There’s something about Christmas that makes cookies taste a little extra special. Maybe it’s the cold air outside, maybe it’s the glow of the lights, or maybe it’s just the comfort of pulling a warm tray from the oven while the whole house smells like butter and vanilla. Every year, I tell myself I’ll bake less… and then suddenly I’ve got five batches cooling on the counter. It happens.
So I rounded up some of my favorite Christmas cookie recipes — the ones that always get people reaching for “just one more.” Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange, prepping tins for the neighbors, or just treating yourself, you’ll find something here worth bookmarking.
Remember it later!
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Remember it later!
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Let’s get into the good stuff.
If you love understanding the “why” behind great cookies, the team at King Arthur Baking has a really helpful guide on cookie techniques that breaks down how ingredients affect texture and flavor. It’s a great little read if you’re curious.
Here’s a quick peek at what’s inside:
Table of content
1. No-Bake Christmas Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
These cookies are a lifesaver when you need something festive without turning on the oven. They’re rich, chocolatey, and full of creamy peanut butter goodness, with a soft chew that makes them impossible to resist. They set quickly, travel well, and they’re the kind of dessert everyone recognizes from childhood but somehow tastes even better now.
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2. Christmas Cream Cheese Sprinkle Cookies
If you want soft, tender cookies that melt in your mouth, cream cheese is the secret ingredient. These cookies come out puffy, buttery, and lightly sweet — the kind that disappear off a holiday platter in minutes. And the sprinkles? They give them that colorful Christmas magic without any extra effort.
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3. Pinwheel Christmas Cookies
These cookies look like you spent hours on them, but they’re surprisingly simple once you get the hang of the swirl. The dough chills nicely, slices clean, and bakes into those beautiful red-and-white spirals everyone loves. They’re bright, cheerful, and perfect for gifting or adding a pop of color to your holiday spread.
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4. Retro Christmas Gumdrop Cookies
There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about gumdrops baked into a soft, buttery cookie. Each bite has a little chew, a little sweetness, and a fun burst of color. They feel like a throwback to old-fashioned holiday baking — the kind of cookie you’d find at a grandma’s house, next to the tinsel and handmade ornaments.
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5. Christmas Italian Ricotta Cookies
These cookies stay incredibly soft thanks to the ricotta, which gives them a tender, almost cake-like texture. They’re lightly sweet with a bright vanilla flavor, and the simple glaze on top sets beautifully. Add a few holiday sprinkles and suddenly you’ve got the prettiest cookies on the plate.
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6. Christmas Linzer Cookies (Classic)
Linzer cookies are the little showpieces of any Christmas cookie tray. They’re buttery, delicate, and filled with just the right amount of sweet jam that peeks through the cutout. A dusting of powdered sugar finishes them off like fresh snow. They look elegant, but they’re honestly easier than they seem — and definitely worth the effort.
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7. Christmas Walnut Crinkle Cookies
Crinkle cookies are always a crowd-pleaser, but adding walnuts gives them a cozy, nutty twist. The outside bakes into those classic powdered-sugar cracks, while the inside stays soft and chocolatey. Every bite has a little crunch, a little melt, and a whole lot of holiday comfort.
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8. Christmas Eggnog Sugar Cookies
These cookies turn that classic holiday drink into a soft, sweet treat. They’re perfectly spiced, lightly creamy, and smell incredible while they bake. If you love eggnog — or even if you just tolerate it — these cookies capture the flavor in a way that feels cozy, delicate, and festive without being overwhelming.
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9. Cornflake Christmas Wreath Cookies
These cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat. Crunchy cornflakes coated in a buttery marshmallow mixture are shaped into adorable little wreaths and decorated with red “berries.” They’re a hit with kids, easy for parties, and add a playful touch to any cookie tray.
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10. Christmas Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies
These cookies are soft, sweet, and as the name promises… incredibly gooey. The cream cheese keeps them moist, and the powdered sugar gives them that pretty crackled look. They’re rich without being heavy, and people always grab a second (or third) before you know it.
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Bonus: Christmas Cranberry Orange Shortbread
If you want something bright and buttery to balance all the chocolate and spice, this shortbread is perfect. The citrus zest makes the flavors pop, the cranberries add a festive sparkle, and the texture is that perfect crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread goodness. They look gorgeous in cookie tins and taste even better with a cup of tea.
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If your cookie trays tend to overflow like mine, don’t worry, that’s part of the fun. These Christmas cookies are simple, festive, and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell amazing. Bake a couple, bake them all, or save a few for those last-minute holiday moments when you just need something sweet.
And if you want to dive a little deeper into what makes cookies turn out soft, chewy, or crisp, the team at Taste of Home has a fantastic cookie baking guide that breaks everything down in a simple, helpful way.
And if one of these becomes your new yearly tradition, I’d love to hear which one it is.
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
