26 Christmas Cookies Ideas
When Christmas season rolls in, the smell of cookies in the oven feels like the warmest hug. Cookies aren’t just a treat—they’re tradition, nostalgia, and tiny works of edible art that bring families together.
If you’re looking for Christmas cookie ideas that go beyond the plain sugar cookie, you’re in the right place. I’ve gathered a lineup of 26 ideas that are not only delicious but also practical, creative, and fun.
1. Classic Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Let’s start with the king of Christmas cookies. Sugar cookies are the blank canvas of holiday baking. With royal icing, you can transform them into candy canes, snowflakes, or Santa hats. The trick is in the consistency of your icing—it should be thin enough to flood but thick enough to pipe details. Pro tip: outline first, then flood the middle for a polished bakery-style look.
A fun anecdote: the first time I tried piping a snowflake, it looked like a melted spider. Don’t stress—practice makes perfect, and imperfections make them charmingly homemade.
2. Gingerbread Men and Houses
The gingerbread man has been around since the 16th century, and the tradition hasn’t slowed down. These cookies pack warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. The real fun? Decorating them with buttons, scarves, and silly faces.
Gingerbread houses, on the other hand, are a team effort. According to the National Confectioners Association, more than 25 million gingerbread houses are made in the U.S. each holiday season. That’s a lot of gumdrops and icing glue!
3. Snickerdoodles Rolled in Red and Green Sugar
Snickerdoodles are soft, chewy, and coated in cinnamon sugar. To make them festive, roll them in red and green sanding sugar instead. It adds sparkle without changing the flavor. I call these “holiday fireworks in cookie form.”
4. Peppermint Bark Cookies
Take a basic chocolate cookie, top it with melted white chocolate, and sprinkle crushed candy canes on top. Suddenly, you’ve created peppermint bark in cookie form. They look expensive but are actually one of the easiest to whip up.
5. Thumbprint Cookies with Raspberry Jam
These are buttery shortbread-style cookies with a little well pressed into the center, filled with raspberry jam. They’ve been a staple in my family for decades, and the bright red jam looks like Rudolph’s nose. Dust them with powdered sugar for the “snow effect.”
6. Hot Chocolate Cookies
Imagine a cookie that tastes like your favorite mug of hot cocoa. Use a rich chocolate base, mix in mini marshmallows, and even drizzle a bit of melted chocolate on top. One year, I brought these to a cookie swap, and people actually asked for the recipe before even finishing their first bite.
7. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Cranberries are the underrated gem of holiday baking. Mix them into a dough with white chocolate chips, and suddenly you’ve got a sweet-tart combination that tastes like Christmas in a bite. They’re festive without looking overly decorated.
8. Linzer Cookies with Powdered Sugar
Originating from Austria, these delicate cookies are two buttery shortbreads sandwiched with jam (usually raspberry). The cut-out on the top layer—whether it’s a star or a tree—makes them look like stained glass windows dusted with snow.
9. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These cookies look like they’ve been dusted in snow. You roll chocolate dough in powdered sugar before baking, and as they expand, they crack open beautifully. The inside stays soft and fudgy, making them a hit with both kids and adults.
10. Molasses Cookies
Spiced molasses cookies are chewy, slightly crisp on the edges, and packed with ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. If gingerbread men had a grown-up cousin, this would be it. Pair them with tea or coffee, and suddenly they feel sophisticated.
11. Snowball Cookies (Russian Tea Cakes)
These buttery little balls coated in powdered sugar are like tiny snowballs you can eat. They melt in your mouth and leave you dusted in sugar, which is half the fun. These are also called Mexican wedding cookies—they’ve been around for centuries.
12. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
Take the classic chocolate crinkle, add a red velvet twist, and you have a vibrant holiday cookie. They’re not only gorgeous but also soft with a subtle cocoa tang. These always stand out on cookie platters.
13. Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Drops
For those who prefer something hearty, oatmeal-based cookies with cranberries and white chocolate feel cozy and rustic. They’re chewy with little pops of sweetness and tartness. I usually bake these when I want something that feels “homemade with love.”
14. Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Start with a soft sugar or chocolate cookie and press a Hershey’s Candy Cane Kiss into the center right after baking. They’re festive, adorable, and surprisingly quick to make. I always end up eating half the bag of Kisses before baking, though.
15. Shortbread Cookies Dipped in Chocolate
Shortbread is simple: butter, sugar, and flour. Dip half in melted dark chocolate, and suddenly it’s a Christmas showstopper. Add crushed pistachios or sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet to give them extra flair.
16. Pecan Tassies
Think of these as bite-sized pecan pies. They use a rich pastry crust and a gooey pecan filling. They’re especially popular in the South but have become a holiday staple everywhere. One batch never lasts longer than a day in my house.
17. Stained Glass Cookies
Make sugar cookie dough, cut out shapes, then fill the centers with crushed hard candy (like Jolly Ranchers). When baked, the candy melts and creates a “stained glass window” effect. Kids love these because they double as edible ornaments if you poke a hole and add a ribbon.
18. Toffee Crunch Cookies
Mix toffee bits into your dough, and you’ll get cookies with buttery crunch in every bite. If you’ve ever tried a Heath bar, this is the cookie version. They pair perfectly with hot coffee.
19. Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Cookies
Bake chocolate cookies, dip them in white chocolate, and sprinkle crushed candy canes on top. These look like they came from a bakery but take less than an hour. If you’ve got last-minute guests, this is your hero recipe.
20. Rugelach
A Jewish holiday classic that also fits beautifully on Christmas trays. Rugelach are rolled, crescent-shaped cookies filled with jam, nuts, or chocolate. They’re slightly flaky and taste like a mix between a cookie and pastry.
21. Spritz Cookies with a Cookie Press
Spritz cookies are buttery and light, made by pressing dough through a cookie press to create shapes like wreaths or trees. Add colored sugar or sprinkles before baking, and they’ll look like you spent hours decorating them.
22. Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Holiday Twist
Sometimes you just want the classic. Make your regular chocolate chip cookies but swap some of the chocolate for red and green M&Ms. Instant Christmas upgrade without any extra effort.
23. Eggnog Cookies
Eggnog isn’t just for drinking—it makes amazing cookies. The dough includes nutmeg and rum extract for that familiar holiday flavor. Top with a light glaze and sprinkle of nutmeg for maximum effect.
24. Italian Rainbow Cookies
These are more like layered petit fours than traditional cookies, but they belong on the Christmas list. Almond sponge cake layers are sandwiched with jam, coated in chocolate, and cut into squares. They take effort but look jaw-dropping.
25. Biscotti Dipped in Chocolate
Biscotti are crisp Italian cookies perfect for dunking in coffee or hot cocoa. Dip the ends in chocolate and sprinkle with crushed pistachios or dried cranberries for a holiday finish. These also ship well if you’re sending gifts by mail.
26. Whoopie Pies with Peppermint Filling
Technically more of a cake sandwich, but who’s counting? Bake two soft chocolate cookies and fill with peppermint buttercream. They’re indulgent, fun, and guaranteed to make your cookie platter stand out.
Conclusion On 26 Christmas Cookies Ideas
Christmas cookies aren’t just about sugar and butter—they’re about tradition, creativity, and sharing joy in the simplest form. Whether you’re baking gingerbread men with the kids, rolling out sugar cookies with royal icing, or surprising guests with peppermint whoopie pies, each cookie tells a story.
The beauty of having 26 different Christmas cookie ideas is that you’ll never run out of inspiration. Some are quick and simple, others more elaborate, but all of them bring warmth to the table. Baking cookies isn’t about perfection—it’s about the laughter in the kitchen, the powdered sugar on your sweater, and the plate you hand to a neighbor just to spread holiday cheer.
