25 Christmas Cookies That Bring Bring Families Together During the Holidays

Christmas cookies are often less about perfection and more about the time spent around the kitchen table. These recipes lean into familiar flavors, simple ingredients, and dependable results that invite people to slow down and bake together. Each cookie feels approachable, comforting, and worth making part of a yearly tradition. The focus stays on connection, shared plates, and the small rituals that define the season.

Christmas Date Cookies

Christmas Date Cookies are soft filled cookies with a tender outer layer and a dense date center. They take about 45 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include dates, flour, butter, and sugar. The taste is gently sweet and comforting with a chewy texture that feels familiar and steady.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Date Cookies

Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies are firm, sliceable cookies with a buttery crumb. They take about 40 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include butter, flour, sugar, lemon zest, and rosemary. The flavor is lightly sweet with gentle citrus and herbal notes.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

White Chocolate Chip Cookies

White Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft cookies dotted with creamy white chocolate pieces. They take about 30 minutes from mixing to baking. The main ingredients include butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and white chocolate chips. The taste is sweet and smooth with a tender, familiar bite.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gluten Free Hershey Chocolate Kiss Cookies

Gluten Free Hershey Chocolate Kiss Cookies are soft cookies topped with a peppermint chocolate center. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include gluten-free flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and peppermint Hershey Kisses. The flavor blends sweet vanilla cookie dough with cool mint chocolate.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Hershey Chocolate Kiss Cookies

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies are sturdy, bakery-style cookies filled with chopped pistachios and dried cranberries. They take about 35 minutes to make from mixing through baking. The main ingredients include butter, flour, pistachios, cranberries, and sugar. The flavor is nutty and lightly sweet with tart bites that balance each chewy mouthful.
Get the Recipe: Pistachio Cranberry Cookies

Spicy Gingerbread Granola Cookies, Or My Take On Russian Pryaniki

Spicy Gingerbread Granola Cookies are hearty cookies with crisp edges and a chewy center. They take about 40 minutes to prepare and bake. Key ingredients include oats, raisins, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and warm spices. The flavor is spiced and lightly sweet with a filling texture that lingers.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Gingerbread Granola Cookies, Or My Take On Russian Pryaniki

Almond Tuile Cookies

Almond Tuile Cookies are thin, lightly crisp cookies with a delicate chew. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include almond flour, egg whites, sugar, orange zest, and vanilla. The flavor is nutty and lightly sweet with a subtle citrus finish.
Get the Recipe: Almond Tuile Cookies

No Spread Sugar Cookies

No Spread Sugar Cookies are firm cut-out cookies that hold clean edges. They take about 45 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include butter, flour, sugar, and eggs. The flavor is lightly sweet and buttery with a crisp structure.
Get the Recipe: No Spread Sugar Cookies

Spiced Christmas Tree Cookies

Spiced Christmas Tree Cookies are cut-out cookies flavored with warm holiday spices. They take about 45 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include flour, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and ginger. The taste is lightly sweet with gentle spice throughout.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Christmas Tree Cookies

Christmas Refrigerator Cookies

Christmas Refrigerator Cookies are chilled dough cookies baked until crisp outside and soft inside. They take about 35 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include butter, flour, sugar, and eggs. The flavor is classic, lightly sweet, and dependable.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Refrigerator Cookies

M&M Christmas Cookies

M&M Christmas Cookies are thick, soft cookies filled with colorful chocolate candies. They take about 30 minutes to make from start to finish. The main ingredients include butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and M&Ms. The flavor is sweet and chocolate-forward with a soft center.
Get the Recipe: M&M Christmas Cookies

Easy Gingerbread Cookies

Easy Gingerbread Cookies are classic spiced cookies with crisp edges and soft middles. They take about 35 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include molasses, flour, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. The flavor is warm and familiar with a gentle sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Easy Gingerbread Cookies

Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies are soft cookies flavored with crushed candy canes. They take about 35 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include flour, butter, sugar, and peppermint candy. The taste is sweet with a clear peppermint finish.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies are soft chocolate cookies topped with a chocolate kiss. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include cocoa powder, flour, sugar, eggs, and chocolate candies. The taste is deeply chocolatey with a soft, chewy bite.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Iced Molasses Cookies

Iced Molasses Cookies are thick, chewy cookies topped with a simple icing. They take about 40 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include molasses, flour, sugar, and warm spices. The flavor is rich, spiced, and softly sweet.
Get the Recipe: Iced Molasses Cookies

Nutter Butter Snowman Cookies

Nutter Butter Snowman Cookies are no-bake cookies decorated into snowman shapes. They take about 30 minutes to assemble and set. The main ingredients include Nutter Butter cookies, melted chocolate, and candy decorations. The flavor is sweet and peanut buttery with a crunchy base.
Get the Recipe: Nutter Butter Snowman Cookies

Ann’s Snickerdoodle Recipe

Ann’s Snickerdoodle Recipe produces soft cookies coated in cinnamon sugar. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon. The taste is sweet and warm with a soft center and lightly crisp edges.
Get the Recipe: Ann’s Snickerdoodle Recipe

Cornflake Wreath Cookies

Cornflake Wreath Cookies are no-bake treats shaped into festive rings. They take about 25 minutes to prepare and set. The main ingredients include cornflakes, marshmallows, butter, and red candy decorations. The flavor is sweet and crunchy with a soft, sticky base.
Get the Recipe: Cornflake Wreath Cookies

Almond Crescent Cookies

Almond Crescent Cookies are crumbly, buttery cookies coated in powdered sugar. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include butter, flour, ground almonds, and sugar. The flavor is rich and nutty with a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Get the Recipe: Almond Crescent Cookies

Grinch Cake Mix Cookies

Grinch Cake Mix Cookies are soft cookies made with cake mix and eggs. They take about 25 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include cake mix, eggs, oil, and food coloring. The flavor is sweet and mild with a tender, cake-like texture.
Get the Recipe: Grinch Cake Mix Cookies

Christmas Icebox Cookies

Christmas Icebox Cookies are slice-and-bake cookies with a firm dough. They take about 45 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include butter, flour, sugar, and sprinkles. The flavor is lightly sweet and buttery with clean, crisp edges.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Icebox Cookies

Christmas Butter Cookies: Southern Holiday Funfetti Bites

Christmas Butter Cookies: Southern Holiday Funfetti Bites are firm butter cookies cut into small festive pieces. They take about 40 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include butter, flour, sugar, and sprinkles. The taste is lightly sweet and buttery with a clean finish.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Butter Cookies: Southern Holiday Funfetti Bites

Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies are rich shortbread-style cookies with a caramel center. They take about 40 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include chocolate dough, butter, sugar, and caramel sauce. The flavor balances deep chocolate with sweet, slightly salty caramel.
Get the Recipe: Caramel Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Butter Pecan Meltaways

Butter Pecan Meltaways are tender cookies that crumble easily when bitten. They take about 30 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include butter, flour, powdered sugar, and toasted pecans. The taste is rich, nutty, and gently sweet.
Get the Recipe: Butter Pecan Meltaways

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are soft, fudgy cookies with a powdered sugar coating. They take about 35 minutes to prepare and bake. The main ingredients include cocoa powder, flour, sugar, eggs, and food coloring. The flavor is lightly chocolatey with a soft, rich texture.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies