Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (2024)

by Melissa 12 Comments

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes – These recipes are my most popular Christmas cookies and perfect for gift giving or making holiday memories with your family.

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (1)

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

My sister and I spent a week baking some of my most popular Christmas Cookie recipes to create this epic cookie board. From cookie bars, my most popular Christmas Cookie recipe, to Old-Fashioned Candy Cane Cookies, we couldn’t even fit them all in! Wouldn’t this be fun for a Christmas Cookie exchange or a big Christmas party?

Christmas Cookies

  • Candy Cane Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
  • Peppermint Snowball Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
  • Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
  • Frosted Christmas Thumbprints
  • Christmas Thumbprint Cookies
  • Grinch Cookies

Most Popular Christmas Cookie Recipe

Last year, Pinterest released a list of the most popular Christmas recipes on their platform and my were the most popular Christmas Cookie on Pinterest. You can see the original viral pin here. It has lots of great comments and pictures!

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (2)

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (3)

Print

M&M Christmas Cookie Bars

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

50 mins

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Christmas Cookie Bars, Cookie Bars, M&M Cookie Bars

Servings: 24 -36 depending on size cut

Calories: 324 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2stickssalted butterat room temperature
  • 1cupgranulated sugar
  • 1cupgolden brown sugarfirmly packed
  • 3largeeggsat room temperature
  • 1 1/2teaspoonspure vanilla extract
  • 3cupsall-purpose flour
  • 3/4teaspoonbaking soda
  • 3/4teaspoonsalt
  • 1 1/2cupsChristmas M&M'splus more for topping
  • 1cupmini chocolate chipsplus more for topping
  • 1/2cupwhite chocolate chipsfor topping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Line a 9×13 aluminum pan with foil. Leave some overhang to make removal easier.

  3. Spray foil generously with nonstick cooking spray.

  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until fluffy.

  5. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat.

  6. Lower speed of mixer and add flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.

  7. Add M&M’s and mini chocolate chips and give a final stir, reserving some M&M’s, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for topping cookie bars.

  8. Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish.

  9. Press additional M&M’S, mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips into top of cookie dough.

  10. Bake 35 minutes on middle rack of oven, or until cookie bars are light golden brown and just set. Do not over bake. Cookie bars will continue to bake as they cool.

  11. Let cool completely and cut. Store tightly covered.

Nutrition Facts

M&M Christmas Cookie Bars

Amount Per Serving

Calories 324Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 47mg16%

Sodium 203mg9%

Potassium 51mg1%

Carbohydrates 46g15%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 32g36%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 316IU6%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 47mg5%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

My Favorite Christmas Cookie

I just love these Old-Fashioned Candy Cane Cookies. They look so festive and are fun to make. For our cookie board, I shaped some of them into a wreath shape and they came out so cute!

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (4)

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Prep Time

1 hr 30 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Old-fashioned peppermint Candy Cane Cookies.

Course:Cookies

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Candy Cane Cookies, Christmas Cookies

Servings: 20 cookies

Calories: 120 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2sticks of butterat room temperature
  • 1cuppowdered sugar
  • 1large egg
  • 1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
  • 1teaspoonpure peppermint extract
  • 3cupsall-purpose flour
  • 1/2teaspoonsalt
  • 3/4teaspoonof red food coloring
  • For the glaze
  • 1cuppowdered sugar
  • 1/8teaspoonpeppermint extract
  • 1-2tablespoonsmilk

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and powdered sugar until fluffy.

  2. Add egg, vanilla and peppermint extract, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

  3. Reduce mixer speed and add flour and salt, mixing until well combined.

  4. Divide dough in half.

  5. In the bowl of the stand mixer, combine 1/2 the cookie dough with red food coloring.

  6. Shape cookie dough into disc and cover tightly with plastic wrap.

  7. Refrigerate one hour or up to overnight.

  8. Once dough has chilled, preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  9. Measure one tablespoon of each color dough and gently roll into 6 inch long log shapes.

  10. Twist cookie dough together and transfer to parchment paper or silpat lined baking sheet.

  11. Chill shaped cookie dough for 15 minutes before baking.

  12. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until bottoms of cookies are a very light golden brown.

  13. While the cookies are baking, prepare peppermint glaze. Spoon over cookies after they have cooled slightly.

Nutrition Facts

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 120Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 8mg3%

Sodium 63mg3%

Potassium 23mg1%

Carbohydrates 26g9%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 12g13%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 12IU0%

Calcium 5mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Fast Christmas Cookies

These Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars are a favorite time saver and totally addictive! The sugar cookie bars are based off of my popular M&M’S Cookie Bars, and I topped them with a homemade buttercream frosting. Add Christmas sprinkles and you have the best sugar cookie bars!

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (6)

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (7)

Print

Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

50 mins

Course:Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Christmas, Cookie Bars, Cookies, Holiday

Servings: 18 36 depending on size cut

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

  • 2sticks of butterat room temperature
  • 2cupsof granulated sugar
  • 3large eggs
  • 2teaspoonsof pure vanilla extract
  • 3cupsof all-purpose flour
  • 3/4teaspoonof baking soda
  • 3/4teaspoonof salt
  • 1cupred and green sprinkles
  • red and green nonpareilsfor topping

Buttercream Frosting

  • 2sticks of butterat room temperature
  • 6cupspowdered sugar
  • 1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
  • pinchsalt
  • 1/4cupheavy cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Line a 9×13 baking dish with foil, leave some overhang to make removal easier.

  3. Spray foil generously with nonstick cooking spray.

  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy.

  5. Add in eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat.

  6. Lower speed of mixer and add flour, baking soda and salt, and mix until combined.

  7. Add sprinkles and give a final stir.

  8. Transfer cookie dough to prepared baking dish.

  9. Bake 35 to 40 minutes on oven rack in lower third of oven to prevent over browning.

  10. Let cool completely.

For Buttercream Frosting

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and powdered sugar.

  2. Add vanilla and and salt and mix until well combined. Slowly mix in heavy cream, adjusting amount as needed.

Easy Christmas Cookies

This one is a tie between Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies and Peanut Butter Cup Cookies! Both cookie recipes are super simple and happen to be gluten free!

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (8)

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (9)

Print

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

13 mins

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:American

Keyword:Peanut Butter Cup Blossoms, Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Servings: 20 cookies

Calories: 154 kcal

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

  • 1cuppeanut butter, not natural or reduced-fat
  • 1cupsugarplus extra for rolling
  • 1egg
  • 1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
  • 20Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cups unwrapped

Instructions

  1. Preaheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

  2. Use a stand mixer with paddle attachment or a large bowl with a hand mixer to combine peanut butter and sugar. Beat until well combined and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat until incorpated.

  3. Measure 1.5 tablespoons of cookie dough or use a medium sized cookie scoop and roll into a ball. Bake for about 14 minutes or until you can see light cracks in the cookies start to form. Remove from oven and immediately press peanut butter cups into each cookie. Let cool and serve. Store tightly covered for up to three days

Nutrition Facts

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 154Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 9mg3%

Sodium 87mg4%

Potassium 111mg3%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 15g17%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 16IU0%

Calcium 12mg1%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

It’s hard for me to pick a favorite, and I think it will be hard for you too! If you plan on making a big cookie board like we did, I recommend planning ahead. Start preparing the cookie doughs a few days ahead and bake the cookies the day you plan to serve them

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (10)

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Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (11)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (12)Jen

    Cookies are one of the the best parts of the holidays!! I’m adding the twisted candy canes to our baking list this weekend. So very cute!

    Reply

  2. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (13)Betsy

    Great list! I love ALL these cookies! I especially love the candy cane cookies and the wreath cookies. So fun and delicious!

    Reply

  3. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (14)Becky Hardin

    Such a great Christmas cookie collection.

    Reply

  4. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (15)Katie

    All of these make me so excited for Christmas! Can’t wait to try all of them.

    Reply

  5. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (16)Ashley

    So many amazing recipes to try! Really love those candy cane cookies!

    Reply

  6. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (17)wilhelmina

    There are so many great choices here! I will have fun trying them all out!

    Reply

  7. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (18)Allyssa

    This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make cookies recipes! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!

    Reply

  8. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (19)Fran Capfield

    This post ha me so excited! Such a great coolection!

    Reply

  9. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (20)Taylor

    So many delicious options to choose from! We LOVED the M&M cookie bars. They are so chewy and loaded with chocolate. The best!

    Reply

  10. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (21)Erin

    OMG! I want to make them all. I think I’ll try the Christmas cookie bars first. Thanks for the other great ideas!

    Reply

  11. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (22)Katie

    These all look so fun and delicious for the christmas season. I can’t wait to try some out!

    Reply

  12. Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (23)jess

    this makes me so excited to make cookies for christmas time! The countdown is on!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Best Christmas Cookie Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long before Christmas should you make Christmas cookies? ›

You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December. (Consult this handy how-to guide to the matter.) Generally, most recipes will be best if baked and then frozen.

What is the least popular Christmas cookie? ›

On the naughty list of cookies, Americans gave the lowest win records to anise cookies, which only won 29% of its matchups.

What is the original Christmas cookie? ›

Modern Christmas cookies can trace their history to recipes from Medieval Europe biscuits, when many modern ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds and dried fruit were introduced into the west.

What is the #1 cookie in the United States? ›

The chocolate chip cookie is far and away America's favorite cookie This should come as no surprise to anyone who enjoys the tasty treat. More than 53% of American adults prefer the cookies over the next most popular kind, peanut butter.

What are the top 5 favorite cookies? ›

Some of the most popular cookie flavors include:
  • Chocolate chip.
  • Peanut butter.
  • Peanut butter blossoms.
  • Double chocolate chip.
  • Snickerdoodle.
  • Sugar.
  • Shortbread.
  • Pumpkin.

What Christmas cookies stay fresh the longest? ›

Shortbread and spritz cookies are longer-lasting cookies, which means they are perfect for holidays when there is some competition on the table. After all, Christmas in many homes is celebrated with a variety of dishes and sweet treats.

Can you leave Christmas cookies out overnight? ›

Curious how long cookies last at room temperature? Most homemade cookies will maintain their taste and texture for up to 3 days. If you leave them out for too long, the cookies begin to harden or dry out. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep in an airtight container.

Why are my Christmas cookies hard? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly. The lack of moisture makes the cookies hard and dry, which makes them difficult to enjoy.

What is the most eaten cookie in the world? ›

1. Chocolate chip cookies. What is the most popular type of cookie? It might just be this one.

What is Santa Claus's favorite cookie? ›

Chocolate Chip cookies

Santa himself lists these as his favorites, and he prefers them soft and gooey with lots of chocolate chips. If you decide to leave these out for him, make sure there's a glass of cold milk nearby!

What is the cookie in White Christmas? ›

A Cookie is the name given to the digitally replicated consciousness of a human being. Originally appearing in White Christmas, they have been mentioned in several other episodes.

What is the name of the town in Christmas cookies? ›

Aunt Sally's Christmas Cookie Company is sold to a large conglomerate and executive Hannah (Wagner) must seal the deal and shut down the factory, which is the small town of Cookie Jar's lifeblood.

What country invented Christmas cookies? ›

The First Christmas Cookies

Those who would like to take credit for the invention of the Christmas cookie will have to arm wrestle the Germans for it. They believe that Weihnachtsplätzchen, a term that refers specifically to cookies and broadly to holiday treats, encompasses the origin of Christmas baking.

What is the 2nd most popular cookie? ›

Nabisco Oreo was the second ranked cookie brand of the United States with about 674.2 million U.S. dollars worth of sales in 2017. Cookies are part of the snack food category and defined as small, thin, baked treats in the United States.

What is the most popular cookie today? ›

Chocolate chip cookies

What is the most popular type of cookie? It might just be this one. Ever the crowd-pleaser, the chocolate chip cookie is renowned for its balance of richness and sweetness.

Which Christmas cookies last the longest? ›

Shortbread and spritz cookies are longer-lasting cookies, which means they are perfect for holidays when there is some competition on the table. After all, Christmas in many homes is celebrated with a variety of dishes and sweet treats.

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