20 Christmas Cookie Ideas You’ll Want to Bake This Christmas

20 Christmas cookie ideas you’ll want to bake this Christmas are here for those of us who cannot imagine the holiday season without a plate of homemade cookies somewhere in the kitchen.

For me, Christmas baking is one of those little things that makes the season feel different. The smell of butter, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and chocolate coming from the oven is enough to make everyone start asking, “Are the cookies ready yet?”

I also love that Christmas cookies do not have to be complicated. Some are simple enough to make on a quiet afternoon, while others are fun to decorate when the whole family is around.

So If you are planning your Christmas baking this year, you can make a few different varieties instead of spending all your time making one type of cookie.

You can Put them on a large platter, serve them after dinner, or package a few for family and friends.

And if you are already planning your Christmas menu, you can pair your cookies with some of the desserts in my [30 Mouth-Watering Christmas Dessert Ideas] for even more sweet treats to choose from.

Here are 20 Christmas cookie ideas I would happily add to my holiday baking list.

you don’t need to make all of it because that’s going to be allot of work, you just have to pick your choice and go for it.

1. Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies

Christmas sugar cookies are probably one of the first things that come to mind when I think about holiday cookies.

They are buttery, lightly sweet, and easy to turn into all kinds of Christmas shapes. You can use cookie cutters to make Christmas trees, stars, snowflakes, candy canes, or gingerbread people.

After baking, You Can decorate them with royal icing, simple frosting, colored sugar, or Christmas sprinkles.

If I were making these with my family, I would probably let everyone decorate a few cookies themselves. They may not all look perfect, but that is part of the fun.

2. Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a Christmas classic for a reason.

The warm combination of ginger, cinnamon, and other spices gives these cookies that cozy flavor that immediately reminds me of the holiday season.

You can make traditional gingerbread people or use different Christmas cookie cutters.

For an even more festive look, decorate them with white icing, colorful sprinkles, or little candy pieces.

These are also fun to make with children because they can help decorate the cookies once they have cooled.

3. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

If you are a chocolate lover like me, chocolate crinkle cookies definitely deserve a place on your Christmas baking list trust me.

These cookies have a soft, chocolatey center with a beautiful crackled outside covered in powdered sugar.

The powdered sugar makes them look almost like little snow-covered cookies, so you do not need much extra decoration.

I would serve these with a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or tea while everyone is relaxing after Christmas dinner.

4. Snowball Cookies

Snowball cookies are small, buttery cookies covered in powdered sugar.

They are usually round and delicate, and the generous coating of powdered sugar gives them their snowy appearance.

They are one of those cookies that look simple but are surprisingly easy to keep eating. You pick up one, then somehow find yourself reaching for another.

Arrange them on a plate with other Christmas cookies for a pretty white-and-golden cookie spread.

5. Red Velvet Cookies

Red velvet cookies are a fun choice when you want some color on your Christmas dessert table.

They have the familiar flavor of red velvet cake but in a soft cookie.

You can add white chocolate chips to the dough or drizzle melted white chocolate over the finished cookies. but i prefer white chocolate chips for this

The red and white combination makes them look festive without requiring a lot of decoration.

6. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Chocolate and peppermint are two flavors that seem to show up everywhere during Christmas, so why not put them together in a cookie?

Chocolate peppermint cookies are rich, soft, and have that refreshing peppermint flavor.

You can add crushed peppermint candy to the tops or drizzle the cookies with melted chocolate.

If you are making several types of cookies, I would keep these a little smaller because the chocolate flavor is quite rich.

7. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

White chocolate cranberry cookies are one of those combinations that just works.

The white chocolate gives the cookies a creamy sweetness, while dried cranberries add a slightly tart, chewy bite.

They also look lovely once baked because you get little pieces of red cranberry and white chocolate throughout the cookies.

These would be a nice addition to a Christmas cookie tray when you want something that looks festive without needing icing.

8. Classic Shortbread Cookies

Sometimes simple is exactly what I want.

Shortbread cookies are buttery, crisp, and delicate, and they do not need much decoration to taste delicious.

You can cut the dough into Christmas shapes or simply make round cookies.

If you want to dress them up, dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate or drizzle chocolate over the top.

A little powdered sugar also works beautifully.

9. Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies may be an everyday favorite, but there is no reason you cannot give them a Christmas twist.

Make your usual chocolate chip cookie dough and add red and green candy-coated chocolates, Christmas sprinkles, or festive chocolate chips.

This is especially useful if you are baking for children because the flavor is already familiar.

And honestly, if I put a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies in front of my family, I already know they will not last long.

10. Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies are beautiful little sandwich cookies made with two pieces of buttery cookie dough and a sweet jam filling in the middle.

The top cookie usually has a small cutout that lets the colorful jam show through.

Raspberry or strawberry jam works especially well, but you can use whichever flavor you enjoy.

Finish them with a light dusting of powdered sugar, and they will look right at home on a Christmas dessert table.

11. Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

If you love the smell of cinnamon while something is baking, you will probably enjoy these cookies.

Cinnamon sugar cookies are coated in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar before baking, giving them a sweet, slightly crisp outside.

They are simple enough to make without a lot of decorating, but the warm cinnamon flavor makes them feel very appropriate for Christmas.

I would happily serve these with tea or coffee while my family sits around chatting.

12. Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies are small cookies with a little indentation in the center that is filled with jam, chocolate, caramel, or another sweet filling.

They are fun because you can use one basic cookie dough and experiment with different fillings.

For Christmas, red berry jam looks especially pretty against the golden cookie.

You can also make several varieties at once, using different fillings so that your cookie platter has a little more variety.

13. Coconut Macaroons

Coconut macaroons are chewy, sweet, and full of coconut flavor.

If you are tired of making the same chocolate and vanilla cookies every Christmas, these give you something different.

You can dip the bottoms in melted chocolate or drizzle chocolate over the tops.

The combination of chewy coconut and chocolate makes these little cookies difficult to ignore once they are sitting on the table.

14. Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies

Why stop at regular gingerbread cookies when you can turn them into sandwich cookies?

You can Bake two gingerbread cookies and place a creamy filling between them.

Vanilla buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or another simple filling can work well.

They are a fun way to take a familiar Christmas cookie and turn it into something a little more substantial.

If I were making these for my family, I would probably make the cookies slightly smaller so the filling does not become overwhelming.

15. Butter Cookies

Butter cookies are another simple option for your Christmas cookie tray.

They have a rich buttery flavor and a tender texture, and you can make them into different shapes depending on how you prepare the dough.

Pipe them into swirls or use Christmas cookie cutters.

You can also dip part of each cookie in chocolate and add sprinkles for a simple festive finish.

16. Chocolate-Dipped Cookies

If you do not want to spend hours decorating individual cookies, chocolate dipping can make the job much easier.

Start with shortbread, sugar cookies, butter cookies, or another cookie you already enjoy.

Dip one half into melted chocolate and place the cookies on parchment paper to set.

While the chocolate is still soft, you can add crushed peppermint, coconut, chopped nuts, or Christmas sprinkles.

They look beautiful with very little effort.

17. Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Cranberry oatmeal cookies are a nice option when you want something with a little more texture.

The oats give the cookies a chewy texture, while dried cranberries add sweetness and a slightly tart flavor.

You can also add white chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or a little cinnamon.

They are not as heavily decorated as some Christmas cookies, but they are still delicious and make a nice addition to a mixed cookie platter.

18. Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Peppermint sugar cookies are a simple way to add a Christmas flavor to a familiar cookie.

Start with a soft sugar cookie and add peppermint extract to the dough or frosting.

You can decorate the cookies with white icing and crushed peppermint candy.

The red-and-white look makes them especially nice for a Christmas cookie tray.

19. Christmas Cookie Sandwiches

Cookie sandwiches are another fun option if you want something a little more indulgent.

Bake two cookies and sandwich them together with buttercream, chocolate ganache, caramel, or another filling.

You can use chocolate cookies, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, or even red velvet cookies.

For Christmas, I would keep the cookies small so they are easy to pick up and enjoy alongside the other desserts.

20. Assorted Christmas Cookie Platter

Sometimes I simply do not want to choose one cookie.

That is where an assorted Christmas cookie platter comes in.

Instead of making one huge batch of one cookie, make a few different varieties and arrange them together.

You could include gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, snowball cookies, chocolate crinkle cookies, shortbread, thumbprint cookies, and chocolate-dipped cookies.

Arrange each variety in its own little section so guests can easily see what is available.

Add a few candy canes, chocolate pieces, or small Christmas treats around the cookies if you have extra space.

I love this idea because you can make the platter as big or as small as you want. If you only have time to bake three kinds of cookies, that is completely fine.

Tips for Making Christmas Cookies Ahead

If you are planning to make several Christmas cookies, you do not have to bake everything on the same day.

I actually think it is much easier to spread the work out.

You can prepare some cookie dough ahead of time and keep it refrigerated until you are ready to bake. Some cookies can also be baked a few days before Christmas and stored properly until you need them.

Another thing I like to do is choose cookies with different textures and flavors.

For example, you could make one soft cookie, one crisp cookie, one chocolate cookie, and one fruity cookie. That way, your cookie tray does not feel repetitive.

And remember that decorating does not have to be complicated. A drizzle of melted chocolate, a little powdered sugar, or some Christmas sprinkles can be enough.

How to Serve Christmas Cookies

There are plenty of ways to serve your Christmas cookies.

You can arrange them on a large platter and place them in the center of the table, put different varieties in small bowls, or create a larger dessert spread with cakes and other treats.

If you are hosting Christmas dinner, you can bring out the cookies after the main meal along with your other desserts.

If you are still working on your Christmas menu, you can also check out my [20 Christmas Dinner Ideas] for more inspiration.

For a Christmas party, I like the idea of making smaller cookies so guests can grab one or two without feeling like they are taking a huge dessert.

You can also package a few cookies in small bags or boxes and give them to family and friends as homemade holiday treats.

My Final Thoughts

Christmas cookies do not have to be hard to be delicious.

Some of my favorite ideas on this list are the simple ones—sugar cookies, shortbread, chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread, and snowball cookies. Then you can add one or two more unusual options if you want to try something different.

I would not recommend trying to make all 20 at once. Choose a few that you know your family will enjoy, then add one or two new recipes to the mix.

There is also something really nice about having a plate of homemade cookies in the kitchen during Christmas. You can grab one while preparing dinner, offer some to visitors, or sit down with your family and enjoy them together.

So, whether you are preparing for Christmas dinner, a holiday party, or simply want some homemade treats around the house, these 20 Christmas cookie ideas give you plenty of delicious options for your holiday baking.