31 Scrumptious Holiday Cookie Recipes (2024)

The holiday season is finally here, and you know what that means! Now is the time to bake our little hearts out. December is the perfect month to hold holiday cookie swap parties with your friends, bake for those who are important to you or just to treat yourself. Here are 32 scrumptious recipes you have to try.

Peppermint Shortbread Cookies

These Mom on Timeout cookies put a minty twist on the classic shortbread cookies you already love. Plus, they’re just right for a cookie swap.

Eggnog Cookies

If you love a nice glass of spicy eggnog by the fire, then these cookies from Chef-in-Training are for you. What’s better than a chilled glass of eggnog? A warm cookie, of course!

White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies

Surprise your holiday guests with a very uncommon ginger cookie. These Cooking Classy treats are sure to be a crowd pleaser and at the top of everyone’s favorite cookies list. The cute holly leaf design is an added touch; however, you can get creative with these and decorate them any way you’d like!

Peppermint White Chocolate Pudding Cookies

Pudding in the mix creates extra moist cookies that are sure to please everyone this holiday season. The cooling peppermint smooths out the creamy white chocolate. Let The Baker Mama show you exactly how to add the perfect amount of pudding into the mix.

Italian Anisette Cookies

These Amanda’s Cookin’ cookies are an annual must. Italian Anisette cookies are light and not super filling, so feel free to eat a few extra!

Grinch Cookies

These tasty cookies from In Katrina’s Kitchen are made with cake mix, making them super fluffy. The tiny Grinch heart should put you in the giving mood this holiday season, too.

Cranberry Orange Cookies

These cookies from Your Homebased Mom provide a bit of sunshine in the cold winter months. The orange should remind you that the warmer months are not as far away as they seem, and the cranberry is evocative of the holiday season. These cookies are sure to be a new crowd favorite.

Raspberry Almond Cookies

Raspberry almond is another one of those classic flavors you just have to have around the holiday season. You’ll be baking batches of these Parent Pretty sweets in no time.

Holiday Cake Mix Cookies

Cake mix cookies are absolutely delicious. With these Parent Pretty goodies, you get the fluffy texture of cake in the form of a cookie. It’s the best of both worlds. This recipe can be used year round by substituting the holiday colors of the candy pieces for any color you chose!

Related: How to Make Your Own Cookie Butter (Using Any Cookie!)

Christmas Tree Peanut Butter Blossoms

Java Cupcakes adds a decorative twist to your favorite peanut butter kiss cookies.With a bit of green frosting, a steady arm and a dash of sprinkles, you can create these peanut butter tree cookies.

Chocolate Crinkles

Another favorite that is sure to please everyone this holiday season, this Simply Recipes creation is foolproof.

Snowdrop Cookies

These Right at Home snowdrop cookies are also commonly known as Mexican wedding cookies or Russian teacake cookies. But looking like a snowball is enough to make them the perfect holiday cookies.

Thumbprint Snowman Cookies

These cookies are almost too cute to eat. This In Katrina’s Kitchen recipe is also loads of fun and would make for a great girls night in activity.

Hot Cocoa Cookies

If you can turn a drink into a cookie, then why not do it, right? These Glorious Recipes cookies taste just like hot chocolate. We suggest snacking on them while sitting by the fire on a snowy day.

Holiday Present Cookies

These Family Fresh Meal cookies are sure to surprise your guests. Fill them with a special holiday surprise, and they’re sure to please.

Gingerdoodles

A cross between snickerdoodles and gingersnaps, these Budding Baketress cookies are absolutely delicious! It’s a tasty twist on two classic favorites.

Cherry Chocolate Kiss Cookies

The cherries in this Frugal Mom Eh mix create a gorgeous eye-popping red. Chocolate + cherries = yum!

Peppermint Mocha Cookies

You can now enjoy your favorite Starbucks drink in cookie form. No lie: these Baking a Moment cookies taste exactly like Starbuck’s peppermint mocha.

Holiday Stained-Glass Cookies

You can create so many different designs with this Evermine recipe. The edible stained-glass is sure to impress, too.

Christmas Peppermint Patties

Charlie Brown fans, these Mom on Timeout sweet treats are for you.

Gingerbread

It isn’t the holiday season without some gingerbread cookies, so this EHow recipe is a must. Plus, this has to be the quickest and easiest gingerbread recipe we’ve ever seen!

Red Velvet Cookies

Who doesn’t love red velvet? Thanks to Rachel Cooks we can enjoy these all season long.

Red Velvet Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

If a plain red velvet cookie just isn’t doing it for you, Delightful E Made has an amazing alternative. The chunks of candy canes add a minty touch to the sweet red velvet.

Brownie Sugar Cookies

These awesome Whole and Heavenly Oven cookies combine another two of our favorites: sugar cookies and brownies! We’re trying these, like, immediately.

Pecan Crescent Cookies

We have a feeling Santa might like these Lady Behind the Curtain cookies. Bonus: they just so happen to look great sitting on a plate by the Christmas tree.

Marble Sugar Cookies

You can get very creative with this Two Sisters Crafting recipe. The marbling of the colors is super festive, and the dough can be cut into tons of different holiday shapes.

Dreidel Surprise Cookies

These cookies from Table Spoon are perfect for Hanukkah. Stuff them with an extra surprise for maximum delight.

Tree Meringue Cookies

These cookies from The Silly Girl’s Life could pass for edible Christmas decorations. They’re way too festive not to try this holiday season.

Hanukkah Glitter Cookie Balls

Save this Martha Stewart recipe because the colors of these cookies can be changed to fit any special event.

Jam Filled Sugar Cookies

These Food and Wine jam-filled treats are sure to occupy every holiday cookie spread this season.

Holiday Latte Cookies

Not only are these cookies adorable, but they’re perfect for collegiettes. Definitely make these Klickitat Street sweets with your besties to see who can design the best Starbucks holiday cup.

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31 Scrumptious Holiday Cookie Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the top 5 cookies in America? ›

Top 10 Cookie Flavors
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are the quintessential cookie. ...
  • Snickerdoodle. ...
  • Sugar Cookies. ...
  • Peanut Butter Cookies. ...
  • White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies. ...
  • Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. ...
  • Gingerbread Cookies. ...
  • Black & White Cookies.

How long before Christmas should you make Christmas cookies? ›

As for the cookies—made for cookie swaps, church potlucks, household snacking, and Santa's plate—there is one little cheat: make now, freeze for later. You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December.

Which cookie has been deemed most popular during Christmas? ›

Peanut Butter Blossoms are most popular in Michigan. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are beloved in Rhode Island and Wyoming. Sugar Cookie is the preferred choice by 36% of people during Christmas in the United States. Almost 25% of children leave cookies out for Santa during Christmas.

What is the #1 cookie in the United States? ›

The chocolate chip cookie is far and away America's favorite cookie This should come as no surprise to anyone who enjoys the tasty treat. More than 53% of American adults prefer the cookies over the next most popular kind, peanut butter.

What is the number one cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the most loved cookie? ›

Chocolate chip cookies

What is the most popular type of cookie? It might just be this one.

What is America's national cookie? ›

While there is no official national cookie of the US, the classic chocolate chip cookie is king. That's according to many polls conducted over the years with the most recent being from Crumbl Cookies by One Poll.

Why are my Christmas cookies hard? ›

Hard cookies: you are over mixing, baking too long, baking at too high a temperature, or some combination of these. Cakey cookies: not enough brown sugar, too much or too little egg, too much flour, maybe you used baking powder instead of baking soda?

Can you leave Christmas cookies out overnight? ›

Cookies left out overnight are at risk of microbial contamination, especially if they contain perishable ingredients like eggs or dairy. Harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, can multiply rapidly in these conditions, potentially causing foodborne illness if consumed.

Should I refrigerate my Christmas cookies? ›

Information. Bakery or homemade cookies can be stored at room temperature two to three weeks or two months in the refrigerator. Cookies retain their quality when stored in the freezer for eight to 12 months. Moist bars, such as cheesecake and lemon bars, can be refrigerated for seven days.

What is the least popular Christmas cookie? ›

On the naughty list of cookies, Americans gave the lowest win records to anise cookies, which only won 29% of its matchups.

What is Santa Claus's favorite cookie? ›

Chocolate Chip cookies

You can never go wrong with these classic, delicious cookies. Santa himself lists these as his favorites, and he prefers them soft and gooey with lots of chocolate chips. If you decide to leave these out for him, make sure there's a glass of cold milk nearby!

What are cream filled cookies called? ›

A sandwich cookie, also known as a sandwich biscuit, is a type of cookie made from two thin cookies or medium cookies with a filling between them. Many types of fillings are used, such as cream, ganache, buttercream, chocolate, cream cheese, jam, peanut butter, lemon curd, or ice cream.

What are the top 5 favorite cookies? ›

10 Most Popular Homemade Cookies
  • ONE. Chocolate Chip Cookies.
  • TWO. Peanut Butter Cookies.
  • THREE. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
  • FOUR. Peanut Butter Blossoms.
  • FIVE. Sugar Cookies.
  • SIX. Classic No-Bake Cookies.
  • SEVEN. Molasses Cookies.
  • EIGHT. Macaroons.
Mar 28, 2020

What is Santa's second favorite cookie? ›

2. Holiday Candy Cookie Bites – Number two on the list of Santa's favorite cookies is Holiday Candy Cookie Bites, which is a holiday version of the year-round favorite, Chocolate Chip Cookies. Instead of traditional chocolate chips, these cookies are studded with red and green candies and white baking chips.

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