20 Irresistible Traditional Christmas Cookies: Classic Recipes for a Festive Holiday Season
The holiday season brings with it a delightful tradition: baking and sharing Christmas cookies. There’s something truly magical about the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread, the comforting sweetness of sugar cookies, and the intricate beauty of linzer cookies filling your home. This comprehensive guide features 20 Traditional Christmas Cookies, carefully curated by a professional pastry chef, designed to make your holiday bright and exceptionally delicious! You’ll find timeless classics that have graced holiday tables for generations, alongside spiced new favorites that capture the spirit of Christmas cheer. Get ready to embark on a baking journey that celebrates heritage, flavor, and the joy of the season.
For those who cherish time-honored flavors and familiar comfort, this collection is tailor-made for you. We’re stepping back in time to embrace the recipes that grandma and great-grandma lovingly prepared year after year. From the soft, chewy charm of gingerbread cookies and the satisfying crunch of gingersnaps, to the tender delight of soft cut-out sugar cookies, every bite is a taste of nostalgia. Each recipe has been perfected by a seasoned pastry chef, ensuring professional-quality results right in your home kitchen.
To make your holiday baking planning a breeze, our recipes are thoughtfully grouped by preparation type. Whether you’re seeking a quick and easy option or a more elaborate baking project, you’ll easily find what you’re looking for. If you’re in need of a super-speedy solution, explore our 24 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes, categorized by prep time! For an even wider array of festive options, feel free to browse our extensive collection of 100+ Christmas Cookie Recipes while you savor a warm cup of eggnog. Let the holiday baking commence!
Table of Contents
- Why You Will Love These Traditional Christmas Cookies
- Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Cookies
- 20 Traditional Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Easy Drop Cookie Recipes for Christmas
- Classic Rolled Christmas Cookies
- Festive Shaped Christmas Cookies
- Elegant Pressed and Molded Christmas Cookies
- More Christmas Cookie Inspiration
Why You Will Love These Traditional Christmas Cookies
- Flavorful & Varied: This carefully curated list is a celebration of diversity in taste and texture. We’ve ensured a wide spectrum of flavors, from warm spices like ginger and cinnamon to rich chocolate, nutty notes, and bright fruit essences. You’ll discover everything from satisfyingly chewy cookies to delightfully crunchy ones, tender shortbread, and even rich bar cookies. Each recipe offers a unique sensory experience, ensuring there’s a perfect treat for every preference and palate on your holiday cookie platter.
- Grouped by Preparation Type: To streamline your baking process, we’ve organized these recipes by their preparation method. This makes it incredibly easy to choose cookies that fit your available time and skill level. Looking for something quick and straightforward? Dive into our drop cookie selections. Ready for a more engaging project? Explore our rolled cookies. For those with special tools and a desire for intricate designs, our traditional pressed and molded cookies are perfect. This grouping helps you plan your holiday baking more efficiently, whether you’re a novice or an experienced baker.
- Always Adding More & Expertly Developed: Our collection is continuously growing as we develop and refine even more traditional cookie recipes. What truly sets these recipes apart is that each one is meticulously crafted by a professional pastry chef. This means you’re not just getting recipes; you’re receiving expert guidance, tips, and tricks designed to guarantee your success. You’ll learn the secrets to achieving perfect textures, balanced flavors, and beautiful presentation, making your holiday baking truly shine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Cookies
The ideal time to start baking your Christmas cookies largely depends on your specific family traditions and the types of cookies you plan to make. Some eager bakers kick off their holiday baking right after Thanksgiving, enjoying a leisurely pace and the festive aroma throughout the month. Others might prefer a last-minute flurry of activity on Christmas Eve. For planning purposes, certain cookies like durable Linzer cookies and Mexican wedding cookies (or snowball cookies) are excellent for early preparation, as their flavors often deepen and improve over time, and they store beautifully. In contrast, cookies like chocolate crinkle cookies, with their delicate powdered sugar coating, are best made closer to serving time to ensure their freshest appearance and soft texture. Many cookies can be baked and frozen weeks in advance, then thawed and decorated or dusted with sugar just before your festivities begin.
While there’s no strict definition, a cookie generally earns the title of “Christmas cookie” simply by being baked and enjoyed during the festive season. Even beloved year-round treats like chewy chocolate chip cookies often find their way into holiday gift boxes and cookie platters. However, traditional Christmas cookies frequently share several characteristics: they are often heavily spiced with warming flavors like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves; they commonly feature rich ingredients such as molasses; they are beautifully decorated with icing, sprinkles, or glazes; or they involve more time-consuming and intricate preparations, making them a special indulgence for the holidays. These elements transform a simple baked good into a festive symbol of the season, often evoking cherished memories and family traditions.
When planning your holiday baking and aiming for longevity, opt for Christmas cookies that maintain their quality or even improve with a little age. Cookies with firm, crumbly, or crunchy textures generally tend to stay fresh longer than very soft or delicate ones. Excellent choices include Linzer cookies, whose jam filling helps retain moisture and flavors meld beautifully over a few days, or snowball cookies (also known as Mexican wedding cakes), which are inherently stable. Crisp varieties like speculoos cookies or gingersnaps are also fantastic for extended storage due to their low moisture content. For optimal freshness, store most of these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days. Many of these sturdy cookies also freeze exceptionally well for up to 3 months, making them perfect for preparing far in advance of your holiday celebrations.
20 Traditional Christmas Cookie Recipes
Dive into the heart of holiday baking with these 20 traditional Christmas cookie recipes, each thoughtfully categorized by its preparation type. Whether your holiday schedule calls for the simplicity of an easy drop cookie, the creative joy of a decorated cut-out cookie, or the elegant charm of a pressed cookie, we’ve got you covered. Every single recipe in this collection comes from a professional pastry chef, ensuring you receive the very best instructions and results for the most beloved and authentic varieties.
Easy Drop Cookie Recipes for Christmas
Drop cookies are absolute lifesavers during the bustling holiday season! Between the endless shopping, festive kids’ parties, home decorating, and numerous holiday events, who truly has the time to prepare platters of elaborately decorated cookies for every occasion? That’s why I love to assemble a vibrant array of easy drop cookies, complemented by just a few show-stopping rolled or molded cookies. For drop cookies, you essentially only need a large bowl and a sturdy work surface – feel free to leave your rolling pin and stand mixer tucked away in the cupboard! These quick and delicious cookies will quickly become your go-to for effortless holiday treats. So go ahead, pre-heat that oven, gather your festive sprinkles, and get ready to bake up some magic with minimal fuss.
These old-fashioned gingersnaps are the epitome of a classic holiday treat: wonderfully crunchy and perfectly spiced. They deliver that familiar, comforting zing you expect from bagged versions, but with an extra depth of rich molasses flavor that truly elevates them. For easy and consistent portioning, simply use a small cookie scoop, roll them in sugar, and place them directly onto your parchment paper-lined baking sheets. The result is a delightful cookie with a satisfying snap and a heartwarming blend of spices that’s perfect for the colder months.
Gingersnaps
Bake Gingersnaps
For sheer ease and guaranteed deliciousness, nothing beats whipping up a batch of these wonderfully chewy chocolate crinkle cookies. The secret to their simplicity? They’re made with a box of devil’s food cake mix, ensuring they bake up perfectly soft and fudgy every single time, with those iconic powdered sugar cracks. To add a touch of gourmet flair, I sometimes sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top, which beautifully enhances the rich chocolate. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous and want to impress, you might also try these red velvet crinkle cookies, which take indulgence a step further by being stuffed with creamy cheesecake!
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Bake Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Crunchy, crispy, and beautifully sweet, lace cookies are an old-fashioned Christmas cookie staple that exudes elegance. These delicate oatmeal cookies are thin and airy, boasting a rich, caramelized flavor that truly melts on your tongue for the perfect, ethereal bite. Their inherent beauty means there’s absolutely no need for cookie cutters or elaborate decorations; their natural, intricate “lace” pattern is decoration enough. They offer a sophisticated yet simple addition to any holiday cookie spread.
Lace Cookies
Bake Lace Cookies
Prepare to discover the best snickerdoodle recipe you will ever try – a bold claim, but one I stand by! I meticulously tested and perfected this recipe for years, first in demanding restaurant kitchens and then in my own bakery, before finally bringing it to you. The result is a cookie that is gloriously soft and delightfully chewy, boasting that quintessential tangy flavor derived from cream of tartar. Its signature cinnamon-sugar coating adds a touch of crunchy sweetness, making it an irresistible addition to your holiday repertoire.
The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie
Bake Snickerdoodles
Classic peanut butter blossoms are a beloved cookie staple throughout the year, but they truly enjoy a special moment in the spotlight during the holiday season. This is likely because they offer the perfect, irresistible combination of creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate, often topped with that iconic Hershey’s Kiss. The chewy peanut butter cookie base itself is an absolute dream – so delicious, in fact, that I’ve been known to bake and enjoy it on its own, even without the chocolate addition! A tray of these is guaranteed to bring smiles.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Bake Peanut Butter Blossoms
This classic Italian cookie is a chewy, naturally gluten-free delight and an absolute holiday necessity for any almond enthusiast. You’ll fall in love with my slightly less sweet version of pignoli cookies, which truly allows the exquisite almond flavor to shine. Crafted with simple ingredients like egg whites and almond paste, these cookies offer a sophisticated yet utterly delicious experience. Their delicate, chewy interior contrasted with the crunchy pine nut exterior makes them a standout on any Christmas platter.
Pignoli Cookies
Bake Gluten Free Pignoli Cookies
While thick chewy chocolate chip cookies hold a special place in my heart from January right through December, I particularly adore serving up this universally loved classic alongside more intricately spiced cookies on festive trays at Christmastime. Their familiar comfort and rich flavor offer a delightful counterpoint to traditional holiday spices. Occasionally, when I’m feeling a little extra festive, I’ll stir in some white chocolate chips for a touch of seasonal sass and a beautiful visual contrast. They’re a crowd-pleaser that truly belongs on any holiday spread.
Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bake Thick Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Classic Rolled Christmas Cookies
For many, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without the cherished tradition of rolling out dough and cutting festive shapes. These are some of the most traditional rolled Christmas cookies, evoking a sense of nostalgia and homemade charm. In my household, Christmas simply wouldn’t feel like Christmas without the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of soft sugar cookies, my Mom’s beloved gingerbread cookies, and the elegant, jam-filled linzer cookies. I love creating an assortment that includes easy drop cookies, a few rolled classics, and at least one more elaborate cookie, like these visually stunning peppermint slice and bake cookies, to truly make the holiday spread unforgettable.
These stained glass window cookies are truly stunning to behold, deliciously satisfying, and much easier to make than their intricate appearance suggests! The cookie dough is a simple sugar cookie base, subtly enhanced with a hint of molasses for added depth of flavor. The magical “glass” effect is created using crushed hard candies, such as colorful Jolly Ranchers, which melt into vibrant, translucent centers when baked. If I’m feeling particularly elaborate, I might even prepare some royal icing, infused with a touch of food coloring, to decorate their edges. These beautiful cookies keep well at room temperature in an airtight container, making them a perfect make-ahead festive treat.
Stained Glass Window Cookies
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Swedish pepparkakor cookies are a wonderfully spiced and thin, crispy delight, deeply rooted in Nordic Christmas traditions. These delightful ginger cookies can be crafted into simple, elegant circles, as shown here, or transformed into more elaborate, festive shapes and beautifully decorated, much like these decorated pepparkakor cookies. Their intricate spice blend makes them a memorable addition to any holiday cookie platter, offering a taste of Scandinavian charm.
Pepparkakor
Bake Traditional Pepparkakor Cookies
There’s always room for soft sugar cookies on my holiday plate! This cherished old-fashioned rolled sugar cookie dough is uniquely made with buttermilk, which perfectly tempers the typical sweetness of sugar cookies, resulting in a more balanced and sophisticated flavor. You will adore the rich vanilla extract notes and the tender, slightly chewy texture of these cookies. They are absolutely perfect for cutting into festive shapes and pair beautifully with my easy frosting for cookies, allowing for endless creative decorating possibilities.
Soft Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
Bake Soft Cut Out Sugar Cookies
This is my treasured family recipe for soft gingerbread cookies, which I’ve lovingly adapted and perfected over the years. These cookies are wonderfully soft, delightfully chewy, and infused with a perfect blend of warming holiday spices. They are absolutely amazing, whether simply decorated with a basic icing, adorned with raisins to resemble buttons, or elaborately embellished for a true showstopper. This recipe is destined to become one of your most cherished Christmas cookie recipes too, bringing warmth and joy to your festive season.
Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Bake Soft Gingerbread Cookies
These wonderfully crunchy Moravian Christmas Cookies are absolutely worth every bit of effort you put into them. This traditional molasses spice cookie dough is rolled to a paper-thin consistency and then baked until it achieves a remarkable crispness. The result is an intensely flavorful, delicate cookie with a profound spiced character. Enjoy these exquisite cookies alongside other warming spiced treats, such as cardamom snowballs, for an utterly festive and memorable experience that celebrates deep, complex holiday flavors.
Moravian Christmas Cookies
Bake Moravian Christmas Cookies
Allow me to introduce you to my highly acclaimed recipe for Linzer cookies. As a professional pastry chef, I have crafted tens of thousands of these exquisite cookies over the years, and they are consistently a crowd-pleaser! The tender dough is a rich brown sugar almond blend, delicately flavored with hints of warm cinnamon and pure vanilla extract. These elegant sandwich cookies, traditionally filled with vibrant raspberry jam, are a truly spectacular addition to any holiday table. I also love utilizing the same delicious jam in my easy-to-make thumbprint cookies for another festive treat!
Linzer Cookies
Bake Linzer Cookies
This kolacky cookie recipe is so incredibly delicious, it will truly knock your socks off! It’s a traditional Hungarian Christmas cookie recipe that has garnered hundreds of glowing comments and reviews, making it one of our most popular posts all year round. It stands proudly alongside other beloved recipes like our Hungarian nut roll cookies. I wholeheartedly suggest making both of these incredible pastries to fully embrace the flavors of the season. ‘Tis the season for indulging in these buttery, fruit-filled delights!
Apricot Kolacky Cookie (Kiffles)
Bake Kolacky Cookies
Festive Shaped Christmas Cookies
Many traditional Christmas cookies don’t require cutters or presses but instead rely on simple shaping techniques that make them extra special and festive. These cookies are often rolled into elegant balls or crescent moons, like the comforting chai spiced crescent cookies or the delicate cherry snowball cookies. While many are just as easy to prepare as their drop cookie counterparts, their distinctive shapes instantly elevate them, adding a beautiful visual appeal to your holiday cookie platters. These shaped cookies are a testament to how simple techniques can yield impressive and beloved results.
These traditional crescent cookies are a delicate and elegant choice, lightly spiced with fragrant cardamom, making them the perfect accompaniment to a warm cup of coffee or tea. They possess a tender, buttery, shortbread-like texture that truly melts in your mouth, leaving a subtle, lingering warmth from the spice. Their beautiful crescent shape adds a touch of sophistication to any holiday cookie assortment, proving that sometimes, the simplest shapes are the most charming.
Almond Crescent Cookies
Bake Crescent Cookies
These exquisite raspberry ribbon cookies offer a taste experience akin to a delicate raspberry Danish, but in delightful cookie form! Infused with a hint of almond extract, their flavor profile is both familiar and sophisticated. To complete their beautiful presentation, they are even drizzled with an easy, glossy glaze. What’s more, this is an incredibly straightforward recipe that can yield an impressive 6 dozen cookies or more with minimal effort, making them a perfect choice for holiday baking when you need to feed a crowd or fill many gift boxes.
Raspberry Ribbon Cookies
Bake Raspberry Ribbon Cookies
This traditional Pfeffernüsse recipe creates a wonderfully crumbly, intensely spiced molasses cookie, a true European Christmas classic. I’ve chosen to roll them in a generous coating of powdered sugar, giving them a beautiful snowy finish, but you could just as easily cover them with a simple, elegant glaze. I particularly love keeping these tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the freezer; thawing them offers a delightful, spicy snack long into January, extending the holiday cheer.
Pfeffernüsse Cookies
Bake Traditional Pfeffernusse
This is the definitive recipe for Scottish shortbread – a truly tender, intensely buttery, and satisfyingly crisp cookie. Made with just a few simple ingredients, it exemplifies the beauty of classic baking. These shortbread cookies make absolutely perfect homemade gifts for the holidays. Arrange them beautifully in a festive tin, or create an assorted cookie box by pairing them with delightful chocolate chip shortbread cookies, delicate spritz cookies, and comforting gingerbread cookies for a truly impressive and varied selection that will be deeply appreciated.
Scottish Shortbread Recipe
Bake Shortbread
This is undeniably the best snowball cookies recipe you’ll ever find, also lovingly known as Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies. Crafted with finely toasted pecans, these cookies are exquisitely tender, delightfully crumbly, and perfectly sweetened. Their delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture is simply irresistible. The most challenging part of making them is patiently waiting for them to cool completely before generously dusting them with a cloud of powdered sugar, transforming them into beautiful, festive snowballs!
Snowball Cookies
Bake Classic Snowballs
Elegant Pressed and Molded Christmas Cookies
Many truly traditional Christmas cookies stand apart from typical baking methods, often requiring specialized equipment or a little extra time and patience for their intricate designs. Some of these cherished recipes even benefit from days of preparation to achieve their perfect texture and flavor development! Here, we highlight the three best pressed and molded cookies that are absolutely well worth the effort and any additional equipment you might need. These elegant treats are often conversation starters, adding a sophisticated and authentic touch to your holiday spread.
These delicate spritz cookies are a joy to behold and a delight to taste, subtly flavored with bright vanilla extract and fragrant lemon zest. Their light, buttery texture makes them melt in your mouth. They offer great versatility in preparation: you can pipe them into charming shapes, as I’ve done here, or easily press them through a cookie press for consistent, intricate designs. For even more festive fun, you can also mold the dough by hand into whimsical snowmen or classic candy canes, adding a personal touch to your holiday baking.
Holiday Spritz Cookies
Bake Spritz Cookies
This traditional pizzelle cookie recipe yields wonderfully crunchy and exquisitely light Italian cookies! Crafted using a specialized pizzelle press, the delicate batter is delicately flavored with classic vanilla and a subtle, aromatic hint of anise. These crisp, intricate cookies are perfect for serving alongside rich chocolate biscotti as an elegant accompaniment to an afternoon tea or a comforting cup of coffee, adding a touch of Italian flair to your holiday spread.
