19 Fun and Festive Cookie Recipes
Christmas cookie season is all about color, creativity, and sweet bites that feel extra special. This list is packed with fun options—from traditional sugar cookies and peanut butter blossoms to peppermint-packed treats and cookie bars that feed a crowd. Some are perfect for decorating, others come together quickly, and a few even skip the chill time. Whether you’re baking with kids, prepping for a cookie swap, or filling tins to share, these festive cookies cover all the bases.
Christmas Tree Cookies
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These shaped cookies are decorated with green icing and sprinkles to look like trees. A sturdy sugar cookie base makes them easy to cut and decorate. Great for gifting or serving on a tray. Use star-shaped sprinkles for the “topper.”
Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Cookies
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Classic and buttery with crisp edges and a soft center, these cookies are great for frosting or eating plain. Use holiday shapes and colored icing for decorating. They hold their shape well in the oven. Let them cool before adding toppings.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookies
Christmas Sprinkle Coookies
Loaded with colorful sprinkles, these cookies bake up soft with a festive crunch. No decorating required—just mix and go. Great for cookie platters or gifting. You can change the sprinkle mix for any holiday.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Sprinkle Coookies
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
These thick, chewy bars have the taste of a sugar cookie but are baked in one pan and cut into squares. They’re topped with frosting and holiday sprinkles. Ideal for feeding a crowd. No rolling or cutting needed.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Bright swirls of color give these cookies a fun, candy-cane look. The dough is rolled, chilled, then sliced before baking. The result is eye-catching and tasty. Keep the layers thin for the best spiral.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Christmas Chocolate Sugar Cookies and Buttercream Dip
Rich chocolate cookies are served with a fluffy dip for spreading or dunking. It’s a fun take on traditional cookies. Kids love the interactive part. Decorate the cookies with sprinkles or sanding sugar.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Chocolate Sugar Cookies and Buttercream Dip
Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies
Sour cream adds moisture and softness to these tender cookies. They’re perfect for cutting into shapes and decorating. The dough holds its form well. Let the cookies rest before frosting for a smooth finish.
Get the Recipe: Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies
Speculaas cookies
These spiced Dutch cookies are crisp and full of warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Often made with molds or stamps for detail. Great with tea or coffee. They store well and improve with time.
Get the Recipe: Speculaas cookies
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
A minty twist on a classic, these cookies mix chocolate chips with crushed peppermint candies. The result is crunchy, chewy, and full of holiday flavor. Great with hot cocoa. Freeze well for later.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pecan Sugar Cookies
A classic sugar cookie with chopped pecans mixed in for added texture. Slightly nutty and buttery in every bite. Bake until the edges are golden. Finish with a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Sugar Cookies
Easy Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
This version uses pre-colored dough or food coloring to simplify the swirl effect. The dough chills quickly and slices clean. Use sanding sugar for sparkle. Great when you want visual impact without extra steps.
Get the Recipe: Easy Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Whipped Shortbread Cookie
Light and airy with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, these cookies are simple and elegant. A few ingredients go a long way. Top with sprinkles or press gently with a fork. Don’t overbake to keep the texture delicate.
Get the Recipe: Whipped Shortbread Cookie
No-spread Sugar cookies
These cookies are designed to hold their shape perfectly, making them ideal for detailed cutouts. The dough is firm but easy to roll. Bake just until edges are lightly golden. Decorate once fully cooled.
Get the Recipe: No-spread Sugar cookies
Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies
This recipe skips complicated steps but still delivers a soft, festive cookie. Great for busy days or last-minute baking. Use holiday sprinkles or colored sugar. No chill time makes it extra fast.
Get the Recipe: Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies
M&M cookie recipe
A classic cookie base packed with M&Ms in every bite. The outside is slightly crisp, the inside soft. Choose holiday colors for seasonal flair. Great for baking with kids.
Get the Recipe: M&M cookie recipe
Christmas Tree Linzer Cookies
Linzer cookies are filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar, with a cutout shape on top. This version uses a tree shape for holiday flair. Use raspberry or apricot jam. Stack carefully for gifting.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Linzer Cookies
Peppermint Brownie Cookies
These rich chocolate cookies have a fudgy texture and are studded with peppermint pieces. Great for chocolate lovers who want a seasonal twist. Bake until just set. Let cool before stacking.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Brownie Cookies
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
Soft, pillowy cookies with a gooey, rich center. Often made with cream cheese and cake mix. Roll in powdered sugar for a snowy look. Chill the dough briefly for easier handling.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
Easy Whipped shortbread cookies
These light cookies are made with butter, flour, and sugar, beaten until fluffy. The result is soft and tender. Top with sprinkles or a cherry piece. A true melt-in-your-mouth treat.
Get the Recipe: Easy Whipped shortbread cookies
