31 Christmas Cookie Recipes for Holiday Baking
Christmas baking is one of my favorite things about this time of year, and you really can’t beat a batch of homemade cookies. I love having a few different kinds to choose from, especially when we’ve got family visiting or we’re settling down for a cozy evening in front of the TV.
I’ve put together 31 Christmas cookie recipes, with everything from traditional gingerbread cookies to chocolatey treats, fun decorated Oreos, and a few slightly different recipes too. Some are really easy to make with the kids, while others are a little more indulgent and definitely worth the effort.
If you’re planning some Christmas baking, putting together cookie boxes for friends and family, or just fancy filling up the cookie jar, there’s plenty here to choose from. I always think it’s nice to have a mixture of recipes at Christmas, so hopefully you’ll find a few new favorites to try this year.
1. Gingerbread Cookies
It wouldn’t be Christmas without these! I love the smell of ginger and warm spices filling the kitchen while they’re baking. They’re lovely to decorate with the kids too, although I think we usually end up eating just as many as we decorate!
GET THE RECIPE2. Cake Batter Christmas Cookies
These are such fun cookies to make at Christmas! They’re soft, sweet, and packed with colorful sprinkles, so they look really festive without needing to spend ages decorating them. They’re always a lovely addition to a Christmas cookie platter too.
GET THE RECIPE3. Cinnamon Swirl Cookies
I love anything with cinnamon at Christmas, and these are no exception! The pretty swirls make them look like you’ve spent ages making them, and they’re lovely with a cup of coffee on a cold afternoon. They’re the sort of cookies I find myself going back for another one of!
GET THE RECIPE4. Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
If you’re a chocolate lover, you’ll definitely want to give these a try! They’re rich and chocolatey with a lovely little chocolate-filled center. I think they look really pretty on a Christmas cookie platter, and they’re just the thing to enjoy with a hot drink on a cold day.
5. Ginger Maple Glazed Cookies
The combination of ginger and maple is so good, especially at Christmas. The sweet maple glaze goes really nicely with the warm ginger flavor, and it’s a lovely change from the usual chocolate cookies. I can never resist trying one while the glaze is setting!
GET THE RECIPE6. Biscoff Cookies
If you love Biscoff as much as I do, these are definitely worth making! They’ve got that lovely caramelized, slightly spiced flavor that works so well at Christmas. I always think Biscoff is one of those things that’s hard to stop eating once you’ve started!
GET THE RECIPE7. Copycat Levain Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sometimes you just can’t beat a really good chocolate chip cookie, and these are seriously chunky! They’re thick, packed with chocolate chips, and have that lovely soft center. They’re a bit of a treat, but then Christmas is the time for that, isn’t it?
8. Buckeye Brownie Cookies
Chocolate and peanut butter are always a good combination, and these have plenty of both! You’ve got a rich, fudgy brownie cookie with a creamy peanut butter center and chocolate on top. They’re quite indulgent, but I think that’s all part of the fun of Christmas baking!
GET THE RECIPE9. Grinch Oreos
These are such a fun little Christmas treat, especially if you’ve got kids who love the Grinch! They’re really easy to make, and the bright green coating with the little red heart makes them instantly recognizable. They’re a lovely one to get the kids involved with too, and there’s no baking involved!
GET THE RECIPE10. Reindeer Oreos
How cute are these little reindeer? They’re such a fun way to turn a packet of Oreos into something festive, and you don’t need to switch the oven on either. I love making treats like this at Christmas, especially when the kids can help with all the decorating.
GET THE RECIPE11. Churro Cookies
If you love the cinnamon sugar coating on churros, you’ll love these cookies too! They’re buttery, sweet, and have that lovely cinnamon flavor that fits right in with Christmas baking. I think they’re especially good with a mug of hot chocolate.
GET THE RECIPE12. Reese’s Stuffed Cookies
I love how easy these are to make! You only need two ingredients, and each chocolate chip cookie has a Reese’s peanut butter cup hidden inside. They’re lovely when they’re still a little warm and the chocolate in the middle is all soft and gooey.
GET THE RECIPE13. Biscoff Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adding Biscoff to chocolate chip cookies makes them even more delicious! You get that lovely caramelized flavor alongside the chocolate, and they’re a nice change from your usual cookies. I always think Biscoff and chocolate go so well together, especially at Christmas.
14. Christmas Ornament Oreos
I think these are so pretty! They’re decorated to look like little Christmas baubles, and you can have loads of fun using different colors and sprinkles. They’re really easy to put together too, and I love how they look all lined up on a plate with the other Christmas treats.
15. Fudgy Brownie Cookies
These are a bit of a cross between a brownie and a cookie, so you get the best of both! They’re rich, chocolatey, and lovely and fudgy in the middle. I can never resist a good brownie, and having all that chocolatey goodness in cookie form is even better!
GET THE RECIPE16. Cannoli Cookies
I love having a few different cookies in the mix at Christmas, and these make a nice change from all the usual chocolate ones. They’ve got that lovely Italian dessert flavor, with creamy ricotta and little chocolate chips. They’re a bit different, but still feel like a proper Christmas treat!
17. Polar Bear Oreos
How adorable are these little polar bears? They’re such a cute way to dress up ordinary Oreos for Christmas, and you don’t even need to do any baking. I think the kids would have loads of fun helping to decorate them, although I’m not sure how many would actually make it onto the plate!
GET THE RECIPE18. Twix Cookies
You really can’t go wrong with chocolate and caramel, can you? These have that lovely buttery cookie base topped with caramel and chocolate, just like the chocolate bar. They’re quite a treat, but that’s exactly what I love about Christmas baking!
GET THE RECIPE19. Snowman Oreos
These little snowmen are almost too cute to eat! I love how you can turn a few ordinary Oreos into something so Christmassy with a bit of decorating. They’re a fun one to make with the kids, and you don’t have to worry about getting the oven on when you’ve already got loads of Christmas baking to do!
GET THE RECIPE20. German Chocolate Cookies
If you love German chocolate cake, you’ll definitely want to try these! They’ve got that rich chocolate flavor with a lovely coconut and pecan topping. They’re a little different from your usual Christmas cookies, and I think it’s nice to have a few like that mixed in with all the festive ones.
GET THE RECIPE21. Reindeer Nutter Butters
I always think Nutter Butters are just the right shape for making little reindeer! Add some antlers, eyes, and a red nose, and you’ve got a really cute Christmas treat without much effort. They’re great fun to decorate, although getting all those little faces looking right can be quite funny!
22. Cookie Dough Cookies
You know when you’re making cookies and can’t resist sneaking a little bit of the dough? That’s what I love about these! They’ve got all that lovely cookie dough flavor in a proper cookie, and they’re a fun change from the usual Christmas baking.
GET THE RECIPE23. Penguin Oreos
I can’t get over how cute these little penguins are! They’re made with Oreos and a few simple decorations, so there’s no baking involved. I love making treats like this in the run-up to Christmas, especially when you can sit around the table decorating them together.
24. Reese’s Pieces Oatmeal Cookies
I love the combination of chewy oatmeal cookies and little bits of peanut butter candy! The Reese’s Pieces add a bit of crunch and plenty of chocolatey peanut butter flavor. They’re a nice change from all the decorated Christmas cookies, and I always end up sneaking a few of the candies while I’m baking!
GET THE RECIPE25. Grinch Nutter Butters
I love how something as simple as a green coating and a little red heart can turn ordinary Nutter Butters into a cute Grinch-themed Christmas treat! They’re so easy to make, and you don’t need to spend ages decorating them either. Such a fun little treat for Christmas!
GET THE RECIPE26. Samoas Cookies
Coconut, caramel, and chocolate are such a good combination. These have a lovely chewy coconut topping with plenty of caramel and chocolate, and they’re a nice change from the usual Christmas cookies. I always find it hard to stop at just one!
GET THE RECIPE27. Frosted Oreo Cookies
If you love Oreos, you’ll definitely want to give these a go! They’re packed with that familiar cookies and cream flavor and finished with a layer of sweet frosting. I think they’re a nice one to have alongside all the gingerbread and spiced cookies at Christmas, especially for the chocolate lovers!
GET THE RECIPE28. PBJ Cookies
Peanut butter and jelly is such a classic combination, so why not turn it into a cookie? I love the mix of sweet, fruity jelly and peanut butter, and these are a fun way to enjoy those familiar flavors. They’re a little different from the usual Christmas cookies, which I think is always nice!
29. Bourbon Cookies
I always like having a few cookies that are a bit more grown-up on the Christmas baking list, and these fit right in. They’ve got that lovely rich bourbon flavor that makes them feel a little special. Just the thing to enjoy with a cup of coffee once all the Christmas chaos has settled down!
30. Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies
I know zucchini might sound like a strange thing to put in cookies, but it really does work! It helps keep them lovely and soft, and with plenty of chocolate chips in there, you hardly notice it. A good one to try if you fancy baking something a little different this Christmas.
31. Cornmeal Cookies
These might not be the first cookies you’d think of making at Christmas, but they’re definitely worth a try! The cornmeal gives them a slightly different texture and a lovely buttery flavor. Sometimes it’s nice to have something a bit simpler alongside all the chocolate and heavily decorated cookies.
I hope you’ve found a few new Christmas cookies to try! There are so many lovely ones to choose from, and I always think baking cookies is one of the nicest things about the run-up to Christmas. Even better if you can get the kids involved, although it usually means a lot more mess in my kitchen! Let me know which ones you’re going to make first.
