Get ready to infuse your home with the enchanting aroma of freshly baked goods this holiday season! We’ve meticulously gathered a delightful collection of 22 Christmas cookie recipes, alongside a few extra festive treats, all designed to make your holiday baking effortless and incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, these carefully curated recipes promise to bring joy and deliciousness to your celebrations. Dive in and discover new family favorites that will make your festive season truly special!
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The holiday season is truly upon us, and with it comes the delightful tradition of baking! Following the success of our 17 days of holiday cookie recipes from 2019’s top food bloggers, we’re thrilled to present an even grander selection this year. Our goal remains the same: to make your holiday preparations as joyous and stress-free as possible, ensuring you have the perfect treats for every occasion.
This exquisite collection of cookies and festive treats is ideal for filling beautiful Christmas cookie gift boxes, sending heartfelt gifts to loved ones across the country (especially if you can’t gather in person this year), or simply indulging at home with family. Each recipe has been chosen for its unique flavor, festive appeal, and relative ease of preparation, representing the very best of 2020’s holiday baking trends. We invite you to explore these recipes, find your new holiday favorites, and share your thoughts in the comments below!
The Ultimate Holiday Cookie Collection: Must-Try Recipes This Year!
1. Irresistibly Chewy Hazelnut Brownie Cookies
For every chocolate aficionado and Nutella enthusiast, these hazelnut brownie cookies are an absolute dream come true. Boasting a rich, fudgy texture and bursting with decadent chocolate and nutty hazelnut flavor, they are surprisingly easy to whip up in less than 30 minutes. Their elegant appearance and incredible taste will instantly elevate any Christmas cookie box, making them a standout treat.
2. Delightful Small Batch Snickerdoodle Cookies
Understanding that holiday gatherings might be a bit different this year, you might not need an enormous batch of cookies. That’s where our small-batch snickerdoodle recipe shines! You can still enjoy the comforting, classic flavor of soft, chewy snickerdoodle cookies this holiday season, scaled perfectly for smaller celebrations. This amazingly easy recipe delivers all the cinnamon-sugar goodness without excess.
3. Effortless Fudgy Chocolate Cake Mix Crinkle Cookies
Continuing our theme of simple yet sensational holiday cookie recipes, we introduce these kid-friendly chocolate cake mix crinkle cookies. They were an absolute hit in our Christmas cookie gift boxes last year, and you’ll be amazed at how many people gravitated towards their fudgy texture and festive crinkled appearance. A truly stress-free way to enjoy a rich chocolate treat.
4.Festive Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Cranberry oatmeal cookies hold a special place as a beloved holiday staple in our home. We start baking them right from Thanksgiving and continue through Christmas, thanks to their wonderfully festive appearance, delightful flavor, and straightforward preparation. The tart cranberries perfectly complement the wholesome oats, creating a comforting and incredibly delicious cookie.
5. The Best Soft and Chewy Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
While holiday baking often calls for classics, we love to add a playful twist! These soft and chewy pretzel chocolate chip cookies offer the ultimate sweet and salty combination that will undoubtedly delight your family and friends. The unexpected crunch of pretzels nestled amongst gooey chocolate chips makes for an unforgettable texture and flavor experience.
6. The Ultimate Soft Sugar Cookies
Another holiday essential, but this version of soft sugar cookies is simply superior. They boast a secret ingredient that makes them incredibly tender, literally melting in your mouth with every bite. This versatile recipe is perfect for decorating with festive frosting or colored sugars, allowing you to personalize them for a truly stunning Christmas presentation.
7. Dazzling Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Slice and Bake Cookies
If you’re a devoted peppermint lover, these cookies are tailor-made for you. These chocolate peppermint slice and bake cookies are not only incredibly easy to prepare but also stunningly beautiful. Each bite delivers a burst of festive flavor, combining rich chocolate with invigorating peppermint crunch – a truly amazing taste of the holidays!
8. World’s Best Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies
For those who adore sugar cookies but crave an elevated experience, these brown butter brown sugar cookies are an absolute revelation. Infused with rich toffee-caramel notes, they offer a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is simply irresistible. We have a feeling these intensely flavorful and chewy cookies will become a much-requested treat throughout the holiday season.
9. Mastering Meringue Cookies for the Holidays
While traditional flour and butter cookies are delightful, sometimes a lighter, airier treat is just what you need. This comprehensive guide will teach you exactly how to create perfect meringue cookies—delicate, crispy, and incredibly elegant. They are ideal for adding a touch of sophisticated charm to your holiday cookie box, offering a beautiful contrast to richer bakes.
10. Out-of-This-World Dulce de Leche Stuffed Snickerdoodle Cookies
These dulce de leche stuffed snickerdoodles are hands down one of our all-time favorite cookies. Whether it’s Christmas or any other time of year, we find ourselves making them at least once a month. The warm, comforting snickerdoodle exterior perfectly encases a gooey, sweet dulce de leche center, creating an explosion of flavor that is truly addictive.
12. Elegant Chocolate Walnut Slice and Bake Cookies
Discover the beauty of make-ahead baking with these simple yet sophisticated chocolate walnut slice and bake cookies. Similar to shortbread, they are enriched with crunchy walnuts and warm spices, then dipped in luscious chocolate for a touch of pure indulgence. Prepare the dough in advance and bake fresh whenever you’re ready, offering effortless perfection.
13. Vibrant M&M’s Chocolate Chip Cookies (No Brown Sugar)
No Christmas cookie collection is complete without a cheerful M&M’s cookie recipe! This unique version features no brown sugar, allowing the classic chocolate chip flavor to shine. For an extra festive touch, simply use red, white, and green M&M’s to transform them into holiday masterpieces that kids and adults alike will adore.
14. The Best Gluten-Free & Vegan Tahini Sesame Seed Cookies
This one’s for our gluten-free and vegan friends! Prepare to be amazed by this incredibly delicious tahini sesame seed cookie recipe. It’s wonderfully soft and chewy, boasting a delightful nutty flavor from the tahini. Each cookie is then rolled in sesame seeds, creating a beautiful presentation and adding a fantastic textural contrast that makes them truly exceptional.
15. Decadent Peanut Butter Cookie Cups with Silky Chocolate Frosting
While these peanut butter cookie cups might not fit perfectly into a traditional cookie box, they are absolutely perfect for serving on a festive platter at home. Topped with a luscious, silky chocolate frosting, they offer the ideal bite-sized indulgence—just enough sweetness to satisfy without overdoing it. A sophisticated treat for any holiday gathering.
16. Whimsical Santa Macarons
Though we shared these last year, their artistry and charm are simply too great not to feature again! These cranberry macarons are truly a work of culinary art, combining delicate shells with a festive filling. If you find yourself with a little extra time in the kitchen this holiday season and wish to create something truly spectacular, these are an absolute must-try.
17. Adorable Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
These cookies are the epitome of cute and delicious! Featuring a classic gingerbread cookie base cut into charming Christmas tree shapes and adorned with colorful M&M’s as ornaments, they are truly unparalleled. They’re a joy to make and even more delightful to eat, bringing smiles to everyone who tries them.
18. Luxurious Red Velvet Christmas Cookies
Soft, chewy, and exquisitely beautiful, these red velvet cookies are a holiday showstopper. They are our absolute favorite treat to prepare for Christmas Eve family gatherings. We love to enjoy these vibrant cookies alongside warm cups of hot chocolate, savoring the company of loved ones and the festive atmosphere. Their rich color and delicate flavor make them a true holiday indulgence.
19.Enchanting Raspberry Filled Christmas Tree Cookies
If you, like us, have a weakness for perfectly filled cookies, then these are a must-try! Crafted with tender sugar cookies and generously filled with a vibrant, delicious raspberry jam, they create the most festive cookie imaginable. The sweet-tart burst of raspberry hidden within a soft cookie makes for a truly delightful surprise.
20.Perfectly Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Searching for the quintessential gingerbread cookie recipe? Look no further! This recipe consistently produces the most perfect, adorable gingerbread men (or any festive shape you desire). Decorating them with your family becomes a super fun and cherished holiday activity, resulting in delicious, beautifully adorned cookies that everyone will love.
21.Cozy Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups
This ingenious cookie recipe combines ready-made cookie dough with creamy pudding to create charming hot chocolate cups. It’s absolutely THE recipe to make with kids, who will revel in the joy of creating their very own personalized hot chocolate cookie cups. A fun, interactive, and deliciously unique holiday treat that doubles as a delightful activity.
22. Classic Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
What are the holidays without a truly exceptional thumbprint cookie recipe? Not quite complete, if you ask us! That’s why we’re sharing one of the best thumbprint cookie recipes ever. Featuring a tender, buttery cookie base with a sweet dollop of raspberry jam in the center, these are a timeless classic that brings cheer to any holiday spread.
Beyond the Cookie Jar: More Irresistible Holiday Treats!
Effortless Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
Last year, these simple chocolate-covered marshmallows were an absolute sensation, and for good reason! They perfectly combine a fluffy, soft marshmallow interior with a rich, luscious chocolate coating. This delightful duo creates an irresistible bite that appeals equally to both children and adults, making them a fantastic addition to any holiday treat platter.
Rich & Creamy Keto Peanut Butter Fudge
For those mindful of their diet during the holidays, this small-batch keto peanut butter fudge is an absolute lifesaver. It’s incredibly easy to make at home and can be enjoyed throughout December. This fudge stores beautifully in the freezer, lasting for an extended period. Keep an eye out for this recipe, which will be posting on the blog soon – make sure you’re subscribed to our email list to be notified immediately when it drops!
Simple 2-Ingredient No-Bake Coconut Balls
These coconut balls are a dream come true for any coconut lover. Requiring only two ingredients, they are incredibly easy to prepare and make perfect fillers for holiday cookie boxes. We love making these delightful, chewy treats multiple times a year, storing them in the fridge or freezer for a quick, satisfying snack whenever a craving strikes.
Crunchy Chocolate Covered Nut Balls
These chocolate-covered nut balls are a cherished Algerian holiday treat that holds a special place in our hearts. Loved by everyone who tries them, we’ve brought this tradition here to share. They offer a delightful crunch and rich nutty flavor, enveloped in decadent chocolate, making them a unique and irresistible addition to your holiday spread.
Loved Our Festive Cookie Round-Up? Pin It for Later Inspiration!
We hope you’ve enjoyed exploring this incredible collection of our favorite Christmas cookies and holiday treats. Don’t let these delicious ideas get lost! Make sure to pin this article to your favorite holiday baking board so you can easily revisit these recipes year after year. Happy baking!
