28 Absolute Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

4K Shares

Easy Christmas cookie ideas for holiday baking!

These fun Christmas cookie recipes are perfect for busy bakers whipping up treats for family gatherings, cookie exchanges, or last-minute holiday events.

Christmas Cookie Recipes

The holiday season is already jam-packed with shopping, decorating, and gift wrapping, so let’s keep the baking EASY.

Between balancing schedules, planning meals, and keeping up with holiday traditions, you need cookies that are quick and delicious.
So, let’s make it simple!

I put together a list of festive Christmas cookies you’ll be baking all season long.

These easy cookie recipes will help take the stress out of holiday baking because they:

  • Are easy to prepare
  • Use simple, affordable ingredients
  • Freeze well and taste great

From classic sugar cookies and gingerbread men to no-bake treats and fun, creative cookie ideas, there’s something here for every holiday event!

1. The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

The best sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet.

With just a few simple ingredients, these cookies are ready in no time!

They’re easy to customize—decorate with icing or sprinkles,
or enjoy them plain.

Perfect for family baking or special occasions, these cookies are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!

2. Eggnog Cookies

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Eggnog Cookies are a holiday favorite!

These soft, cake-like cookies are bursting with classic eggnog flavor, topped with a rich eggnog frosting.

No chilling is required—just scoop, bake, and enjoy!

Perfect for holiday parties or gifting, they’ll become your new Christmas tradition.

Simple, festive, and absolutely delicious!

3. Hot Cocoa Cookies

Marshmallow-Surprise Hot Cocoa Cookies are a guaranteed holiday crowd-pleaser!

Soft, chewy, and packed with rich hot cocoa flavor, they feature a gooey marshmallow center under a layer of melted chocolate.

Perfect for parties or gifts, these cookies are easy to make ahead, so you can enjoy a festive, stress-free treat everyone will love!

4. Soft and Chewy M&M Cookies

These colorful cookies are packed with M&Ms in every bite, making them fun for kids and irresistible to adults.

You’ll love how quick and easy they are to make in under 30 minutes, and everyone can enjoy customizing with their favorite mix-ins.
Perfect for gift-giving!

5. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies are a holiday classic!

These soft, chewy peanut butter cookies are topped with a milk chocolate kiss, creating the perfect balance of sweet and salty.

Easy to make with pantry staples, they’re a hit at any gathering.

Plus, they’re fun to bake with kids and can be customized with festive sugar or candies!

6. Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies (Santa’s Cookies) are soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate!

With both semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, plus festive red and green M&Ms, these cookies are perfect for the holidays.

Quick and easy to make in just 30 minutes, they’ll be a hit with everyone, especially Santa!

8. Melted Snowman Cookies

Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies are a festive, fun treat that will bring smiles to everyone!

Using a pre-made cookie mix, they come together quickly, making them perfect for a last-minute dessert.

Kids will love customizing their snowmen with candy and icing, and you’ll love how easy and playful this holiday activity is!

9. Peanut Butter Balls

Peanut Butter Balls are a hit with peanut butter lovers!

With just a few simple ingredients, these no-bake treats are rich, creamy, and covered in chocolate.

Customize them with your favorite toppings like sprinkles or crushed nuts.

You’ll love how easy they are to make, and your family will love how delicious they taste!

10. Grinch Cookies

Grinch Cookies are a fun, festive twist on classic chocolate chip cookies!

With their bright green color and red and green M&Ms, they’re sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering, especially with the kiddos.

Soft and chewy, they’re easy to make and perfect for baking with kids.

A guaranteed crowd-pleaser for your Christmas dessert table!

11. Snowball Cookies that Melt-In-Your-Mouth

Beautifully white and crumbly, Buttery Pecan Snowball Cookies literally melt in your mouth! This one-bowl recipe comes together in just 45 minutes from start to finish.

With just a few pantry ingredients, including crunchy pecans, these no-chill cookies will surely be a hit on any holiday table!

12. Gingerbread Man Cookies

My Favorite Gingerbread Cookies are a holiday classic!

These cookies are bursting with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

Perfect for baking with kids and easy to customize with icing and festive shapes.

They’re soft on the inside, slightly crispy on the edges, and guaranteed to fill your home with cozy holiday aromas.

13. Peppermint Kiss Cookies

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies are a festive holiday treat that’s easy to make!

Soft sugar cookies rolled in sprinkles and topped with a peppermint Hershey’s Kiss.

These nut-free cookies are perfect for cookie swaps, holiday parties, and gifting.

Quick to prepare, your family will love them, and you’ll love how simple they are!

14. Soft Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Soft Batch Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are easy, festive, and buttery soft!

No need to roll the dough—just mix, chill, and bake.

These cookies are packed with colorful sprinkles for a fun holiday touch.

Perfect for Christmas parties or gift-giving, and you’ll love how simple they are to make!

15. Christmas Crack Recipe

Christmas Crack is the ultimate holiday treat! This easy, 20-minute recipe combines sweet, salty, and crunchy flavors in every bite.

Perfect for holiday parties or gifts, you don’t even need to make cookie dough as these are made with saltine crackers!

Your family will love snacking on it, and you’ll love how quick and simple it is to make!

16. Texas Sheet Cake Cookies

Texas Sheet Cake Cookies are a rich, chocolatey treat that’s perfect for any occasion!

These soft, fudgy cookies are ready in under 30 minutes, making them a quick and easy dessert option.

With melt-in-your-mouth icing, they’re ideal for feeding a crowd, and they use simple pantry ingredients you likely already have on hand.

17. Gingerbread Kiss Cookies

Gingerbread Kiss Cookies are a festive holiday treat that combines the warm spices of gingerbread with a sweet chocolate kiss on top.

Soft and chewy, these cookies are easy to make with simple pantry staples.

Perfect for cookie exchanges or gifting, everyone will love decorating—and eating them!

18. German Chocolate Cake Cookies

German Chocolate Cookies are a sight to see!

These soft, chewy cookies are packed with rich double chocolate flavor and topped with a gooey coconut-pecan mixture.

They taste fresh and homemade, perfect for special occasions.

You’ll love how impressive they look, and everyone will love how delicious they are!

19. Stained Glass Cookies

Stained Glass Cookies are a festive holiday treat that’s sure to impress!

Buttery, crisp cookies are cut into fun shapes and filled with melted Jolly Ranchers for a beautiful stained glass effect.

Perfect for cookie trays or as edible ornaments.

Easy to make, stunning to look at, and delicious for all ages!

20. Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are a festive holiday treat that’s sure to impress!

With vibrant red, green, and white swirls, these cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat.

Perfect for holiday cookie platters or gift boxes, they’re a make-ahead, crowd-pleasing dessert that’ll brighten up any celebration.

21. Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies have a fun green color!

With cool mint flavor and rich chocolate chunks, these cookies come together in just 30 minutes using a Betty Crocker™ mix.

Perfect for holiday baking or a themed party, they’re easy to customize and a guaranteed hit for both kids and adults!

22. Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies are a festive holiday favorite!

These buttery cookies, flavored with peppermint or almond extract, are shaped like candy canes for a fun, Christmas treat.

Kid-friendly and easy to make, they’re perfect for family baking.

Plus, they taste even better the next day—ideal for holiday prep!

23. Chocolate Croissant Cookies

Chocolate Croissant Cookies are a buttery, flaky treat wrapped around rich Hershey’s chocolate.

When baked, they become golden and irresistible with a melt-in-your-mouth center.

Perfect for holidays or special occasions, they’re a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to make and even easier to enjoy!

A chocolate lover’s dream in every bite!

24. Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies

Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies are a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth holiday treat!

The zesty orange and tart cranberries create a festive flavor that’s perfect for the season.

With just six simple ingredients and the option to make the dough ahead, these cookies are an easy and impressive addition to any holiday spread.

25. Brown Butter Pecan Cookies

Butter Pecan Cookies are a guaranteed hit!

Made with brown butter and buttery toasted pecans, these cookies are chewy in the center with crispy edges.

Perfect for holiday baking or any time snacking!

Your family will love the rich flavor, and you’ll love how easy it is to freeze and bake whenever you want.

26. Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting are an unexpected delight!

These soft, cake-like cookies have a melt-in-your-mouth texture thanks to the addition of sour cream.

The rich, tangy cream cheese frosting makes them extra delicious.

Fun to decorate and easy to make ahead, they’re perfect for any occasion.

Your family will love customizing them with sprinkles!

27. No-Bake Reese’s Cookies

Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are a quick, no-fuss treat!

Made with creamy peanut butter, oats, and Reese’s Pieces, these cookies come together in just 14 minutes—no oven needed!

Perfect for when you need a sweet snack fast, and easy to customize with your favorite mix-ins.

The easiest dessert or snack for any occasion!

28. Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies

NYC Red Velvet Cookies have a beautiful and vibrant color!

These thick, gooey New York-style cookies bring together the rich flavors of vanilla, cocoa, and sweet white chocolate chips.

Their vibrant red color makes them stunning and perfect for any occasion.

You’ll love how easy they are to make, and everyone will love their indulgent, bakery-quality taste!

4K Shares