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Sweet, but not cloying, tender and soft, cookies are the best dessert. Yes, cakes and pies are great – but nothing comes close to warm, chewy cookies served right out of the oven.
Whether you’re whipping up a batch to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve or taking part in a Christmas cookie exchange, the smell of freshly baked cookies in the air is sure to bring about a festive feeling.
There are loads of holiday cookies to make, whether you’re making them for a party or cookie exchange, to give as gifts, or just to enjoy during a cozy night in at home.
There are unique Christmas cookies like those inspired by a cup of hot chocolate. Of course, there are plenty of classic Christmas cookie recipes – sugar cookies, chocolate chip, and thumbprints, come to mind.
Ready to roll, drop, shape, and cut out cookies to your heart’s content?
Scroll below for the best Christmas cookie recipes to bake this season.
Classic shortbread gets a peppermint twist with a drizzle of dark and white chocolate and a flurry of crushed candy cane bits.
These will certainly add a pop of color to a Christmas cookie platter.
To keep a nice shape for the wreaths, cut out the larger circles first, and then use a smaller cutter to cut the centers.
Everyone’s favorite Christmas cookie – the sugar cookie.
This recipe promises flavorful cookies with soft and thick centers, slightly crisp edges, and flat tops perfect for decorating.
Don’t forget the Christmas sprinkles!
Don’t let the simplicity of sugar cookies fool you.
This sugar cookie has a sweet and tangy buttercream frosting that can be used on all future cut-out cookies.
Chocolate and peppermint are the best Christmas flavors.
These are very buttery sugar cookies that totally melt in your mouth.
There is no cookie that’s more festive than gingerbread men cookies.
This recipe yields soft, yet firm gingerbread cookies that are perfectly spiced, buttery, and hold their shape beautifully.
A classic holiday season cookie.
Thumbprint cookies are buttery shortbread cookies rolled in sugar and filled with sweet raspberry jam.
It will certainly be one of your favorite cookie recipes for the season.
A soft peanut butter cookie with a gooey chocolate kiss in the middle.
What more could you ask for from a cookie? It is the perfect cookie.
There is nothing better to satisfy your red velvet cravings than these cookies.
Soft red velvet thumbprint cookies filled with velvety cream cheese frosting – *Chef’s kiss.*
Nothing will get you into the holiday spirit like these cookies.
A red and white marbled shortbread, dark chocolate filling with a hint of peppermint will be part of your Christmas cookie repertoire.
For those who love chocolate – rich and chewy dark chocolate cookies with velvety smooth chocolate ganache centers are a chocolate lover’s dream.
These chewy, dark chocolate cookies are loaded with chocolate chips and peppermint chips.
These cookies are the best because they are so simple and require no chilling. From bowl to cookie sheet in less than 30 minutes.
These cookies are made with rich chocolate cookie dough that’s dotted with milk chocolate chips and chopped Andes mints.
A touch of peppermint extract is added to the dough to enhance the mint flavor.
Chocolate cookies that taste just like your favorite mug of creamy hot chocolate!
A light sprinkle of sea salt after baking makes them perfect. These will be the star of your Christmas party.
Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies?
These chocolate chunk cookies are soft and chewy in the center with crisp edges and are full of melted chocolate.
These are a slightly thinner chocolate cookie than a thicker cake-like cookie. These will be a hit on your holiday cookie platter.
The perfect café-inspired treat that combines the warmth of gingerbread and rich coffee flavors. There’s nothing subtle about the coffee flavor in these cookies.
They are absolutely loaded with cozy ginger and rich coffee flavors.
Chewy ginger cookies dipped in dark chocolate are the best of both worlds.
The cookies are dipped into dark chocolate, but any kind of chocolate can be used.
Use gold sanding sugar to decorate these cookies.
The perfect sweet treat for the holidays!
Candy canes are a staple of the season, and the flavors of the seasonal candy are best in a cookie.
These easy Christmas cookies are the perfect burst of flavor for the holiday season.
The perfect sweet indulge for the entire family.
Monster cookies are loaded with many different ingredients and can sometimes be referred to as “kitchen sink cookies”.
They are super easy to make and can be prepared in one medium bowl.
Once properly stored in an air-tight container, the cookies last for a few days at room temperature.
A delicious cookie with cake-like texture.
It has the perfect amount of spice, and a rich eggnog frosting. Be sure to serve with a cold glass of milk.
These are incredibly chewy and soft cookies with a crunchy sugar coating.
They are even a bit gooey inside and have the longest shelf life, and can be placed in an airtight container for days.