40 Best Christmas Cookies

Christmas is right around the corner, which means it’s time for all things cookies! Baking cookies for friends and family, holiday parties, and of course, leaving cookies out for Santa.

Today I’m sharing with you my 40 favorite Christmas cookie recipes. This was no easy task, because what makes a cookie perfect for Christmas anyway?

The truth is, I think ANY cookie can be a Christmas cookie. But this list is my 40 favorites that go perfectly with the season. They’re share-worthy, indulgent, and sure to bring you some holiday cheer.

Are you planning to mail holiday cookies this year? Check out my article on how to ship cookies for the holidays. I’ve provided tips and tricks on how to package cookies so they don’t break, as well as a list of cookies less prone to breakage that will survive shipment.

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

What’s Christmas without cinnamon rolls? These cookies provide the taste and cheer of homemade cinnamon rolls in cookie form. Drizzled with sugar glaze and filled with rich cinnamon filling, they’re the perfect holiday cookie.

Mint Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies

Perfectly chewy chocolate cookies with a delicious layer of creme de menthe cheesecake stuffed inside. Top with mint chocolate candies for all the Christmas vibes.

Hot Cocoa Cookie Cups

Chocolate cookie cups filled with melty milk chocolate ganache and topped with marshmallows for a miniature edible cup of cocoa. What I love about this dough recipe is that there is no chilling required before baking! 

Carrot Cake Cookies

The perfect combination of carrot cake and cookies with this simple and delicious recipe sweetened with maple and brown sugar. Whether you choose to add chopped nuts, raisins, or coconut, these versatile soft, chewy cookies will be a hit with everyone! Top with tangy cream cheese frosting. 

Soft Pumpkin Cookies

These soft, cake-like pumpkin cookies are made with pumpkin puree and warm spices like ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. They’re drizzled with gooey maple glaze for an amazing Christmas treat.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nutty brown butter adds rich, caramel flavor to these soft and gooey chocolate chip cookies. Enjoy one with a cold glass of milk or a mug of hot chocolate!

Maple Brown Sugar Cookies

You’ve never tasted cookies quite like these! They’re made with dark brown sugar, real maple syrup, toasty pecans, and topped with the most delicious maple glaze. Even Santa will be coming back for seconds!

Soft Sugar Cookies

If you like your sugar cookies soft and thick, this is the recipe for you. These super soft sugar cookies have a delicate vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth as soon as you take a bite.

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies

If there’s any time to indulge in desserts, it’s the Christmas season. Spoil your friends and family (and yourself, of course) with these giant chocolate chip cookies. Crispy on the edges and soft and chewy on the inside, they’re absolutely delicious.

Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

These beautiful red velvet chocolate chip cookies are made with a hint of cocoa powder for a slightly chocolate cookie and are loaded with dark or white chocolate chips. They’re melty and gooey, and you could even add some green sprinkles to make them extra Christmasy!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Toasty macadamia nuts and melty white chocolate chunks pair perfectly in these decadent cookies. Slightly underbake them for an ultra soft and gooey treat.

Linzer Cookies

This classic Christmas cookie is made with fruity jam sandwiched between two melt-in-your-mouth, buttery shortbread cookies. Cut them into your favorite shapes and dust them with powdered sugar for a gorgeous display.

Cranberry Orange Biscotti

Crunchy, twice-baked biscotti made with dried cranberries and fresh orange zest are drizzled with melted white chocolate for a heavenly treat.

Chocolate Fudge Cookies

Ultra chocolatey and fudgy, these double chocolate fudge cookies are rich, decadent, and amazing.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you can’t decide between chocolate chip cookies or a cookie with more holiday flair, these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are the best of both worlds. Made with pumpkin puree, ground spices, and lots of chocolate chips, these cookies will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

Hazelnut Nutella Sandwich Cookies

Who doesn’t love the rich, chocolatey-hazelnut goodness of Nutella? These babies are made with hazelnut shortbread cookies and creamy, delicious Nutella sandwiched between.

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Thick and chewy bakery-style peanut butter cookies are made with creamy peanut butter and lots of Reese’s peanut butter chips.

Gingerbread Man Cookies

These fun and festive gingerbread man cookies are the ultimate Christmas cookie. Slightly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, these cookies are full of warm flavors like molasses and ginger and are perfect for decorating.

Chocolate Cookies With White Chocolate Chips

Thick and fudgy dark chocolate cookies with lots of white chocolate chunks are a guaranteed crowd pleaser. These cookies are great for shipping or for bringing to a holiday party (or keeping for yourself, let’s be honest).

Soft and Chewy Molasses Cookies

These gooey, lightly spiced molasses cookies go great with a mug of hot mulled apple cider! Enjoy a batch while sitting by the fire place singing Christmas carols.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love how chewy these cookies are as well as their amazing texture and flavor brought on by rolled oats and creamy peanut butter. The chocolate chips are just a bonus!

Coconut Cookies

These coconut cookies are slightly crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside. Made with toasted coconut flakes, they’re bursting with coconut flavor.

Chocolate Ginger Cookies

Super soft and chewy chocolate cookies with chocolate chunks and fresh ginger are the perfect cookie for chocoholics looking for a hint of Christmas flavor.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These cookies just scream Christmas! They’re dusted with powdered sugar which of course, reminds me of snow. These nutty chocolate cookies are crunchy on the outside and fudgy on the inside. They’re a chocolate lovers’ dream!

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

What’s Christmas-time without sugar cookies? This recipe makes tender, buttery cookies that are perfect for cutting out shapes with cookie cutters. Decorate with sprinkles and royal icing to add some serious festivity.

Flourless Chocolate Cookies (Sparkle Cookies)

I call these amazing, fudge-like cookies sparkle cookies because they’re rolled in granulated sugar before baking, giving them a beautiful, sparkly appearance.

Snickerdoodles

These classic Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy, and coated in cinnamon and sugar in every bite. They’re the perfect Christmas cookie!

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Buttery shortbread cookies dipped in dark chocolate are a beautiful, gorgeous treat that everyone will love. You can mix it up and dip them in white or milk chocolate, too.

Vanilla Spiced Cookie Sandwiches with Milk Chocolate

Without going full gingerbread, these vanilla spiced cookies have the perfect mix of wintry spices like vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. With a layer of delicious melted milk chocolate between two layers of soft, perfectly tender cookies, these cookie sandwiches will be a hit!

Peppermint Cookie Sandwiches

Delicate, tender, peppermint-infused butter cookie sandwiches are filled with a delicious peppermint buttercream and coated with crushed peppermint candies. They have just the right amount of mint flavor and are an absolute treat during the holidays!

Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies

Like a chocolate chip-less cookie! Perfectly soft and chewy, these brown sugar cookies are simple to make and full of flavor. With no mixer required, everyone can make these cookies!

Thumbprint Cookies

An easy recipe for shortbread thumbprint cookies filled with jam. These classic cookies aren’t overly sweet and have a delicious melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Holiday Funfetti Cookies

This is my favorite recipe for funfetti cookies. These super soft and chewy sugar cookies are dotted with colorful sprinkles, and they have an amazing buttery vanilla flavor. Plus, they’re so easy to make!

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Snowball Butter Cookies

These sugar-coated butter snowball cookies use just a handful of ingredients and perfectly pair with tea or coffee. They will literally melt in your mouth!

Chocolate Biscotti

These crispy, decadent chocolate biscotti cookies are made with milk chocolate chunks and toasted hazelnuts. They keep well for a month at room temperature, so they make amazing gifts!

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

These melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip shortbread cookies are buttery, tender, and loaded with chocolate chips! 

M&M Cookies

Big, soft, chewy M&M cookies that not only look gorgeous, but taste even better! They’re easy to make and guaranteed to satisfy any cookie craving. Pour a glass of milk and get ready to indulge! Use festive red and green M&Ms!

Crispy Meringue Cookies

These crispy meringue cookies are sweet, crumbly and have a light vanilla flavor. They’ll melt in your mouth as soon as you bite into them! And with only 4 ingredients, this meringue cookie recipe is incredibly simple to make!

Chai Spiced Snickerdoodles

Soft and chewy cookies rolled in a sugar-spice mixture. These spiced snickerdoodles taste just like vanilla chai latte!

Orange Milk Chocolate Cookies

Delicious milk chocolate cookie with added orange for the perfect chocolate/orange combination.

Coffee Nut Shortbread

A combination of nuts and coffee turn these shortbread cookies into an extra special treat and make a great gift for any occasion.  

Chocolate Salami

This chocolate salami is the perfect crunchy treat to snack on alongside coffee. These ultra chocolatey cookie slices are filled with toasty hazelnuts and vanilla wafer cookies.

Are you planning on making Christmas cookies this year? Let me know your favorites in the comments below!