Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treat Friends and Family to This Holiday Season
Flourless Chocolate Orange Cookies
Jocelyn Delk Adams of Grandbaby Cakes describes the texture of her recipe to-die-for. They’re chewy with an intense chocolate flavor that just happen to be gluten-free. Get the Flourless Chocolate Orange Cookies recipe. (Photo: Jocelyn Delk Adams)
Chocolate Chunk Cookies With Salted Caramel
Lily Diamond of Kale & Caramel takes inspiration from her favorite food blogger crushes to create the ultimate chocolate chip cookie ever. They’re chewy, dense, brown buttery, with a deep chocolatey flavor. Get the Chocolate Chunk Cookies With Salted Caramel recipe. (Photo: Lily Diamond)
Chocolate-Mint Cookies
Marshmallow creme doctored with peppermint extract and confectioners’ sugar makes a speedy filling for these cookies. Get the Chocolate-Mint Cookies recipe on Food & Wine. (Photo: Food & Wine)
Linzer Hearts
Similar to a thumbprint cookie, these linzer cookies are baked with raspberry middles but why stop there? Try experimenting with any of your favorite jams or preserves for your own spin on these holiday favorites. Get the Linzer Hearts recipe. (Photo: Charity Burggraaf)
Magic Bars
These sweet little treats take just 15 minutes to put together. The graham cracker crumbs and sweetened condensed milk magically come together to make an ooey‐gooey bottom layer. Get the Magic Bars recipe on Food Network. (Photo: Food Network Kitchen)
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Christmas Cookies
The traditional pumpkin spice cookie gets a vegan makeover that’s light, fluffy, and irresistible. A cookie perfect for the holiday season that will please the pickiest of eaters! Get the Vegan Pumpkin Spice Christmas Cookies. (Adrian and Jeremy of The Food Gays)
Chocolate–Vanilla Bean Pinwheels
Here’s a cookie that looks like it took hours to make but in fact are super easy to make. By taking two different kinds of dough you simply slice stacked strips and bake them into festive pinwheel cookies. Get the Chocolate–Vanilla Bean Pinwheels recipe. (Photo: Charity Burggraaf)
Raspberry-Hazelnut Macaroons
These German raspberry-hazelnut macaroons require just five ingredients and are extremely no-fuss. Says Berlin-based blogger Luisa Weiss, “You just throw the dough together, heat up some jam and you’re almost there.” Get the Raspberry-Hazelnut Macaroons recipe on Food & Wine. (Photo: Food & Wine)
Bouchon Bakery’s Gingerbread Cookie
The legendary Bouchon Bakery shares its perfect gingerbread cookie recipe. Once the baking is done, mix up your royal icing and decide what colors you want and get creative with some festive characters. Bouchon Bakery’s Gingerbread Cookie recipe. (Photo: Donna Yen)
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These soft and crackly cookies are a staple in Italian bakeries. The espresso powder is there to complement and elevate the chocolate — it’s subtle but totally worth it. For a variation, try spiking these with ? teaspoon almond extract. Get the Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe on Food Network. (Photo: Food Network Kitchen)
Molasses Sugar Cookies
By adding molasses to your basic sugar cookie dough it bakes up to chewy, crisp-at-the-edges cookies that encompasses the flavors of fall all in one treat. Get the Molasses Sugar Cookies recipe. (Photo: Posie Harwood)
Sparkly Gingersnap
Founder Gretchen Holt-Witt of Cookies for Kid’s Cancer shares her tried-and-true gingersnap cookies that’s coated in a sparkly ginger sugar. You can eat them on their own or even crumble them for the perfect ice cream topping. Get the Sparkly Gingersnap recipe. (Photo: Cookies for Kids’ Cancer)
Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Can’t decide whether to bake chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies? Ina Garten shares with us a recipe that combines the best of both worlds and takes them to the next level with dried cranberries and a sprinkle of sea salt that she claims are her all-time favorite cookies. Get the Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies recipe. (Photo: Quentin Bacon)
Stained Glass Cookies
Culinary guru Dorie Greenspan creates holiday snowflake cookies that are great to give as gifts or to hang on your Christmas tree. The secret ingredient for the stained glass are colorful Jolly Ranchers. Get the Stained Glass Cookies recipe. (Photo: Alpha Smoot)
Classic Sugar Cookies
These are the familiar cookies with crispy edges and a slightly soft middle. Superfine sugar gives them their crunchiness. The small amount of baking powder ensures that they puff just a little without spreading too much and losing their shape. Get the Classic Sugar Cookies recipe on Food Network. (Photo: Food Network Kitchen)
Lemon Melting Moments
These lemon confections are tender on the inside and coated with a generous amounts of powdered sugar. Just like the name suggests, as soon as you take a bite they melt deliciously in your mouth. Get the Lemon Melting Moments recipe. (Photo: Charity Burggraaf)
Vegan Spritz Cookies
Nothing says Christmas like the classic spritz cookies. These are one that everyone can enjoy because they’re made vegan-friendly. To decorate them try dressing them up with colored sugars, sprinkles, and colored frosting. Get the Spritz Cookies recipe. (Photo: Jim Franco)
Brownie Cookies
If you gravitate toward the edge pieces in a pan of brownies, these cookies are your dream come true: crunchy‐chewy edges with a soft center. If you like your brownies a little under-baked, bake these cookies until they’re just slightly glossy on top. For a twist on a brownie sundae, make an ice cream sandwich with them. Get the Brownie Cookies recipe on Food Network. (Photo: Food Network Kitchen)
Basler Leckerili
These spiced cookie bars are an essential part of a German Christmas. They are an excellent make-ahead sweet; in fact, they get more tender and flavorful the longer they sit. Get the Basler Leckerili recipe on Food & Wine. (Photo: Food & Wine)
’Tis the season for cookies! We bring you classics and modern twists on some of your favorite holiday cookie recipes. Whether you’re baking for the family, a cookie swap, or baking gifts for Christmas, be sure to include one of the scrumptious recipes above!
More cookies to love:
12 Christmas Cookies You Have to Bake This Holiday Season