13 Holiday Cookies That Stay Tender for Days After Baking

Holiday baking gets easier when the cookies you make today still taste good days later. These recipes lean into ingredients and textures that hold moisture, keep their bite, and stay pleasant long after cooling. Each one brings familiar flavors, dependable softness, and a reason not to rush through your baking list. This is the kind of cookie tray that still feels worth it a few days in.

Walnut And Chocolate Cookies

Walnut And Chocolate Cookies are airy yet chewy cookies that stay soft thanks to their flourless structure. The recipe takes about 25 minutes and uses walnuts, cocoa powder, egg whites, and sugar. The taste is deeply chocolate-forward with a mild nuttiness from the walnuts. The cookies remain pliable instead of crisp as they rest.
Get the Recipe: Walnut And Chocolate Cookies

Christmas Date Cookies

Christmas Date Cookies are soft, old-fashioned cookies with a dense, moist crumb that improves after resting. The recipe takes roughly 40 minutes and features chopped dates, flour, butter, and warming spices. The flavor is mellow, lightly sweet, and deeply comforting without being heavy. Each cookie stays pliable and easy to bite for several days.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Date Cookies

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies are chewy, bakery-style cookies with a soft interior that holds well after baking. They take about 30 minutes to make and rely on pistachios, dried cranberries, butter, and flour for structure and moisture. The taste is lightly sweet with a mix of tart fruit and nutty richness. The texture remains tender instead of stiff as they sit.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Cranberry Cookies

Orange And Date Gluten Free Hamantaschen Cookies

Orange And Date Gluten Free Hamantaschen Cookies are soft, filled cookies with a tender dough and a naturally sweet center that keeps them pleasant for days. The recipe takes about 45 minutes and uses almond flour, dates, orange zest, and warm spices. The flavor is gently citrusy with deep fruit sweetness and a mild nutty base. Each bite stays moist and balanced rather than dry or crumbly.
Get the Recipe: Orange And Date Gluten Free Hamantaschen Cookies

White Chocolate Chip Cookies

White Chocolate Chip Cookies are tender cookies with a soft center and gentle sweetness that does not dry out quickly. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and use butter, white chocolate chips, flour, and sugar. The flavor leans creamy and mild with a smooth finish rather than sharp sweetness. The texture stays soft even after cooling and storage.
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 are dense, softly spiced cookies with a chewy middle that holds moisture. They take about 45 minutes and include oats, honey, raisins, ginger, cinnamon, and flour. The flavor is warm, lightly sweet, and grounded in spice rather than sugar. The interior stays tender while the outside softens over time.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Gingerbread Granola Cookies, Or My Take On Russian Pryaniki

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies are classic soft cookies with a dense crumb that holds moisture well. They take about 30 minutes and are made with peanut butter, sugar, eggs, and baking soda. The flavor is nutty, lightly sweet, and familiar without being overwhelming. The cookies stay chewy rather than dry over several days.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies are plush cookies with a soft crumb that holds moisture for days. They take about 30 minutes and use instant pudding mix, chocolate chips, butter, and flour. The flavor is classic chocolate chip with a slightly creamy finish. The texture stays tender rather than crumbly after cooling.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Chocolate Christmas Cookies are soft chocolate cookies with a coated exterior that helps lock in moisture. They take about 40 minutes and include cocoa powder, flour, butter, and white chocolate coating. The flavor is rich and chocolate-forward without tasting dry. The cookies keep a pleasant softness even after a few days.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Christmas Cookies

Hershey Kiss Cookie

Hershey Kiss Cookie is a soft peanut butter cookie topped with a chocolate center that keeps its tenderness. The recipe takes just under an hour and uses peanut butter, sugar, eggs, and chocolate kisses. The flavor blends nutty sweetness with a creamy chocolate finish. The cookie base stays soft even after storage.
Get the Recipe: Hershey Kiss Cookie

Sugar-Free Nutella Cookies

Sugar-Free Nutella Cookies are rich, soft cookies with a smooth bite that does not firm up quickly. They take about 10 minutes and rely on sugar-free Nutella, eggs, and almond flour. The flavor is chocolate-forward with a light hazelnut note. The texture stays tender and slightly fudgy even after cooling.
Get the Recipe: Sugar-Free Nutella Cookies

Rocky Road Cookies

Rocky Road Cookies are thick, chewy cookies packed with mix-ins that help them stay moist. They take about 35 minutes and include cocoa powder, marshmallows, walnuts, and chocolate. The flavor is rich and chocolate-heavy with varied texture throughout. The cookies remain soft thanks to the dense dough and fillings.
Get the Recipe: Rocky Road Cookies

3-Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies

3-Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies are soft, hearty cookies with a naturally moist texture. They take about 20 minutes and use ripe bananas, rolled oats, and chocolate chips. The flavor is gently sweet with a mild banana base and pockets of chocolate. The cookies remain tender and easy to bite after sitting.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies