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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

Collage of best Christmas Cookies to make this season.
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’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.

Snowball Cookies on a Christmas plate

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 sugar cookies on a white countertop.
  • 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.

Christmas Spritz Cookies on plate.

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!

  1. Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
  2. Christmas Sugar Cookies
  3. Italian Christmas Cookies
  4. Spritz Cookies
  5. Snowball Cookies
  6. Snickerdoodle Cookies
  7. Easy Shortbread Cookies
  8. Butter Cookies
  9. M&M Cookies
  10. Ginger Snap Cookies
  11. Molasses Cookies
  12. Peppermint Meltaways
  13. Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies
  14. Peppermint Sugar Cookies
  15. Christmas Oreos

Hershey Kiss Cookies on dish towel.

Classic Favorites

These Christmas classics will never disappoint! Each is sure to add something extra yummy to your cookie platters.

  1. Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
  2. Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
  3. Oatmeal Cookies
  4. Iced Oatmeal Cookies
  5. Peanut Butter Cookies
  6. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
  7. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  8. Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
  9. Nestle Tollhouse Cookies
  10. Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
  11. Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
  12. Easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
  13. No Bake Cookies Recipe
  14. Monster Cookie Recipe

Double chocolate cookies on white plate.

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.

  1. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
  2. Crinkle Cookies
  3. Nutella Cookies
  4. Brownie Cookies
  5. Chocolate Kiss Cookies
  6. Gooey Rolo Cookies
  7. Chocolate Mint Cookies
  8. Andes Mint Cookies
  9. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
  10. Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
  11. Flourless Chocolate Cookies
  12. Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
  13. Chocolate Dipped Cookies
  14. Jack Jack Cookie Num Num

Drop cookies stacked on plate.

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.

  1. Frosted Sugar Cookies
  2. No Roll Sugar Cookies
  3. Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
  4. 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies
  5. Copycat Swig Cookies
  6. Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies
  7. Fruit Pizza Cookies
  8. Sugar Cookie Blossoms
  9. Sugar Cookie Bars
  10. Chewy Sugar Cookies
  11. Amish Sugar Cookies
  12. Funfetti Cookies

Almond cookies on white plate for Christmas cookies collection.

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!

  1. Almond Cookies
  2. Coconut Cookies
  3. Reeses Pieces Cookies
  4. Caramel Cookies
  5. Strawberry Cookies
  6. Oatmeal Scotchies
  7. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
  8. Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies
  9. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
  10. Butterscotch Cookies
  11. Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
  12. Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies
  13. Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
  14. Mint M&M Oreo Cookies
  15. Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

Christmas snickerdoodles on white plate.

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!

  1. Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
  2. Christmas Snickerdoodles
  3. Eggnog Cookies
  4. Eggnog Snickerdoodles
  5. Peppermint Crunch Cookies
  6. Christmas Wreath Cookies
  7. Avalanche Cookies
  8. Molasses Crinkle Cookies
  9. Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites
  10. Mexican Wedding Cookies
  11. White Chocolate Crackles
  12. Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
  13. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip
  14. White Chocolate Snickerdoodles
  15. Chewy Molasses Cookies
  16. Iced Pumpkin Cookies
  17. Easy Shortbread Cookies

Christmas Cookies close up on cookie rack.

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

  1. PREP. Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF.
  2. WET INGREDIENTS. Cream butter, oil, and sugars. Add eggs and beat until fluffy.
  3. DRY INGREDIENTS. Add baking soda, salt, powder, vanilla, and flour. Mix well.
  4. SPRINKLES + M&Ms. Fold in sprinkles. Use a cookie scoop to put on greased cookie sheet. Top with a few M&Ms.
  5. 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. ๐Ÿ˜‰

Easy Christmas Cookies stacked on top of each other.
4.92 from 138 votes

85+ Christmas Cookies

By: Lil’ Luna
Not only are these festive Christmas Cookies delicious, but they are great for gifting, or leaving out for Santa.ย 
Servings: 36
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.ย Cream butter, oil, and sugars. Add eggs and beat until fluffy.
  • Add baking soda, salt, powder, vanilla, and flour. Mix well.
  • Fold in sprinkles.ย Use a cookie scoop to put on a greased cookie tray. Top with 4-5 M&Ms.
  • Bake for 7-8 minutes.

Video

Notes

STORE. Place in an air-tight container and leave on the counter for 3-4 days. Place a piece of white bread into the container to keep the cookies soft.
FREEZE. Baked homemade Christmas Cookies can also be stored in the freezer for 3-4 months.
FREEZE the dough. Scoop the dough into balls and place them onto a baking sheet, then place in the freezer. Once the dough is solid, transfer the dough to a freezer Ziploc.ย These will last in your freezer for 3-4 months.
To bake, place a batch of frozen dough onto a baking sheet to thaw while the oven is preheating. Bake at 350ยฐF for 8-10 minutes.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 175kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 16mg, Sodium: 131mg, Potassium: 36mg, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 105IU, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 0.6mg

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

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.92 from 138 votes (27 ratings without comment)

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182 Comments

  1. Mary says:

    Can you freeze these after making them?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I haven’t, but you sure could ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Sabrena says:

    3 stars
    My batter turned out crumbly. Any idea why?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      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.

    2. Danielle says:

      4 stars
      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?

      1. Kristyn Merkley says:

        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?

  3. SHELLEY PUCCI says:

    5 stars
    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!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yep, they should be ok ๐Ÿ™‚ Have fun & enjoy!

  4. Alison Gurusaransingh says:

    5 stars
    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.

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Yes, they do get more delicious! Thank you so much for giving them a try & for letting me know!

  5. Amy C Harris says:

    5 stars
    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!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Awe, thank you so much!! I hope you have a Merry Christmas as well ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Martha says:

    I dont havea cookie scoop. Would one table be the right measure?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      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.

  7. Michele says:

    I just took a batch out of the oven. Are they supposed to be super soft, almost still undercooked? Will they harden when cold?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      They are soft, but they do harden a little when they set. You can always add a couple minutes, if they are too gooey.

    2. Karen says:

      4 stars
      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

  8. Kimberly says:

    5 stars
    Very tasty and cute! They are a hit in our house!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am so glad they are!! Thank you for letting me know!

  9. anna says:

    The main recipe doesn’t call for chocolate chips, yet i swear i see them in the photos. What gives?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Could just be broken m&m’s. You could for sure add chocolate chips.

      1. Anna says:

        Gotcha. Appreciate the prompt response, kristyn. Enjoy your holidays!

      2. Kristyn Merkley says:

        You too ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Michelle says:

    4 stars
    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?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I like to use unsalted butter when baking. That could be why.