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A collection of my classic Christmas Cookies perfect for cookie exchange parties, cookie baskets for neighbors, friends or clients. Plus I am sharing some of my favorite tips for making cookies including time saving tips.
One of my favorite holiday traditions is Christmas cookies. We always decorated sugar cookies when we were kids and it’s still one of my favorite things to do today. We had our staple cookies which everyone loved, and now I am enjoying make what I call vintage recipes that I have found from my grandmothers.
That is the one thing I remember most about my mom’s mother was her abundant collection of Christmas cookie tins. It seemed like it was endless.
I think it’s time for me to share with you my collection of my personal favorite Christmas Cookies. Most of these cookie recipes are perfect for cookie exchange parties, cookie baskets for neighbors, friends or clients or even better, for you to start your own traditions with your families.
Making a bunch of different cookie recipe can be stressful. One thing you can do to maximize your time is break this up over a couple days.
- Prepare the dough in advance: Prepare the dough you need for cut out cookies a day in advance
- Review the baking temperatures: Look at the baking temperatures for your recipes, and bake the ones with similar temperature together
- Don’t skip chilling the dough: A lot of cookie recipes require the dough to be chilled. Start with those first so the dough can chill while you prepare the rest of cookies
- Add in some no-bake cookie or candy recipes that you can work on while your other cookies are baking
- Don’t overload the oven: Cookies bake best when the oven is not overloaded. So I bake one tray at a time. But I always have the next tray loaded and ready to go when the 1st batch finishes, so there’s never a lag in the baking
- Freeze cookies in advance: Lots of these recipes can be prepared in advance and frozen!
Decorated Sugar cookies- the recipe I grew up with! This simple dough only need 15 minutes to chill and make the most soft & pillowy sugar cookies that just melt in your mouth. Anyone can make sugar cookies, but if you don’t know how to make sugar cookies, I have a very detailed tutorials which I linked to below.
I call these Drop Sugar Cookies because you they’re easy and don’t require any rolling out. You can make these 3 ways: Plain, rolled in sprinkles or frosted. The recipe is not the same as my cut out cookies, these are more dense, buttery and chewy.
If you’re short on time, consider making Sugar Cookie Bars instead. This recipe is similar to my Drop Sugar Cookies but baked in a 9×13-inch brownie pan. Color the frosting for a more festive look and grab your favorite sprinkles.
Snowball Cookies are buttery shortbread cookies with nuts (such as pecans or walnuts) and then rolled in powdered sugar. These were a staple for us, and it wasn’t until recently I started making them again, and I am so glad I did!
These are the BEST Snickerdoodle Cookies you’ll ever have!! You may not consider these as “traditional” Christmas Cookies but I do! And this is my go-to recipe I bring with me because it’s fairly simply and always a hit.
These chewy, Soft Molasses Cookies are slightly crispy on the edges, chewy in the middle with a kick of ginger flavor and rolled in sugar for a sweet finish.
These No-Bake Coconut Krispie Date Balls are made with dates and Rice Krispies and rolled in coconut. I hated these as a kid, but sometime during high school my opinion on coconut turned a corner and I’ve been hooked ever since. My mom loved making these because the recipe makes a lot, so they’re great for gifting!
These EASY 4 ingredient Peanut Clusters are a perfect no-bake candy you can serve for the holidays. Another favorite recipe from my mom. Package them up in some festive bags for the perfect homemade holiday gift.
I always loved anything mint flavored, and it wouldn’t be a cookie exchange without some sort of mint or peppermint cookies as part of the spread.
Peppermint Crunch Sugar Cookies
Soft and buttery sugar cookies with a peppermint crunch. These white chocolate dip gives these peppermint cookies a fun twist!
Double Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies
A combination of dark chocolate cocoa powder and white chocolate pudding make these cookies just melt in your mouth!
Save time and grab a box of cookie mix. You can still be super creative while you’re saving time. Here’s 4 different cookie cups you can make with a box of cookie mix.
Epic Christmas Cookie Board
Whether you’re hosting an event or attending a party, make a few of your favorite cookie and put together this cookie charcuterie board. Your friends will be super impressed. I’m sharing all the tips you need to put this together!
- Soft & Chewy Almond Cookies
- Chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Orange Cookies (personal favorite)
- Cream Cheese Cookies
- Pinwheel Cookies
- Chocolate Dipped Espresso Shortbread
- Cranberry Orange Shortbread
Do you have a favorite Christmas Cookie recipe? Leave me a comment below and let me know what it is!
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