🍪 25 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes (Soft, Chewy & Festive)

The smell hits first — butter, vanilla, cinnamon — and suddenly I am eight years old again, standing on a kitchen chair, sneaking dough when Grandma was not looking. Christmas cookies are not just dessert; they are time travel.

Every December since, I have baked my way through dozens of recipes to find the ones worth repeating. The dry ones, the bland ones, the ones that spread into pancake oblivion — all eliminated.

These easy Christmas cookie recipes are the keepers: 25 tested, foolproof favorites with simple ingredients and clear steps. No fancy equipment, no impossible techniques — just really good cookies.

1. 🍫 Classic Chewy Chocolate Chip

Save

The one everyone asks for. Melted butter and an extra egg yolk make these impossibly chewy with crisp edges.

Ingredients: 2¼ cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup melted butter, ¾ cup brown sugar, ½ cup sugar, 1 egg + 1 yolk, 2 tsp vanilla, 2 cups chocolate chips

1. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
2. Whisk melted butter with both sugars, then egg, yolk, and vanilla.
3. Fold dry into wet, then stir in chocolate chips.
4. Chill dough 30 minutes (do not skip).
5. Scoop 2-tbsp balls; bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes until edges are golden.

Baker’s note: Underbake slightly — they finish setting on the pan. Sea salt on top is non-negotiable.

2. 🎄 Soft Sugar Cookies with Buttercream

Save

Pillowy, thick, and soft for days — the bakery-style sugar cookie, frosted with simple vanilla buttercream.

Ingredients: 2¾ cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp baking powder, 1 cup softened butter, 1½ cups sugar, 1 egg, 2 tsp vanilla; frosting: ½ cup butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk, 1 tsp vanilla

1. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, 3 minutes.
2. Beat in egg and vanilla; add dry ingredients.
3. Roll into balls, flatten slightly; bake at 375°F for 8–10 minutes.
4. Cool completely, then frost with buttercream and sprinkles.

Baker’s note: Pull them when the centers look slightly underdone — that is the secret to soft.

3. 🧸 Gingerbread Men

Save

Spicy, sturdy, and perfect for decorating — the dough holds its shape so your gingerbread people keep their heads.

Ingredients: 3 cups flour, ¾ cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp cloves, ¾ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, ¾ cup softened butter, ½ cup molasses, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla

1. Whisk dry ingredients; cream butter and sugar separately.
2. Beat in molasses, egg, vanilla; combine with dry.
3. Chill dough 1 hour; roll ¼-inch thick and cut shapes.
4. Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes; decorate when cool.

Baker’s note: Chill the cut shapes 10 minutes before baking — zero spreading, sharp edges.

4. 🥜 Peanut Butter Blossoms

Save

Soft peanut butter cookies rolled in sugar with a chocolate kiss pressed in warm — the cookie-exchange champion.

Ingredients: 1¾ cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, ½ cup softened butter, ½ cup peanut butter, ½ cup sugar + ½ cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 2 tbsp milk, 1 tsp vanilla, sugar for rolling, chocolate kisses

1. Cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars; beat in egg, milk, vanilla.
2. Add dry ingredients; roll into 1-inch balls and coat in sugar.
3. Bake at 375°F for 8 minutes.
4. Press a kiss into each cookie immediately; cool on pan 5 minutes.

Baker’s note: Unwrap all kisses before baking — you will need them fast.

5. ✨ Snickerdoodles

Save

Tangy, chewy, and rolled in cinnamon sugar — the cream of tartar gives them their signature soft chew.

Ingredients: 2¾ cups flour, 2 tsp cream of tartar, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, 1½ cups sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla; coating: ⅓ cup sugar + 3 tbsp cinnamon

1. Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs and vanilla.
2. Add dry ingredients; chill 30 minutes.
3. Roll into balls, coat generously in cinnamon sugar.
4. Bake at 375°F for 9–11 minutes until puffed and just set.

Baker’s note: Do not overbake — they should look slightly soft in the center.

6. 🍓 Thumbprint Jam Cookies

Save

Buttery shortbread rounds with a jewel of jam in the center — pretty enough for the cookie tin, easy enough for a weeknight.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, ⅔ cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, ½ tsp almond extract, ½ cup jam

1. Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla and almond extract.
2. Mix in flour and salt; chill 30 minutes.
3. Roll into balls, press a thumbprint in each.
4. Fill with ½ tsp jam; bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes.

Baker’s note: Any jam works — raspberry and apricot look the most festive.

7. ❄️ Russian Tea Cakes (Snowballs)

Save

Melt-in-your-mouth pecan shortbread rolled twice in powdered sugar — they look like little snowballs.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour, ¼ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, ½ cup powdered sugar + more for rolling, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup finely chopped pecans

1. Cream butter and powdered sugar; add vanilla.
2. Mix in flour, salt, and pecans.
3. Roll into 1-inch balls; bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.
4. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar, cool, then roll again.

Baker’s note: The double roll is the whole trick — snowy coating that actually sticks.

8. 🫐 Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate

Save

Chewy oatmeal cookies studded with tart cranberries and creamy white chocolate — Christmas in a bite.

Ingredients: 1½ cups flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 3 cups oats, 1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup white chocolate chips

1. Cream butter and sugars; beat in eggs and vanilla.
2. Add dry ingredients, then oats.
3. Fold in cranberries and white chocolate.
4. Bake scoops at 350°F for 11–13 minutes.

Baker’s note: Soak cranberries in orange juice 10 minutes first for extra plumpness.

9. 🍫 Double Chocolate Crinkle

Save

Fudgy, brownie-like centers with crackled powdered-sugar tops — dramatic looks, minimal effort.

Ingredients: 1 cup cocoa powder, 2 cups sugar, ½ cup oil, 4 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, powdered sugar for rolling

1. Whisk cocoa, sugar, and oil; beat in eggs and vanilla.
2. Add dry ingredients; chill dough 2 hours or overnight.
3. Roll into balls, coat thickly in powdered sugar.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes until crackled.

Baker’s note: Chilling is mandatory — warm dough will not crinkle properly.

10. 🍋 Lemon Crinkle

Save

Bright, sunny lemon in a crackled sugar coat — the refreshing outlier on every cookie plate.

Ingredients: ½ cup softened butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tbsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1½ cups flour, ½ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp salt, powdered sugar for rolling

1. Cream butter, sugar, and zest; beat in egg and lemon juice.
2. Add dry ingredients; chill 1 hour.
3. Roll in powdered sugar; bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.

Baker’s note: Fresh zest only — bottled lemon juice cannot carry this cookie.

11. 🫚 Molasses Spice Cookies

Save

Deep, dark, and chewy with ginger, cloves, and cinnamon — the grown-up gingerbread.

Ingredients: 2¼ cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger, ½ tsp cloves, ¼ tsp salt, ¾ cup softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, ¼ cup molasses, sugar for rolling

1. Whisk dry ingredients; cream butter and brown sugar.
2. Beat in egg and molasses; combine.
3. Roll in sugar; bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes.
4. Cool — they firm up as they sit.

Baker’s note: Crackled tops mean you nailed it. Flat tops mean the oven was too cool.

12. 🧈 Shortbread Fingers

Save

Three ingredients, infinite elegance. Real butter is the entire recipe — accept no substitutes.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1 cup cold butter (cubed), ½ cup powdered sugar, ¼ tsp salt, coarse sugar for tops

1. Rub butter into flour, sugar, and salt until a dough forms.
2. Press into a lined 9-inch pan; prick with a fork.
3. Bake at 325°F for 30–35 minutes until pale gold.
4. Cut into fingers while warm; sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Baker’s note: European-style butter (higher fat) makes noticeably better shortbread.

13. 🍬 Peppermint Bark Cookies

Save

Chocolate cookies dipped in white chocolate and showered with crushed candy cane — bark, but better.

Ingredients: 1¾ cups flour, ¾ cup cocoa, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla; topping: melted white chocolate + crushed candy canes

1. Make a standard chocolate cookie dough; bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
2. Cool completely.
3. Dip half of each cookie in melted white chocolate.
4. Sprinkle with crushed candy cane; let set.

Baker’s note: Crush candy canes in a bag with a rolling pin — fine pieces stick best.

14. 🥛 Eggnog Meltaways

Save

Delicate, nutmeg-dusted cookies that dissolve on the tongue — eggnog you can hold.

Ingredients: 2¼ cups flour, ¼ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, ½ cup powdered sugar, 3 tbsp eggnog, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp rum extract (optional); dusting: powdered sugar + nutmeg

1. Cream butter and powdered sugar; add eggnog, vanilla, rum extract.
2. Mix in flour and salt; chill 1 hour.
3. Roll into balls; bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes.
4. Dust warm with powdered sugar and fresh nutmeg.

Baker’s note: Fresh-grated nutmeg beats pre-ground by a mile here.

15. 🍒 Cherry Almond Cookies

Save

Almond-scented cookies studded with ruby cherries — jewel-box pretty and bakery delicious.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour, ½ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, ¾ cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp almond extract, 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries (drained), ½ cup sliced almonds

1. Cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and almond extract.
2. Add dry ingredients; fold in cherries and almonds.
3. Drop by spoonfuls; bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes.

Baker’s note: Drain cherries on paper towels first — wet cherries make soggy cookies.

16. 🌰 Pecan Sandies

Save

Crisp-edged, buttery pecan shortbread — the quiet cookie everyone reaches for second.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour, ½ tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, ¾ cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 1½ cups chopped toasted pecans

1. Cream butter and powdered sugar; add vanilla.
2. Mix in dry ingredients and pecans.
3. Shape into logs, chill 1 hour, slice ¼-inch thick.
4. Bake at 350°F for 12–15 minutes until edges brown.

Baker’s note: Toast the pecans first — raw pecans taste like nothing here.

17. 🌸 Spritz Cookies

Save

Buttery pressed cookies in Christmas shapes — the cookie press does the decorating for you.

Ingredients: 3½ cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1½ cups softened butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2 tsp vanilla, ½ tsp almond extract, sprinkles

1. Cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and extracts.
2. Add dry ingredients — dough should be soft but not sticky.
3. Press shapes onto ungreased sheets; add sprinkles.
4. Bake at 375°F for 8–10 minutes.

Baker’s note: Dough too stiff to press? It is too cold. Too soft? Chill 15 minutes.

18. 🫙 Linzer Cookies

Save

Almond shortbread sandwich cookies with jam peeking through a cutout — the prettiest cookie on the list.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1 cup almond flour, ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, ¾ cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, raspberry jam, powdered sugar

1. Make dough with both flours; chill 1 hour.
2. Roll ⅛-inch thick; cut equal numbers of solid and cutout rounds.
3. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes; cool.
4. Spread jam on solids, top with cutouts, dust with powdered sugar.

Baker’s note: Assemble the day you serve — jam softens the tops over time.

19. 🍮 Toffee Bits Cookies

Save

Chewy brown-sugar cookies loaded with crunchy toffee bits — caramel in every bite.

Ingredients: 2¼ cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, 1¼ cups brown sugar, ¼ cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 1½ cups toffee bits

1. Cream butter and sugars; beat in eggs and vanilla.
2. Add dry ingredients; fold in toffee bits.
3. Bake scoops at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.

Baker’s note: Reserve a few toffee bits to press on top before baking — bakery look.

20. 🤍 White Chocolate Macadamia

Save

Buttery, rich, and loaded with white chocolate and macadamias — the luxury cookie.

Ingredients: 2¼ cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, ¾ cup brown sugar, ½ cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 1½ cups white chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped macadamias

1. Cream butter and sugars; beat in eggs and vanilla.
2. Add dry ingredients; fold in chips and nuts.
3. Chill 30 minutes; bake at 350°F for 11–13 minutes.

Baker’s note: Macadamias are pricey — chop them; smaller pieces distribute better.

21. 🍎 Spiced Apple Oatmeal

Save

Chewy oatmeal cookies with real apple and warm spice — like apple pie in cookie form.

Ingredients: 1½ cups flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 3 cups oats, 1½ cups finely diced apple

1. Cream butter and sugars; beat in eggs and vanilla.
2. Add dry ingredients, then oats and apple.
3. Bake scoops at 350°F for 12–14 minutes.

Baker’s note: Dice the apple small — big chunks make the cookies fall apart.

22. 🥥 Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons

Save

Chewy coconut mounds dipped in dark chocolate — naturally gluten-free and naturally irresistible.

Ingredients: 14 oz sweetened shredded coconut, ⅔ cup sugar, ¼ tsp salt, 4 egg whites, 2 tsp vanilla, 8 oz melted dark chocolate

1. Mix coconut, sugar, salt, egg whites, and vanilla.
2. Scoop tight mounds onto lined sheets.
3. Bake at 325°F for 20–25 minutes until golden.
4. Cool, then dip bottoms in melted chocolate.

Baker’s note: Pack the mounds tightly — loose macaroons spread and crumble.

23. ⭐ Cinnamon Stars (Zimtsterne)

Save

German almond-cinnamon stars with glossy meringue tops — naturally gluten-free and stunning.

Ingredients: 3 cups almond flour, 1¾ cups powdered sugar, 2 tbsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp salt, 2 egg whites, 1 tsp lemon juice; glaze: 1 egg white + 1 cup powdered sugar

1. Beat egg whites to soft peaks; fold in dry ingredients.
2. Roll ¼-inch thick between parchment; cut stars.
3. Brush with glaze; bake at 300°F for 12–15 minutes.
4. Glaze should set white, not brown.

Baker’s note: Low and slow — these are dried more than baked.

24. 🧈 Brown Butter Pecan

Save

Nutty brown butter and toasted pecans — the cookie that makes people ask for the recipe.

Ingredients: 2¼ cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup butter (browned), 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 1½ cups toasted chopped pecans

1. Brown the butter until nutty and amber; cool 15 minutes.
2. Whisk with sugars, then eggs and vanilla.
3. Add dry ingredients and pecans; chill 30 minutes.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.

Baker’s note: Watch the butter like a hawk — browned to burnt is about 30 seconds.

25. ☕ Hot Cocoa Cookies

Save

Chocolate cookies with a gooey marshmallow center, drizzled like a mug of cocoa — kids lose their minds.

Ingredients: 1¾ cups flour, ¾ cup cocoa, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup softened butter, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 12 large marshmallows (halved), melted chocolate for drizzle

1. Make chocolate cookie dough; scoop into balls.
2. Press a marshmallow half into each ball, covering with dough.
3. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
4. Drizzle with melted chocolate while warm.

Baker’s note: Seal the dough fully around the marshmallow — leaks are delicious but messy.

❓ Christmas Cookie FAQs

Bake a batch for the neighbors, keep a tin for yourself, and freeze some dough for the surprise guests. That is the whole philosophy — merry baking.