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 is the number 1 Christmas cookie? ›

Peanut Butter Blossoms are America's favorite Christmas cookie, based both on total number of pageviews from the U.S. population as a whole, and number of states that ranked it as their top cookie (which is six, by the way).

How long before Christmas should you make Christmas cookies? ›

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. (Consult this handy how-to guide to the matter.) Generally, most recipes will be best if baked and then frozen.

What is the most popular cookie in the United States? ›

America's favorite cookie and the one dubbed “the American cookie” is the Chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate chip cookie is simply tantalizing both in flavor and in texture. The chips of both milk and dark chocolate provide you with a rich and strong flavor while the butter makes the cookies velvety.

What is the original Christmas cookie? ›

Modern Christmas cookies can trace their history to recipes from Medieval Europe biscuits, when many modern ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds and dried fruit were introduced into the west.

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 America's favorite holiday cookie? ›

Among those who can make a single choice, frosted sugar cookies lead the list (32%), with gingerbread (12%) and chocolate chip (11%) rounding out the top three. Snickerdoodles (6%) come in fourth place, followed by butter (4%), peanut butter (4%), and chocolate (4%) tying for fifth.

What Christmas cookies stay fresh the longest? ›

Shortbread and spritz cookies are longer-lasting cookies, which means they are perfect for holidays when there is some competition on the table. After all, Christmas in many homes is celebrated with a variety of dishes and sweet treats.

Can you leave Christmas cookies out overnight? ›

Curious how long cookies last at room temperature? Most homemade cookies will maintain their taste and texture for up to 3 days. If you leave them out for too long, the cookies begin to harden or dry out. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container.

Why are my Christmas cookies hard? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly. The lack of moisture makes the cookies hard and dry, which makes them difficult to enjoy.

What is the best selling cookie of all time? ›

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 in cowboy cookies? ›

As with most things in Texas, Bush's Cowboy Cookies are enormous and wholly stuffed with so many mix-ins: oats, coconut, pecans, and of course, chocolate chips. They're sure to win over any crowd.

What is America's favorite cookie slogan? ›

The Oreo was originally had a less sexy name: the Oreo Biscuit. A lemon filled variety was available briefly during the 1920s, but clearly it didn't compare to the chocolate kind. Oreo's original slogan "America's Favorite Cookie" was changed to "Milk's Favorite Cookie" because clearly it's all about the dunk!

What is Santa Claus's favorite cookie? ›

Chocolate Chip 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 Hallmark movie was the cookie recipe stolen? ›

Annie faces her first obstacle as CEO of Cooper's Cookies when grandma's secret recipe is stolen. While investigating the theft, she works with local baker Sam to recreate the beloved recipe.

What are the most Googled Christmas cookies? ›

Italian Christmas Cookies grow as top cookie

Zoom in: Italian Christmas Cookies were the top cookie in 13 states, more than double the six states from 2022, Google Trends curator Katie Seaton told Axios. Seaton said the Italian cookies dominated the East Coast both this year and last year.

What is the number one selling 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.

Which Christmas cookies last the longest? ›

Shortbread and spritz cookies are longer-lasting cookies, which means they are perfect for holidays when there is some competition on the table. After all, Christmas in many homes is celebrated with a variety of dishes and sweet treats.

What is the most popular Christmas cookie in Pennsylvania? ›

According to Google Trends, the most-searched cookie recipe in Pennsylvania over the holidays is the famous peanut butter blossom! The peanut butter blossom was created in 1957 by Freda Smith.

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