Best Holiday Cookies
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Christmas is just not the same without a tray (or two!) of holiday cookies! Whether you’re baking for parties, gifting to friends, or simply filling your kitchen with something sweet and nostalgic, these cookie recipes are the very best of the season. From classic favorites to fun new twists, this lineup makes it easy to spread a little joy, one delicious bite at a time.
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A Note from Kim
Baking Up Some Cheer
Holiday cookies just make the season feel magical. Every year Christmas sneaks up on me, no matter how early I start planning, but once the flour comes out and the oven warms up, it finally feels real. Baking with my family is one of my favorite traditions… the laughter, the little hands sneaking dough, and that sweet, cozy smell filling the whole house.
Whether you’re baking for a party, gifting treats, prepping for a cookie exchange, or leaving a plate out for Santa, everyone needs a few trusty Christmas cookie recipes. I hope this collection brings joy, warmth, and plenty of delicious bites to your holiday season. Happy holidays, friends!
With love (and lots of good eats), 
Made your cranberry oatmeal cookies and these were the BOMB! So easy to make and my husband wants them all for himself. Definitely plan on making them again.
— Tawnie
Table of Contents
Tips for Holiday Baking
- Prep Ahead: Measure out ingredients before you start so the process goes smoothly.
- Room Temp Ingredients: Make sure butter, eggs, and dairy are at room temperature for even mixing.
- Don’t Overmix: Overworking dough can make cookies tough—mix just until combined.
- Chill the Dough: Cold dough keeps cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Use Parchment or Silicone Mats: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
- Rotate Baking Sheets: Ovens can have hot spots, so switch sheets halfway through baking.
- Check Early: Start checking cookies a minute or two before the recipe says—they can go from perfect to overbaked quickly.
- Cool Completely: Let cookies cool on a wire rack to maintain their texture before storing or decorating.
- Store Properly: Use airtight containers to keep cookies fresh longer.
- Have Fun: Don’t stress about perfection—holiday baking is all about joy and sharing!
My Top 3 Must Bake Holiday Cookies
These are the holiday cookies that always make it onto my baking list each year! First up are snickerdoodle cookies, soft, chewy, and coated in cinnamon sugar—they’re the perfect cozy treat. Then there are cowboy cookies, packed with oats, chocolate, and nuts for a little sweet-and-salty crunch in every bite. And of course, iced sugar cookies, classic, festive, and fun to decorate with the kids or for holiday parties.
Best Snickerdoodles
A tiny bit of crisp on the outside and a super soft and chewy inside, this has got to be the BEST Snickerdoodle Cookie recipe! Snickerdoodles are my very favorite cookie and this is my go-to recipe.
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Cowboy Cookies
Irresistible Cowboy Cookies (also known as Ranger Cookies) have perfect crisp edges with soft and chewy centers, and the most amazing texture. They are loaded with hearty oats, crunchy pecans, shredded coconut flakes and chocolate chips. With one bite of these epic cookies, you will be completely obsessed with how delicious they taste!
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Cut Out Sugar Cookies & Icing
My family's favorite sugar cookies, perfect for decorating and must have sugar cookie icing!
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Grandma’s Timeless Treats
There’s something so special about recipes passed down through generations, and my grandma’s treats are no exception. From her famous date pinwheel cookies to her old-fashioned no-bake cookies, each recipe carries a bit of her love and warmth. Sharing them with my family keeps her memory alive and brings a little extra magic to the holidays.
Grandma’s Date Cookies
Satisfy your sweet tooth with Grandma's Date Cookies. Soft and chewy with a delicious swirl of dates and chopped pecans, these golden treats are simple to make and perfect for any occasion.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
Such an easy and absolutely scrumptious no bake cookie recipe!
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Cornflake Cookies
Cornflake Cookies are super addictive, with an absolutely irresistible mix of crunchy cereal flakes, sweet sugar and salty peanut butter! These simple no bake cookies are quick and easy to whip up with just 5 ingredients.
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Mexican Wedding Cookies
Mexican Wedding Cookies are absolutely irresistible and a must make during the holiday season! They are made with either almonds or pecans and then rolled in powdered sugar for a melt in your mouth treat perfect for Christmas!
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Kris Kringle Christmas Cookies (original recipe)
You will be on Santa’s “nice list” with these scrumptious Christmas cookies! Packed full of yumminess with cranberries and white chocolate, this recipe will make a large batch of cookies that freeze well.
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More Christmas Cookies to Love
Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe
This soft sugar cookies recipe is absolutely perfect! Easy to make with no dough chilling needed, each one has a slightly crisp exterior and a soft, chewy center. The flavor is spot-on, richly buttery with just the right touch of sweetness. These irresistible treats are sure to become a new favorite!
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Kitchen Sink Cookies (Panera Copycat)
Kitchen Sink Cookies are packed with everything but the kitchen sink! This Panera Bread copycat cookie is loaded with chocolate chips, caramel bits, and pretzels for the perfect sweet-and-salty bite.
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Perfect Peanut Butter Blossoms
These are perfect peanut butter blossoms! My favorite cookie at christmastime has always been classic peanut butter blossoms and my grandma had the recipe nailed. These are super easy, delicious and will make a lot of cookies!
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Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Soft-baked and ultra chewy Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies are made with brown sugar, vanilla, chewy oats, white chocolate chips, dried cranberries and a secret ingredient. This recipe wins for flavor and texture! They are festive for the holidays, but make a great anytime treat, too!
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Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
These Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies totally nail the taste and texture of the classic treat you know and love! Crispy on the edges, soft and chewy in the middle, and packed with melty chocolate chips—no one will believe they’re made entirely with almond flour.
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Chocolate Chip Cookies with Crisco
Chocolate Chip Cookies with Crisco are nostalgic and comforting! Just like the ones Grandma made, they are deliciously chewy with the best soft centers and slightly crisp edges.
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Monster Cookies
Soft and chewy Monster Cookies are an irresistible combination of peanut butter, chocolate chip oatmeal and M&M cookies. Kids and adults love these and they're perfect for parties, after school snacks and special occasions.
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Christmas Cookies
Rich and buttery, these colorful Christmas Cookies are dressed for the holidays with festive sprinkles and plenty of red & green M&Ms. Perfection in every bite, and the BEST Christmas cookies! They taste amazing with a slightly crisp exterior and a soft & chewy center. An easy and impressive cookie recipe that will have everyone coming back for seconds!
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Brownie Cookies
These Brownie Cookies couldn't be easier, and they're soft, chewy, fudgy and absolutely incredible.
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Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Incredible Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are soft, chewy and loaded with delicious peanut butter flavor. The quick oats add wonderful texture for the most addictive treat. Trust me, you won't be able to stop at just one! Whip these up to satisfy your sweet tooth, for your next potluck and for holiday parties!
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Peanut Butter Reese’s Cookies
Peanut Butter Reese’s Cookies are a dream come true for Reese's Pieces lovers! Packed with rich peanut butter flavor and loaded with crunchy, colorful Reese’s Pieces, they’re soft, chewy and incredibly delicious. Perfect for any occasion, easy to make and impossible to resist!
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Pistachio Cookies
Pistachio Cookies made with pudding mix are a game-changer! They're perfectly soft, chewy and bursting with nutty sweetness. Great for holidays, parties or simply satisfying your sweet tooth! These cookies deliver a delightful pop of color and flavor that’s sure to impress.
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Chocolate Chipless Cookies
Super soft and chewy Chocolate Chipless Cookies have the most incredible rich and buttery flavor. A fun twist on the classic, you will love the bendy texture, crisp edges and beautiful crinkly top. They're so good you'll never miss the chocolate!
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White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
White chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a slightly crisp exterior and a soft and chewy center and the most incredible sweet, buttery, toasty flavor. An easy and impressive cookie recipe that will have everyone coming back for seconds!
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Molasses Cookies
Soft and chewy Molasses Cookies are perfect for kicking off your holiday baking! They have a slightly crisp, sugarcoated edge and a soft, tender, chewy center. The warm spices and molasses add a deep, rich flavor that screams Christmas! Enjoy them with a cup of coffee for an afternoon treat and make them for sharing during the holiday season!
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Taylor Swift Chai Cookies
Warmly spiced Taylor Swift Chai Cookies are absolutely irresistible! The simple dough is flavored with chai spices, then rolled in cinnamon and sugar for a crunchy exterior with a chewy middle. Finish with a drizzle of icing and you’ve got the perfect addition to your holiday cookie tray!
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Best Peanut Butter Cookies
Soft, chewy, and full of peanut butter flavor, these are the best peanut butter cookies! This classic peanut butter cookie recipe is super easy to make with simple ingredients and the dough doesn't require any chilling. The perfect treat for kids and adults!
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Butterscotch Cookies
Soft, chewy, and filled with rich caramel-toffee flavor, these are the best Butterscotch Cookies! If you go crazy for sweet & salty desserts, this recipe has your name written all over it. Bake these up for any occasion – family gatherings, an after school snack or your holiday cookie tray!
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Cinnamon Cookies
Delicious Cinnamon Cookies are perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside with the most incredible cinnamon-sugar flavor. A cross between a sugar cookie and a snickerdoodle, these cookies are perfect for any occasion! Make this easy recipe for the holidays, an after school treat or any time you're craving something sweet!
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Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
These easy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies made with instant pudding mix are tender, sweet and irresistible! These are a family favorite recipe that I bake often. I haven't met anyone who doesn't love these pillowy soft cookies and my kids gobble them up. They're great anytime of the year, but they are especially perfect for cookie exchanges, gift giving and parties during the holiday season.
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These cookies are a decadently rich and chocolatey cookie with a melt-in-your mouth fudgy softness and a gorgeously contrasted, crackled powdered sugar finish. They're a lot like a brownie and your favorite chocolate cake but in cookie form and everybody loves them!
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Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies
These soft, chewy, and sprinkle loaded drop style Christmas sugar cookies are made with only 8 ingredients. No rolling pin or cookie cutters required!
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Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup lovers, this recipe is for you! Simply, place homemade peanut butter cookie dough into a mini muffin pan, bake to perfection and then press a mini peanut butter cup into the center. They are loved by everyone and are a unique and delicious cookie to serve for parties and the holidays!
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Gingerbread Cookies
Our best gingerbread cookie recipe! These festive treats are soft and warmly spiced, with a rich molasses flavor. Perfect for spreading holiday cheer!
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3 Ingredient Christmas Cookies
These Christmas Cookies Recipes are so easy with just three “ingredients”! PLUS, I’ve got two free printables to package them up festively!
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Eggnog Frosted Chai Snickerdoodle Snowmen
If there was ever a cookie that screamed Christmas, it’s these Eggnog Frosted Chai Snickerdoodle Snowmen.
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White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Chewy Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies dipped in white chocolate and covered in peppermint candies. So perfect for the holidays!
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Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies that have a slightly crisp exterior and a soft and chewy center with the most incredible classic chocolate chip cookie flavor. From here on out, this is the only chocolate chip cookie recipe I'll be making!
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Gift‑Giving Ideas for Homemade Cookies
Nothing says thoughtful gift-giving quite like a homemade holiday treat! During the Christmas season, a batch of your favorite cookies can brighten anyone’s day and spread festive cheer. One of my favorite ways to share them is in a beautifully packaged cookie box. It’s simple, personal, and instantly makes your treats feel extra special! Here are some more options:
- Mason jars or clear treat bags: Package a few cookies in a mason jar or a clear, cellophane treat bag tied with festive ribbon.
- Holiday cookie boxes: Use craft paper boxes or decorative tins to arrange different kinds of Christmas cookies. You can even include a handwritten note or gift tag for a personal touch.
- Cookie mix gift jars: Layer dry ingredients (flour, sugar, spices, etc.) in a jar for a “just add butter & egg” cookie mix gift. Attach the recipe on a tag so recipients can bake fresh cookies themselves.
- Cookie + drink combo: Pair cookies with a small bag of specialty coffee, hot cocoa mix, or loose-leaf tea. It turns a simple cookie gift into a cozy treat bundle.
- Reusable container + treat: Use a decorative cookie tin, cookie jar, or ceramic dish that doubles as a keepsake, so the holiday gifts last beyond the cookies.
More Christmas Treats
If you try any of these recipes, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves these Christmas cookie recipes as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Made your cranberry oatmeal cookies and these were the BOMB! So easy to make and my husband wants them all for himself. Definitely plan on making them again.
Such a great collection of Christmas Cookies! We did some baking last weekend, and made the gingerbread cookies. Great recipe, I’ll definitely make it again!
I made the cranberry snickerdoodles and they are so fluffy and fantastic! I was pleasantly surprised with the flavors and the texture!
These cookies are fantastic! I followed the recipe exactly, and they turned out delicious. Even though we’re not usually cranberry fans, the flavors blend perfectly. A definite keeper and perfect for gifting!
Made your iced sugar cookies, absolutely loved the recipe. Couldn’t keep the cookies in stock. Very addicting and very delicious. 🙂
I make your classic peanut cookies all the time! They are AMAZING!
Super simple to make with a delicious mix of cranberries, cookies, and cinnamon sugar. Everyone loved them last year, and they’re now a must-have on our holiday cookie list each Christmas. I love how easy they are, and no one can believe they’re made from a mix!
So happy to hear these were a success! Happy holidays!
Made the monster cookies! So easy to make and soooo good!!!