20 Traditional Christmas Cookies to brighten your holidays. These are the classic cookies you remember from family gatherings plus a few seasonal favorites. A professional pastry chef shares tried-and-true recipes and tips for perfect holiday cookies.
If you prefer classic flavors over trendy variations this year, this collection has everything you need. These are the cookies grandma made every season: chewy gingerbread, crunchy gingersnaps, and soft cut-out sugar cookies. Recipes are grouped by preparation method so you can quickly find drop cookies, rolled cookies, shaped cookies, and pressed or molded cookies.
Table of Contents
- Why You Will Love these Traditional Christmas Cookies
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 20 Traditional Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Drop Cookie Recipes
- Rolled Christmas Cookies
- Shaped Christmas Cookies
- Pressed and Molded Christmas Cookies
- Before You Go
Why You Will Love these Traditional Christmas Cookies
- Flavorful & varied. This list includes chewy, crunchy, and bar cookies—tender, crumbly, and everything in between so your holiday tray has pleasing contrast.
- Grouped by preparation type. Find drop cookies for quick baking, rolled cookies for decorating, and pressed or molded cookies if you want a show-stopper.
- Chef-tested recipes. Each recipe was developed by a pastry chef with clear instructions and tips to help you succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
That depends on your family tradition. Some bakers start after Thanksgiving, others the night before Christmas. Cookies that hold up well include linzer-style sandwich cookies and nut puffs; cookies with crackled tops or delicate glazes are best made the same day.
A “Christmas cookie” is usually a cookie baked during the holiday season—often spiced, molasses-based, decorated, or more labor-intensive than everyday cookies. Classics like chocolate chip are still welcome on a holiday platter.
Cookies that improve with time or stay crisp—such as linzer cookies, snowballs, speculoos, and gingersnaps—store well. Keep them at room temperature for up to 10 days or freeze up to 3 months.
20 Traditional Christmas Cookie Recipes
A curated selection of 20 traditional Christmas cookie recipes organized by how they’re made. Whether you want an easy drop cookie, a decorated cut-out, or a pressed cookie, you’ll find professional, reliable recipes here.
Drop Cookie Recipes
Drop cookies are quick and reliable—perfect for busy holiday schedules. They require minimal equipment and still deliver classic flavors and textures.
Gingersnaps
Old‑fashioned gingersnaps that are crisp and spicy with a deep molasses flavor. Roll the dough balls in sugar and bake until snappy for a timeless holiday cookie.
Bake Gingersnaps
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Chewy chocolate crinkle cookies made with devil’s food cake mix for consistent results. They’re quick to mix and perfect for chocoholics—try a light sprinkle of sea salt on top.
Bake Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Lace Cookies
Delicate oat lace cookies with a caramel-like crunch. These thin, crispy cookies melt on the tongue and are ideal when you want a light, sweet bite.
Bake Lace Cookies
The Best Snickerdoodle Cookie
A tested snickerdoodle recipe delivering soft, chewy cookies with the classic tang from cream of tartar and a cinnamon-sugar finish.
Bake Snickerdoodles
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Classic peanut butter cookies rolled in sugar and topped with chocolate. A holiday favorite for the sweet-and-salty lovers at your table.
Bake Peanut Butter Blossoms
Pignoli Cookies
Chewy Italian almond cookies coated in pine nuts. Naturally gluten free and perfect for almond lovers—slightly less sweet than many traditional versions.
Bake Pignoli Cookies
Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies
Thick, chewy chocolate chip cookies that bake consistently and pair beautifully with spiced holiday cookies on a platter.
Bake Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies
Rolled Christmas Cookies
Rolled cookies are ideal for decorating and gifting. Favorites include soft sugar cut-outs, gingerbread figures, and linzer sandwich cookies.
Stained Glass Window Cookies
Sugar cookie dough with centers filled by crushed hard candy to create colorful “stained glass.” Decorate with royal icing for extra flair.
View Recipe
Pepparkakor
Thin, crisp Swedish spice cookies—lightly gingery and perfect for slicing or cutting into shapes for a festive display.
Bake Pepparkakor
Soft Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
A soft, rollable sugar cookie dough made with buttermilk for balanced sweetness and tender texture—ideal for decorating with frosting.
Bake Soft Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Family-style soft gingerbread that’s chewy, warmly spiced, and perfect for decorating with icing or raisins.
Bake Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Moravian Christmas Cookies
Paper-thin molasses spice cookies rolled very thin and baked until crisp—intensely spiced and wonderfully addictive.
Bake Moravian Christmas Cookies
Linzer Cookies
Almond-flavored sandwich cookies filled with raspberry jam and dusted with confectioners’ sugar—tender, nutty, and elegant for gifting.
Bake Linzer Cookies
Apricot Kolacky (Kiffles)
Flaky cream-cheese pastry wrapped around apricot filling—two-bite, buttery cookies that are a beloved holiday tradition in many families.
Bake Kolacky Cookies
Shaped Christmas Cookies
Shaped cookies—crescent cookies, snowballs, and ribbon cookies—are often formed by hand and bring seasonal charm without complicated steps.
Almond Crescent Cookies
Buttery crescent-shaped cookies with almond and cardamom notes, rolled in powdered sugar for a tender, melt-in-your-mouth finish.
Bake Crescent Cookies
Raspberry Ribbon Cookies
Vanilla cookies filled with a ribbon of raspberry jam and lightly glazed—reminiscent of a raspberry Danish in cookie form.
Bake Raspberry Ribbon Cookies
Pfeffernüsse
Spiced molasses cookies rolled in powdered sugar. These small, aromatic cookies are a traditional favorite and keep well for gifting.
Bake Pfeffernüsse
Scottish Shortbread
Classic tender, buttery shortbread made from a few quality ingredients—perfect for tins and holiday gifts.
Bake Shortbread
Snowball Cookies
Also called Russian tea cakes—tender, nutty rounds rolled in powdered sugar. Toast the pecans for extra flavor before baking.
Bake Snowball Cookies
Pressed and Molded Christmas Cookies
Pressed and molded cookies often require special equipment or extra steps but reward you with intricate shapes and nostalgic charm.
Spritz Cookies
Delicate butter cookies that are piped or pressed into shapes, often flavored with vanilla and lemon zest and decorated with tiny candies.
Bake Spritz Cookies
Pizzelle
Crunchy Italian pizzelle flavored with vanilla and anise, made with a pizzelle press for a crisp, delicate cookie perfect with coffee.
Make Pizzelles
Speculoos / Speculaas
Spiced, slightly less sweet-than-commercial speculoos cookies. Dough can be cut or pressed into molds for a beautiful, traditional finish.
Make Speculoos Cookies
Before You Go
Whether you bake one type or create a full cookie tin, these traditional recipes offer dependable, festive results. Try mixing spiced cookies with buttery shortbreads and fruit‑filled sandwiches to build a balanced holiday tray. Happy baking and happy holidays!