During the holiday season, we love nothing more than good homemade Christmas Cookies. From quick-and-easy to make to indulgent, these cookie recipes are perfect for eating and sharing. Don’t miss the bonus recipe for our new Chocolate Orange Cookies!
Christmas Cookie Recipes
One of our favorite family Christmas traditions is baking homemade Christmas cookies and then filling up plates to deliver them to neighbors and friends. Everyone has a different image that comes to mind when they hear “Christmas cookies”. For me, I think of colorful sugar cookies with sprinkles. Others might think of drop cookies with Christmas M&Ms. What the “perfect Christmas cookie” is for me could be something completely different for you. Or maybe you are searching for a new recipe to make your favorite. Either way, we are sure you will find something here you will love to make… and eat!
Christmas Cut-Out Cookie Recipes
Gingerbread Cookies
Just looking at an image of a gingerbread cookie takes me back to the warm, inviting aroma of a kitchen at Christmas time. You can use cookie cutters to make gingerbread men or even a Mickey Mouse gingerbread man (pictured at the top of the post). The cinnamon, ginger and cloves in this recipe make these cookies smell — and taste — amazing!
Time needed: 4 1/2 hours approximately (includes 4 hours in fridge for dough to chill)
Ingredients needed:
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Egg
- Molasses
- Flour
- Ground ginger
- Baking soda
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Salt
- Royal icing or frosting
- Candies for decorating
Christmas Sugar Cookies
The BEST Christmas Sugar Cookies ever begin and end with this soft, chewy, simple sugar cookie recipe. Decorate cut-out candy canes, bells, stockings, stars, and ornaments with royal icing and you have the perfect gift for neighbors and friends!
Time needed: 2 hours approximately (includes 1 hour cooling time plus decorating time)
Ingredients needed:
- Flour
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Butter
- Sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
- Royal icing
- Christmas sprinkles
Recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookies
Drop Christmas Cookies with Candy
Elf Cookies
These Elf Cookies are much like the ever-popular chocolate chip cookie, but we decided to kick them up a notch by making them “Christmas Style”. What elf wouldn’t want a big batch of cookies filled with tons Christmas candy? The hardest part is keeping the kids out of the cookie dough!
Time needed: 40 minutes including baking time
Ingredients needed:
- Butter
- Sugar
- Brown sugar
- Egg
- Egg yolk
- Vanilla extract
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Cocoa powder for chocolate cookies
- Chocolate or white chocolate chips
- Christmas candies and sprinkles
- Nuts (optional)
Andes Mint Cookies
Andes Mint Cookies are sure to get you on the nice list if you leave them out for Santa! A spin on thumbprint cookies, these chocolate cookies are topped with melted Andes mints. Rich and delicious with a mild mint flavor. A definite favorite!
Time needed: 50 minutes including baking time
Ingredients needed:
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- White corn syrup
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Eggs
- Andes Creme De Menthe or Peppermint Thins
Spiced Drop Cookies
Snickerdoodles (Cinnamon Sugar Cookies)
Snickerdoodles are rich, soft sugar cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar. To me, the best Snickerdoodle has crunchy golden edges with an ultra soft and chewy center. What more could you ask for?
Time needed: 2 hours approximately (includes 1 hour chill time)
Ingredients needed:
- Butter
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Flour
- Cream of tartar
- Cinnamon
- Salt
Molasses Cookies
Molasses Cookies are soft, chewy cookies that will send you right back to your childhood. The molasses is the PERFECT amount, not too overpowering.
Time needed: 1 hour 35 minutes (includes 1 hour chill time)
Ingredients needed:
- Shortening
- Brown sugar
- Egg
- Molasses
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Ground cloves
- Cinnamon
- Ground ginger
Easy No-Bake Christmas Cookies
Dipped Ritz Christmas Cookies
The saltiness of the Ritz Crackers and the sweetness of the chocolate is a winning combination in these dipped Ritz Cookies with caramel or peanut butter filling. The peanut butter filled ritz is a no-bake cookie. The caramel filling is made by melting a Rolo candy on the Ritz cracker, so it does require a few minutes in the oven. Both fillings make delicious Christmas treats!
Time needed: 30 minutes
Ingredients needed:
- Ritz crackers
- Rolo caramel candies (for caramel centers)
- Peanut butter and powdered sugar (for peanut butter centers)
- Milk and/or white chocolate candy wafers
- Christmas sprinkles
No Bake Cookies
No Bake Cookies are such a yummy treat to make when you’re pressed for time during the holidays. They make a great addition to a plate of goodies. Made with simple pantry ingredients, they come together in a snap. These can easily be made gluten-free cookies by using gluten free oats.
Time needed: 30 minutes tops! (15 minutes to make and another 15 minutes to cool and set)
Ingredients needed:
- Butter
- Sugar
- Milk
- Cocoa
- Vanilla
- Peanut butter
- Rolled oats (quick or old-fashioned)
CHOCOLATE ORANGE COOKIES – BONUS RECIPE
If you want to “WOW” people this year with a new, different Christmas cookie, this Chocolate Orange Cookie recipe is the one for you. I’m not the biggest fan of chocolate oranges. But, I went out on a limb here and created these chocolate orange cookies because for some reason they seemed like they would be a tasty combination. Let’s just say, I might be converted to the chocolate-orange thing after all. These cookies are seriously to die for! The fudgy cookie base with chunks of chocolate orange made these chocolate orange cookies out-of-this-world good. You can use a milk or dark chocolate orange.
How To Make Chocolate Orange Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 chocolate orange chopped (milk or dark)
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1-2 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together in a large bowl or mixer. Add egg, egg yolk and vanilla and stir until well mixed. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda, and cocoa powder until blended (dough will be soft and creamy).
- Add chopped chocolate orange, mini chocolate chips, and orange zest. Mix until well combined.
- Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets 3-inches apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool 1 minute on wire rack; remove from baking sheets and cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen.
Becky Hardin says
These are the best! Love making them year round.
Kellie Hemmerly says
So easy and the orange/chocolate combo is amazing!
Ashley F says
I am a big chocolate and orange fan! I just love those flavors together and these cookies we excellent! So tasty!
Erin says
Chocolate and orange go so well together and these cookies are perfect! They are great for holiday cookie exchanges.
April says
Chocolate oranges are my favorite thing ever. I love that you made a cookie recipe using them! I know already they’re going to be my new favorite treat.