18 Family Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes

If you are looking for Christmas cookies to bake this holiday season, then check out these 18 Family Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes.

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Christmas is without a doubt one of the most magical times of the year. Between family traditions, the twinkling lights on the tree, caroling, and the food…..holiday magic is everywhere.

And one of the best parts of Christmas is the cookies! There is just something about the smell of freshly baked Christmas cookies coming out of the oven that can take you back to your childhood and make you remember all the reasons you love this joyful holiday season.

Baking Christmas cookies the day before Christmas eve is one of my family’s favorite Christmas traditions. It’s something that I did growing up and decided to carry on that tradition with my boys.

Although cookies can be enjoyed at any time of the year, baking them during holidays makes them extra special because they are meant to be shared and enjoyed with family and friends.

So, if you are on the search for cookies recipes to bake this holiday season, these are some of my family’s favorite Christmas cookie recipes that we have tried over the years. Hopefully, your family will love them as much as mine does.

How do you store Christmas cookies?

You can store cookies in airtight containers for up to a week to keep them fresh. If you know they are not going to be used up, then freeze them. They can last for about a month in the freezer. Just make sure when you freeze them to freeze individually first before putting them in a ziplock freezer bag otherwise they will stick together.

You May Like:19 Best Christmas Cookie Baking Hacks

Here are a few supplies that may be helpful when you set out to bake Christmas cookies this year.

Christmas cookie supplies:

These cookie ideas would be perfect for cookie holiday exchanges, inexpensive gifts for neighbors, or to enjoy snuggling up with a cozy blanket watching your favorite holiday specials.

Looking for some more Christmas inspiration?

18 Family Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes

Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a must to bake, frost, and decorate during the holidays. We turn on some Christmas music, pull out the cookie cutters, and get the whole family involved. When the cookies have cooled, we frost with icing or our favorite buttercream frosting. (Betty Crocker Recipe)

These Sugar cookies from Two Sisters are soft, chewy, and delicious. Plus, they make a huge batch so they are perfect for gifting or sharing. If you want to make a smaller batch, you could freeze half of the dough to use at a later time or cut the recipe in half.

(We use half of our sugar cookie batter for our Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies)

Gingerbread Cookies

Nothing says Christmas like gingerbread cookies. Every year, we put on our favorite Christmas movie (currently Elf), eat gingerbread cookies, and drink cocoa while watching it. It’s something I look forward to every year.

Try these Gingerbread Cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction for a sweet treat this holiday season.

Snickerdoodles

I made homemade Snickerdoodles for the first time a couple of years ago and they were an instant hit with the family. These Snickerdoodle cookies from Lil’ Luna are so yummy, soft, and full of cinnamon.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal Raisin is my husband’s favorite cookie so they are a must to bake every Christmas. We love this Oatmeal Raisin cookie recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything. The cookies come out chewy and packed full of flavor.

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Raspberry Thumbprint cookies are probably the easiest cookies I make because I use the batter from my sugar cookies. (You can use the sugar cookie recipe above or your favorite sugar cookie recipe to make these cookies.)

It’s the perfect way to use up leftover batter if you make a large batch of sugar cookies. Instead of rolling out the dough flat to cut out, simply roll it into a small ball and dip it in granulated sugar. Press your thumb into the middle of the cookie and fill it with raspberry preserves and then bake 375° for 8-10 minutes.

(Don’t overfill the cookies with jam or it will run over the top of the cookie making a mess.)You can also melt white chocolate if you would like to drizzle over the top after the cookies are out of the oven and have cooled.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

These simple and delicious peanut butter blossom cookies are made without flour making them so easy to throw together. They are the perfect cookie to bring to holiday gatherings.

Peanut Butter Blossoms (no flour)

1 cup of creamy peanut butter
1 cup of sugar (we use brown sugar)
1 large egg
1 tsp of vanilla
Hershey kisses
granulated sugar for dipping

Preheat oven to 350°, Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Then roll into 1-inch balls, dip in granulated sugar, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and place an unwrapped Hershey kiss in the center of each cookie. Let cool completely and enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

These cookies are another must to make during the holidays. My youngest son can’t get enough of them. However, I will say these cookies come with a learning curve (or maybe it’s just me) as over the years they have occasionally come out too soft or too crumbly.

My mother is a pro at making these cookies and has offered a lot of tips over the years such as making sure the mixture comes to a rolling boil before lowering the temperature and adjusting the amount of oatmeal to add which has been so helpful.

Despite some challenges in making them, these cookies are worth the effort and are a family favorite. Try this No-Bake Cookie recipe from Cooking Classy for a perfect cookie every time.

Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

Traditional peanut butter cookies are always a hit. But, adding peanut butter chips to the mix brings all the peanut butter goodness up a notch. Although I’ve enjoyed a good peanut butter cookie, it wasn’t until I tasted these cookies at a parent-teacher conference at my son’s school a couple of years ago that I fell in love.

I became ~~a little~~ obsessed with finding the recipe and was thrilled when I came across these soft peanut butter cookies from Cookies and Cups. These cookies were so delicious, I couldn’t stop making them. You should definitely give them a try.

You may like: Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

We have made these cookies since my boys were small. You may have noticed by now that my family loves chocolate and peanut butter. These cookies are not only a holiday treat but can be enjoyed any time of year.

Grab a tall glass of milk and bake up some of these yummy Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies from My Baking Addiction are the easiest cookies to make because all they take is a box of chocolate cake mix, eggs, oil, vanilla, and powdered sugar. My boys adore these cookies because they remind them of fudgy brownies, and I love them because they are so quick and simple to make.

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

We love Cinnamon rolls in our household, so much in fact they have become our Christmas morning breakfast over the last few years. When I came across this Cinnamon Roll cookie recipe on Pinterest from Mama Loves Food, I knew I had to give it a try. They taste just like mini cinnamon rolls but in a chewy cookie. So tasty and delicious.

Cake Mix Christmas Cookies

Nothing says easy like cake mix Christmas cookies. They are the perfect last-minute cookie idea. The best part of these cookies is that there are so many variations that you can try. If you are looking for easy Christmas cookies to bake with the kids, try these Cake Mix Cookies. (I Heart Naptime)

Here are 20 More Cake Mix Christmas Cookie Recipes you can try.

Snowball Cookies

These classic snowball cookies from Bigger Bolder Baking are delicious cookies covered in powdered sugar shaped like little snowballs. They are so good, they will melt in your mouth.

Molasses Cookies

My grandmother always had molasses cookies sitting on her kitchen table when we went to visit so thinking of these cookies always brings back a lot of good memories.

These Ginger Molasses Cookies from Gimme Some Oven are yummy and the perfect recipe to make when I’m in the mood for molasses cookies.

S’mores Cookies

As much as I love the holidays, I will admit I miss those warm summer evenings by the firepit enjoying toasted marshmallows and gooey s’ mores.

These S’ more cookies from Preppy Kitchen brings me back to those perfect evenings by the fire with their marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. A fun and yummy cookie to add to your holiday baking list.

Peppermint Meltaway

These peppermint meltaway cookies (Taste of Home) are not only festive but delicious. These soft cookies are topped with creamy frosting and sprinkled with peppermint for a tasty cookie that melts in your mouth.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies are very similar to the peanut butter blossoms but they use flour and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. They are also my oldest son’s favorite cookie and he requests them year after year. If you are a peanut butter lover then this is a must-have Christmas cookie to add to your recipe box.

Try these delicious Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Peanut Butter Cookies from Foodtastic Mom. You won’t be disappointed.

Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

We are all about chocolate chip cookies in my home. You can find our very favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe here.

If you are looking for a soft and chewy chocolate chip M&M cookie then this recipe is for you. They come out perfect every time.

Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

1 cup of butter (2 sticks- room temperature)
1 cup light brown sugar
½ cup white granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 bag 12-ounce semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 bag of Holiday M&M’s

Preheat your oven to 350° and combine flour, salt, and baking soda in a small mixing bowl. Then, cream together butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Stir into the dry mixture and add the M&Ms and chocolate chips. Drop onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes (small cookies) or 12-14 (large cookies) Cool on a wire rack and enjoy!

More Family Favorite Christmas Treats

Peppermint Bark- The Chunky Chef
Peanut Butter Fudge– Food Network
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge– Chocolate, Chocolate and More
Oreo Balls– Sugar Spun Run
Pretzel Kisses– Eating on a Dime
Christmas Chex Mix– Chex
Monkey Bread– Pioneer Woman

Here are 45 Easy No-Bake Christmas Treats if you are looking for even more delicious and simple desserts to enjoy this holiday season.

Love Christmas cookies as much as my family does?

Check out this Life is Short Eat Christmas Cookies free printable

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