17 Simple Christmas Cookies You Have to Try!
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It’s time for Christmas Cookies! The baking season has begun, and these 17 Christmas cookie recipes are ones you will love. I make them every year! They’re simple, festive, and delicious!

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Plus, read on to find out which Christmas cookies are most popular this year. And for good measure, we’ve added some tips from the pros on how to make an awesome Christmas cookie platter!
Most Popular Christmas Cookie Searches:
As the Christmas cookie baking season begins, you might wonder, what cookies are popular this year?
Wonder no more. Here’s the answer!
In addition to your favorites and family recipes, you might want to consider adding a few of these Google favorites.
The most searched for Christmas cookie recipes include:
- Gingerbread Cookies: We love our Gingerbread Cookies as well as our Giant Ginger Spice Cookies.
- Christmas Sugar Cookies: This Sugar Cookie recipe is one we make every year!
- Thumbprint Cookies: A shortbread type cookie with a jam filling.
- Vanilla Teacake Cookies: Always a favorite for Christmas… or afternoon tea. This recipe is a favorite: Easy Vanilla Tea Cake Cookies,
- Peanut Butter Cookies: Who doesn’t love these? Here’s our take on the classic Peanut Butter Cookie.
- Italian Christmas Cookies: Beautiful, buttery, and delicious!
7 Tips on Making Christmas Cookie Boxes from the Pros
This week I’m focusing on cookie boxes. It’s something I’ve done for years and they make wonderful homemade gifts. I’m baking for the family already — It’s nice to share!
If you have never made cookie boxes for friends and family, this just might be your year to start.
- NYT Food writer Melissa Clark advises striving for an assortment of 8 cookies, but 3 or 4 varieties will do.
- Jam filled cookies preserve well in a box, stay soft, and provide that Christmas gem-colored beauty.
- Cookies with sprinkles are always great to layer on the top. It’s an immediate Christmas thrill.
- Add crunch, like nuts, to give variety.
- Chocolate is non-negotiable so bake your favorite chocolate cookies, or make some easy make-ahead Christmas candy.
- A variety of shapes add interest to every box. Shapes like gingerbread cookies are always a favorite.
- Cheat a little, says Williams-Sonoma. Add store-bought favorites, like Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark!
Cookie Boxes Containers to Gift Your Homemade Christmas Cookies
Cookie Boxes to Gift

24 PCs Christmas Foil Cookie Gift Box
These Christmas themed food-safe cookie boxes and bright and cherry for the season!

24 Large Christmas Cookie Boxes
Anything that says, "Merry Christmas" and is filled with goodies is a win in my book. I love the natural colors and the window!
More Christmas Cookie Recipes and Ideas!
While these Christmas cookie recipes are my standards, there are some amazing recipes in both our Worldwide Christmas Cookies and Vintage Christmas Cookies posts you’ll love to review too!
17 Christmas Cookie Recipes You Can't Live Without!
Gingerbread Cookies: German Inspired
This Gingerbread Cookies recipe, inspired by German spices, is soft and perfectly delicious with molasses and brown sugar. These Gingerbread Cookies are Christmas in every bite.
Favorite Sugar Cookie Cutouts Recipe
I've made these cookies for years. I love the flavor and the way the cut-out cookies bake. It's my go-to for every shaped cookie!
Vanilla Tea Cake Cookies
Vanilla Tea Cake Cookies are a simple buttery, soft vanilla tea cookie perfect for afternoon tea. Much like Scottish Shortbread, the ingredients are simple, but the texture and vanilla flavors are deliciously unforgettable.
Simple Peanut Butter Cookies
Simple Peanut Butter Cookies are the ultimate in comfort, a classic chewy and cakey cookie with the addictive peanut butter flavor we love.
Peppermint Mocha Brownie Cookies
Is there a more Christmassy flavor than peppermint and mocha? Not in my book! These Peppermint Mocha Brownie Cookies are soft and chewy, fudgy with melty chocolate, and addictive with that holiday peppermint flavor.
Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies with Espresso
It's the second Christmas cookie I make every year. Because honestly, someone is always sneaking one out of the freezer. They're just that good. And then, they're also the last cookies I make of the season. To refill what the elves have already eaten!
Oatmeal Chocolate Coconut Cookies with Toasted Almonds
An oatmeal cookie is always a favorite at Christmas. These have that toasted flavor with added coconut and almonds. They are amazingly delicious!
Giant and Soft Ginger-Spice Cookies
These Ginger Spice Cookies are the perfect fall and Christmas cookie! The richly spiced flavors of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and molasses are a comforting and familiar blend that evokes memories of warmth and love, and laughter.
Buckingham Palace Shortbread Cookies
Buckingham Palace Shortbread Cookies are a recipe from pastry chef John Higgins that's perfect for the holidays or afternoon tea.
Butterscotch Chocolate Magic Cookie Bars
Much like a traditional Magic Bar Cookie that's always a favorite, this recipe adds additional Christmasy flavors like butterscotch! Yum!
Peppermint Mocha Chocolate Blossom Cookies
This is a chocolate peppermint mocha take on classic blossom cookies. They are as delicious to eat as they are to look at!
Royale Coconut Macadamia Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you love to shop at Nordstrom and stop at their cafe, you've probably heard about these cookies. They are addictive, to say the least. The is my version of those amazing cookies.
Russian Teacakes
For some, it wouldn't be Christmas without sugar cookie cut-outs. For me, it wouldn't be Christmas without these Russian Teacakes. They're simply the holidays to me.
Scottish Shortbread
This classic Scottish Shortbread is so easy to make, utterly delicious, and perfect to give as a gift! I love shaping them into petticoat tails!
Sweet Iconic Snickerdoodles
They are a classic for a reason. They're simply comfort food in a cookie. These are easy to make, and so, so yummy. I dare you to stop at just one cookie!
Cranberry Crumb Bars with Cinnamon and Ginger
Whether you serve them with tea or simply on your cookie tray, these cranberry filled bars are easy to make and always a favorite.
Holiday Fruitcake Bars with Figs and Plums
Filled with fruit, these bars are better than fruitcake! Plus give variety to a cookie tray!