13 Best Christmas Cookies to Sweeten Your Holiday Season

The holiday season is a magical time filled with joy, celebration, and, of course, delicious treats! One of the most cherished traditions during this time is baking and decorating Christmas cookies. The aroma of freshly baked cookies wafting through your home can instantly evoke festive cheer and create lasting memories. Whether you prefer classic flavors or want to try something new, this blog features 13 of the best Christmas cookies that are sure to delight your family and friends.

1. Classic Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and extracts.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool before decorating with icing or sprinkles.

2. Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup molasses

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, spices, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add the egg and molasses, mixing well.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
5. Roll out the dough and cut into shapes. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool before decorating with royal icing.

3. Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time.
4. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, then fold in chocolate chips.
5. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets and bake for 9-11 minutes until golden. Cool on wire racks.

4. Peppermint Bark Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• ½ cup crushed peppermint candies

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and peppermint extract, mixing well.
3. In another bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda, then gradually add to the wet ingredients.
4. Fold in white chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes.
5. While cookies cool, melt additional white chocolate and drizzle over the cookies. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint.

5. Snickerdoodle Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar (for rolling)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and mix well.
4. Gradually incorporate dry ingredients. Roll dough into balls and roll in cinnamon sugar.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden. Cool on wire racks.

6. Raspberry Linzer Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup ground almonds or almond flour
• ½ cup raspberry jam
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, cream butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and ground almonds.
3. Gradually add flour until combined. Chill the dough for 30 minutes.
4. Roll out and cut into desired shapes. For half of the cookies, cut a small hole in the center.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden. Once cool, spread raspberry jam on the whole cookies and top with the cut-out cookies. Dust with powdered sugar.

7. Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup molasses

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and molasses, mixing well.
4. Gradually incorporate dry ingredients until well combined.
5. Drop rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

8. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
4. Gradually mix in dry ingredients, then fold in white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.
5. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto prepared sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden. Cool on wire racks.

9. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mix cocoa powder, sugar, and oil until combined. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing well.
3. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix into the chocolate mixture.
4. Chill the dough for 30 minutes. Roll into balls, then coat in powdered sugar.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes until crinkled. Cool on wire racks.

10. Pistachio Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup pistachio nuts, chopped
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
4. Gradually mix in dry ingredients, then fold in chopped pistachios.
5. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

11. Nutella-Stuffed Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup Nutella (or other hazelnut spread)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
4. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
5. Scoop a tablespoon of dough, place a dollop of Nutella in the center, and cover with more dough. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden. Cool on wire racks.

12. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
3. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients.
4. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

13. Almond Biscotti

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup sliced almonds

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, whisk eggs and almond extract. Gradually add to the dry ingredients until combined.
4. Fold in sliced almonds. Shape dough into a log on the baking sheet.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden. Cool, slice into pieces, and bake again for 10 minutes per side until crispy.

Conclusion

These 13 best Christmas cookies are perfect for sharing with loved ones, gifting, or simply enjoying yourself. Each recipe brings a unique flavor and texture, making your holiday cookie tray a delightful showcase of seasonal treats. So, grab your baking supplies, put on your favorite holiday music, and get ready to fill your home with the warmth and sweetness of these festive cookies. Happy baking and happy holidays!