I’m pretty sure Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without all the Christmas cookie recipes. Ok, that isn’t true because all you really need for Christmas is Jesus, but that’s a whole different post. I’m going to let my stomach do the talking here and say that Christmas needs baking and cookies.
What are the Christmas cookies you remember from your childhood? Which ones does your family love now? I absolutely love the memories that come with the holidays that center on certain recipes. We are going to cover everything here — from the cutout sugar cookies that you frost with the kiddos to the gingerbread men that will be your most favorite Christmas cookie of all time.
Gingerbread Cookies
I’m over here squealing because gingerbread is my favorite. I mean, is there anything that screams Christmas more than the smell of gingerbread filling the house? Heaven, people! Heaven!
Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies
This is it. The best. My favorite. It is Christmas the minute these hit my mouth. I guarantee they are going to become your favorite too. They are perfectly spiced and so chewy. And that glaze is everything!
Gingerbread Man Sandwich Cookies
My kids love making these gingerbread sandwich cookies. The cookies are soft and chewy and they are filled with a creamy filling. And the M&Ms buttons are the cutest touch.
Gingerbread Bars
Ok, I know these aren’t technically a “cookie” but bar cookies have their place too and these gingerbread bar cookies are so easy. The cream cheese frosting is luscious!
Soft Gingerbread Cookies
We have been making these sugar cookies for years and they are delicious every time. They hold their shape well and are so fun to decorate.
Candy Cane Gingerbread Cookies
These gingerbread cookies are tender and full of all the classic gingerbread flavors and the candy cane Hershey Kisses on top is just the pop of festive color you need!
Soft Molasses Cookies
These are your classic soft molasses cookies, or ginger snap, coated with sugar on the outside.
White Chocolate Molasses Cookies
These take your classes molasses cookies to the next level with melty white chocolate in the middle and a white chocolate drizzle on top.
White Chocolate Peppermint Ginger Snaps
These molasses cookies have so much warmth and depth of flavor. We add white chocolate peppermint M&M’s for the perfect holiday flare!
Sugar Cookies
Let’s move on to the sugar cookies! Kids go bananas for using the cookie cutters, smearing gobs of red and green frosting all over them and adding all the sprinkles. So fun!
Christmas Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
A soft but stable sugar cookie recipe that holds it shape when it bakes and is perfect for decorating with royal icing.
Cutout Sugar Cookies
Soft and chewy sugar cookies that taste amazing but also hold their shape while baking so you can make all the fun Christmas shapes. (I photographed these cookies for Valentine’s Day, but you can see exactly how they would work with Christmas cookie cutters.)
Soft Sugar Cookies
If you want to skip the cookie cutters and just go for the delicious sugar cookie flavor without all the work, then these are the cookies you are looking for!
White Chocolate Sugar Cookies with Peppermint Royal Icing
This is another cutout sugar cookies recipe that is soft and chewy, but the peppermint royal icing adds the perfect holiday flavor.
Linzer Cookies
These are more of a shortbread cookie than a sugar cookie, but I felt like they fit best here. They are sandwiched together and filled with strawberry jam, and would make the cutest Christmas cookies! They remind my of the Grinch and when his heart grows three sizes. A little star cutout would also be so cute!
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
I know there are people out there who don’t like the combination of chocolate and peppermint, but I am not that people. Whether it’s milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate, they all go deliciously with a little peppermint added!
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies
We use dark chocolate cocoa to make these chocolate cookies and load them up with peppermint bark chips made by Ghiradelli.
Peppermint Double Chocolate Cookies
These peppermint double chocolate cookieshave a richchocolate taste and are infused with peppermint. We love to dip them in chocolate and sprinkle them with crushed candy canesfor the perfectholiday cookie!
Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies
These are the same base chocolate cookie as the ones above but we top them melted Andes mints. They are a Christmas favorite in our house.
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
These cookies have peppermint added to the dough and they are topped with a white chocolate cream cheese frosting with crushed candy canes on top!!
White Chocolate Peppermint Oreos
Homemade Oreos are the best, but add some peppermint and crushed candy canes to them and you have Christmas in every bite!
White Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread
Buttery, melt in your mouth shortbread cookies infused with peppermint then dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy canes.
Easy Christmas Cookies – No Baking Required
Christmas time can get busy, and maybe hours and hours of baking just isn’t in the cards for you this year. Here are a few ideas for festive Christmas cookies that are adorable and you won’t even have to turn on the oven.
White Chocolate Dipped Mint Milanos
Nutter Butter Snowmen
Grinch or Santa Oreos
Thin Mint Oreos
Candy Cane Oreos
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
I wasn’t quite sure where to add these beauties into this Christmas cookie recipes roundup since they aren’t gingerbread, sugar cookies, peppermint chocolate or no bake, but they are so festive and totally look like Christmas with the powdered sugar on the outside! So they are the little red caboose of our Christmas cookie roundup.
So now I really have to know…what Christmas cookie recipes are you going to try?? And did I miss any of your favorites? If you’re more of a Christmas candy person, head to our Christmas candy roundup next! And most of all, have the merriest of Christmas making memories in the kitchen with those you love!
