Nothing says “Christmas” like the annual cookie bake-off. While you can stick to your tried and true recipes, maybe this is the year to embark on a Christmas-inspired sugar rush with something new.
These festive holiday cookies are naughty and oh-so-nice:
Poinsettia Cookies
Somehow, poinsettia cookies taste even better than they look. The gorgeous botanical-inspired cookies capture the holiday aesthetic you love.
Green and red colored sugar provide a vibrant petal and leaf effect that closely resembles the actual plant. Everyone at your next holiday gathering will be blown away by how beautiful and tasty these poinsettia cookies are.
No-Bake Hot Chocolate Mix Cookies
Simplify your seasonal celebrations with a batch of no-bake cookies. This recipe only uses a handful of kitchen staples, like rolled oats and powdered hot chocolate. The cookies come together quickly—instead of baking, you let them cool and enjoy.
No-Bake Hot Chocolate Mix Cookies Recipe
Thumbprint Cookies
Thumbprint cookies are a Christmas classic you might remember from your childhood. The sugar cookie dough is incredibly rich and buttery.
You then use your thumb to create an indent and fill it with the jam of your choice. These cookies are simple but delicious and nostalgic.
White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Bring these white chocolate peppermint cookies to your next cookie swap party, and you’ll win the award for Best Baker. The cookie is so soft that it almost melts in your mouth. White chocolate chips add extra indulgence, while crushed candy canes and peppermint oil incorporate a fresh, minty element.
White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies Recipe
Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
Nothing says “season’s greetings” like these cornflake Christmas wreaths. These miniature wreath cookies are bright and eye-catching, making them a crowd-pleaser for all ages. The best part is they only use five ingredients and don’t need to be baked.
Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Recipe
Gingerbread Cookies
Skip the store in favor of homemade gingerbread cookies this holiday season. Gingerbread is a fan favorite for its sweet yet spiced flavor. With this recipe, you can make soft, slightly chewy cookies perfect for cutting out and decorating.
Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Old-fashioned iced oatmeal cookies are anything but boring. This sweet treat contains a hearty mixture of oats, spices, and sugar.
They’re topped with a simple, made-from-scratch milk and powdered sugar glaze. The icing enhances the sweetness, complementing the oatmeal cookie base.
The Best Crumbl Iced Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
Unleash your creativity by making a batch of cut-out sugar cookies. This is the ideal recipe for decorating parties because the cookies are soft but hold their shape. The tutorial also has instructions for an easy frosting you can customize with gel food coloring to create various festive designs.
Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
Linzer Cookies
Austrian Linzer cookies are the perfect treat to celebrate the season. This traditional dessert features a fruit filling sandwiched between two lightly lemon-flavored cookies. Use anything from raspberry jam to cherry preserves or lemon curd for these divine delights.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
If you love chocolate paired with peanuts, blossom cookies will be right up your alley. They start with an irresistibly indulgent peanut butter-based dough. Each cookie is topped with a milk chocolate Hershey’s Kiss for the ideal combination of sweet and salty.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
There’s no better treat for this time of year than chocolate crinkle cookies. This deceptively simple recipe delivers a luxuriously rich, chocolatey bite. The confectioners’ sugar gives the cookies a beautiful, snow-dusted appearance that will elevate your holiday dessert table.
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Dried Cherry and Almond Cookies with Vanilla Icing
Switch things up this year with these dried cherry and almond cookies. They’re reminiscent of a scone, with a nutty, buttery, and subtly sweet dough. Drizzle the cookies with vanilla icing, and they’re ready to serve alongside coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
Dried Cherry and Almond Cookies with Vanilla Icing Recipe
Snickerdoodle Cookies
Snickerdoodles are a beloved Christmas cookie for a reason. With a balanced blend of sugar and spice, each bite tastes like the holidays. This cozy, easy-to-make recipe will impress all your guests.
The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
Italian Rainbow Cookies
Take your festive feast to the next level with these Italian rainbow cookies. This traditional dessert has appealing layers of green, pink, and yellow. The cookies are also enrobed in chocolate, a tasty contrast to the fruity flavor elements.
Shortbread Cookies
Keep things simple with no-fail shortbread cookies. You only need three ingredients to whip them up, perfect when you’re busy cooking and hosting. These tasty treats are crispy and buttery—what’s not to love?
3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Skip the pie this season
Don’t settle for bland pies just because they’re holiday go-tos. These non-pie desserts incorporate all the best holiday flavors.
15 Divine Thanksgiving Desserts for Pie Haters
Mix up a festive cocktail
Christmas celebrations are incomplete without something to sip on. Try these holiday-inspired cocktails at your next gathering.
15 Holiday Cocktail Recipes You’ll Swoon Over
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
