Baking Christmas cookies is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Sometimes it can feel very overwhelming though, with so many cookie recipes out there it’s hard to know what to even try. Our collection of the 10 best Christmas Cookies helps simplify this by giving you recipes tested in my kitchen and approved by friends and family! And trust me, by now, my family members are expert cookie testers! So, let’s explore my most popular Christmas Cookies.
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Favorite Christmas Cookies
Below you’ll find five of our favorite themed Christmas cookies, they are fun, look delicious, and taste even better. Two of them are no-bake recipes which are easy for having children help in the kitchen. Also, we suggest nibbling on a tasty Christmas appetizer while you are baking, it will save you from eating too many cookies!
1. Nutter Butter Christmas Snowman
Key Features:
- No-bake recipe
- Simple to make and kid approved
- This is one of our most popular Christmas cookies- they are so adorable!
Best For: School events, teacher gift and cookie swaps.
2. M&M Christmas Cookies
Key Features:
- Uses beautiful, festive Christmas colors
- Classic cookie
- This is a kid favorite Christmas cookies
Best For: Neighbor gifts, holiday dinners and Christmas Eve Santa cookies.
3. Cutout Cookies
Key Features:
- Use whatever shape you’d like, we suggest Christmas trees and candy canes.
- Versatile- use different shapes, frosting colors, and sprinkles.
- Kids love to help decorate
Best For: Santa cookies, sharing with loved ones and making cookies at home with kids.
4. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Key Features:
- Visually stunning
- Makes 36 cookies- another reason this makes out 10 best Christmas cookies list!
- Great flavor- chocolate and peppermint!
Best For: Impressing guests, cookie exchanges, home made gifts
5. Christmas Wreath Cookies
Key Features:
- Visually stunning- another one of our most popular Christmas cookies.
- No bake recipe
- Kid-friendly
Best For: Impressing guests, holiday events, home made gifts
Classic Christmas Cookies
Who doesn’t love a traditional chocolate chip cookie? We have perfected our recipe over the years and created a sourdough chocolate chip cookie based on this recipe as well.
6. Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies
Key Features:
- Our traditional chocolate chip cookie- without eggs
- Hint: you’ve got to try the cookie dough (no eggs!)
- Applesauce is the secret ingredient, but you can’t even taste it!
Best For: After school snack, allergen-friendly classroom treat, Christmas Eve cookie for Santa
7. Chocolate Cookies
Key Features:
- A classic chocolate chip cookie- in reverse!
- These freeze well for ready-made cookies whenever you need them
- Our inside out cookie recipe has a chill time for great looking cookies, every time.
Best For: They look great matched with classic chocolate chip cookies, cookie exchanges and Christmas Eve Santa cookies
8. Mint Christmas Cookies
Key Features:
- Minty surprise with festive colors
- Simple and easy recipe
- Kid friendly
Best For: Classroom treats, teacher treats, baking cookies with kids
9. Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
Key Features:
- You can never go wrong with a traditional chocolate chip cookie
- We have perfected this recipe with years of testing
- Pairs great with hot cocoa or milk
Best For: Cookies for Santa, holiday treats, pairing with hot cocoa
10. Thumb Print Heart Cookies
Key Features:
- They taste amazing
- Show your loved ones something special this year
- Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar for an extra festive look
Best For: Cookie exchanges, dessert tables and neighbor gifts.
Quick Tips for the Best Christmas Cookie
Follow these quick tips for recipe success:
- If you have time, chill the dough before baking for the best texture
- Use parchment paper for easy clean up
- Don’t over bake- instead let them “rest” on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after to finish setting up.
- Most of these cookie recipes will freeze well for 2-3 months so you can always have cookies ready!
Cookie Exchange Tips
Exchanging Christmas Cookies can be so much fun! Here is an excuse to gather friends, neighbors and family to trade delicious treats and get in the holiday spirit. Use these tips below to get started:
- Plan for 3-4 dozen cookies per recipe- the popular Christmas cookies go fast!
- Package individually in cellophane bags
- For something extra special- include recipe cards with each recipe
- List any allergen information with the cookies
- Make it fun- have awards for your favorite Christmas cookies, choose themes, or create a cookie decorating station.
Recipe FAQs
Generally speaking, most cookies do well at room temperature 3-5 days, wrapped airtight in the refrigerator for two weeks and freezer for 3 months.
Keep similar cookies together- chewy cookies go in one container, crunchy cookies all go in anotherD. You can always layer with sheets of parchment paper in between to prevent sticking.
This depends on the cookie recipe, but generally speaking, most dough does well with a chill period prior to baking. Especially when working in a hot kitchen or with warm pans. This helps the cookie to not spread out as flat during baking.
Do not just rely on recipe times, keep an eye on cookies baking in the oven. You want to look for golden edges and slightly soft centers. Let the cookies rest on the pan for at least 5 minutes to help them set up.
Other Christmas Recipes to try
If you tried this Christmas Cookie Collection or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
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