Santa’s Favorites: The 54 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

There’s a reason we all love cookies – in fact there are several. First up, cookies are sweet. And they’re delicious, they can be beautifully chewy or crunchy and there are so many varieties. But Christmas cookies are different because this time of year is when we pick out our very favorites. In this special collection, we’ve gathered the best Christmas cookie recipes that are guaranteed to sprinkle joy into your holiday season. From chewy gingerbread to buttery shortbread and everything in between, these treats are perfect for festive gatherings, cozy nights by the fire, or simply indulging in some seasonal baking fun. Whether you’re a baking novice or a seasoned pro, these recipes offer a delightful way to infuse your home with the spirit of the holidays. So grab your apron, preheat the oven, and get ready to fill your home with the delicious scents of the season. Let’s make this Christmas the sweetest one yet!

Easy Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie Recipe

Make this chocolate chip shortbread cookie recipe and you can expect buttery and delicious shortbread cookies with sweet chocolate morsels and a soft, crumbly texture. They’re a fun twist on classic shortbread and are perfect for dipping and dunking in a glass of milk. They really are melt in your mouth cookies and one is never enough
Get the Recipe: Easy Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie Recipe

Christmas Chocolate Sugar Cookies and Buttercream Dip

Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without Christmas chocolate sugar cookies! Whether you enjoy homemade cookies and buttercream dip with a glass of milk on Christmas Eve or you prefer to snack on them on Christmas morning, they’re a real crowd pleaser. These sugar cookie dippers also go down well (and disappear fast!) at any Christmas party.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Chocolate Sugar Cookies and Buttercream Dip

Italian Pignoli Cookies

Gluten free Italian pignoli cookies, also known as Amaretti con Pignoli, are perfect for Christmas. You might like to add these wonderful Italian almond and pine nut cookies to your easy gluten free baking list for the holidays. You only need 5 ingredients to make the best Italian Christmas cookies too.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pignoli Cookies

Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies

Disney copycat recipes are always popular and this Disney recipe for gingerbread sandwich cookies is one of the most popular of them all! Fans of gingerbread are going to be bowled over by how delicious these cookies are and you will enjoy making this simple yet yummy recipe. You don’t have to go all the way to Disneyland to sink your teeth into one of these perfectly chewy cookie sandwiches when you can rustle them up at home!
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies

Easy Dipped Sugar Cookie Sticks

Dipped sugar cookie sticks are sweet, tasty, bite-sized snacks. Why not make a double batch and take half to a cookie exchange or the perfect cookies for Santa? Sprinkle decorated cookie sticks also make cute Christmas gifts for friends, neighbours and co-workers.
Get the Recipe: Easy Dipped Sugar Cookie Sticks

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Easy Christmas pinwheel cookies are sure to put a smile on your face this holiday season. They really are festive looking! These Italian Christmas swirl cookies might look like something from an Italian bakery but it isn’t hard to make this Christmas cookie roll yourself. Add these red and green Christmas cookies to your gluten free holiday baking list this year!
Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Easy Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies

Chocolate cherry blossom cookies pair the sweet, fruity taste of cherries with the timeless appeal of chocolate. This chocolate cherry cookie recipe makes a batch of cute pink cookies and each one is topped with a Hershey’s kiss. It’s a fun recipe that even cooking newbies will find easy. The texture of these holiday cookies is soft and shortbread-like since they’re made without eggs.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies

Gingerbread Linzer Cookies

This gingerbread sandwich cookie recipe is ideal for the holidays. The cookies are hard to resist with their vanilla and spice flavor and creamy ganache filling. They’re not hard to make and taste better than any cookies from the grocery store. So, whether you want to make Christmas cookies for a holiday cookie tray or you’re in the mood for baking treats for the family, you’ll love these wonderfully festive gingerbread cutout cookies.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Linzer Cookies

White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies

Indulgent white chocolate dipped ginger cookies are perfect for fans of ginger and white chocolate. I love to make molasses and ginger Christmas cookies every year, although I do play around with the recipe a bit and make different variations. Christmas ginger snap cookies are great for a cookie exchange party. If you can bear to part with some, of course!
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies

Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Meringue Kiss Christmas Cookies

Chocolate dipped peppermint meringue kiss Christmas cookies look so elegant but they aren’t hard to make. If you are in the mood to make holiday meringue cookies, you can’t go wrong with these dipped meringue kisses. You will love the flavour combination of meringue, chocolate and candy cane.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Meringue Kiss Christmas Cookies

Ginger Molasses Cookies

Why go to Starbucks for their gingersnap molasses cookies when you can make them yourself at home? This homemade Starbucks-style ginger molasses cookie recipe is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and impress your friends and family!
Get the Recipe: Ginger Molasses Cookies

Grinch Heart Cookies – Stained Glass Window

Grinch heart cookies are a fun and festive holiday treat. So the Grinch himself might not be the most ‘festive’ soul at heart (far from it!) but these red and green Christmas cookies are so cute! And Grinch cookies with a heart shaped stained glass window are perfect for Christmas.
Get the Recipe: Grinch Heart Cookies – Stained Glass Window

Easy Christmas Sugar Cookie Pizza

Refrigerated sugar cookie dough, icing and candy toppings combine to make this unique Christmas sugar cookie pizza. The green, red and white colours give this holiday cookie pizza a festive look.
Get the Recipe: Easy Christmas Sugar Cookie Pizza

Festive Gingerbread Pizzelle Recipe

This gingerbread pizzelle recipe makes authentic Italian Christmas pizzelles. These holiday cookies have a crisp texture and delicious ginger snaps flavour. Aromatic cinnamon, ginger and cloves add a spicy touch to the pizzelle cookies, while molasses gives them a rich sweetness. This Christmas cookie is a holiday tradition.
Get the Recipe: Festive Gingerbread Pizzelle Recipe

Festive Chocolate Covered Oreo Christmas Cookies

Chocolate covered Oreo Christmas cookies aren’t just super-cute but delicious too! If Oreos are some of your favourite cookies, I just know you’ll love these DIY covered Oreos made in a silicon mould.
Get the Recipe: Festive Chocolate Covered Oreo Christmas Cookies

Baci di Dama

Indulge in the delicate charm of baci di dama, an Italian delicacy that translates to “Lady’s Kisses.” These melt-in-your-mouth cookies, with their buttery exterior and a decadent chocolate filling, offer a blissful symphony of flavors.
Get the Recipe: Baci di Dama

Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies

Gingerbread man cookies are popular with kids and grownups alike. They’re soft, sweet and full of wonderful warm spice flavour. Whether you’re looking for gingerbread men cookies for Christmas or you simply can’t get enough of the warm, spiced, sweet taste, there’s nothing not to love about this amazing gingerbread cookie recipe.
Get the Recipe: Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies

Crumbl Christmas Sugar Cookies

Crumbl Christmas sugar cookies are wonderfully sweet sugar cookies with hints of almond and vanilla extract in every bite. These copycat Crumbl cookies are similar to the ones you can get at the Crumbl bakery but you can have fun making them yourself at home and not having to drive to the store.
Get the Recipe: Crumbl Christmas Sugar Cookies

Kolachy Cookies

You might have heard of kolachy cookies before. In fact, they are pretty famous all over the globe.
Get the Recipe: Kolachy Cookies

Italian Fig Christmas Cookies – Cucidati

Boasting a crumbly dough encasing a sweet fig filling as well as beautiful frosting on top, what more could anyone want from a cookie? The combination of flavours and textures in these Italian fig Christmas cookies, also known as Cucidati, makes them a wonderful choice to include in your Christmas baking or holiday baking schedule this year.
Get the Recipe: Italian Fig Christmas Cookies – Cucidati

Italian Rainbow Cookies

These Italian-American cookies are prepared by layering almond cake with raspberry jelly and adding a sweet chocolate glaze. They’re gorgeous to look at and even better to eat!
Get the Recipe: Italian Rainbow Cookies

Italian Chocolate Roll Cookies

It isn’t necessarily hard to make such nice-looking cookies, and these chocolate roll cookies are easy even for beginner home bakers. Italian chocolate filled cookies are a holiday favourite, so add these cookies to your Christmas baking list this season.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chocolate Roll Cookies

3D Gingerbread Tree Cookies

3D gingerbread tree cookies are easy to make and they’re impressive to look at. After all, how many Christmas tree cookies come in 3D form! They’re full of warm, earthy spices and they’re soft in the middle and a little crisp at the edges, like all the best gingerbread should be!
Get the Recipe: 3D Gingerbread Tree Cookies

Pistachio Cookies

Do you like pistachios? Well, who doesn’t! These little nuts are many people’s favourite and they have a wonderful flavour all of their own. Pistachios are actually a member of the cashew family, although the taste and texture are quite different. They are great to use in holiday baking – especially cookies!
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Cookies

Biscotti X Fig Cookies – Buccellati

These biscotti X fig cookies (obviously) get their name for the way they look. If you are a lover of figs, you need to try this recipe! These Italian style treats have quite a long list of steps and ingredients, but they are well worth making. If you want to seriously impress with your holiday baking that is! These are Buccellati Christmas cookies that you need to try.
Get the Recipe: Biscotti X Fig Cookies – Buccellati

Amaretti Cookies

All Italian cookies are wonderful, but amaretti cookies just have to be one of the best ever! They go amazingly with coffee or another drink, and are the perfect snack at the end of a long day. This is the first of many Christmas baking ideas for this year.
Get the Recipe: Amaretti Cookies

Chocolate Dipped Almond Horns

Christmas baking isn’t just about making delicious snacks and treats for the festive times ahead. It is also about having fun! These chocolate dipped almond horns certainly bring a touch of fun into the holiday baking season. These Christmas cookies are simple to make and you can get creative deciding what kind of chocolate to dip them into.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Almond Horns

Italian Chocolate Chestnut Tortelli Cookies

Italian chocolate chestnut tortelli cookies are delicious desserts and also perfect for Christmas cookie exchange recipes. The chestnut filling is really good, as are the dark chocolate and rum flavours.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chocolate Chestnut Tortelli Cookies

Raspberry Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies

Raspberry hazelnut thumbprint cookies have been a loved in my family for years. I love making these raspberry jam cookies. The moist dough and sweet, sticky jam pair so well together. They are great served with a cup of coffee in the morning or your favourite drink. I love them with hot chocolate.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies

Cranberry Lemon Pistachio Wreath Cookies

My mom loves holiday baking and this is a recipe for cranberry lemon pistachio cookies that she has been making for many years. They are almost too pretty to eat. The tart lemon taste of the icing has to be my favourite part of these colourful Christmas cookies.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Lemon Pistachio Wreath Cookies

Nutellotti – Italian Nutella Cookies

Do you love Nutella? I can’t get enough of it and have been known to enjoy it straight from the jar! Nutellotti soft nutella cookies are a great Italian Christmas cookie idea. A tasty chocolate and vanilla flavoured cookie is topped with a sweet and creamy Nutella topping.
Get the Recipe: Nutellotti – Italian Nutella Cookies

Italian Canestrelli Cookies

Canestrelli cookies are a little bit like shortbread but lighter, with more of a crunch, and a more in-depth flavour. These Christmas cookies are from Italy’s Liguria region, and are buttery tasting with delicious lemon fragrance evident in every bite. You will want to add these Italian cookies to this year’s Christmas baking or holiday baking plans.
Get the Recipe: Italian Canestrelli Cookies

Salted Caramel Heart Snickerdoodles

Fall in love with these adorable salted caramel heart center snickerdoodles featuring a brown butter caramel filling. Perfect for any occasion, these sweet vanilla and cinnamon cookies are sure to become a family favorite with rave reviews!
Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Heart Snickerdoodles

The BEST Chocolate Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

Chocolate sugar cookie cut-outs remind me of Christmas. I make several varieties of them every single year. We all know that chocolate makes everything taste amazing. So, when you combine it with sugar cookies, the result is these easy chocolate cookies which are absolute perfection! It really isn’t the holidays, unless I have these chocolate Christmas cookies!
Get the Recipe: The BEST Chocolate Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

Raspberry Jam and Buttercream Sandwich Cookies

These raspberry jam and buttercream sandwich cookies are so good. Enjoy these cookies with filling with your morning coffee or make some as a gift. You will love how the orange sugar cookies and vanilla buttercream pairs with the raspberry jam to make delicious and fruit-forward cookies with preserves.
Get the Recipe: Raspberry Jam and Buttercream Sandwich Cookies

Italian Chocolate Salami – Salame di Cioccolato

A famous no bake treat all over Italy, Italian chocolate salami is a delicious combination of shortbread cookies, Amaretto liqueur and chocolate. It’s a delicious dessert which makes a nice edible Christmas gift. This chocolate log is made to resemble salami and it is known as salame di cioccolato in Italy.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chocolate Salami – Salame di Cioccolato

Stained Glass Christmas Cookies

These stained glass Christmas cookies are so pretty to look at. They might look fiddly to prepare but they really aren’t. Also known as windowpane cookies, these easy to make cookies with a hole in the middle are a Christmas staple. You will love these star shape, colourful gluten free cookies. It’s such a great recipe for the best Christmas cookies.
Get the Recipe: Stained Glass Christmas Cookies

3D Stacked Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

This fun recipe for 3D stacked Christmas tree sugar cookies is a great project for Christmas time when you’re in a baking mood. The tree shapes are made of sugar cookie dough and feature green frosting. Star cookie cutters make the stars on top of the cookie trees stacks. Despite being so gorgeous, Christmas sugar cookies really are easy to make!
Get the Recipe: 3D Stacked Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

Crinkle Grinch Cookies – Easy Cake Mix Cookies

Crinkle Grinch cookies are a worthy addition to your festive baking list. If you’re looking for red or green Christmas cookies, these definitely add a touch of fun to your holiday table! Enjoy munching on Grinch cake mix cookies while watching your favourite Christmas movies. Can you think of a better combo than Grinch Christmas cookies and festive movies? Nope, me neither!
Get the Recipe: Crinkle Grinch Cookies – Easy Cake Mix Cookies

Snowflake Cookies

Buttery and pretty snowflake cookies make a great addition to your holiday baking! This recipe is simple, yet has such a delicious flavor. Share these with Santa on Christmas eve, or your family at your holiday gathering.
Get the Recipe: Snowflake Cookies

Christmas Ornament Oreo Cookies

Use oreo cookies, candy and white chocolate to make these adorable and festive ornament cookies. These are tasty and can be decorated in so many ways!
Get the Recipe: Christmas Ornament Oreo Cookies

Chocolate Truffle Peppermint Crunch Cookies

Chocolate cookies are always a good idea, but this recipe makes them extra festive. With the best truffle, peppermint flavor, your loved ones will request these cookies year after year.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Peppermint Crunch Cookies

Chocolate Peppermint Sour Cream Crinkle Cookies

There is a secret to making the best crinkle cookies; sour cream! This recipe is so flavorful, tender and best of all easy! Make these for a cookie exchange, or just to snack on at home as you wrap gifts.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Sour Cream Crinkle Cookies

Italian Chocolate Cookies

These Italian Chocolate Cookies are soft and have a cake-like texture. They are infused with chopped chocolate pieces and a hint of cinnamon, making them a truly irresistible treat. To enhance their indulgence, these Italian cookies are coated with a crispy layer of vanilla icing on top.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chocolate Cookies

Gingerbread Man Cookies

Offer a cute classic cookie this Christmas that everyone will love. These gingerbread men are so tasty and add an instant jolly vibe to any gathering!
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Man Cookies

Paste Di Pistacchio (Italian Pistachio Cookies)

Sometimes, less is more. This Italian pistachio cookies recipe proves just that. With a few simple ingredients, you’ll find yourself lost in a chewy, salty, and slightly sweet cookie that you can’t get enough of.
Get the Recipe: Paste Di Pistacchio (Italian Pistachio Cookies)

Gingerbread Eggnog Cookies

Bring two seasonal favorites together into one cookie. This gingerbread cookie dipped in eggnog icing and sprinkles to make a cookie that is as pretty as it is delicious.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Eggnog Cookies

Italian Butter Cookies

These delicious Italian Butter Cookies, provide a delightful blend of a crispy outer layer and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The dough, which is smooth and indulgent with butter, can be effortlessly piped, used with a cookie press, or formed into small balls for baking.
Get the Recipe: Italian Butter Cookies

Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Make these double chocolate chip cookies with crushed candy canes for a festive cookie worth sharing with everyone; from the neighbor across the street, to Santa himself! No one can resist the temptation of these fudgy, minty cookies.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Candy Cane Decorated Cookies

These chocolate cookies are perfect for Christmas. With a few steps you can expertly decorate them to look like candy canes, peppermint candies or cupcakes to steal the show at the annual Christmas party.
Get the Recipe: Candy Cane Decorated Cookies

Chewy Iced Gingerbread Cookies

This gingerbread cookie recipe is dipped in fudgy white chocolate and festive sprinkles. This is a cookie that is loaded with seasonal flavors. Share these at a cookie exchange or offer them with cocoa to guests who drop by to spread holiday cheer.
Get the Recipe: Chewy Iced Gingerbread Cookies

Christmas Pinwheels

You will love the soft sugar cookie flavor of these colorful and tasty treats! You can make them a few days in advance so you have cookies for Christmas eve, or make them today to share a yummy cookie with someone special.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheels

Big Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies

This recipe delivers big, soft, bakery style sugar cookies! It wouldn’t be the holidays without a plate of buttery soft sweet cookies and this is the recipe to try for perfect results every time.
Get the Recipe: Big Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies