These 12 Christmas cookie recipes include easy classics like roll-out sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, molasses cookies, and other popular cookies for exchanging, eating, and gifting. Wondering how to best store them? Follow these easy storage instructions.
About a million years ago when I was kid, I remember it wasn’t the end of the Thanksgiving parade or Black Friday that ushered in the Christmas season. It was Christmas cookies.
Back then cookie swaps weren’t the search-and-destroy competition they are today. A neighbor or family friend would just appear on your doorstep with a tin in hand. Invariably, the tin was from Royal Dansk butter cookies or Walker’s shortbread.
While my mother and father would stiffly entertain the visitor, I’d sneak off to the kitchen with the tin. Inside was a batch of different cookies wrapped in waxed paper. Always waxed paper.
Depending upon the person, there were biscotti, snowflake cookies, meringue kisses, Pillsbury slice-and-bake something or other, or rum balls (which I was utterly forbidden to eat). If the baker was particularly talented there might be Italian flag cookies AKA rainbow cookies.
Then there was always Mrs. Miranda from next door who pushed candied fruit cookies or date bars on us. Come New Year’s they were still there. Too damn healthy. (Sorry, Miranda clan.)
There was one cookie over which I negotiated with the candle of Jesus with the exploding heart in my room. If it were in the towers of tins we got every December, I’d do whatever my parents told me for the whole of the following year. The glorious, tremendously fabulous Hershey’s kiss cookies, which always goes by the name peanut butter blossom cookies.
I’d do a face plant into the tin, and eat them all before my mother–an inveterate peanut-butter cookie fan–could even smell them.
Did I obey my parents for the whole year? That’s why they invented confession.
☞ Table of Contents
Easy Shortbread Cookies
These are so addictive, and so good alongside a cup of hot tea. Bizcochitos have been a must-have in my holiday cookie selection ever since a friend gave me her family recipe (very similar to this one) years ago.–Renee
These cookies were delicious! Perfect for Christmas.–Natalie
This is a lovely lebkuchen recipe……the flavours of the spices, the citrus and even the chocolate in the glaze all come together in a most appealing way!–Karen H.
Delightful! While the sugar Christmas snow cookies themselves are so simple and tender (confectioners’ sugar–who knew!), they’re elevated by a slight drizzle of the lemon glaze and a touch of vanilla. We embellished them with some pearly confections and are thrilled to have quite an elegant take–in both taste and appearance–on the humble Christmas sugar cookie.–Ashley A.
An excellent crinkle cookie. I got raves from everyone who tasted them for me. A very different cookie and very well received. This will become a standard in our Christmas cookie collection.–Theodore W.
Christmas Cookie FAQs
How long do cookies keep?
When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, most cookies will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
Do Christmas cookies freeze well?
Generally, yes. Most shortbread, sugar cookies, gingerbread, and any type of roll-out cookie will freeze well for up to 3 months. You can freeze the unbaked dough or baked, undecorated cookies in an airtight container between layers of parchment or wax paper.
What’s the most popular cookie at Christmas?
According to YouGovAmerica, the most popular Christmas cookie is chocolate chip, followed by sugar cookies. Popularity does vary from region to region across the country.
If your holiday treat preference leans more towards the confection or candy variety, we’ve got you covered. From rum balls to Nutella truffles to homemade caramels, there’s something for every sweet tooth out there. Happy baking!
