10+ Best Christmas Cookie Recipes to Bake This Holiday Season

ByNatalia

10+ Best Christmas Cookie Recipes to Bake This Holiday Season Home › Cookies › Best Christmas Cookie Recipes The best Christmas cookie recipes are the classics people look forward to every year: spiced gingerbread men, jam-filled linzer cookies, iced sugar cookies, fudgy chocolate crinkles and peppermint candy canes. Below are 10 of our favorites, each…

10+ Best Christmas Cookie Recipes to Bake This Holiday Season

The best Christmas cookie recipes are the classics people look forward to every year: spiced gingerbread men, jam-filled linzer cookies, iced sugar cookies, fudgy chocolate crinkles and peppermint candy canes. Below are 10 of our favorites, each with a full ingredient list, simple steps and a tip for getting it right.

Whether you’re filling a cookie tray, planning a cookie swap or baking gifts for neighbors, you’ll find easy no-roll cookies for busy weeknights and showstopper cut-outs for decorating day. Every recipe uses regular grocery store ingredients.

Christmas Cookies at a Glance

Use this table to pick cookies by time, skill level and how many each batch makes.

CookieSkillTotal timeMakesBest for
Gingerbread MenMedium2 hr (incl. chilling)24Decorating with kids
Linzer CookiesMedium2 hr24Gift boxes
Iced Sugar CookiesMedium3 hr (incl. icing)30Decorating parties
Chocolate CrinklesEasy4.5 hr (mostly chilling)48Cookie swaps
Candy Cane CookiesMedium1 hr36Festive trays
Snowball CookiesEasy40 min36Beginners
Peanut Butter BlossomsEasy40 min48Big batches
Jam ThumbprintsEasy45 min36Colorful trays
Butter ShortbreadEasy45 min24Make-ahead baking
Spritz CookiesEasy30 min60Fast, huge batches

1. Gingerbread Men Cookies

Soft-centered gingerbread men are the most iconic Christmas cookie. Molasses keeps them chewy, and a bold mix of ginger, cinnamon and cloves gives them that classic holiday smell. Love gingerbread flavor? Try our gingerbread spice cake too.

Prep: 20 min · Chill: 1 hr · Bake: 8–10 min · Makes: about 24

Ingredients

  • 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (170 g) butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) unsulphured molasses
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Royal icing, for decorating (see recipe 3)

Instructions

  1. Whisk the flour, spices, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
  2. Beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy, then beat in the egg, molasses and vanilla.
  3. Mix in the dry ingredients on low. Divide the dough in half, wrap and chill for 1 hour.
  4. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut out gingerbread men.
  5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are set. Cool completely, then decorate.

Tip: Bake 8 minutes for soft cookies, 10 minutes for crisp ones that hold up to hanging on the tree.

2. Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies are buttery almond sandwich cookies with a jam-filled window, finished with a snowy dusting of powdered sugar. They look bakery-made but use simple ingredients.

Prep: 30 min · Chill: 1 hr · Bake: 9–11 min · Makes: about 24 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup (133 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (100 g) almond flour
  • 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy, then add the egg and vanilla.
  2. Mix in the almond flour, flour, cinnamon and salt. Wrap in two discs and chill 1 hour.
  3. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the dough 1/8 inch thick and cut shapes. Cut a small window from half of them.
  4. Bake 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are barely golden. Cool completely.
  5. Dust the window cookies with powdered sugar. Spread jam on the solid cookies and top with the windows.

Tip: Assemble linzer cookies the day you serve them so the jam doesn’t soften the cookies.

3. Iced Christmas Sugar Cookies

These cut-out sugar cookies keep their shape in the oven, so your trees, ornaments and snowflakes stay crisp-edged. A smooth royal icing dries hard, which makes them perfect for stacking and gifting.

Prep: 30 min · Chill: 1 hr · Bake: 8–10 min · Makes: about 30

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Royal icing: 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar, 3 tbsp meringue powder, 9–10 tbsp water, gel food coloring

Instructions

  1. Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and extracts.
  2. Mix in the flour, baking powder and salt. Chill the dough 1 hour.
  3. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll 1/4 inch thick, cut shapes, and chill the cut-outs 10 minutes.
  4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are just set. Cool completely.
  5. Beat the icing ingredients for 5 minutes until glossy. Tint, decorate, and let dry 6 to 8 hours.

Tip: Use thicker icing for outlines and thin it with a few drops of water to “flood” the centers.

4. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate crinkles taste like brownies in cookie form. Rolling the dough in powdered sugar creates the snowy, cracked tops that make them a holiday favorite.

Prep: 15 min · Chill: 4 hr · Bake: 10–12 min · Makes: about 48

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (85 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar, for rolling

Instructions

  1. Mix the cocoa, sugar and oil. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.
  2. Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.
  3. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and coat heavily in powdered sugar.
  4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers are still soft.

Tip: Roll the balls in granulated sugar first, then powdered sugar, for extra-white crinkles that don’t melt in.

5. Candy Cane Cookies

Red and white ropes of peppermint butter dough are twisted into candy canes. They’re tender, minty and one of the most eye-catching cookies on any Christmas tray.

Prep: 40 min · Bake: 9–10 min · Makes: about 36

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) butter, softened
  • 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp peppermint extract
  • 2 1/2 cups (310 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Red gel food coloring

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Beat the butter and powdered sugar, then add the egg and extracts.
  2. Mix in the flour and salt. Divide the dough in half and tint one half red.
  3. Roll 1 teaspoon of each color into 4-inch ropes. Twist them together and bend the top into a hook.
  4. Bake on a lined sheet 9 to 10 minutes, until set but not browned.

Tip: If the ropes crack, warm the dough in your hands for a few seconds before rolling.

6. Snowball Cookies

Also called Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies, snowballs are melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies packed with toasted nuts and rolled twice in powdered sugar.

Prep: 20 min · Bake: 10–12 min · Makes: about 36

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar, plus 1 cup for rolling
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (85 g) finely chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Beat the butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and vanilla.
  2. Mix in the flour, salt and nuts until a soft dough forms.
  3. Roll into 1-inch balls and bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly golden.
  4. Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar. Once cool, roll them again.

Tip: The second roll after cooling is what gives snowballs their thick, snowy coat.

7. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Soft peanut butter cookies rolled in sugar and topped with a chocolate kiss are a nostalgic favorite. They’re quick to make and one of the best cookies for big holiday batches.

Prep: 20 min · Bake: 8–10 min · Makes: about 48

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (113 g) butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (130 g) creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • About 48 unwrapped chocolate kisses

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Beat the butter, peanut butter and both sugars until fluffy.
  2. Add the egg, milk and vanilla, then mix in the flour, baking soda and salt.
  3. Roll into 1-inch balls, coat in sugar and bake 8 to 10 minutes.
  4. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie.

Tip: Freeze the chocolate kisses for 10 minutes first so they keep their pointed shape.

8. Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprints are tender butter cookies with a jewel of jam in the center. Use raspberry and apricot jam together for a bright red and gold cookie tray.

Prep: 20 min · Bake: 14–18 min · Makes: about 36

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup (133 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup raspberry or apricot jam

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Beat the butter, sugar and almond extract until creamy.
  2. Mix in the flour and salt. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on a lined sheet.
  3. Press a deep well into each ball with your thumb and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon jam.
  4. Bake 14 to 18 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.

Tip: Stir the jam well before filling so it spoons in smoothly and bakes up glossy.

9. Classic Butter Shortbread

With just five ingredients, shortbread is all about rich butter flavor and a crumbly, tender bite. It keeps for weeks, which makes it the ideal cookie to bake early.

Prep: 15 min · Bake: 18–22 min · Makes: about 24

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) salted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Beat the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
  2. Mix in the flour and salt until the dough just comes together.
  3. Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut into rounds, stars or fingers. Prick each with a fork.
  4. Bake 18 to 22 minutes, until pale golden on the bottom.

Tip: Dip cooled shortbread halfway in melted dark chocolate and add crushed peppermint for a festive twist.

10. Spritz Cookies

Spritz cookies are pressed through a cookie press into wreaths, trees and flowers. One batch makes about 60, so they’re a lifesaver when you need a lot of cookies fast.

Prep: 15 min · Bake: 7–9 min · Makes: about 60

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup (133 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Food coloring and sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Beat the butter and sugar, then add the egg and extracts.
  2. Mix in the flour and salt. Tint the dough if you like.
  3. Press shapes onto an ungreased, unlined baking sheet and add sprinkles.
  4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes, until the edges are just set.

Tip: Spritz dough needs to grip the pan, so skip parchment and greasing, and don’t chill the dough.

How to Make Christmas Cookies Ahead

Baking in stages takes the stress out of holiday cookie season. Most of these recipes can be made 1 to 3 weeks before Christmas.

  • Freeze the dough: Wrap discs or scooped balls tightly and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw cut-out dough in the fridge overnight; bake balls straight from frozen, adding 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Freeze baked cookies: Freeze cooled, undecorated cookies in airtight containers for up to 3 months. The USDA explains how freezing keeps food safe and fresh in its freezing and food safety guide.
  • Store by type: Keep soft cookies and crisp cookies in separate containers so the crisp ones stay crunchy.
  • Decorate last: Ice sugar cookies and fill linzer cookies 1 to 2 days before serving.

Tips for a Perfect Christmas Cookie Tray

  • Mix textures: Pair crisp cookies like spritz and shortbread with soft ones like crinkles and blossoms.
  • Mix colors: Red candy canes, green-iced trees, white snowballs and dark chocolate crinkles make a tray look abundant.
  • Plan quantities: Count about 3 to 4 cookies per guest for a party, and 12 per person for a cookie swap.
  • Label nut cookies: Snowballs, linzer cookies and peanut butter blossoms contain nuts, so label them for guests with allergies.

Planning a full holiday menu? See our Christmas dessert recipes for cakes, pies and more.

Christmas Cookie FAQ

What are the most popular Christmas cookies?

Gingerbread men, iced sugar cookies, chocolate crinkles, snowball cookies and peanut butter blossoms are among the most-baked Christmas cookies. They are classic, easy to share and hold up well on a cookie tray.

How far ahead can I bake Christmas cookies?

Most Christmas cookies keep 1 to 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze baked, undecorated cookies for up to 3 months, or freeze the dough and bake it fresh.

Which Christmas cookies freeze best?

Shortbread, snowball cookies, gingerbread, chocolate crinkles and spritz cookies all freeze very well. Freeze iced sugar cookies only after the icing has dried completely, layered between parchment.

What are the easiest Christmas cookies for beginners?

Snowball cookies, peanut butter blossoms and chocolate crinkles are the easiest. They need no rolling, cutting or icing, just scooping and rolling dough into balls.

Why do my cut-out cookies spread in the oven?

Cut-out cookies spread when the dough is too warm or the butter was too soft. Chill the cut shapes on the baking sheet for 10 to 15 minutes before baking, and measure flour by spooning it into the cup.

Start Your Christmas Baking

From gingerbread men to spritz wreaths, these 10 Christmas cookie recipes give you a tray full of color, flavor and texture. Start with one easy recipe and one showstopper this weekend, and freeze the dough for the rest. For more holiday baking ideas, browse all our cookie recipes.

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