Vintage Christmas Cookies to Make Ahead
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Get a jumpstart on the season with these Make-Ahead Vintage Christmas Cookies. Add to your holiday cookie plates and boxes with classic vintage Christmas cookies popular over the decades.
Incorporating Vintage Christmas Cookies recipes into your holiday baking makes Christmas even more meaningful. And we’ve gathered the best Vintage Christmas Cookie recipes we could find.
Christmas is about tradition and meaning and togetherness… and celebrating the best of our lives.
Often it’s a blending of classic traditions with unique twists and new ways of celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.
It’s what makes Christmas special.
This year, like never before, we’re planning and dreaming and thinking about Christmas earlier than ever.
With more time at home, we can make Christmas better than ever before.
Here are some ideas of Vintage Christmas Cookies to make ahead this year.
Vintage Christmas Cookies by the Decade
Good Housekeeping put together a list of popular Christmas cookies by the decade. It’s a fascinating list you might enjoy reading. Here’s the summary version:
1900
Gingerbread Cookie Cutouts: At the turn of the century, life was slower and simpler. Bakers relied on molasses as a key sweetener
1910
Classic Peanut-Butter Cookies: Peace gave way to World War I, the gas range replaced coal and woodstoves, the Oreo cookie debuted, and brands of peanut butter hit the market.
1920
Tea Cookies: This was a time for tearooms (thanks to Prohibition) and dainty pastries and cakes. Plus, the brownie was born.
1930
Icebox Cookies: During the Great Depression, butter was a luxury; most cookie recipes used shortening. Electric refrigerators brought icebox cookies to the forefront. Cookie dough that was chilled and sliced became popular. When the Depression ended, spritz cookies became the rage.
1940
Cranberry Honey Walnut Drops: During World War II, sturdy roll-and-slice spirals and drop cookies became popular. They were perfect for sending care packages to loved ones during the war.
1950
Vanilla Wafer Cookies: During the baby boom, cookie baking with cake mixes became the rage. Home bakers wanted to new ideas; the sweeter and more unusual, the better. It was fun to use “novel” ingredients like red candied cherries, instant coffee, and crushed vanilla wafers.
1960
French Madeleines: A decade like no other: We landed on the moon, flew to Europe and watched TV chef Julia Child cook French food. And Cool Whip came along.
1970
Peanut Butter Blossoms: Granola, hippie food of the 1960s, became a mainstream favorite. International flavors and natural ingredients like whole grains and seeds dominated diets and baking. But chocolate is chocolate and Peanut Butter Blossoms began appearing on most Christmas cookie platters.
1980
Snickerdoodles: Business was booming, and gourmet cookie shop were in every mall. Rich, gooey sweets were splurges. While leg warmers and spandex were in most closets, Snickerdoodles were favorite cookies of the decade.
1990
Funfetti Cookies: While healthy eating became more of a priority and many cookie lovers turned to lower-fat cookies, Funfetti cookies came on the scene in 1989.
2000
Espresso Crinkles: The coffee culture began and infused not only our beverages but cookies too!
Making Christmas Cookies Ahead
Freeze small portions of raw cookie dough, wrapped in foil and stored in an airtight freezer container. Be sure to label the dough with its contents, date, and baking instructions. Defrost in the refrigerator prior to baking.
Unbaked Drop Cookies:
I like to freeze unbaked drop cookies individually. Freeze individual unbaked cookies on cookie sheets until firm. Transfer to a labeled freezer-safe airtight container. When you’re ready to bake, arrange unbaked dough on cookie sheets, let warm to near room temperature, and bake as directed.
Baked Cookies:
I find it most convenient to freeze baked, iced, and decorated Christmas cookies. Let them cool completely and place in an airtight freezer container with wax paper or parchment paper between layers of cookies.
Start early and you’ll have the best Christmas Cookie tray you’ve ever made!
Vintage Christmas Cookies and Recipes
Vintage Christmas Cookies to Make Ahead
Get a jumpstart on the season with these Make-Ahead Vintage Christmas Cookies. Add to your holiday cookie plates and boxes with classic vintage Christmas cookies popular over the decades.
Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
"These old-fashioned sugar cookies are based on a 1939 recipe that ran in December. “No old-time Christmas was complete without a fat stone crock packed tight with filled cookies,” it read. “This is an old New Hampshire recipe.”
Spritz Cookies Recipe
Spritz cookies are crumbly, simple, and iconic, especially when shared in Christmas cookie boxes. Originating in Germany and Scandinavia in the 16th century, these cookies are vintage and perfect.
Cream Cheese Cookie Wreaths
These Christmas Cookie Wreaths are so cute and Christmassy, they could even stand in as Christmas ornaments!
ChocolateDate Brownie Bars
"Mrs. Edna M. Lorimer of Haverhill, Massachusetts, won $3—a second-place finish—for these delicious chocolate-date brownie bars in Yankee’s June 1949 reader recipe contest. At the time, dates were still a novel and exotic ingredient, having first been grown commercially in the 1920s—and we love how they add caramel flavor and extra chewiness to the classic bars."
Queen Elizabeth's Favorite Christmas Cookies: Cinnamon Stars
How about serving a Royal Treat on your Christmas Cookie tray this year? This Cinnamon Stars recipe is one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite Christmas cookies recipes!
Peppermint Truffles Recipe
"Peppermint truffles are the best thing to pack into all of your cookie tins for Christmas in July."
Pecan Linzer Cookies
"Use your favorite jams to vary the flavor and color of these beauties.
Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
"Cornflake Christmas Wreaths take the cake when it comes to festive treats for the holiday cookie tray... These Christmas treats are so easy to make with just 3 ingredients plus enough green food coloring to give them that perfect evergreen color."
Red Velvet Santa Hat Meringues Recipe
"Get a head start on making Santa's nice list by baking a batch of cookies that match his favorite accessory. Light and airy, these meringue cookies are cuter than an elf's button."
Russian Teacake Cookies
These powdered sugar covered Russian Teacakes or snowball cookies are always the first to go at our Christmas cookie table! I have to make them ahead, otherwise, they vanish before making it onto platters!
Brown Sugar Cookie Stars
"Consider this recipe the standout centerpiece for your party spread. Classic sugar cookies get a holiday makeover with star cookie cutters, royal icing, and flashy gold sprinkles." Definitely vintage cookie appeal!
Peppermint Mocha Chocolate Blossom Cookies
Sparkily sugar make these Peppermint Mocha Chocolate Blossom Cookies look like they came straight out of the 1940s!
Gingerbread Men Cookies
"A simple and delicious recipe for classic Gingerbread Men! These Gingerbread Cookies are made with all butter (no shortening!) for the best flavor. Perfectly spiced with molasses, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and decorated with a sweet and simple (not royal icing!) frosting."
Christmas Thumbprint Cookies
"Thumbprint Cookies are a must for your Christmas treat plate! And double the batch because they’re going to get eaten fast!"
Cookie Jar Gingersnaps
"My grandma kept two cookie jars in her pantry. One of the jars, which I now have, always had these crisp and chewy gingersnaps in it. They're still my favorite cookie recipe."
Treasure-Chest Bars
"Here’s a fruitcake variation that people actually love: tender frosted bars studded with dried fruit, nuts, and chocolate (that’s the “treasure”). Treasure-chest bars were popular in the ’60s and ’70s."
These look so delicious! I am planning my holiday baking, and these will be on the list for sure!