10+ Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Holiday Baking

Cookies bring a special kind of joy to the holiday season. Baking them at home and sharing with friends and family just feels right.

Christmas cookie recipes give you easy ways to create tasty treats that bring people together.

If you love classic flavors or want to try something new, there’s a recipe out there for you. Baking Christmas cookies fills your home with warm smells and a festive spirit.

---

Ingredients for Christmas Cookies

• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Baking powder or baking soda
• Optional spices like cinnamon or nutmeg

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix butter and sugar until creamy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla extract; stir well.
4. Combine flour and baking powder; add to wet mix.
5. Shape dough into cookies and place on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 8-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
7. Cool before decorating or serving.

1) Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies with Easy Icing

Classic Christmas sugar cookies are soft and easy to cut out. They don’t spread much while baking, so your festive shapes stay crisp.

The icing’s simple to make and adds a sweet touch for decorating. Using a squeeze bottle helps keep things neat, but honestly, messy icing is half the fun.

You can go wild with colorful designs or keep it simple with white icing. These cookies bake quickly—usually in six to eight minutes.

Watch for light color and slightly browned edges for the best texture.

Ingredients

• 1 cup salted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt

For the icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Add egg and vanilla extract; mix well.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients.
6. Roll dough and cut into shapes.
7. Place on baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes.
8. Let cookies cool before icing.
9. Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for icing. Add food coloring if you want.
10. Decorate cookies once icing is spreadable but not too runny.

For more tips, see Christmas Sugar Cookies with Easy Frosting.

2) Red Velvet Christmas Cookies

Red velvet Christmas cookies are soft, chewy, and just right for the holidays. They’ve got a gentle chocolate flavor and a bright red color that’s super festive.

Cocoa powder, vanilla, and a bit of red food coloring give these cookies their classic taste. Top them with cream cheese frosting and colorful sprinkles for something extra.

They’re simple to bake and fun to share—maybe too easy to eat, honestly.

Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup caster sugar
• 1 tbsp red food coloring
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 large egg
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• Cream cheese frosting (optional)
• Festive sprinkles (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add egg, vanilla, and red food coloring; mix well.
4. Combine cocoa, baking soda, and flour, then slowly mix into wet ingredients.
5. Scoop dough onto baking sheets spaced apart.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookies are set but still soft.
7. Cool completely before adding frosting and sprinkles.

3) Gingerbread Man Cookies

Gingerbread man cookies are a classic Christmas treat you can decorate any way you like. They’re soft and spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and molasses.

Cut the dough into gingerbread men and decorate with icing or candy. The dough rolls out easily and keeps its shape in the oven.

You get that warm, sweet flavor whether you eat them fresh or after they’ve cooled. For a twist, try tossing in your favorite spices or decorations.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy.
4. Add egg, molasses, and vanilla to butter mixture; stir well.
5. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
6. Roll dough on floured surface to ¼-inch thickness.
7. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place on baking sheet.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are firm.
9. Let cookies cool before decorating.

For a detailed recipe, visit the Best Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe.

4) Eggnog Cookies

Eggnog cookies let you enjoy the best flavors of the season in cookie form. They’re soft and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, just like real eggnog.

Top them with a sweet glaze for a little something extra. These cookies melt in your mouth and are great for holiday gatherings.

They pair well with a glass of eggnog or a cup of coffee. Making them is easy—maybe even a little too easy.

Try adding vanilla or brown sugar for a richer taste. The spices make these cookies feel extra cozy.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup eggnog
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth.
4. Add the egg, eggnog, and vanilla to the butter mixture.
5. Gradually mix in the flour mixture until combined.
6. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges turn light golden.
8. Let cool before adding glaze or serving.

For a detailed version, check Eggnog Cookies from Cooking Classy or Preppy Kitchen.

5) Chocolate Chip Molasses Cookies

Chocolate chip molasses cookies blend the deep flavor of molasses with classic chocolate chips. You get a soft, chewy texture and a warm, slightly spicy kick.

Add cinnamon and ginger for even more flavor, or skip them if you want the molasses to shine. These cookies walk the line between sweet and chewy.

They’re quick to mix and bake, which honestly makes them a go-to for Christmas baking.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup molasses
• 2 ¼ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• ½ tsp ginger (optional)
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add egg, vanilla, and molasses; mix well.
4. Stir dry ingredients and add to wet mix.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set.
8. Cool on wire rack before serving.

You can find a detailed chocolate chip molasses cookie recipe here.

6) Vanilla Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Vanilla cut-out sugar cookies are a holiday staple. They keep their shape, so you can go wild with icing or sprinkles.

Use festive cookie cutters for Christmas shapes. The dough is soft but rolls out without much fuss.

These cookies bake up to a light golden color and have a gentle vanilla flavor. Decorating them is half the fun—kids and adults both love it.

Find a trusty recipe for classic vanilla cut-out sugar cookies at this Christmas Cookies Vanilla Biscuits recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add egg and vanilla, mix well.
5. Gradually add flour mixture, blend into dough.
6. Roll dough on floured surface to ¼ inch thick.
7. Cut shapes with cookie cutters.
8. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment.
9. Bake 8-10 minutes until edges are light golden.
10. Cool on wire rack before decorating.

7) Poinsettia Shaped Cookies

Poinsettia cookies look like Christmas flowers and really brighten up a cookie tray. The dough uses cream cheese, so the cookies turn out soft and easy to shape.

Cut the dough into petals and arrange them to form a poinsettia. Cherry or raspberry flavor adds a festive kick.

After baking, you can add a dab of red jam or a few sugar pearls in the center. These cookies are simple to make but look impressive—honestly, they’re showstoppers at any party.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ⅔ cup sugar
• 3 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• Cherry or raspberry jam (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix butter, cream cheese, and egg yolk until smooth.

2. Add sugar, flour, and baking powder. Mix well.

3. Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a disk and chill for 30 minutes.

4. Roll out the dough. Cut into poinsettia petal shapes.

5. Arrange petals into a flower on a baking sheet.

6. Add jam in the center if you want.

7. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes.

8. Let them cool before serving.

8) Kolache Apricot Cookies

Kolache apricot cookies are soft, flaky treats with a cream cheese dough. You wrap the dough around a sweet apricot filling, and that makes every bite moist and flavorful.

They’re a big hit at Christmas in lots of families. The dough is easy to handle—soft, not crumbly or dry.

Use apricot jam or chopped dried apricots for the filling. A dusting of powdered sugar on top adds a nice finish.

The dough tastes buttery and rich. Baking at a moderate temperature keeps them tender and golden.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup apricot jam or chopped dried apricots
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix cream cheese, butter, and flour until you get a soft dough.

3. Roll dough thin on a floured surface.

4. Cut into squares and add apricot filling in the center.

5. Fold the corners to the center to enclose the filling.

6. Bake 15-20 minutes until the edges turn golden.

7. Let them cool. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

9) Zebra Chocolate and Vanilla Shortbread

These Zebra Chocolate and Vanilla Shortbread cookies are so much fun for Christmas. You mix vanilla and chocolate dough to get those cool stripes.

Every bite gives you a little chocolate and a little vanilla. Making them takes a bit of time, but honestly, the stripes are worth it.

The dough is easy to handle. You can shape the stripes by hand or sandwich the two doughs together.

They hold their shape well when baking. Decorate the edges with colored sugar if you want to make them extra festive.

Kids and adults both like the look and the taste.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Cream butter and sugar until light. Add vanilla.

3. Divide the dough in half. Mix cocoa into one half.

4. Roll each dough into strips. Stack or twist them for stripes.

5. Cut into slices and put on a baking sheet.

6. Bake 12–15 minutes until the edges are firm.

7. Let them cool before serving.

For more details on this recipe, see Zebra-Striped Shortbread Cookies recipes.

10) Viennese Whirls

Viennese Whirls are soft, buttery cookies that really do melt in your mouth. Usually, you sandwich them with creamy buttercream and a layer of raspberry jam.

You can dip them in chocolate or sprinkle chopped nuts on top if you’re feeling fancy. They’re perfect for sharing at Christmas or just at a cozy tea party.

These need only a few simple ingredients, but they always seem to impress.

Ingredients

• Butter
• Sugar
• Flour
• Vanilla extract
• Raspberry jam
• Buttercream (for filling)
• Optional: chocolate for dipping, chopped nuts

Cooking Instructions

1. Fire up your oven and set it to 325°F (160°C).

2. Grab your butter and sugar. Cream them together until the mixture looks light and fluffy—takes a bit of effort, but it’s worth it.

3. Toss in the vanilla and flour. Mix it all up until you’ve got a nice dough.

4. Pipe the dough into swirls right onto your baking sheets.

5. Slide them into the oven. Bake for 12-15 minutes, just until they’re pale and feel firm to the touch.

6. Let the cookies cool off. Then, spread some buttercream and raspberry jam between two cookies—like a sweet little sandwich.

7. If you’re feeling extra, dip the edges in melted chocolate and sprinkle on some chopped nuts. Why not?