45 Christmas Cookie Ideas
A Christmas cookie tray is more fun when every cookie brings something different to the table. A few decorated classics make it look festive, while chocolate, spice, peppermint, and jam give everyone a favorite to reach for.
These Christmas cookie ideas include easy bakes, nostalgic favorites, and a few cookies that look impressive enough for gifting. Pick a handful for your holiday baking day, or use the whole list to plan the ultimate Christmas cookie exchange.
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Classic Christmas Cookies
1. Decorated Christmas Sugar Cookies
Cut sugar cookie dough into trees, stars, stockings, and snowflakes, then decorate with icing in your favorite holiday colors. You can keep the designs simple with a few piped lines and sprinkles or make each cookie its own little project.
2. Gingerbread Men
Gingerbread men are a Christmas cookie tray staple for a reason. Their warm spice and molasses flavor make them just as good to eat as they are fun to decorate.
3. Soft Molasses Cookies
Roll these deeply spiced cookies in sugar before baking for crackly tops and soft centers. They’re a good choice when you want gingerbread flavor without cutting or decorating dough.
4. Snickerdoodles
Cinnamon sugar gives snickerdoodles a cozy holiday feel, even though they’re welcome year-round. Bake them until the edges are set and the centers are still soft.
5. Spritz Cookies
Use a cookie press to make little trees, wreaths, and flowers from buttery dough. A few colored sprinkles before baking make a big batch look festive with very little decorating time.
6. Shortbread Stars
Buttery shortbread holds its shape beautifully, making it perfect for simple star cutouts. Dip one side in chocolate or dust the cooled cookies with powdered sugar for a finishing touch.
7. Russian Tea Cakes
These tender, nutty cookies are rolled in powdered sugar until they look like tiny snowballs. They’re especially pretty tucked between colorful cookies on a holiday platter.
8. Linzer Cookies
Sandwich raspberry jam between two nutty cookies, with a small star or heart cut from the top cookie. A light dusting of powdered sugar makes the jam window stand out.
9. Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Fill buttery thumbprint cookies with raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam. Using two or three jam colors makes the tray look bright without any icing.
10. Peanut Butter Blossoms
Press a chocolate kiss into each warm peanut butter cookie as soon as it comes out of the oven. Red and green sugar on the dough adds an easy Christmas touch.
Chocolate Christmas Cookies
11. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Roll rich chocolate dough generously in powdered sugar before baking. As the cookies spread, their dark tops crack through the white coating for a snowy look.
12. Hot Cocoa Cookies
Make soft chocolate cookies and top each one with a marshmallow and a drizzle of melted chocolate. They bring all the best parts of a mug of hot cocoa to the cookie tray.
13. Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Chocolate dough, chocolate chips, and crushed peppermint candy make these cookies rich and festive. Sprinkle the candy on after baking so its color stays bright.
14. Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread
Dip one end of a shortbread finger into melted dark or milk chocolate, then add crushed candy canes or holiday sprinkles. The result looks polished but is easy to make in a big batch.
15. Brownie Cookies
Brownie cookies have shiny, crackly tops and fudgy middles. Serve them plain for serious chocolate lovers or add a little flaky salt to balance the sweetness.
16. Chocolate Orange Cookies
Orange zest gives chocolate cookies a bright flavor that feels right at home during the holidays. Finish them with a chocolate drizzle or a little candied orange peel.
17. Chocolate Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies
Spread chocolate hazelnut filling between two small chocolate cookies. Keep them bite-sized so they fit neatly on a mixed cookie tray.
18. Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
Tuck a cherry into the center of each chocolate cookie and cover it with chocolate frosting before baking. They’re a fun surprise for anyone who loves the classic chocolate and cherry combination.
19. S’mores Christmas Cookies
Add chocolate chunks, graham cracker pieces, and mini marshmallows to a soft cookie dough. They’re especially popular at casual Christmas parties with kids.
20. Chocolate-Pistachio Cookies
Pistachios bring a natural pop of green to chocolate cookies. A drizzle of white chocolate makes them look even more festive without covering up the nuts.
Peppermint and Candy Cane Cookies
21. Candy Cane Cookies
Twist ropes of red and plain dough together, then curve the tops into candy cane shapes. These nostalgic cookies make a Christmas platter instantly recognizable.
22. Peppermint Meltaway Cookies
These delicate cookies live up to their name with a soft, tender texture. Top them with peppermint frosting and a small sprinkle of crushed candy canes.
23. White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Mix white chocolate chips and peppermint pieces into a simple cookie dough. The creamy white chocolate softens the sharp peppermint flavor.
24. Peppermint Mocha Cookies
Coffee deepens the chocolate flavor in these cookies, while peppermint gives them a holiday finish. They’re a great addition to a cookie box for the grown-ups.
25. Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Make a vanilla or chocolate cookie and press a candy cane kiss into the center while it’s warm. Let the cookies cool completely before packing so the chocolate keeps its shape.
Festive Cutout and Decorated Cookies
26. Stained Glass Window Cookies
Cut a small shape from the middle of each sugar cookie and fill the opening with crushed hard candy before baking. The melted candy cools into a colorful, translucent window.
27. Christmas Tree Cookies
Cut out tree-shaped cookies and cover them with green icing, piped frosting, or a simple glaze. Add a few candy ornaments and a sprinkle star at the top.
28. Snowflake Sugar Cookies
Snowflake cutters and white icing make these cookies look elegant without needing lots of colors. Vary the size and icing pattern so each one feels a little different.
29. Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies
Cut cookies into sweater shapes and let everyone decorate their own with icing and sprinkles. The sillier the designs, the better they look together.
30. Santa Hat Cookies
Decorate triangle-shaped sugar cookies with red icing, a white brim, and a little white pom-pom. They’re cheerful, recognizable, and easier to decorate than a full Santa face.
31. Christmas Light Cookies
Use an oval or light-bulb cutter and decorate the cookies in bright colors. Arrange them along a piped icing “wire” on a serving board for a playful display.
32. Snowman Cookies
Stack two or three circles of sugar cookie dough into snowman shapes, or decorate round cookies with simple snowman faces. Mini chocolate chips work well for the eyes and buttons.
Nutty and Buttery Cookies
33. Pecan Sandies
Pecans give these buttery cookies a lovely crunch. They’re understated beside heavily decorated treats, which makes them a welcome addition to a cookie assortment.
34. Almond Crescent Cookies
Shape almond dough into small crescents and coat the baked cookies in powdered sugar. Their snowy finish looks lovely on a Christmas dessert table.
35. Maple Pecan Cookies
Maple flavor and chopped pecans make a cozy combination. A thin maple glaze adds sweetness and gives the cookies a finished look.
36. Pistachio Cranberry Shortbread
Slices of shortbread dotted with green pistachios and red dried cranberries look festive before you add a single decoration. Make the dough into a log for easy slice-and-bake cookies.
37. Salted Caramel Thumbprints
Fill thumbprint cookies with soft caramel and finish each one with a tiny pinch of flaky salt. Give the caramel time to set before stacking or boxing them.
38. Brown Butter Toffee Cookies
Brown butter adds a toasted flavor that pairs beautifully with toffee bits. These might look simple, but their flavor earns them a spot on the holiday tray.
Colorful Cookies and Cookie Exchange Favorites
39. Cranberry Orange Cookies
Orange zest brightens soft cookies studded with dried cranberries. A light orange glaze makes them especially pretty for gifting.
40. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
These red cookies crack beneath a coating of powdered sugar as they bake. Their bold color looks striking beside chocolate and shortbread cookies.
41. Grinch Cookies
Tint a soft cookie dough green and add one small red candy heart to each cookie. They’re an easy, playful choice for a kids’ Christmas party.
42. Christmas M&M Cookies
Press red and green candy-coated chocolates onto the tops of soft cookies before baking. Adding a few extra candies as soon as they come out of the oven keeps the colors visible.
43. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Creamy white chocolate and tart cranberries make a classic holiday pairing. These are easy to bake in large batches for a cookie exchange.
44. Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Swap raisins for dried cranberries in chewy oatmeal cookies. A little cinnamon and orange zest can give them an extra holiday feel.
45. Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Use your favorite chewy cookie dough and fold in a mix of chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, toffee, and red and green candies. Every bite is a little different, making these a fun way to finish the tray.
Putting Together a Christmas Cookie Tray
You don’t need to bake all 45 kinds to make a beautiful spread. Choose one decorated cookie, one chocolate cookie, one spiced cookie, and one buttery or nutty cookie to give guests a good mix of colors, flavors, and textures.
If you’re baking ahead, let every cookie cool completely before storing it. Keep crisp cookies separate from soft ones, and add delicate decorations or powdered sugar close to serving time when possible.
Whether you go all out with icing and cutouts or fill a tin with a few reliable favorites, homemade Christmas cookies have a way of making the season feel special.
