The scent of cookies baking might be the most magical part of the holidays. From spiced classics to playful new twists, each batch brings warmth and nostalgia. Decorate, gift, or sneak a few by the tree—there’s no wrong way to enjoy them. Every bite feels like Christmas wrapped in sugar and butter.

Thumbprint Cookies with Chocolate

Thumbprint Cookies with Chocolate. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

These thumbprint cookies are buttery, soft, and perfectly tender, making them irresistible from the first bite. The center is filled with a silky chocolate ganache that adds a rich, indulgent finish. They’re simple to prepare and feel wonderfully special, making them ideal for everyday treats or gifting.
Get the Recipe: Thumbprint Cookies with Chocolate

Red Velvet Cake Cookies

Red Velvet Cake Cookies. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

These red velvet cake cookies bake up soft, chewy, and full of rich cocoa flavor. White chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips add a sweet, creamy contrast in every bite. They’re festive, chocolatey, and perfect for holidays or anytime cravings.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Cookies

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

These cookies blend tart dried cranberries with creamy white chocolate for the perfect sweet-tangy balance. They’re soft, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. Ideal for holiday baking or year-round snacking, they’re always a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Red Crinkle Cookies

Red Crinkle Cookies. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Soft and chewy, these red crinkle cookies are rolled in powdered sugar for a crackly, festive finish. They have a subtle cocoa flavor and a rich, buttery taste that makes them hard to resist. Fun to bake and even better to eat, they’re a holiday must-have.
Get the Recipe: Red Crinkle Cookies

Reindeer Sugar Cookies

Reindeer Sugar Cookies. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

These reindeer sugar cookies bring instant holiday cheer with their bright red noses and cute chocolate antlers. They’re easy to decorate and even more fun to share. Festive and charming, they’re sure to become a seasonal tradition.
Get the Recipe: Reindeer Sugar Cookies

Old-fashioned Ginger Cookies

Old-fashioned Ginger Cookies. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

These old-fashioned ginger cookies strike the perfect balance of crisp edges and soft, chewy centers. Warm ginger and spices give them that cozy, nostalgic flavor everyone loves. They’re simple, comforting, and impossible to stop eating.
Get the Recipe: Old-fashioned Ginger Cookies

Glazed Sugar Cookies

Glazed sugar Christmas cookies on a white plate.
Glazed Sugar Cookies. Photo credit: Ginger Casa.

These glazed sugar cookies are easy, festive, and perfect for holiday gifting or snacking. A sweet, colorful swirl glaze adds a fun decorative touch without extra effort. Soft, buttery, and eye-catching, they disappear fast from any cookie tray.
Get the Recipe: Glazed Sugar Cookies

Christmas Cookies with MMs

Two cookies topped with red and green chocolate candies on a gray plate, surrounded by pinecones and wrapped gifts.
Christmas Cookies with MMs. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

These Christmas M&M cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with colorful candy pieces. They’re easy to customize with any leftover candy or seasonal colors. Fun to make and even more fun to eat, they’re great for kids and holiday parties.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Cookies with MMs

Christmas Butter Cookies: Southern Holiday Funfetti Bites

A glass bowl contains vibrant cookie squares topped with sprinkles.
Christmas Butter Cookies: Southern Holiday Funfetti Bites. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

These buttery funfetti bites are crisp, tender, and packed with festive sprinkles in every piece. They’re perfect for snacking, gifting, or filling holiday cookie boxes. Simple and cute, they bring cheerful Southern charm to any celebration.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Butter Cookies: Southern Holiday Funfetti Bites

A tall stack of Panera lemon drop cookies on a white plate.
Panera Lemon Drop Cookie Recipe (Copycat Version). Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

This copycat Panera lemon drop cookie delivers sweet, citrusy flavor with a soft, chewy texture. It’s easy to make at home using simple ingredients you likely have on hand. Bright and refreshing, it’s a treat lemon lovers will want again and again.
Get the Recipe: Panera Lemon Drop Cookie Recipe (Copycat Version)

Peppermint Mocha Cookies

A peppermint chocolate cookie broken in half.
Peppermint Mocha Cookies. Photo credit: Baking Beauty.

Inspired by the popular café drink, these cookies are bursting with rich chocolate and cool peppermint bits. They’re soft, chewy, and full of cozy holiday flavor. Perfect for cookie swaps, gifting, or enjoying with a warm drink.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Mocha Cookies

Hershey kiss cookies in rows on a cooling rack.
Hershey Kiss Cookie. Photo credit: Savoringthegood.

These classic Hershey Kiss cookies bake up soft, sweet, and topped with a signature chocolate kiss. Known as peanut butter blossoms in many homes, they’re always the first to disappear at parties. Easy, freezer-friendly, and nostalgic, they’re a holiday essential.
Get the Recipe: Hershey Kiss Cookie

Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Plastic bowl of cookies with Christmas decor.
Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. Photo credit: Ginger Casa.

These double chocolate oatmeal cookies combine rich cocoa flavor with hearty oats for a tasty, chewy treat. They’re simple to make and bake up beautifully every time. Perfect for chocolate lovers who want a little extra indulgence.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Cinnamon Lattice Cookies

A stack of lattice-patterned cookies on a cooling rack with cinnamon sticks beside them.
Cinnamon Lattice Cookies. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

These cinnamon lattice cookies are soft, sweet, and full of warm spice flavor. Their pretty lattice tops make them look extra festive without much effort. Cozy and aromatic, they’re ideal for holiday gatherings or gifting.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Lattice Cookies

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, Iโ€™m Lucy! Iโ€™m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. Iโ€™ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

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