6 Christmas Cookie Recipes | Classic Holiday Cookie Recipes (2024)

Christmas cookies are an essential part of the holiday season! Here are 6 delicious Christmas Cookie recipes each with their own little unique twist.

Cookies are delicious treats that come in various shapes and sizes, with an assortment of flavors that bring joy to everyone’s taste buds. From amazing shortbread cookies to peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate, the aromas wafting from the oven fill the house with warmth and anticipation. Baking and decorating these cookies has become a cherished tradition for many families, bringing loved ones together to share laughter, stories, and the sweetness of the holiday spirit. Whether enjoyed alongside a mug of hot cocoa or gifted to friends and neighbors, Christmas cookies are a delightful way to spread joy and create lasting memories during this festive time of year.

HEALTHY HOLIDAY HANDBOOK: THE CHRISTMAS EDITION

Check out my Healthy Holiday Handbook: The Christmas Edition. I am sharing 7 healthier cookie recipes, a detailed ingredient glossary, and a shopping list to help you master the art of healthier baking without losing your mind. Cookies are a necessity for me during the holidays, so I thought I’d give you something from my family to yours. You can find out more in the book about where my Christmas cookie obsession comes from. You don’t want to miss out on these recipes this holiday season. I am sharing with you my go-to sugar cookie recipe, lots of tips on how to get the perfect dough and so much more. These cookies make the perfect gift or are great for sharing at a cookie exchange.

KEY INGREDIENTS TO HAVE ON HAND WHEN MAKING MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS COOKIE RECIPES

1. Dry Ingredients (Flour & Sugar) : All-purpose flour is a staple ingredient in most cookie recipes. It provides structure and texture to the cookies. Both granulated sugar and brown sugar are commonly used in cookie recipes. Granulated sugar adds sweetness, while brown sugar adds moisture and richness. Confectioners’ sugar r is useful for making frosting or dusting the cookies for a snowy, sweet finish.
2. Wet Ingredients (Butter & Eggs): Unsalted butter is the preferred choice for making Christmas cookies as it provides flavor and tenderizes the dough. Eggs bind the ingredients together and provide moisture to the dough. Large eggs are most commonly used in recipes.
3. Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the cookies rise and expand while baking, giving them a soft and light texture.
4. Extracts and flavorings: Besides pure vanilla extract, which adds a delicious and aromatic flavor to Christmas cookies, you may want to have other extracts like almond or mint on hand to add different flavors to your cookies.
5. Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the sweetness of the cookies and balances the flavors.
6. Add in’s: Whether in the form of chocolate chips, chunks, or cocoa powder, chocolate is a staple ingredient in many Christmas cookie recipes. It adds richness and depth of flavor. Nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, pecans, and hazelnuts are commonly used in Christmas cookies. They add crunch and a delicious nutty flavor.
7. Spices: Christmas cookies often include spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. These spices contribute to the warm and festive flavors associated with the holiday season.
8. Sprinkles and decorations: To make your Christmas cookies even more festive, keep a variety of colorful sprinkles, decorating icings, and edible glitter on hand. Some Christmas cookies, like thumbprint cookies, call for a dollop of jam or preserves as a filling. Having different flavors on hand allows for variety. If you plan to decorate your cookies with colored icing or dough, having gel or liquid food coloring available is essential.

Remember, the specific ingredients you’ll need will depend on the particular recipes you plan to make. It’s always a good idea to check individual recipes for any additional ingredients specific to that recipe.

MUST HAVE KITCHEN TOOLS FOR CREATING THE MOST DELICIOUS HOLIDAY COOKIES

There are a few key tips to remember and tools to have on hand when making perfectly chewy, soft and delicious cookies. First and foremost, chill your cookies dough if the recipe calls for it. I know, I know, it takes extra time, but trust me on this one. Chilling the dough will take your cookies to the next level – you won’t regret it. Just cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze for the amount of time the recipe calls for. When mixing the dry and wet ingredients, make sure you carefully and slowly pour your flour mixture into the wet ingredients. You don’t want to overfull the bowl causing your to over mix your dough.

My favorite kitchen tools for baking cookies:

You want to have a nice large bowl for mixing the cookie dough. Whether you are using a stand mixer or hand mixer, you want your bowl to be large enough to mix your dough well. High quality baking sheets will help you cookies cook evenly, you can even line them with parchment paper for easier clean up. I also highly recommend getting yourself some cookie cooling racks to allow your cookies to cool completely before digging in. Lastly, grab yourself a cute cookie tray to serve your spectacular cookies on!

GET READY TO BAKE | A FEW OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY COOKIES

There is so much I love about this time of year, but recently, Miss Madi Jo has been on a baking kick and I cannot wait to whip up some of my favorite cookie recipes with her this year. Cookies are one of my favorite desserts and I have so many to choose from, I am excited to share some of my favorites ones with you!

Whether you are sharing these cookies at a cookie exchange, with friends and/or neighbors or just leaving them for Santa, I know you will love these cookies as much as I do. Don’t forget to grab my Healthy Holiday Handbook: The Christmas Edition, I can’t wait to hear which cookies you whip up first.

Enjoy!