The holiday season brings an abundance of joy, festivity, and—most importantly—delicious treats! One of the most beloved traditions during this time of year is baking a wide variety of cookies, each with its own special flavors and textures. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, these twelve delightful Christmas cookie recipes will make your holiday celebrations extra sweet. From soft, buttery Christmas cookies to indulgent cheesecake-filled delights, this guide has everything you need to create memorable desserts that everyone will love.
1. Best Soft Christmas Cookies
The soft Christmas cookie is a classic holiday favorite, offering a melt-in-your-mouth texture that pairs perfectly with a warm cup of cocoa. This recipe delivers a simple yet irresistible treat with a delicate balance of sweetness and flavor.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup margarine, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. This ensures a light and airy texture for the cookies.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the sugar and margarine with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs, one at a time, and add the vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. This step makes the dough easier to handle.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Roll out the dough on a floured surface, cut into desired shapes, and bake for 6 to 8 minutes until the edges are golden.
These cookies are perfect for decorating and sharing, adding an extra touch of love and cheer to your holiday table.
2. Oreo Cheesecake Cookies
Cheesecake lovers will adore these soft, indulgent cookies. With a creamy texture and the signature crunch of Oreo cookies, they make for a delicious, festive treat.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups chopped Oreo cookies (12–15 cookies)
- ½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Set to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream the Wet Ingredients: Beat butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla extract and eggs, mixing well.
- Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Gently fold in chopped Oreos and white chocolate chips.
- Shape and Bake: Drop dough onto the baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are golden.
These Oreo cheesecake cookies are a rich and satisfying treat, with a creamy center and bits of Oreo in every bite.
3. Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
These cookies truly have it all—sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy ingredients that come together to create a flavor-packed bite. The mix of chocolate chips, pretzels, M&Ms, cranberries, and toffee bits makes each cookie unique.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup crushed pretzels
- 1/2 cup mini M&Ms
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins
- 1/4 cup toffee bits
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Set to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Combine and Fold: Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, pretzels, M&Ms, cranberries, toffee bits, and nuts.
- Shape and Bake: Drop tablespoon-sized portions onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until golden around the edges.
These kitchen sink cookies are perfect for those who can’t decide on just one mix-in—they have it all!
4. Cherry Chocolate Pink Cookies
The combination of maraschino cherries and chocolate chips in these soft, pink-hued cookies gives them a sweet and festive flair. The touch of almond extract adds an unexpected twist.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
- Pink food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt, then gradually mix into the wet ingredients.
- Add Cherries and Chocolate: Fold in chopped cherries and mini chocolate chips. If desired, add pink food coloring.
- Chill the Dough: Chill the dough for 30 minutes to firm it up.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Scoop dough onto a baking sheet, flatten slightly, and bake for 10–12 minutes.
These vibrant, cherry-chocolate cookies will add a touch of color and flavor to your cookie platter.
5. Cake Mix Cookies
For an easy and quick baking option, cake mix cookies are a fun and customizable choice. You can use any flavor of cake mix and add your favorite mix-ins to create unique cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1 box cake mix (any flavor)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup mix-ins (chocolate chips, sprinkles, nuts, or dried fruit)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Set to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix the Ingredients: Combine cake mix, butter, and eggs until a dough forms.
- Add the Mix-ins: Stir in your choice of chocolate chips, sprinkles, nuts, or dried fruit.
- Shape and Bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions and place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes or until golden around the edges.
These cake mix cookies are quick, easy, and perfect for those short on time but still craving something sweet.
6. Candy Cane Cookies
These festive cookies are shaped like candy canes and flavored with peppermint extract. They’re as beautiful as they are delicious.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- Red food coloring
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Set to 375°F (190°C).
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat together butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, vanilla, and peppermint extract.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add flour and salt, and mix until combined.
- Divide and Color the Dough: Separate the dough into two portions. Color one with red food coloring and leave the other plain.
- Shape and Bake: Roll both doughs into ropes, twist them together, and shape into candy canes. Bake for 8–10 minutes.
These cookies are a festive addition to any holiday spread with their candy cane shape and minty flavor.
7. Amaretti Cookies
Amaretti cookies are a chewy, almond-flavored treat that’s perfect for those who love nutty, sweet flavors. These Italian-inspired cookies are light and easy to make.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups almond flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 large egg whites (room temperature)
- ½ tsp almond extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (for rolling)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Set to 330°F (165°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: Combine almond flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Whip the Egg Whites: Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form, then add almond and vanilla extracts.
- Make the Dough: Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the dry ingredients to form a dough.
- Shape and Bake: Roll the dough into balls, coat in confectioners’ sugar, and bake for 20–22 minutes until lightly golden.
These chewy, almond-flavored cookies are an elegant addition to any holiday cookie tray.
8. Christmas Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles
Sugar cookies are a holiday classic, and adding colorful sprinkles makes them even more festive. These cookies are easy to make and perfect for decorating with your favorite sprinkles.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 cup sprinkles
Instructions:
- Prepare the Dough: Beat together butter, oil, granulated sugar, and powdered sugar until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar, then gradually add to the wet mixture.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Shape and Bake: Roll dough into balls, coat with sprinkles, and bake for 8–10 minutes.
These festive sugar cookies with sprinkles are sure to bring smiles to everyone at your holiday gathering.
With these twelve amazing recipes, your holiday season will be filled with sweet flavors and delightful treats that everyone will love. So gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready for a festive baking spree that will fill your home with the warmest aromas and the most delicious cookies!