Pulling a tray of warm, buttery Christmas cookies out of the oven fills the house with holiday magic like nothing else. I’ve gathered 22 easy favorites that are just right for edible gifts: classic sugar cookies, minty chocolate bites, and all the merry treats in between. They’re festive, fun, and practically made for sharing with everyone on your list.
1. Grinch Crinkle Cookies
Grinch Crinkle Cookies are that easy, crowd pleasing treat I can’t help but bake every December. A snowy powdered sugar crackle on the outside gives way to the fudgiest, richest center. They’re a playful spin on classic sugar cookies, and they really pop on a holiday platter.
2. Spritz Cookies
Spritz Cookies are all about butter, vanilla, and those pretty little pressed designs that feel so festive. They’re delicate, buttery shortbread bites in the most charming shapes. If I have my cookie press handy, these come together surprisingly fast, giving me fancy looking cookies without a ton of work.
3. Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are loaded with everything: chocolate, marshmallows, nuts, you name it. I love how the mix of textures and flavors makes them one of the best holiday cookies out there. And they’re so easy, one batch satisfies every single craving at once.
4. Snowman Cookies
Snowman Cookies bring the cheeriest little faces to any holiday dessert spread. I start with a simple sugar cookie base and then let the decorations do all the work, which delights kids and grown ups every time. They’re wonderfully playful and easy, just right when you want festive fun without the stress.
5. Reindeer Linzer Cookies
Reindeer Linzer Cookies take a classic favorite and give it the
6. Spicy Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
Spicy Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies are my go to for chilly December nights when I need something warm and fragrant. They’re a top tier Christmas cookie if you love that classic ginger and molasses kick. And they’re easy enough that you still get a huge dose of holiday cheer without the fuss.
7. Chocolate M&M Cookies
Chocolate M&M Cookies put a colorful, fun spin on classic favorites that always make me smile. They’re the perfect pick for joyful, family friendly holiday baking. And when I’m craving something sweet and simple, these come together in no time.
8. Peppermint Mocha Cookies
Peppermint Mocha Cookies bring that cozy coffee shop vibe straight into my Christmas baking. I reach for them when I’m craving something minty and sweet, just a little indulgent. And they come together so quickly, even when I’m racing the holiday clock.
9. Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
Cake Mix Christmas Cookies are a total shortcut that still feels like a holiday win. I reach for this recipe when I need big batches for gifting, because the cake mix does all the heavy lifting. Somehow they turn out festive and special every single time, with almost no effort.
10. Cranberry Lemon Pistachio Cookies
Cranberry Lemon Pistachio Cookies hit all the right notes: tangy cranberry, zippy lemon, and the perfect pistachio crunch. I adore them when I want fruit and nuts wrapped up in a holiday cookie. They look elegant but come together easily, even if you’re a newer baker.
11. Christmas Baci di Dama Cookies
Christmas Baci di Dama Cookies are delicate Italian style sandwich cookies with a dreamy chocolate filling tucked inside. They add a touch of charm to my holiday baking without being fussy. I love them fresh from the kitchen, and they’re surprisingly easy to pull together when I want something delicate and unforgettable.
12. Reindeer Cookies
Reindeer Cookies are those adorable little faces that instantly make everyone smile, perfect for decorating with little helpers or handing out to neighbors. They bring just the right amount of whimsy to my cookie lineup while still tasting absolutely delicious. And they’re so easy, you’ll get all the joy with barely any work.
13. Molasses Crinkle Cookies
Molasses Crinkle Cookies are dark, spicy, and deeply satisfying when I’m craving bold holiday flavor. They pull from classic recipes with rich molasses and warm spices that fill the whole kitchen. I love that they don’t need any fancy decorating, just that beautiful crackled top.
14. Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies
Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies are pure nostalgic magic, with frosting, candy, and gooey marshmallow details that look like a snowman had a little sunshine moment. Under all that fun, they’re classic sugar cookies with a playful personality. I whip up big batches of these for cookie swaps because they’re as easy as they are adorable.
15. Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Candy Cane Kiss Cookies marry peppermint, chocolate, and a satisfying crunch into one festive little bite. They stand out on any holiday cookie platter and make candy cane fans so happy. And they’re completely effortless, so you can get your peppermint fix without any stress.
16. Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies are hearty and tart with the coziest hint of fall that feels just right at Christmas. I love having a wholesome cookie in my holiday lineup, and these are it. They’re sweet treats that come together fast, perfect for a last minute baking session.
17. Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles
Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles are pure joy in cutout form, hitting that classic holiday sugar cookie note perfectly. I keep the decorating simple with colorful sprinkles and fun shapes, no fancy skills required. They’re my go to when I need a big batch for a cookie exchange.
18. Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Whipped Shortbread Cookies are light and buttery, and they completely melt in your mouth the second you take a bite. I think they’re the loveliest little treasures to tuck into a cookie tin or lay out on a dessert tray. And as fancy as they seem, they’re shockingly simple to whip up.
19. Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies
Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies are rich and impossibly soft, and I have zero self control around them. When I want a more decadent holiday cookie, these earn a top spot on my list. Even with all that richness, they’re still a simple, no fuss sugar cookie at heart, perfect for easy baking days.
20. Cake Mix Eggnog Cookies
Cake Mix Eggnog Cookies wrap up that cozy seasonal eggnog taste in a soft, easy cookie. I turn to this recipe when I want a holiday favorite without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s seriously the best shortcut to a Christmas cookie that tastes like you fussed, but you absolutely did not.
21. Irresistible Fruitcake Cookies
Irresistible Fruitcake Cookies give fruitcake a total makeover, packing fruit, spice, and wonderful texture into each bite. They capture all those rich, traditional holiday flavors I love, without the heaviness of the classic loaf. And they’re easy enough to make for gifting or piling onto dessert trays.
22. Meringue Wreath Cookies
Meringue Wreath Cookies are airy, light, and shaped into the prettiest little wreaths. They have that delicate, buttery vibe and a hint of vanilla that makes them feel extra special. I love setting them out on my holiday table because they look fancy but are secretly so simple to make.
