10+ Christmas Cookies Recipes to Delight Your Holiday Baking

Christmas cookies are honestly one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. Baking with family or friends, experimenting with new flavors, and decorating treats in festive ways—it just brings people together.

These recipes make it easy for you to create tasty cookies that everyone will love.

Maybe you love classic sugar cookies. Or maybe you want to try something totally new. Either way, baking Christmas cookies adds a little extra joy and warmth to your holiday.

Ingredients

• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Baking powder

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl.
3. Cream butter and sugar in another bowl until fluffy.
4. Add eggs and vanilla extract to the butter mixture.
5. Gradually combine wet and dry ingredients to form dough.
6. Roll out dough and cut into shapes.
7. Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
9. Let cookies cool before decorating.

1) Classic Vanilla Sugar Cookies

Classic vanilla sugar cookies are simple and perfect for cutting into fun shapes. They hold their shape well, so they’re ideal for decorating with colored icing or sprinkles.

The dough is super easy to handle and doesn’t spread much in the oven. You get a soft texture and a gentle vanilla flavor that’s just… cozy.

You can grab a solid version of this recipe at Christmas Cookies! (Vanilla Biscuits/Sugar Cookies).

Ingredients

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

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth.
4. Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
5. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
6. Roll dough onto a floured surface and cut shapes.
7. Place cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly browned.
9. Cool on wire racks before decorating.

2) Christmas Sugar Cookies with Easy Icing

Christmas sugar cookies are a classic treat you’ll enjoy making and decorating. They have soft centers and crisp edges—pretty much the dream.

A squeeze bottle makes icing so much easier (and less messy). The icing hardens quickly, so you can stack or pack the cookies right away.

This recipe keeps the cookies from spreading, so your stars and trees actually look like, well, stars and trees. The easy icing adds just the right bit of sweetness.

Ingredients

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

Icing Ingredients

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth.
4. Add egg, vanilla, and milk; beat again.
5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet; mix until combined.
6. Roll out dough on floured surface to ¼ inch thick.
7. Cut shapes and place on baking sheets.
8. Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are light golden.
9. Let cookies cool completely before icing.
10. Mix icing ingredients; add food coloring if you want.
11. Decorate cookies with icing using a squeeze bottle or spoon.

3) Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies fill your home with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. You can make them soft or a little crisp, depending on your mood.

Cut them into fun shapes and decorate with icing or sprinkles. The molasses and spice combo is honestly unbeatable this time of year.

You can even bake them ahead for parties or homemade gifts.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until creamy.
4. Add egg, molasses, and vanilla to the butter mix.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to wet, mixing until combined.
6. Roll out dough and cut into shapes.
7. Place cookies on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
8. Let cookies cool before decorating or serving.

Try this gingerbread cookies recipe if you want a soft, flavorful treat.

4) Chocolate Chip Monster Christmas Cookies

These cookies are soft and chewy, with a holiday twist. You get classic chocolate chips, oats, and peanut butter in every bite, plus red and green M&Ms for that festive vibe.

Expect crunchy edges and a gooey center—yeah, it’s as good as it sounds. They bake up fast, so you can whip up a batch even on busy days.

These cookies keep well, making them great for making ahead. Add them to your cookie tray and watch them disappear.

Find more like this at Christmas Monster Cookies.

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup red and green M&Ms

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter, peanut butter, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
3. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
4. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt, then mix into wet ingredients.
5. Stir in chocolate chips and M&Ms.
6. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto baking sheets.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden.
8. Cool on wire racks before serving.

5) Peanut Blossoms II

Peanut Blossoms II are simple, classic, and delicious. You start with a soft peanut butter dough, then press a chocolate kiss into each warm cookie after baking.

You only need a handful of ingredients, and the steps are pretty straightforward. Kids love rolling the dough in sugar before baking.

The cookies turn out chewy with slightly crispy edges. The chocolate kiss melts just enough to be soft but still holds its shape.

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 (9 oz) bags of milk chocolate candy kisses
• Sugar for rolling

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix eggs, peanut butter, and milk until smooth.
3. Roll dough into balls and then roll in sugar.
4. Place on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
5. Bake for 10 minutes.
6. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into each warm cookie.
7. Let cool before serving.

6) Pretzel Turtles Cookies

Pretzel Turtles Cookies are salty, sweet, and ridiculously easy. Start with mini pretzels, top with a caramel candy, then press a pecan on top.

Pour melted chocolate over everything to hold it all together. You can find all the ingredients at just about any grocery store.

These cookies are crunchy, salty, and sweet in every bite. If you want a quick holiday treat without much fuss, this is it.

Ingredients

• Mini pretzels
• Caramel candies
• Pecan halves
• Milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Place pretzels on a baking sheet.
3. Put one caramel candy on each pretzel.
4. Bake for 3-5 minutes until caramel softens.
5. Press a pecan half onto each caramel.
6. Melt chocolate chips and drizzle or spread over pecans.
7. Let cool until chocolate hardens.

Here’s a pretzel turtles recipe with extra tips if you want to check it out.

7) Melted Snowman Cookies

These cookies are a playful twist on sugar cookies. Top each one with a marshmallow and candy to make little snowmen that look like they’re melting.

Start with your favorite sugar cookie base. After baking, add a large marshmallow on each while the cookies are still warm.

Use candies and icing for the eyes, carrot nose, and buttons. Black decorating gel works for the face, and orange sprinkles make a cute nose.

The marshmallows melt just enough to give that “melting” snowman look.

Ingredients

• 24 sugar cookies
• 24 large marshmallows
• Black decorating gel
• Orange sprinkles
• Small candies (M&Ms or similar)

Cooking Instructions

1. Bake sugar cookies at 350°F (175°C) until golden.
2. Place a marshmallow on each cookie while still warm.
3. Let marshmallows soften, then decorate with gel and candies.
4. Allow icing to set before serving.

8) No Bake Christmas Cookies III

No-bake Christmas cookies are a lifesaver when you want a treat but can’t stand the idea of turning on the oven. You just mix a few simple ingredients and, honestly, you’ve got festive cookies in no time.

Grab things like peanut butter, white chocolate chips, and crispy cereal. That combo? It’s tasty and doesn’t make a mess.

Making these cookies couldn’t be easier. Melt, mix, chill—done. There’s something satisfying about getting into the holiday mood with almost zero effort.

Ingredients

• 1 bag white chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 3 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt white chocolate chips and peanut butter together in a saucepan over low heat.
2. Stir until the mixture looks smooth.
3. Take it off the heat, then add powdered sugar and cereal.
4. Spoon the mix onto wax paper and shape them into cookies.
5. Pop them in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

For more ideas, check easy no-bake Christmas cookies recipes here.

9) Saltine Toffee Cookies

Saltine toffee cookies—people call them “Christmas Crack” for a reason. They’re so easy and ridiculously good.

Start with a layer of saltine crackers. That salty crunch really works with the sweet toffee.

Melt butter and brown sugar together to make the toffee. Once it bubbles and thickens, pour it over the crackers and bake.

After baking, throw some chocolate chips on top and let them melt. If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle on some nuts.

Ingredients

• 40 saltine crackers (about 1 sleeve)
• 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (220 g) packed brown sugar
• 1 ½ cups (270 g) chocolate chips
• Optional: ½ cup chopped nuts

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with saltine crackers in a single layer.
3. Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan, then boil for 3 minutes, stirring the whole time.
4. Pour the hot mixture evenly over the crackers.
5. Bake for 5 minutes.
6. Take it out and sprinkle chocolate chips right away.
7. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then spread the chocolate.
8. Add nuts if you want.
9. Chill until the chocolate sets, then cut and serve.

10) Easy Buttery Shortbread Cookies

These easy buttery shortbread cookies are a holiday classic. They’re tender, melt in your mouth, and honestly, they’re not complicated at all.

You probably have the ingredients already—nothing fancy or hard to find. I love how you can leave them plain or toss on some sprinkles if you’re feeling festive.

They go perfectly with coffee or tea. If you’re hosting, they’ll disappear fast.

The dough is soft but still holds its shape, which makes things easier. You’ll bake them at a moderate temperature until they’re just turning golden at the edges.

They cool quickly on the rack and keep well in a sealed container.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Beat the butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture looks creamy.
3. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until combined.
5. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and set them on a baking sheet.
6. Gently flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass.
7. Bake for 18–20 minutes, just until the edges start to look golden.
8. Let them cool on a wire rack before you dig in.