Must-Make Christmas Cookies

Christmas

By Kristen Chidsey

Updated Dec 06, 2025

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Can't decide which Christmas Cookies to bake this year? This collection of Christmas Cookies has a cookie to satisfy every craving! From classic cut-out cookies to festive snowballs to rich and buttery shortbread, you will find a cookie perfect to bake or share with those you love this holiday season.

Must-Make Christmas Cookies

I have gathered my BEST Christmas Cookie recipes that are perfect for holiday cookie trays, cookie exchanges, movie nights, or leaving out for Santa.😉

Iced Sugar Cookies with green and white icing and sprinkles.

1. Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

This is the one Christmas cookie recipe I am always asked for. My recipe for sugar cookies creates a soft, FLAVORFUL cookie that actually holds its shape. Delicious plain or decorated with sugar cookie icing.

Candy Cane cookies hanging on a clear drinking glass.

2. Candy Cane Cookies

Rich and buttery cookie dough is shaped into festive candy canes to create a Christmas cookie that is as delicious to eat as they are fun to make!

A homemade Tagalong Cookie broke open to show butter cracker, peanut butter, and chocolate layer.

3. No-Bake Tagalong Cookies

You can't go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter! And when you only need 3 ingredients and no baking required, you know you need to add this cookie to your Christmas tray!

Cookie being broken open to show filled with chocolate.

4. $250 Neiman Marcus Cookies

If I had to pick a favorite Christmas cookie, this would be it! The 3 types of chocolate, blended oats, and blended nuts give this cookie the most amazing texture and flavor. It will forever be on my holiday baking list!

Baked Shortbread Cookies on wooden Cutting board.

5. Classic Shortbread Cookies

I love making shortbread cookies during the holiday season. They are rich, buttery, and not overly sweet, making these holiday cookies the absolute perfect companion to a mug of hot chocolate, Christmas tea, or peppermint mocha.

Close up of snowball of cookies cut open showing pecans and light interior of cookies.

6. Snowball Cookies

While no one can guarantee a white Christmas, you can enjoy some snow with these easy Christmas Cookies. Snowball Cookies are buttery, sweet, and only require one mixing bowl and a handful of ingredients.

Peanut Butter Hershey Kiss Blossoms stacked up on white plate with more cookies in the background.

7. Peanut Butter Blossoms

This classic is my son's favorite Christmas cookie? Perfect for anyone who loves peanut butter and chocolate.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies AKA Muddy Buddy Cookies: A tender peanut butter cookie is dipped in milk chocolate and then dusted with powdered sugar. 

8. Muddy Buddy Cookies

Enjoy a classic holiday treat in an irresistible cookie form! Soft peanut butter cookies topped with rich melted chocolate and coated in powdered sugar, these Christmas cookies are outrageously delicious.

Stack of snickerdoodle cookies next to glass of milk.

9. Snickerdoodles

Made with warming cinnamon, Snickerdoodles sing with holiday flavor. They are also one of the easier Christmas cookies to make! Perfect for the busy holiday season!

Reindeer Sugar Cookie next to santa mug.

10. Reindeer Cookies

Turn your gingerbread men into Santa's favorite helper, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer. These Christmas cookies are not only delicious but incredibly festive and fun.

Stack of 5 homemade thin mint cookies made with butter round crackers on wooden cutting board with fresh mint leaves to the side.

11. Thin Mint Cookies

These mint-flavored no-bake cookies scream Christmas. And they happen to be one of the easiest Christmas Cookies you will ever make

How to Package Christmas Cookies to Share

You can package your Christmas cookies in bakery boxes, Christmas tins, or cellophane bags to share with coworkers and neighbors. For shipping holiday cookies, take care to package the cookies so they don't break. Wrap different varieties of cookies in plastic wrap or place in storage bags, then carefully and tightly pack the cookies in a sturdy reusable plastic container or holiday tin. Place in a shipping box, filling any empty space with tissue paper or packing peanuts, to prevent tossing about.

More Christmas Treats

While the holidays aren't complete without a cookie tray, you don't want out on these other festive holiday treats. Don't miss my collections of kid-friendly Christmas recipes and easy Christmas treats or browse some favorites below.

I hope these recipes for Christmas Cookies bring some festive cheer to your holidays! xo-Kristen

About Kristen Chidsey

Kristen is a wife, busy mom of two, and creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. From breakfast to dinner to dessert, it is her passion to share tried-and-true recipes that are big on flavor, made with easy-to-find ingredients, and family-approved!

Read More About Me

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4 Comments

  1. Hey kristen.
    Thought i'd tell ya i made your shortbread cookie recipe.came out great!! reminds me of the Lorna Doone cookies i used to buy only making my own is cheaper. Thanks for the recipe.
    Michael.
    PS. Don't ask for a pic. I ate them already..lol. c-ya

    Reply

  2. So glad you included the Neiman Mar cus cookie re cope. My favorite too! I hadn’t thought of it for years. Definitely baking it for the grandchildren this year. Oh who am I kidding? For me too!

    Reply