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Enjoy our Favorite Christmas cookies plus dozens of others to bake and share this holiday season!
More Collections: Christmas Appetizers, Christmas Desserts, Christmas Dinner Ideas
’tis the season for COOKIES!
One of our all-time favorite things to do this time of year is bake cookies!
It’s something we do all year long but something we especially look forward to during the holidays – especially for sharing.
Why we love them:
- Simple. All of our recipes are quite simple and come together easily – often quickly making them perfect for the busy time of year.
- Plan ahead. Many of these Christmas cookies can be made weeks in advance.
- Sharing! Perfect for holiday parties and functions or to package and give as gifts to neighbors, friends, and family.
Our go-to’s for the season include: classics like Snickerdoodles, Gingerbread Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Italian Cookies, + Shortbread Cookies.
Package for Sharing!
- Box or bin. Dress it up by putting a piece of tissue paper or holiday napkin in the box before adding the cookies.
- Wrap in cellophane. Place cookies on a holiday plate and cover with plastic wrap. Then, place the plate in the center of a piece of cellophane, bring all the sides up over the plate, and gather them together. Finally, tie closed with a holiday ribbon or tulle.
- Mason jar. Fill with a stack of similar-sized cookies. Cover the lid with Christmas fabric or paper. Tie a ribbon around the top.
- Plate. Place cookies on a paper plate so they stay stationary, and then into a gallon Ziploc bag.
Christmas Cookie RECIPES Tips
- FLAVOR. Take your favorite cookie and add some of the flavors and spices of Christmas, like: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cranberries, oranges, etc.
- STORE in an airtight container for about a week. An added piece of white bread will keep cookies soft.
- FREEZE cookie dough for up to 3 months. Do not freeze frosted, glazed, or drizzled cookies because they can become too moist.
- LINE PANS with parchment paper to keep the cookies from sticking and for easy cleanup.
Best Christmas Cookies
Baking is something we love to do during the holidays, especially for sharing with friends! These are our most loved cookies that we make every year!
There are sure to be a few of your favorite holiday cookies on this list, and more soon to be favorites!
- Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
- Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Italian Christmas Cookies
- Spritz Cookies
- Snowball Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Easy Shortbread Cookies
- Butter Cookies
- M&M Cookies
- Ginger Snap Cookies
- Molasses Cookies
- Peppermint Meltaways
- Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Peppermint Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Oreos
Classic Favorites
These Christmas classics will never disappoint! Each is sure to add something extra yummy to your cookie platters.
- Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
- Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Cookies
- Iced Oatmeal Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Nestle Tollhouse Cookies
- Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
- Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
- Easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- No Bake Cookies Recipe
- Monster Cookie Recipe
Chocolatey Cookies
If chocolate is your thing, we’ve got a list for you! From chocolate and peanut butter to chocolate and mint, there are sure to be some melt-in-your-mouth favorites.
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Crinkle Cookies
- Nutella Cookies
- Brownie Cookies
- Chocolate Kiss Cookies
- Gooey Rolo Cookies
- Chocolate Mint Cookies
- Andes Mint Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
- Flourless Chocolate Cookies
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Cookies
- Jack Jack Cookie Num Num
Sugar Cookies
Start with the simple flavor of a sugar cookie and add your special flair with frosting or decorations! These sugar cookies are classics for a reason.
- Frosted Sugar Cookies
- No Roll Sugar Cookies
- Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
- 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies
- Copycat Swig Cookies
- Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies
- Fruit Pizza Cookies
- Sugar Cookie Blossoms
- Sugar Cookie Bars
- Chewy Sugar Cookies
- Amish Sugar Cookies
- Funfetti Cookies
Chips and Mix-Ins
Create a unique taste with these variations on classics. Each can be adapted and flavored your way, but each is delectable just as they are!
- Almond Cookies
- Coconut Cookies
- Reeses Pieces Cookies
- Caramel Cookies
- Strawberry Cookies
- Oatmeal Scotchies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
- Butterscotch Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies
- Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
- Mint M&M Oreo Cookies
- Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
More Festive Favorites
Because we have too many to choose from enjoy this bonus list of cookies with many unique options that are both beautiful and scrumptious!
- Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
- Christmas Snickerdoodles
- Eggnog Cookies
- Eggnog Snickerdoodles
- Peppermint Crunch Cookies
- Christmas Wreath Cookies
- Avalanche Cookies
- Molasses Crinkle Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites
- Mexican Wedding Cookies
- White Chocolate Crackles
- Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip
- White Chocolate Snickerdoodles
- Chewy Molasses Cookies
- Iced Pumpkin Cookies
- Easy Shortbread Cookies
Go-to Christmas Cookie Recipe
There are so many delicious cookies to make this holiday season!!
Because these Christmas Cookies are so fun and festive, they’re definitely our main go-to. Simple, delicious, rave reviews, and it’s one even the kids can help make.
How to Make them
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- WET INGREDIENTS. Cream butter, oil, and sugars. Add eggs and beat until fluffy.
- DRY INGREDIENTS. Add baking soda, salt, powder, vanilla, and flour. Mix well.
- SPRINKLES + M&Ms. Fold in sprinkles. Use a cookie scoop to put on greased cookie sheet. Top with a few M&Ms.
- BAKE. Bake for about 8-10 minutes.
Let the cookies cool before adding them to Santa’s plate. Or you can STORE them in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. 😉
85+ Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sprinkles (or mini chocolate chips)
- 1 cup M&Ms
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter, oil, and sugars. Add eggs and beat until fluffy.
- Add baking soda, salt, powder, vanilla, and flour. Mix well.
- Fold in sprinkles. Use a cookie scoop to put on a greased cookie tray. Top with 4-5 M&Ms.
- Bake for 7-8 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Holiday Cookies
Christmas and cookies go hand in hand for our family. We love to enjoy them during our holiday festivities and to bake up batches to show our love to friends and family!
Whether you choose the classics or something more unique, we have plenty of Christmas cookies to keep you baking all season long!
More Collections: Christmas Side Dishes, Mexican Christmas Food, Italian Christmas Dinner Ideas
So many cookie recipes to try for Christmas. Thank you for all your great recipes and hope you have a beautiful and Blessed holiday season.
I made the holiday cookies. I omitted sprinkles because I didn’t have any but used the red and green m and m s. They turned out beautifully and are delicious!
Just checking is it better to use regular butter or unsalted butter for your recipes for your butter cookies /sugar cookies double choc chip cookies . Please let me know . Cant wait to try all of these
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your beautiful family! Thank you so much for all of your delicious recipes, your e book, and these cookie recipes!
I can not wait to bake!
Thank you!! That means so much! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too!
I can not wait to make this cookies
Hope you enjoy!!
Easy and delish! I made them at Christmas and now at Valentines Day!
Can’t go wrong with yummy Christmas cookies. Lot of new recipes to try.
Your recipes are often a go-to! This one is no different. Can’t wait to make these with my boys.
I just love making cookies for my friends and family each year. Its always so hard to choose which ones though. There are so many great options here!! I’m definitely making some christmas wreath cookies for my sons Scout holiday party. 🙂
Great Christmas cookies.
M&M Cookies Festive and delicious!
One of our favorite cookies!!
So many great ideas here!
Christmas cookies! You can’t go wrong with any of these recipes!
Me and my granddaughter “Ava” are going to make these for Christmas. Plus sugar cookies too. She is Mimi’s little helper.❤️😁
So amazingly delicious and so festive for the holidays! Love them!
These look so good and easy to make. Kids have fun with adding the sprinkles. Thank ypu for such a festive recipe.
I like these with mini M&Ms–yum!
Can’t wait to try some of these cookies this year. They look yummy 😋
Super easy to make with the kiddos, Santa will love them and the whole family agrees they are super delicious! Thank you for a non-frosting Christmas cookie. 💚❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing christmas cookies recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
I am always on the hunt for a new cookie recipe. Thank you for this great roundup of recipes! Can’t decide which one to make first.
Super yummy and so many awesome Christmas cookie options!
Thank you!!
Easy fun recipe for Christmas! So soft!
These are sooo good! I’ve made these a few times and they’re a huge hit!
The sugar cookies and the funfetti cookies look delicious! I got to try theses recipes!
I love me a good Chocolate Chip Cookie and I love that you can add so many things to this cookie. The M & M’s cookie is my favorite!!
This cookies are a good treat for children on Christmas . Thanks for sharing this wonderful Christmas cookies,really appreciate it.
Love this sugar cookie recipe! Comes out so soft and pillowy! Perfect cookie for the kids to frost!
These are so delicious and so easy! They’ve been a Christmas cookie staple for the past 2 years. Thank you for the recipe! ♥️
I am excited to try these but would love to cut the recipe in half. The measurements can easily be halved, but I was wondering if anyone has done this and if they still tasted great? Thank you!
Absolutely! You can definitely half this recipe. The dough freezes really well too if you did make the full recipe and wanted to save some for later. Or you can freeze the cookies once they are baked too. Let them cool, put them in a freezer bag and when you are ready to eat fresh cookies again, just set them out to thaw a bit. But you can for sure cut the recipe in half and they turn out super!
Super good recipe for Christmas cookies 🍪
Thank you!!
Super good recipe
Love a good m&m coomie! Especially with festive m&ms!
Love these cookies..
I absolutely love the M&M cookie recipe!!! Delicious
Made these for 2020 Sweet Exchange. So yummy! Couldn’t stop eating the dough
My favorite part about these cookies (aside from eating them, was trying all the different variations! One batch of cookies but adding some sprinkles or a kiss changed it completely. Love it!
These cookies are so good! You can totally change the m and maybe for any holiday too!
Will be making these for Christmas!
My children love using the festive M&Ms!
We make these every Christmas, they are so yummy! And a fun treat to deliver to neighbors. 😊
So delicious and festive!
Love the flavors and I’ve been searching for a soft sugar cookie recipe…HERE IT IS! So yummy!
These are sooo good! Thank you!
Christmas cookies are a tradition in our house. These were a great addition to the ones to put usuals!
My family LOVES this recipe and they ask for it every holiday season. I’ve been known to make it for birthdays, too!
These are our Santa Cookies this year! They are so festive and delicious!
My kids love making these at Christmas!!!
Absolutely love your m&m cookies. The best!
I make your chocolste chip cookies at least once a week and they are a perfect balance of chewy and deliciousness!
My now go-to cookie recipe! 1 son likes peppermint kisses, the other m&m’s, and the last likes white chocolate so I can divide up the dough and customize! Thanks for your wonderful recipes!
Seriously one of my most favorite cookie recipes EVER!!❤🎅🎄
My kids and I had a great time making these a few nights ago. Loved that they were simple, quick, and yummy- perfect for young kids with limited patience and hungry bellies!
Our new favorite
We started doing a cookie exchange with my family members and your recipe are amazing!!
Good recipe!
We absolutely love these cookies! Thanks for the recipe!
I just made these this past weekend with the kiddos and they are so good and again super easy to make!!
Love them
My kids love these cookies. We make them for all the holidays! We just change the color of the m&ms and sprinkles for each holiday theme. I haven’t found a recipe on lilluna.com that we haven’t LOVED!
My kids love these cookies. We make them for all the holidays! We just change the color of the m&ms and sprinkles for each holiday theme. I haven’t found a recipe on lilluna.com that we haven’t LOVED!
Trying these this year! Can’t wait to see how they come out!
I made these cookies yesterday and my kids loved them. They are so good. Will be making another batch for Christmas.
We love this recipe! It’s so chewy, and I’ve learned to double the recipe because there never seems to be enough to go around.
I love your cookie recipes and this is another good one
You have the funnest cookies!!!
Love! Can’t ever go wrong with m&m’s!
Love the Christmas twist on a classic.
So yummy!
Should the butter be softened?
This recipe was perfect, and they ended up so cute! They turned out absolutely perfect when following the recipe to a T. Definitely recommend making these!
Yay! Thank you for trying them 🙂
It doesn’t specify, is the brown sugar packed?
I usually pack it a little 🙂
Seriously so delicious! This is our family’s new favorite cookie! Thank you so much for sharing!
Glad to share! I am happy to hear that! Thank you!
These cookies were delicious I am using them for a gift this holiday season. I used a gas oven and I had to bake them for 12 minutes. After eight minutes they were definitely not cooked but 12 was the perfect amount of time thanks for sharing this recipe!
You are so welcome! I am glad you liked them! Thank you!
I used a mix of the mini chocolate chips and sprinkles (Walmart had these fun Santa Hat Sprinkle Mix!). I cut back the salt to 1/2 tsp (based on conversation below). Very good recipe, I’ll be using it for more cookies.
I’ve already made these twice for this Christmas! They are a BIG hit!! Delicious and easy to make.
Happy to hear that! Thank you!
When freezing dough do you need to thaw before baking or bake right from the freezer?
You would need to thaw unless you want your cookies to steam.
The might need a couple extra minutes if you bake them, without thawing 🙂
The baking time was not long enough, I know baking times differ, an electric oven usually bakes hotter than the gas stove. I usually bake my cookies on the low end. I think I tried 8 min, were not done, tried 9 min, not done, now I am trying 10 min. Hope this one is a charm.
These cookies came out perfectly. Thank you ! 🙂
Made these two days in a row BECAUSE they DIDN’T last the fiRst day and we all wanted more!
We love this cookie! Festive, fun, aNd deliSh! Its a go to!
What kind of flour did you use? All purpose, self rising? Thanks
I like to use all-purpose flour in most recipes 🙂
PlEase check your RECIPE !!
It said one teaspoon of salt. My son was making cookies for a gift eXchange. I told him that was to much salt. He insisted to use that much BECAUSE he wanted to follow the recipe. They now taste like something i would feed the cows for a treat. It is 10:16 pm and i am having to clean Up and start a new recipe. I got my books out and sugar cookies 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt depending on how many cookies it is making. Please try your recipes before you post them and have someone proof read them.
I am sorry you feel that way. I do check every recipe. I would never share anything that I thought was too gross or that I wouldn’t eat. Most recipes I have seen call for anywhere between 1/2-1 1/4 teaspoon of salt. It is very normal. Maybe he accidentally used a tablespoon?
Kristyn I adjusted the salt amount because I assumed it was a misprint. We all make mistakes. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
How much salt did you use?
I used 1/2 teaspoon because several recipes with similar ingredients called for 1/2 teaspoon. The cookies came out great.
This combination is irresistible! What a delicious idea!!…..it looks so yummy!!…and the picture is so great and presentative!.
Thank you so much!
Love all the variations!! These are perfect & so good!! We like adding the mini chocolate chips & sprinkles with the m&m’s.
Fantastic cookies <3 On my first try cookies came out flat and pale (after 7min in the oven), but i changed the oven settings to the baking mode and let it bake for 10-12min and they came out really nice, thank you for the prefect recipe 🙂
You are so welcome! I am glad they turned out! Thank you!
Such a festive cookie! THese are going to be great to share with friends and family during the holidays! Such a simple recipe to follow and every batch turned out perfectly!
These turned out great! making a second time today to share with extended family
Yay!! So glad! Thank you for letting me know!
I made these Christmas cookies, and they were abs d. I am making ahIn with peppermint choClYe bark. I made with candy cane hershey kiss, and they were ama. The baTter was delish. Imade with kinG auth flour.
I am so glad you liked them! Thank you for sharing that!
These turned out PERFECT. Crisp on the outside soft in the inside. Best To eat not too long after BAKED.Thanks for the recipe.
Glad to share!! Thank you so much!
Can I use Extra Virgin olive oil instead of vegetable oil? They look great I got kisses and such to make more versions of it. Nice to have a common base! Baking makes the world go around, and a little sweeter!!?
I agree! I have not tried the extra virgin olive oil, so I am not sure if it would change the recipe.
I was wondering if you could make these and use cookie cutters instead of the scoop ?
I lost my favorite recipe for christmas m&m cookies and stumbled upon this one. For some reason my cookies came out incredibly greasy/oily. They taste pretty good but definitely not something I feel comfortable sharing.
Oh, I am sorry they did. They aren’t supposed to, so I am not sure what happened. Thank you for trying them!
What type of oil do you use?
I just used vegetable oil 🙂 Enjoy!
These are the cutest cookies!! Made them with my granddaughters today and we really had fun. But they tasted like vegetable oil and were very greasy. I will try again with less oil because the presentation is wonderful! Did anyone else have this issue? And if so, a good solution?
Since, this post has several cookie recipes, I am not sure which one you are referring to, but you can always try adding less oil 🙂
Can you freeze these after making them?
I haven’t, but you sure could 🙂
My batter turned out crumbly. Any idea why?
I wish I knew for sure. I know too much flour, using margarine instead of butter, or over cooking can cause crumbly cookies. Did you happen to do any of those, if not, I’m not sure?? They aren’t a crumbly cookie, so they shouldn’t have turned out that way.
Flavor turned out amazing, but same issue with mine, it turned out crumbly? and very dense when cooking them….I softened the butter in the microwave, would that cause crumbly batter/cookies?
Was the butter melted? There are a few reasons cookies can become crumbly, like to much flour, over-baking, butter substitutes…but, I’m not sure what exactly caused yours to do that?
mY GRANDKIDS ARE GOING TO LOVE THESE! dO YOU KNOW IF THESE FREEZE WELL? i’D LIKE TO MAKE THE COOKIE BALLS AHEAD, FREEZE THEN BAKE FOR A BIT LONGER THE DAY i NEED THEM. OR JUST MAKE THE COOKIES THE WEEK AHEAD AND FREEZE. aNY ADVICE? tHANK YOU!
Yep, they should be ok 🙂 Have fun & enjoy!
These are delicious!!!! tested them out tonight before making them for a cookie exchange party, and wow!!! so good. i made some without m&ms and they’re great that way too. truly the perfect cookie. mine stayed very full and were the right amount of crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside. i baked them for a little longer. 350 for 9 minutes. they seem to get even more delicious as they settle.
Yes, they do get more delicious! Thank you so much for giving them a try & for letting me know!
I have made 135 of these over the past 3 days to give as Christmas gifts. This recipe is so easy. Decoration variation is endless. Thank you for a great recipe. I will be using it for years to come. Merry Christmas!
Awe, thank you so much!! I hope you have a Merry Christmas as well 🙂
I dont havea cookie scoop. Would one table be the right measure?
No right or wrong. Just use a regular sized spoon to get a scoop. You can really make them as big or as small as you want.
I just took a batch out of the oven. Are they supposed to be super soft, almost still undercooked? Will they harden when cold?
They are soft, but they do harden a little when they set. You can always add a couple minutes, if they are too gooey.
Tastes good but first batch came out too oily and flat, had to make the second batch with less oil for it to come out a bit better. Creative using m&ms and sprinkles for the Christmas feel
Very tasty and cute! They are a hit in our house!
I am so glad they are!! Thank you for letting me know!
The main recipe doesn’t call for chocolate chips, yet i swear i see them in the photos. What gives?
Could just be broken m&m’s. You could for sure add chocolate chips.
Gotcha. Appreciate the prompt response, kristyn. Enjoy your holidays!
You too 🙂
I made these and they were super easy, but mind turned out a little salty? i know i only put in 1/2 tsp of salt, just like the recipe said…anyone have any idea why? was is because i used salted butter?
I like to use unsalted butter when baking. That could be why.
So darling! Can’t wait to makE with my kids. GreaT addition to the christmas cookie platter.
Have fun making them with the kids! Thank you 🙂
This looks delicious! I plan to use your recipe to make cookies this year. Does the M & M get baked also?
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Yes 🙂 I sure hope you like these! They are my fav!
Who doesnt like a cookie that taste good and is easy to make? Not only is it pretty but you can change it to your liking. Perfect cookie for christmas giving!
What type of oil works best?
Look festive and easy to make! I am not a baker!
They really are! Thank you 🙂 I hope you give them a try!
I was wondering what the conversion of 1/2 cup batter equals in grams?
Thanks
I’m sorry, but I really don’t know 🙁
Can the dough be made the night before and refrigerated?
Yes, it could 🙂 Enjoy!!
These were so fun to make. I love that you can change the m&m colors depending on the season/holiday.
PS I love the Behind the scenes pictures
Do the eggs and butter need to be at room temperature for your cookie recipes?
I like to have room temp ingredients 🙂
We usually have our eggs and butter room temp unless the recipe calls for cold or melted butter.
We made these cookies last year & I can’t wait to make them this year!! They are so festive & delicious & perfect for cookie exchanges!
These are my favorite cookies to eat around Christmas time! They’re so easy to make and they taste delicious!
I’m glad I found this recipe! My cookies always go paper thin flat! These stayed plump and beautiful. Thank you!!
I’m glad they stayed plump for you! Thanks so much!
Wonderful recipies; thank you
Thanks so much! I Hope you like the ones you try 🙂
Yummy. I’m going to try them with my daughter.
Hope you both like them!! 🙂
These cookies turned out beautiful and delicious. I made these to take to a ministry where toys were given out to kids in need. They cookies were on the table with many other kinds and these were most often first choice because they were so festive and attractive (and the m&m’s). Thanks for this wonderful recipe it was used to bless some precious kids. Each batch made 3 dozen cookies using a cookie scoop. They were very consistent and easy to make. I was so pleased with them ! Recipe perfect and timing as is !
That is wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing that! Thank you!
Love to learn how to made easy and Quick cookies… Thank you
Yay..I’m glad!! I hope you like these! Thanks so much!
I`ve never been disappointed in one of Kristyns recipe`s!! My family loves them!
You are so sweet!!! Thanks so much Mary!!
These turned out amazing!!
Yay!! Thank you for letting me know!!
These came out wonderful… great recipe and they are so festive! There are so many cookie recipes out there and I’m always nervous about trying new recipes but these are so great I will be adding to my recipe book! Thank you for sharing !
Those cookies look soooo yummy and fun to make! My son is 7, just the perfect age for cookie baking!! What brand/where did you find those cute holly berry and leaves sprinkles please?
I found them at good ol’ Target! Right near all their Christmas plates and things.
These look so yummy, I love the festive sprinkles and M&M’s, they totally get me in the spirit! 😀