with soft, buttery caramel inside.
Why you’ll love them:
Each bite delivers a rich, molten center that’s pure holiday indulgence.
Serving idea: Sprinkle sea salt on top right after baking for a touch of salted caramel magic.
Christmas Sugar Cookies
A Christmas classic that never goes out of style. These Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for decorating with icing, sprinkles, and festive shapes.
Why you’ll love them:
They’re fun for all ages, a perfect family baking activity that doubles as edible art.
Pro Tip: Use royal icing for crisp designs or buttercream for a softer, creamier finish.
Christmas Chocolate Kiss Cookies
A chocolate lover’s dream! These Chocolate Kiss Cookies combine soft, chewy chocolate dough with a classic Hershey’s Kiss pressed in the center.
Why you’ll love them:
They’re a nostalgic favorite and look absolutely adorable on a holiday tray.
Serving idea: Roll the dough in red and green sprinkles before baking for extra Christmas flair.
Festive Red and Green Crinkle Cookies
These Crinkle Cookies are merry, bright, and bursting with holiday cheer! The crackled powdered sugar tops reveal vibrant red and green interiors that scream Christmas spirit.
Why you’ll love them:
They’re chewy, colorful, and eye-catching, a guaranteed hit at any party.
Pro Tip: Chill your dough well so the crinkle pattern forms beautifully when baked.
Chocolate Sourdough Crinkle Cookies
Deep, dark chocolate cookies made extra tender with sourdough discard, then rolled in powdered sugar for a snowy, crackled look.
Why you’ll love them: Fudgy, rich, and a genius way to use sourdough discard.
Pro Tip: Chill dough overnight for deeper chocolate flavor and perfect crinkles.
Churro Cheesecake Cookies
For something truly unforgettable, try these Churro Cheesecake Cookies, golden cinnamon sugar cookies with a luscious cream cheese filling.
Why you’ll love them:
They taste like the perfect blend of a churro and a cheesecake, creamy, spiced, and utterly decadent.
Serving idea: Dust lightly with cinnamon sugar before serving for extra crunch and aroma.
Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies
Classic gingerbread dough wrapped around a creamy cheesecake center, a perfect balance of spice and sweetness.
Why you’ll love them: They’re soft, spiced, and taste like Christmas in a bite.
Old-Fashioned Iced Ginger Molasses Cookies
Soft and chewy with a sweet vanilla glaze, these nostalgic cookies are the heart of traditional Christmas baking.
Serving Idea: Stack them with parchment paper and tie with twine for rustic cookie gifts.
Coffee Cake Pumpkin Cookies
These cozy pumpkin cookies have the soft crumb of coffee cake, topped with a drizzle of icing. Perfect for chilly mornings and warm holiday gatherings.
Why you’ll love them: They taste like autumn in every bite.
Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Thick, chewy, and loaded with melty chocolate and toasted pecans, a cozy twist on a classic favorite.
Pro Tip: Add a pinch of flaky sea salt before baking to enhance flavor.
Maple Pecan Pie Cookies
Buttery cookies topped with caramelized pecans and a drizzle of maple glaze. These taste like mini pecan pies, festive, rich, and decadent.
Why you’ll love them: Perfect with coffee or a warm drink by the fire.
Peanut Butter Butterfinger Cookies
Peanut butter lovers, rejoice! These chewy Christmas cookies are loaded with crispy Butterfinger bits for the ultimate nutty crunch.
Why you’ll love them: Sweet, salty, and delightfully crunchy.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies
A playful twist on a childhood favorite, soft peanut butter cookies filled with gooey strawberry or grape jam.
Serving Idea: Use different jam flavors for a colorful cookie tray.
Pumpkin S’mores Cookies
A fall favorite meets a campfire classic, pumpkin spice dough topped with gooey marshmallows and melty chocolate chunks.
Why you’ll love them: Cozy, fun, and absolutely irresistible.
Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies
Sweet, spiced Christmas cookies rolled in powdered sugar, bursting with apple cider flavor, like a warm sip of fall in cookie form.
Why you’ll love them: Perfectly chewy with a tangy apple twist.
Raspberry Almond Snowball Cookies
Delicate almond-y shortbread rolled in powdered sugar with a gooey raspberry jam center, a pretty, jewel-toned twist on the snowball.
Why you’ll love them: Light, buttery, and bright with jam in the middle.
Tip: Use good-quality raspberry jam and chill dough before rolling.
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cookies
Soft, swirled cookies with a warm cinnamon-brown-sugar flavor, think coffee-cake vibes in cookie form.
Why you’ll love them: Cozy cinnamon aroma and a soft, tender crumb.
Serving Idea: Warm slightly and pair with tea or coffee.
Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
Buttery spritz cookies with a hint of cream cheese for tenderness and a pretty piped shape, classic, elegant, and festive when tinted or topped with red sugar pearls.
Why you’ll love them: Light, tender, and perfect for decorating.
Pro Tip: Keep dough cool for clean piped shapes; press a red sprinkle in the center for a holly-like look.
Baking Tips for Holiday Success
Chill, Bake, and Decorate Like a Pro
Don’t rush the process. Most doughs benefit from chilling, it enhances flavor and texture. Rotate your pans halfway through baking for even browning, and always cool cookies completely before decorating.
The Importance of Ingredient Quality
Good butter, pure vanilla extract, and high-quality chocolate make all the difference. Cheap ingredients can dull the flavor, while real butter and pure extracts bring warmth and depth.
Wrapping and Gifting Christmas Cookies
Creative Packaging Ideas
Presentation matters! Stack cookies in glass jars tied with red ribbon, or layer them in festive tins with parchment between each type. Add a handwritten tag for a personal touch.
How to Keep Cookies Fresh for Gifting
Place a slice of bread in the container, it helps maintain moisture and keeps cookies soft. For crisp cookies, store separately from chewy ones so textures stay consistent.
FAQs
Can I make Christmas cookie dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! Most cookie doughs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Just thaw overnight before baking.
How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?
Chill your dough before baking and make sure your butter isn’t too soft. Baking on parchment also helps them hold shape.
What’s the best way to ship Christmas cookies?
Choose sturdy cookies (like snowballs or crinkles), wrap them tightly, and ship in a snug box with padding to prevent breakage.
Can I substitute margarine for butter?
You can, but butter gives a richer flavor and better texture. If you must substitute, use stick margarine, not spreads.
How long do homemade Christmas cookies last?
Stored properly, they’ll stay fresh for about a week. For longer storage, freeze them in airtight containers.
Whether you crave something classic like sugar cookies or decadent like churro cheesecake cookies, these festive bakes will make your holiday season even sweeter.
So preheat that oven, put on some Christmas music, and start baking your way to holiday happiness. Because nothing spreads joy quite like a batch of homemade cookies. 🎄🍪💕
