Christmas is the time when kitchens smell of sugar, spice, and butter. Cookies aren’t just a sweet treat—they’re part of the tradition. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or a cookie swap, these recipes will help you spread joy one bite at a time.
1. Classic Gingerbread Men
Spiced cookies with a festive shape that never goes out of style.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup butter
Process:
- Beat butter, sugar, and molasses.
- Mix in egg and dry spices.
- Chill, roll, cut into shapes, and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
Make it Unique:
- Add orange zest to the dough.
- Decorate with colored royal icing.
2. Peppermint Chocolate Crinkles
Soft, fudgy centers meet a cool peppermint crunch.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup oil
- 4 eggs
- 2 tsp peppermint extract
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- Powdered sugar
Process:
- Mix cocoa, sugar, oil, and eggs.
- Stir in peppermint and dry ingredients.
- Chill dough, roll in powdered sugar, bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
Make it Unique:
- Roll in powdered sugar mixed with crushed candy cane.
- Add chocolate chips for extra richness.
3. Almond Snowball Cookies
Buttery, nutty, and melt-in-your-mouth.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup finely ground almonds
- Extra powdered sugar for rolling
Process:
- Cream butter and sugar.
- Mix in vanilla, flour, and almonds.
- Shape into balls, bake at 325°F for 12 minutes, roll in sugar.
Make it Unique:
- Swap almonds for pecans or walnuts.
- Add a dusting of cinnamon to the sugar.
4. Jam Thumbprints
Sweet, buttery cookies with jewel-like jam centers.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 cups flour
- Raspberry jam
Process:
- Cream butter and sugar, add yolks.
- Mix in flour, shape balls.
- Press center, fill with jam, bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.
Make it Unique:
- Use apricot or strawberry jam.
- Drizzle with white chocolate.
5. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
A sweet-tart balance that tastes like Christmas.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
Process:
- Cream butter and sugars.
- Mix in eggs and vanilla.
- Fold in flour, cranberries, and chocolate.
- Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
Make it Unique:
- Add chopped pistachios for crunch.
- Swap cranberries for cherries.
6. Candy Cane Shortbread
Buttery crunch with a minty sparkle.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- ½ tsp vanilla
- White chocolate for dipping
- Crushed candy canes
Process:
- Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla.
- Add flour, form dough, chill.
- Shape, bake at 325°F for 12 minutes.
- Dip in white chocolate, sprinkle candy cane.
Make it Unique:
- Use dark chocolate instead of white.
- Add peppermint extract to dough.
7. Eggnog Snickerdoodles
Classic holiday drink turned into a cookie.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup eggnog
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- Nutmeg and cinnamon sugar mix
Process:
- Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and eggnog.
- Stir in flour and baking soda.
- Roll in nutmeg-cinnamon mix.
- Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
Make it Unique:
- Add rum extract for a holiday punch.
- Drizzle with eggnog glaze.
8. Chocolate-Dipped Biscotti
Crunchy cookies perfect for dunking.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup almonds
- Dark chocolate for dipping
Process:
- Mix dry ingredients with eggs and vanilla.
- Shape into logs, bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
- Slice, bake again for 10 minutes.
- Dip in chocolate, add toppings.
Make it Unique:
- Add cranberries or orange zest.
- Use white chocolate for coating.
9. Stained Glass Cookies
Beautiful cookies that double as edible ornaments.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Crushed hard candies
Process:
- Cream butter and sugar, add egg and vanilla.
- Mix in flour, roll dough, cut shapes.
- Cut centers, fill with candy pieces, bake at 350°F for 8 minutes.
Make it Unique:
- Use multi-colored candies for a festive look.
- Thread ribbon through to hang on the tree.
10. Linzer Cookies
Elegant and sweet with a nutty base.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup ground almonds
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Raspberry jam
- Powdered sugar
Process:
- Cream butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
- Add flour and almonds.
- Roll, cut cookies, bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
- Sandwich with jam, dust with sugar.
Make it Unique:
- Use apricot jam instead of raspberry.
- Cut festive shapes like stars or snowflakes.
11. Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies
Hearty, chewy cookies with warm holiday spices.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups oats
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 cup raisins
Process:
- Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla.
- Stir in dry ingredients.
- Fold in oats and raisins.
- Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.
Make it Unique:
- Swap raisins for dried cranberries.
- Add white chocolate chips.
12. Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies
Cookies topped with the holiday’s favorite candy bark.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp vanilla
- Dark chocolate chips
- White chocolate chips
- Crushed peppermint
Process:
- Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
- Stir in flour, cocoa, and baking soda.
- Bake cookies at 350°F for 10 minutes.
- Top with melted chocolates and peppermint.
Make it Unique:
- Add caramel drizzle on top.
- Mix crushed peppermint into the dough.
Wrap-Up
Cookies are more than dessert—they’re memories baked into every bite. Whether you prefer the crunch of biscotti, the sparkle of stained glass, or the comfort of oatmeal spice, these recipes bring the holiday spirit straight to the kitchen. Try one, or bake a platter of all twelve, and let the season taste as sweet as it feels.
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