Because it’s the holidays and I am a sucker for nostalgia, here are all kinds of classic Christmas cookies. Think of this post as a virtual cookie platter piled high with sweet treats that are sure to win hearts this time of year. There’s a little bit of everything – sugar cookies, stained-glass cookie ornaments, and gingerbread men, and maybe a few new-to-you ones, too. I hope you find a few to try!
Classic Christmas Cookies
I looked high and low for the best Christmas cookies, and I think there are a few in this post you’ll want to add to your baking list this year!
Click on the recipe titles to get the recipes for these classic Christmas cookies!
Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons
Macaroons are delicious chewy coconut cookies that are easy to make. Plus, they keep well at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or freezer. They’re a great cookie recipe for the holiday season!
Raspberry Bowtie Cookies – Beyond the Chicken Coop
Creating a beautiful cookie tray is like making a cheeseboard – you want a variety of colors, textures, and shapes – and these bow tie cookies are the perfect addition. I love that pop of red from the raspberry filling.
Cantucci (Italian Almond Cookies)
These crunchy almond cookies are great for gifting because they keep well at room temperature for weeks. This type of biscotti is called cantucci which is a type of cookie from Tuscany. They’re flavored with toasted almond and lemon zest and are twice-baked, which is what gives them their dry, crunchy texture.
Cookies and Cream Cookies
These cookies and cream cookies have the best soft and chewy texture, with crushed Oreos in every bite. They’re easy to make, plus you can freeze the cookie dough for later, so a fresh-baked batch is just minutes away.
Peanut Butter Blossoms – House of Nash Eats
Amy describes these sweet treats as ‘iconic’ and I have to agree – I’m pretty sure every cookie platter I’ve been gifted includes a few peanut butter cookies adorned with a chocolate kiss.
Crescent Cookies – An Italian in My Kitchen
A few years ago, a neighbor gave me a batch of homemade crescent cookies – a melt-in-your-mouth almond shortbread cookie dusted with powdered sugar – and I think they all disappeared within a day. Now I have Rosemary’s recipe and I can’t wait to make them myself this year.
Molasses Cookies
These soft and chewy cookies are perfect with a cup of coffee!
Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Men – House of Nash Eats
Gingerbread men are right up there with Santa and Frosty in the ranks of Christmas characters and I love, love, love that this recipe is for soft and chewy cookies instead of the hard and brittle gingerbread cookies I’ve seen passed around at some cookie exchanges.
Rolo Chocolate Crackle Cookies
Classic chocolate crackle cookies with a surprise caramel center.
Classic Spritz Cookies – A Kitchen Addiction
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I learned the name of these little classics. Growing up, they were always called the little buttery cookies that I couldn’t stop eating. Now, I know they’re called spritz cookies and Jessica has a whole post about how to make them with a cookie press.
Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies – Liv for Cake
I love the cookies (chocolate cookies dipped in white candy coating and crushed candy canes? Yes, please) and I love them stacked up with the festive string – perfect for gifting!
Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
These chocolate chip cookies have almonds and toasted coconut baked in and extra on top. They’re a twist on a chewy chocolate chip cookie and easy to make.
Lemon Shortbread Cookies – An Italian in My Kitchen
These melt-in-your-mouth lemon shortbread cut out cookies are a light and buttery option for the Christmas cookie platter.
Snickerdoodles
It doesn’t get any easier than butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Oh, and cinnamon! This recipe for snickerdoodles uses a mix of brown and granulated sugar, which produces a cookie with crispy edges and a nice chewy center.
Chocolate Cinnamon Stars – Eat Little Bird
Cinnamon stars are a Christmas cookie tradition in Switzerland and traditionally are made with nuts, in this case, almond. Thahn puts her own special spin on this classic by making her stars chocolate with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Wine Cookies
Made with white wine and a few other simple ingredients these lightly sweetened and crunchy wine cookies are great for the season. Pair them with a bottle of crisp white wine for a fun holiday gift.
Cornflake Wreath Cookies – She Saved
Christmas wreath cookies! Classic, nostalgic, and a must-make for a cookie exchange.
Gingersnaps
Gingersnaps are always a favorite during the holidays!
Stained Glass Cookies – Liv for Cake
Cookies so pretty they double as ornaments! Liv walks you through this fun baking project and in the end, you’ll have cookies almost too pretty to eat.
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing
Soft pumpkin cookies topped with cream cheese frosting are full of fall spices. Plus, this no-chill pumpkin cookie recipe is ready in less than an hour.
Hazelnut Butter Cookies – Happy Food Tube
Another European classic! These buttery cookies require some advanced planning – the dough needs time to rest – but once the dough is ready you just slice and bake. Each cookie is studded with hazelnuts and look like they’ll just melt in your mouth.
Spiced Peanut Butter Cookies
Classic peanut butter cookies coated in holiday spices.
Peppermint Melting Moments – The View from Great Island
Sue shares her old family recipe for these little shortbread cookie bites topped with a cap of frosting and crushed candy canes. I can see why these are a family favorite!
Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
Soft and chewy chocolate chunk oatmeal cookies combine two cookies in one: chewy oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip cookies. They’re perfectly sweet with melted chocolate in every bite.
Holiday Linzer Sandwich Cookies – Umami Girl
Raspberry jam sandwiched between two shortbread cookies – these Linzer cookies are all about the holidays!
I hope you’ve found some new Christmas cookie recipes to try this season! Whether you make them for yourself as a holiday treat or give them all away, I know they’ll be a hit. Enjoy!
Happy baking,
More Holiday Recipe Collections
Post updated from the archives. First published in December 2017.
Julie says
So many cookies! Gotta find a way to make them all … or at least a handful of them. Happy Holidays and thanks for sharing.
sue says
This is the best Christmas Cookie Round-Up I’ve seen yet – THANK YOU!!
April Anderson says
Oh, thank you – Glad you like it!
Jenn Peas and Crayons says
Ohmygosh I want to try them all! Pinned and tweeted – thanks for the super tasty holiday round-up!