Celebrate the joyous holiday season with a collection of classic Christmas cookie recipes. These timeless treats, rich in history and flavor, are perfect for sharing with family, gifting to friends, or simply enjoying by a cozy fire. From the spice-laden gingerbread to the sweet simplicity of sugar cookies, each recipe offers a taste of holiday cheer and a nod to centuries-old traditions.
Christmas Cookies Recipes
Get your baking sheets ready for the sparkling Easy Peasy Christmas Star Biscuits, the festive Gingerbread Cookies, and the soft, warm hugs of Chewy Molasses Cookies. These amazing recipes are easy to follow, bringing the wonderful tastes of Christmas right to your home. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to fill your kitchen with the scents of the season and create joyous memories with every batch you bake!
Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies
No need for a rolling pin or cookie cutters here—just simple ingredients and Christmas sprinkles to bring the cheer. With only 8 ingredients required, these chewy and soft cookies are a breeze to make. They are the perfect pick if you're looking for something easy yet delightful, promising a touch of merry magic to your holiday baking.
Ingredients:
- 1 and ½ cups (188g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 and ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup (80g) sprinkles, plus more for topping*
Christmas Monster Cookies
With a few simple steps, you can create a holiday delight that stands out in size and taste! Christmas Monster Cookies are the giants of festive treats, bursting with colorful candies, peppermint, salty pretzels, and creamy white chocolate chips. Perfect for cookie swaps, Christmas desserts, or a special surprise for Santa (pair with a big glass of milk!), these cookies mix sweet and salty in an irresistible way.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs plus 2 egg yolks
- 2 cups mixed red and green candy-coated chocolates, such as M and M's
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups roughly chopped pretzel rods
- 1 ⅓ cups chopped peppermint puffs
- 1 ⅓ cups white chocolate chips
Eggnog Meltaway Cookies
Eggnog Meltaway Cookies are your holiday cheer in a bite! These little snowball lookalikes have a secret: confectioners' sugar, making them melt the moment they touch your tongue. Packed with the delightful flavors of rum, bourbon, and nutmeg, they taste just like the festive drink we all love. Easy to mix up with almonds for an extra crunch and chill before baking, these cookies promise a magical treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup blanched almonds (skinless)
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
- 2 teaspoons rum extract
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated nutmeg, plus more for serving
Easy Peasy Christmas Star Biscuits
Easy Peasy Christmas Star Biscuits are delightful little cookies with a soft, melt-in-the-mouth quality. A sprinkle of spice gives them a gentle, crowd-pleasing nod to the holidays. Roll out, cut into stars, and bake to a pale gold - they're a simple joy in the kitchen, doubling as sweet gifts when wrapped up.
Ingredients:
- 250 g self raising flour (US - self rising four) (plus extra for rolling out)
- 125 g cold butter cut into 1cm (½inch) cubes (plus extra for greasing)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- 125 g caster sugar
- 1 egg beaten
Gingerbread Cookies
These treats are soft, warmly spiced, and feature a rich molasses kick. They’re fun to make, from rolling the dough to cutting shapes and decorating after baking. Perfect with hot chocolate, they not only taste great but fill your home with the sweet scents of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
Ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Unsalted butter (room temperature)
- Brown sugar
- Molasses
- An egg yolk
- Baking soda
- Ground ginger
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Vanilla extract
- Almond milk (or other milk of your choice)
- Sea salt
Chewy Molasses Cookies
Infused with ginger, cinnamon, and rich molasses, these cookies warm you from the inside out. They're simple to make with no dough chilling needed, making them a quick, delicious treat. These vegan cookies are perfect alongside a cup of hot chocolate, creating a cozy, festive experience you can enjoy right at home.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted room temperature butter or soft (not melted) coconut oil
- ⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar*
- ⅓ cup unsulphured blackstrap molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon water, plus more if necessary
- ⅓ cup cane sugar, for rolling
Italian Christmas Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies are like edible jewels of the holiday, with their shiny almond glaze and vibrant sprinkles. They're tender and sweet, with the option to infuse them with your favorite extract, from classic anise to citrusy orange. Simple to store, they stay fresh for days, waiting to spread joy on your Christmas table.
Ingredients:
Cookies
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract, or anise extract
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
Glaze
- 1 cup (125 g) confectioners' sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons whole milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract, or anise extract
- ⅓ cup Christmas sprinkles (nonpareils)
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies stand out with a dazzling snow-capped look, thanks to being rolled twice in powdered sugar. These treats are more than just good looks – they're soft, fudgy, and pack a deep chocolate flavor. Quick to prep and there's no need to freeze the dough, these cookies puff up in the oven to reveal their trademark cracks
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ c. all-purpose flour
- ¾ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ¾ tsp. baking soda
- ½ c. (1 stick) butter, melted
- ¾ c. granulated sugar
- ½ c. packed brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- Powdered sugar, for rolling
Panettone Cookies
Packed with orange peel, currants, dried apricots, chocolate, and almonds, each bite bursts with flavor. With a hint of orange extract for an extra zing, these cookies are a simpler, yet equally festive, twist to the traditional panettone.
Ingredients:
- 1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ c. (100 g.) granulated sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 ¾ c. (330 g.) OO flour
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- 2 Tbsp. whole milk
- ½ tsp. orange extract
- 3 Tbsp. almond slices, plus more for sprinkling
- 3 Tbsp. candied orange peel
- 3 Tbsp. dried black currants
- 3 Tbsp. finely chopped dried apricots, plus more for sprinkling
- 3 Tbsp. semisweet mini chocolate chips
- 10 oz. white chocolate
Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Rolled in coarse sugar for a satisfying crunch, these cookies boast a rich, buttery flavor coupled with the warmth of toasted pecans. Ideal for coffee breaks, gifts, or just a fun bake, they're a true standout in the cookie world.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- 10 tablespoons (1¼ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Scant ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off with a knife, plus
- more for dusting
- 1 egg yolk, beaten
- ¼ cup demerara or turbinado sugar (Note: You'll use less than this, but you need extra to roll the dough in.)
