10 Christmas Cookies Everyone Is Baking This Holiday Season

Christmas isn’t complete without the smell of warm cookies filling the house. Whether you’re baking for family, gifting friends, or creating a Pinterest-perfect dessert table, these 10 Christmas cookies are guaranteed to be show-stoppers.

Below are simple, reliable recipes and step-by-step instructions for each cookie.

1. Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Warm spices + iconic gingerbread shapes.

Ingredients:
Flour, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, sugar, egg.

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter and sugar.

  2. Add egg + molasses.

  3. Mix dry ingredients and add in.

  4. Chill dough 1 hour.

  5. Roll out, cut shapes, bake 10 minutes at 175°C (350°F).

  6. Cool and decorate with icing.

2. Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Festive cracks + a hint of peppermint.

Instructions:

  1. Whisk cocoa powder, sugar, and oil.

  2. Add eggs one at a time.

  3. Add flour + baking powder.

  4. Chill 3 hours.

  5. Roll balls in powdered sugar.

  6. Bake at 165°C (325°F) for 12 minutes.

  7. Sprinkle crushed candy cane on top.

3. Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing

Perfect for decorating days with kids.

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter + sugar.

  2. Add egg + vanilla.

  3. Mix in flour and chill dough.

  4. Roll out and cut shapes.

  5. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 10 minutes.

  6. Decorate with royal icing.

4. Snickerdoodle Cookies

Soft inside, cinnamon-sugar outside.

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter + sugar.

  2. Add eggs + vanilla.

  3. Mix flour, cream of tartar, baking soda.

  4. Roll dough balls in cinnamon sugar.

  5. Bake at 190°C (375°F) for 8–10 minutes.

5. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

 

Red cranberries look so festive.

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter + sugar.

  2. Add egg + vanilla.

  3. Mix in flour, baking soda, cranberries, and white chocolate.

  4. Drop spoonfuls on tray.

  5. Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 12 minutes.

6. Hot Cocoa Cookies

Tastes like a mug of hot chocolate.

Instructions:

  1. Make chocolate cookie dough.

  2. Stir in chocolate chips + marshmallows.

  3. Bake 10 minutes at 180°C (350°F).

  4. Add extra marshmallows on top while warm.

7. Linzer Raspberry Cookies

Beautiful cut-out centers with red filling.

Instructions:

  1. Make buttery almond dough.

  2. Chill and roll out.

  3. Cut top cookies with a small center hole.

  4. Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 12 minutes.

  5. Spread raspberry jam on the bottom cookie.

  6. Dust tops with sugar and assemble.

8. Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Cookies

Traditional, chewy, and warming.

Instructions:

  1. Cream butter + sugar.

  2. Add egg + vanilla.

  3. Add oats, flour, raisins, cinnamon.

  4. Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 10–12 minutes.

9. White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies

Cookie + peppermint bark mixed together.

Instructions:

  1. Make vanilla cookie dough.

  2. Fold in crushed candy canes + white chocolate.

  3. Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 10–12 minutes.

  4. Drizzle with melted white chocolate.

10. Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies

Sweet caramel + a touch of sea salt.

Instructions:

  1. Make shortbread-style dough.

  2. Roll into balls and press the center.

  3. Bake at 175°C (350°F) for 12 minutes.

  4. Fill centers with caramel.

  5. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of sea salt.