The holidays are coming and you know what that means?
It’s cookie season!
If you know me, you know I love to bake, and I get so excited when it comes to making festive Christmas cookies.
These holiday cookies are perfect for things like bake sales, markets, or just throwing in a lunchbox.
Or enjoying with a morning coffee!
Each one has its own twist, from peppermint and chocolate to spiced gingerbread and caramel crunch.
You can keep it simple or go all out with icing and toppings.
That’s why I love these recipes: they don’t have to be fancy to be delicious but it’s fun to decorate them.
Especially if you have a kiddo or two to help you out.
So here are some of my fave festive holiday cookies for Christmas that I love to bake:
1. Sugar Cookies
Start with softened butter and real vanilla extract because it makes a big difference in flavor.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured counter and cut out your favorite shapes like stars or snowflakes.
Bake until the edges just start to turn golden, then cool completely before icing.
You can grab my sugar cookie recipe if you want to use the same one I do.
2. Eggnog Snickerdoodles
Cream together butter, sugar, and eggnog until smooth, then mix in eggs and vanilla.
Add flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon until you’ve got a soft, cozy dough that smells like Christmas.
Roll each ball in a little cinnamon sugar for sparkle.
A quick dusting of powdered sugar after baking makes them look like they came from a bakery.
3. Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Beat together butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla.
Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, and a spoonful of cornstarch to keep them soft.
Fold in M&Ms, crushed pretzels, and chocolate chips until it looks like pure chaos in the best way.
Chill the dough before baking so the cookies stay thick and chewy.
4. Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Combine butter, brown sugar, and white sugar, then mix in eggs and vanilla.
Stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt before folding it all together.
Add chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies until it looks like a snowstorm of chocolate.
Drizzle them with melted white chocolate over the tops while they cool for a peppermint bark vibe.
5. Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies
Whip butter, brown sugar, and molasses, then add an egg and vanilla for that rich, spiced base.
Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and a touch of cloves.
Scoop the dough and press a little well in the center for a spoonful of sweet cream cheese filling.
Spread cream cheese icing over the tops once cooled and finish with a light sprinkle of cinnamon.
6. Shortbread Linzer Cookies
Beat butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy, then stir in flour and a pinch of salt.
Roll the dough thin and cut out even pairs of rounds, cutting a small window in half of them.
Bake until the edges turn golden and cool completely before filling with raspberry or hazelnut jam.
A dusting of powdered sugar on top makes them look like they belong in a Christmas tin.
7. White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla.
Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until the dough comes together.
Fold in white chocolate chips and crushed candy canes so every bite feels festive.
Chill the dough before baking to keep the cookies soft in the middle.
8. Caramel Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies
Lay out Ritz crackers on a lined baking sheet and drizzle warm melted caramel over the tops so it seeps into the ridges.
Once the caramel sets a bit, sprinkle crushed candy canes or holiday sprinkles on top before it hardens.
I love these because you can really get creative, like adding a layer of peanut butter and then covering in melted chocolate.
No matter how you make them, they have a really satisfying crunch!
9. Grinch Crinkle Cookies
My kids ask for these cookies every year!
Whisk together cake mix, eggs, and oil until you’ve got a bright green dough.
Roll small scoops in powdered sugar so they bake up with that cracked, snow-dusted look.
Pop a red candy heart or make one out of red icing in the center for the classic Grinch touch.
Let them cool completely before stacking or the sugar will melt off.
10. Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
Mix butter, sugar, and orange zest until fragrant, then add flour and salt.
Stir in chopped dried cranberries until evenly spread through the dough.
Roll into a log and chill before slicing into rounds.
Bake until the edges just start to turn golden and the kitchen smells like citrus and butter.
11. Gingerbread Latte Cookies
These are one of my go-tos when I want something cozy but still easy.
Beat butter, sugar, molasses, and a shot of cooled espresso together until smooth.
Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg for that classic gingerbread kick.
A drizzle of coffee glaze over the tops takes them straight into coffee shop territory.
12. Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
Stir together flour, cocoa powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and baking soda.
In another bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, molasses, and an egg until smooth.
Combine everything into a soft dough and chill it before rolling in powdered sugar.
Bake until they puff up and crack, showing off those cozy gingerbread ridges.
13. Christmas Crack Cookies
Cream butter and brown sugar until smooth, then mix in eggs and vanilla.
Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt before adding to the bowl.
Fold in chunks of toffee, crushed saltine pieces, and chocolate chips for that perfect salty-sweet mix.
Sprinkle a few bits of toffee on top before baking so they melt into golden caramel pockets.
14. Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Mix sugar cookie dough and split it into two bowls, mix one with Nutella and leaving one white.
Roll out both layers, stack them, and carefully roll them into a log.
Slice the dough into pretty spirals and bake until the edges are just golden.
Chill the log first so the pinwheels stay sharp and clean when sliced.
15. Pistachio Cranberry Wreath Cookies
These look so pretty it’s almost hard to eat them!
Combine butter, sugar, vanilla, flour, and a pinch of salt, then fold in chopped pistachios and dried cranberries.
Shape the dough into little rings before baking so they resemble mini wreaths.
I like brushing them with a light glaze and adding a few extra pistachio bits for shine.
16. Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
Whip butter, brown sugar, and molasses together, then mix in an egg and vanilla.
Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until you get a soft, spiced dough.
Bake pairs of cookies and let them cool completely before spreading cream cheese frosting between them
Roll the edges in crushed graham crumbs or cinnamon sugar for extra flavor.
17. Christmas Vanilla Pudding Cookies
Beat butter and sugars until fluffy, then mix in eggs, vanilla, and a packet of vanilla pudding mix.
Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt until the dough comes together.
Fold in white chocolate chips and a handful of crushed candy cane pieces.
Chill for twenty minutes before baking so the cookies stay thick and soft.
18. Red Velvet Christmas Crinkle Cookies
I make these when I want something that looks impressive without any effort.
Combine red velvet cake mix, eggs, and oil into a thick dough.
Roll each scoop in powdered sugar and bake until the tops crack open just enough to show that bright red color.
Add a few white chocolate chips for contrast if you want them extra pretty.
19. Pecan Sugar Cookies with Brown Butter Icing
Mix butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, then add flour, baking powder, and salt.
Stir in chopped pecans and bake until the edges just start to turn golden.
For the icing, whisk browned butter with powdered sugar, vanilla, and a splash of milk until creamy.
Drizzle over the tops and sprinkle crushed pecans while it’s still warm.
20. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Cream butter and sugar together until light, then add eggs and vanilla.
Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt before folding in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.
The dough should be thick and easy to scoop.
I like pressing a few extra cranberries on top before baking so they look bakery-style.
21. Spiced Christmas Cookies
Combine butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth, then mix in eggs and vanilla.
Add flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a hint of ginger for that classic holiday spice mix.
Chill the dough before baking to keep the centers soft.
22. Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies
Whip butter and sugar together until creamy, then add eggs and vanilla.
Mix in flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until a thick dough forms.
Roll it out, brush with melted butter, and sprinkle a cinnamon-sugar mixture over top.
Roll into a log, slice, and bake until swirled perfection.
23. Chocolate Marshmallow Swirl Cookies
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs and vanilla.
Stir in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
Melt chocolate and swirl it into the dough with spoonfuls of marshmallow cream so it ribbons through the mix.
Bake just until the edges are firm but the centers still look glossy.
24. Christmas Confetti Cookies
I make these when I want something easy and colorful for the kids.
Mix butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth, then add flour, baking soda, salt, and a handful of holiday sprinkles.
Chill the dough for about fifteen minutes before baking so the colors don’t bleed.
Add a few extra sprinkles right before they go in the oven because there’s no such thing as too many.
25. Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Cookies
Blend butter and sugar until creamy, then stir in eggs and a spoonful of chocolate hazelnut spread.
Add flour, baking soda, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt.
Fold in chopped hazelnuts or crushed wafers for a little texture.
Let them cool before adding another swirl of hazelnut spread on top.
26. Peppermint Meltaway Cookies
Cream butter and powdered sugar until smooth, then add vanilla and peppermint extract.
Mix in flour and cornstarch until the dough is soft and easy to roll.
Bake just until the bottoms start to turn pale golden.
Spread a thin layer of peppermint icing on top and sprinkle crushed candy canes before it sets.
27. Apple Cider Crinkle Cookies
Whisk together butter, brown sugar, and apple cider concentrate, then add eggs and vanilla.
Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Roll each scoop in powdered sugar so they bake with that cracked, snowy look.
Let them cool completely before stacking so the sugar stays put.
28. Christmas Cake Batter Cookies
I always make these when I need a last-minute dessert for a party.
Mix cake mix, eggs, oil, and a splash of vanilla until thick and smooth.
Fold in a handful of holiday sprinkles, then scoop onto a baking sheet.
Bake until just set and the centers still look a little shiny.
29. Peppermint Mocha Cookies
Combine butter, brown sugar, and white sugar, then add eggs, vanilla, and a spoonful of brewed coffee.
Stir in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt for that rich mocha flavor.
Fold in chocolate chips and crushed peppermint candies.
Drizzle cooled cookies with melted chocolate and a few candy cane bits.
30. Sugarplum Cranberry Cookies
Beat butter and sugar until creamy, then mix in eggs, vanilla, and a touch of almond extract.
Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, dried cranberries, and chopped dried plums for a chewy texture.
I like tossing in a pinch of cinnamon to bring it all together.
Chill before baking so the cookies stay soft in the middle.
31. Christmas Thumbprint Cookies
Mix butter, sugar, and vanilla until creamy, then add flour and salt for a buttery shortbread dough.
Roll into balls and press a thumbprint into each center before baking.
Once cooled, fill the indent with raspberry jam, chocolate ganache, or caramel.
Sprinkle a bit of powdered sugar over the tops for that perfect holiday touch.
32. Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then mix in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
Add flour until it forms a soft dough, then stir in chopped pistachios and dried cranberries.
Roll into a log, chill, and slice into rounds before baking.
Brush with a light glaze once cooled if you want a glossy finish.
33. Snowball Cookies
Beat butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until light, then add flour and finely chopped pecans.
Roll small scoops into balls and bake until just set.
While they’re still warm, roll them in powdered sugar so it sticks like fresh snow.
Roll them again once cooled for that thick, snowy coating everyone loves.
Holiday Cookie Ideas to Brighten Your Kitchen
There’s just something about the smell of cookies baking that makes the whole kitchen feel like the holidays have officially arrived.
Between the peppermint, cinnamon, and brown sugar, it’s impossible not to sneak a bite while they’re cooling.
Mix a few favorites from the list or try something totally new this year!
