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The Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

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Ah, Christmas cookie season — the most wonderful and delicious time of the year! There’s nothing quite like filling your kitchen with the smell of sugar, spice, and everything nice while your kids “help” (a.k.a. sneak dough when they think you’re not looking). Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, gifting treats to friends and neighbors, or just building your own stash of festive snacks, these cookie recipes are guaranteed to spread cheer. Grab your apron, cue up some Mariah Carey, and let’s dive into the yummiest part of the holidays!

We are in full holiday baking mode which means Christmas cookies are made around here on the daily. Sugar cookies. Chocolate cookies. Cutout cookies. Fancy cookies. Snowball cookies. You name it, we are making it. Making all the cookie recipes.

December is my absolutely favorite baking month! WE ARE BAKING ALL THE THINGS. Today, I’m sharing with you some of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes. Why not make a bunch of these recipes and have your own cookie exchange with your family?

Snowball Cookies Christmas Cookies

CLASSIC SNOWBALL COOKIES

Snowball cookies are such a classic and they are my dad’s favorite holiday cookie. I can’t remember a holiday without these easy-to-made, delicious, nutty, powdery cookies in the house. This Classic Snowball Cookies recipe from The Many Little Joys will give you and yours much joy this holiday.

Classic Snowball Cookies
Call them whatever you like–Mexican wedding cookies, Russian tea cakes, snowball cookies–these bite-sized cookies are the perfect addition to a holiday dessert plate, cookie exchange, or for enjoying by yourself snuggled next to the Christmas tree.
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: The Little Many Joys
snowball cookies
Stack of Turtle Cookies

TURTLE COOKIES

This is a dark chocolate based cookie rolled in chopped pecans, topped with creamy caramel layer, a chocolate layer and sprinkled with more pecans that just screams to be made during the holidays!

Turtle Cookies
This is a dark chocolate based cookie rolled in chopped pecans, topped with creamy caramel layer, a chocolate layer and sprinkled with more pecans that just screams to be made during the holidays!
Check out this recipe
Chocolate Turtle Cookies on Mat
Crinkle Cookies Christmas Cookies

CRINKLE COOKIES

These soft, fudgy cookies are another classic cookie you may remember from your childhood. These Crinkle Cookies from Savory Nothings definitely should be on your to-make list this holiday.

Chewy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These Chewy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are soft and turn out picture-perfect! The super easy dough make these the best Christmas cookies for your holiday baking!
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: Savory Nothing
Christmas Wafer Cookie Recipe

CHRISTMAS WHITE CHOCOLATE SUGAR WAFERS

Not everyone has time for 100% homemade holiday cookies and that is why these Christmas White Chocolate Sugar Wafers from The Kitchen is My Playground are perfect.

CHRISTMAS WHITE CHOCOLATE-DIPPED SUGAR WAFERS
Looking for a fun and easy Christmas treat to make for your holiday festivities?  Give these Christmas White Chocolate-Dipped Sugar Wafers a try!  They're an easy, adorable, kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing festive treat that can even be made last minute if need be.  Adored by both kids and grown-ups alike, a platter of these beauties will disappear in a flash.
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: The Kitchen is My Playground
Sugar Wafers

NO BACK SALTED CARAMEL COCONUT MACAROONS

These No-Bake Salted Caramel Coconut Macaroons by Imperial Sugar are so very easy that they may just become your go-to Christmas cookie recipe when you need something fast. Sweet coconut gets stirred into gooey caramel to form macaroons.

No Bake Salted Caramel Coconut Macaroons
These No-Bake Salted Caramel Coconut Macaroons are so very easy that they may just become your go-to cookie recipe when you need something fast. Sweet coconut gets stirred into gooey caramel to form macaroons – then everything gets dipped and drizzled in chocolate. That's a lot of happiness to share!
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: Imperial Sugar
No-bake-salted-caramel-macaroons
Candy Cane Cookies on Cooling Rack

CANDY CANE COOKIES

These candy cane cookies are super easy to make, delicious AND adorable! Even the kids can help with this one.

Candy Cane Sugar Cookies
These candy cane cookies are super easy to make, delicious AND adorable! Even the kids can help with this one.
Check out this recipe
Candy Cane Cookies on Cooling Rack
Italian Christmas Cookie Italian cookie

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES

You don’t have to wait for Christmas to make these Italian Christmas Cookies from My Farm Girl Gabs. Just drop the “Christmas” out of the name and make them all year long.

Italian Christmas Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies are delicious cake-like cookies with a hint of anise and sweet sugar glaze. This easy cookie recipe is great to serve any time of the year. 
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: The Farm Girl Gabs
Italian Christmas Cookies
Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookie REcipe

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER RITZ COOKIES

This is another fast Christmas cookie recipe for those who don’t have time for 100% homemade. That doesn’t mean these Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies from Spaceships and Laser Beams aren’t a favorite of so many cookie exchange parties in previous years.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies
Sweet, salty, buttery, and chocolatey, these chocolate peanut butter Ritz cookies are the sweet and salty treat you’ve been dreaming of! With just four ingredients and no baking, they’re super-easy and great fun to make.
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: Spaceships and Laser Beams
Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Ritz-Cookies
Crumbl Chocolate York Cookies

CHOCOLATE FT. YORK MINT STUFFED COOKIES

Dark chocolate cookies stuffed with York peppermint patties that bring the chocolate and mint together for a holiday dream!

CHOCOLATE FT. YORK MINT STUFFED COOKIES
It's a soft, dark chocolate base with a Mini York Peppermint Patty inside and topped with a chocolate layer and half of a Mini York. It's delicious, easy and a perfect copycat!
Check out this recipe
York Stuffed CHocolate Cookies
Hot Cocoa Cookie Recipe

HOT COCOA COOKIES

Just the name of these cookies remind me of sitting by a fire during the holidays. These Hot Cocoa Cookies from Love from the Oven are everything you want in a holiday and they tasted exactly like a cup of hot cocoa. Don’t believe me. Make them and try for yourself.

Hot Cocoa Cookies
Hot Chocolate Cookies are perfect Christmas cookies and are great cookie for cookie exchanges.
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: Love from the Oven
hot-cocoa-cookies
Peanut butter blossom christmas cookie recipe

PEANUT BUTTER BLOSSOMS

I’ve been making Peanut Butter Blossoms since I was a kid and this recipe from Taste of Lizzy T tells you how easy it is to whip up a batch.

Peanut Butter Blossoms
Calling all chocolate peanut butter lovers! This classic Peanut Butter Blossoms cookie recipe is one you’ll need in your recipe box. These cookies stay soft and freeze well.
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: Tastes of Lizzy
kentucky butter cake cookies

KENTUCKY BUTTER CAKE COOKIES

These delicious, buttery-flavored cookies bring a Kentucky butter cake to life in cookie form.

Kentucky Butter Cake Cookies
These delicious, buttery-flavored cookies bring a Kentucky butter cake to life in cookie form.
Check out this recipe
kentucky butter cake cookies

CHRISTMAS PINWHEEL COOKIES

My kids love a fun pinwheel Christmas cookie and if you change the colors, they work for any holiday. This step-by-step recipe guide from the Slow Roasted Italian will show you exactly how to make these Christmas Pinwheel Cookies.

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies steal the show every time – and you can see why! They’re colorful, mouthwateringly sweet, delicate and soft, and just beautiful to look at! Pinwheel Christmas cookies can be made with your own homemade or store-bought dough. Talk about easy! 
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: Slow Roasted Italian
Christmas Pinwheel Cookie
Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies

RASPBERRY ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES

These Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies are another classic holiday cookie recipe from Dear Chrissy.

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: Dear Crissy
Raspberry Almond Shortbread Cookies
crumbl muddy buddies cookies

MUDDY BUDDIES COOKIES

We love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate so these Muddy Buddies Cookies are perfect for our holiday baking sessions.

Mini Crumbl Muddy Buddies Cookies Copycat Recipe
Check out this recipe
Muddy Buddies Cookies on blue plate
Reindeer Cookies Christmas Cookie recipe

NUTTER BUTTER REINDEER COOKIES

This is a craft and snack all in one. These Nutter Butter Reindeer Cookies by See Vanessa Craft are a great, easy craft to do with the kids. Just don’t be surprised when this Christmas cookie is eaten as fast as you can make them.

Nutter Butter Reindeer Cookies
Check out this recipe
Photo credit: See Vanessa Craft
reindeer cookies
CHOCOLATE CHIP PEPPERMINT COOKIE recipe

PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

This is a twist on the traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe. Add peppermint candies and it brings out the holiday in everyone. These Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies by Lemons and Zest is a perfect cookie to remind you that it’s the holiday.

Now, these are not all my favorite holiday cookie recipes, of course, but it should get you started if you haven’t already started baking. Not to overwhelm you but you can check out more cookie recipes here, here, or here.

Christmas Cookie Recipes

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Susan Young

Thursday 27th of October 2022

Every time I try to open pinwheel cookie recipe it opens peanut blossoms. I really would like the step by step recipe

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