25 Christmas Cookie Recipes Everyone Reaches for First

Christmas cookie trays tend to favor familiar flavors, balanced sweetness, and textures people recognize right away. These 25 cookie recipes focus on dependable ingredients and approachable flavors that work well for sharing. Each one fits comfortably into holiday baking schedules without feeling excessive. Together, they create a spread people naturally reach for first.

Pumpkin Macarons

Pumpkin Macarons are delicate sandwich cookies made with almond flour, egg whites, pumpkin puree, and warm spices. This recipe takes about 90 minutes including baking and cooling time. The main ingredients create light shells with a smooth, creamy filling. The taste is mildly sweet with gentle pumpkin spice flavor.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Macarons

Christmas Cake Pops

Christmas Cake Pops turn classic cake and frosting into bite-size treats coated in smooth chocolate and finished with festive sprinkles. They take about 90 minutes to prepare and use baked cake crumbs, buttercream, and candy coating. The texture is soft and rich with a sweet chocolate shell that cracks gently with each bite. These disappear quickly on dessert tables because they are easy to grab and even easier to eat.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Cake Pops

Strawberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Strawberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies combine buttery almond dough with a bright jam center that stands out on any cookie tray. They come together in about 45 minutes using almond flour, strawberry jam, butter, and sugar. The cookies are tender with lightly crisp edges and a sweet, fruity finish. Their familiar look and balanced flavor make them one of the first cookies people reach for.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Tiramisu Cookies

Tiramisu Cookies bring espresso, cocoa, and creamy sweetness into a soft, bakery-style cookie. They take about 1 hour to make and feature coffee-flavored dough, mascarpone elements, and a cocoa dusting. The flavor is rich with a gentle bitterness that keeps each bite balanced. These stand out immediately among classic cookies and tend to vanish fast.
Get the Recipe: Tiramisu Cookies

Pistachio Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pistachio Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies mix nutty pistachio flavor with melted chocolate chips in a soft, chewy cookie. They take about 40 minutes to make using pistachio cream, flour, butter, and chocolate chips. The taste is rich, slightly sweet, and layered with toasted nut notes. Their unique color and flavor make them an easy favorite on crowded cookie platters.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prune Vegan Hamantaschen

Prune Vegan Hamantaschen are soft triangular cookies filled with sweet prune spread and made without dairy or eggs. This recipe takes about 60 minutes from dough to baked cookies. The main ingredients include flour, prunes, oil, and sugar. The taste is lightly sweet with a rich fruit filling.
Get the Recipe: Prune Vegan Hamantaschen

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies combine chopped pistachios, dried cranberries, butter, flour, and sugar. This recipe takes about 35 minutes from mixing to baking. The main ingredients bring nutty crunch and mild tartness. The taste is balanced and gently sweet without feeling heavy.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Cranberry Cookies

Orange And Date Gluten Free Hamantaschen Cookies

Orange And Date Gluten Free Hamantaschen Cookies pair citrus zest with date filling in a gluten-free dough. This recipe takes about 60 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include gluten-free flour, dates, and orange zest. The taste is soft, lightly sweet, and fruit-forward.
Get the Recipe: Orange And Date Gluten Free Hamantaschen Cookies

Almond Tuile Cookies

Almond Tuile Cookies are thin, crisp cookies made with sliced almonds, egg whites, sugar, and butter. This recipe takes about 30 minutes including baking time. The main ingredients create a delicate crunch and light sweetness. The taste is mild, nutty, and clean.
Get the Recipe: Almond Tuile Cookies

Pumpkin and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin and White Chocolate Chip Cookies combine pumpkin puree, white chocolate chips, flour, and spices. This recipe takes about 40 minutes from start to finish. The main ingredients create soft texture with gentle sweetness. The taste is warm, lightly spiced, and balanced.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Passover Matzo Crack Aka Chocolate Matzo Toffee

Passover Matzo Crack Aka Chocolate Matzo Toffee layers matzo, caramelized sugar, butter, and chocolate. This recipe takes about 30 minutes plus cooling time. The main ingredients create crisp texture with rich chocolate flavor. The taste is sweet, slightly salty, and easy to break into pieces.
Get the Recipe: Passover Matzo Crack Aka Chocolate Matzo Toffee

Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies use butter, flour, sugar, and jam for a classic holiday cookie. This recipe takes about 45 minutes including baking time. The main ingredients create a tender, crumbly texture. The taste is lightly sweet with a fruit-filled center.
Get the Recipe: Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

Gluten Free Hershey Chocolate Kiss Cookies

Gluten Free Hershey Chocolate Kiss Cookies combine gluten-free flour, cocoa, sugar, and chocolate kisses. This recipe takes about 40 minutes from mixing to baking. The main ingredients create soft cookies with a chocolate finish. The taste is mildly sweet and familiar.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Hershey Chocolate Kiss Cookies

Peppermint Blossom Cookies

Peppermint Blossom Cookies feature chocolate dough topped with peppermint candy kisses. This recipe takes about 45 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include cocoa, flour, sugar, and peppermint candy. The taste is lightly sweet with cool mint notes.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Blossom Cookies

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Peppermint Kisses

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Peppermint Kisses combine cocoa-based dough and peppermint candies. This recipe takes about 45 minutes from start to finish. The main ingredients create soft cookies with a mint center. The taste is balanced with chocolate and gentle peppermint flavor.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Peppermint Kisses

Rose Pistachio Hamantaschen

Rose Pistachio Hamantaschen use floral rose water, pistachios, and a tender cookie dough. This recipe takes about 60 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients create a fragrant, nut-filled center. The taste is lightly sweet with subtle floral notes.
Get the Recipe: Rose Pistachio Hamantaschen

Walnut And Chocolate Cookies

Walnut And Chocolate Cookies combine ground walnuts, cocoa, sugar, and eggs in a gluten-free dough. This recipe takes about 35 minutes to bake. The main ingredients create a dense, soft texture. The taste is nutty with restrained chocolate sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Walnut And Chocolate Cookies

Christmas Date Cookies

Christmas Date Cookies feature chopped dates, butter, flour, and sugar in a soft cookie base. This recipe takes about 45 minutes from mixing to baking. The main ingredients provide natural sweetness from dates. The taste is mild, comforting, and familiar.
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3 Ingredient Christmas Cookie Recipe

3 Ingredient Christmas Cookie Recipe uses simple pantry staples like nut butter, sugar, and egg. This recipe takes about 20 minutes from start to finish. The main ingredients create soft, simple cookies. The taste is lightly sweet and straightforward.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Christmas Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Gluten-Free Rugelach

Chocolate Gluten-Free Rugelach features gluten-free dough rolled with chocolate filling. This recipe takes about 60 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients create flaky layers with rich filling. The taste is balanced, chocolate-forward, and not overly sweet.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Gluten-Free Rugelach

White Chocolate Chip Cookies

White Chocolate Chip Cookies combine flour, butter, sugar, and white chocolate chips. This recipe takes about 35 minutes from mixing to baking. The main ingredients create soft centers with light sweetness. The taste is creamy and mild.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Spicy Gingerbread Granola Cookies, Or My Take On Russian Pryaniki

Spicy Gingerbread Granola Cookies, Or My Take On Russian Pryaniki blend oats, spices, honey, and flour. This recipe takes about 45 minutes to bake and cool. The main ingredients create hearty texture with warm spice. The taste is gently sweet with balanced gingerbread notes.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Gingerbread Granola Cookies, Or My Take On Russian Pryaniki

Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies combine butter, flour, lemon zest, and fresh rosemary. This recipe takes about 40 minutes from start to finish. The main ingredients create a crumbly texture with herbal aroma. The taste is lightly sweet with fresh citrus notes.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Argentinian Alfajores Recipe

Argentinian Alfajores Recipe features soft sandwich cookies filled with dulce de leche. This recipe takes about 60 minutes to prepare and assemble. The main ingredients include cornstarch, butter, and caramel filling. The taste is tender, mildly sweet, and comforting.
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Candy Cane Sugar Cookies

Candy Cane Sugar Cookies combine classic sugar cookie dough with crushed candy canes. This recipe takes about 45 minutes including baking time. The main ingredients create crisp edges with soft centers. The taste is lightly sweet with gentle peppermint flavor.
Get the Recipe: Candy Cane Sugar Cookies