Holiday Cookie Ideas – Holiday Cookies are a lovely tradition that brings happiness to Hanukka from Christmas, and beyond, every celebration. Whether you are cooking with the family, collecting the gift tin, or planning a festive dessert, the holiday cookie ideas provide something for all.
Gingerbread men, Chinese cookies, and thumbprint cookies offer classic apathy, while creative twists like peppermint chocolate crinkles, agnog snikardodals, or stained glass cookies touch a touched. These sweet behaviors are as beautiful as they are tasty, often decorated with icing, sprinkles, or seasonal spices. During the holidays, cookie baking is not only about the result – it is about the memories made in the kitchen.
Cooking exchanges, school parties, or cool to fire, perfect for the evening, holiday cookies give the weather heat, sweetness and solidarity. With endless taste, shapes and decorating options, there is no limit to bliss that you can make with a batch of holiday cookies.
Holiday Cookie Ideas
Here are 90+ Holiday Cookie Ideas, perfect for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, and wintertime baking.
Classic Holiday Favorites
- Gingerbread Men
- Classic Sugar Cookies (with icing)
- Snickerdoodles
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Thumbprint Cookies with Jam
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Butter Spritz Cookies
- Linzer Cookies
- Russian Tea Cakes (Snowball Cookies)
- Shortbread Cookies
- Molasses Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Iced Cut-Out Cookies
- Candy Cane Sugar Cookies
Chocolate-Lover’s Cookies
- Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread
- Double Chocolate Cookies
- Hot Cocoa Cookies (with mini marshmallows)
- Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies
- Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Ganache
- Chocolate Dipped Biscotti
- Chocolate Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies
- Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
- Mocha Chocolate Cookies
Spiced & Festive Cookies
- Chai Spice Sugar Cookies
- Cardamom Orange Cookies
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Eggnog Snickerdoodles
- Maple Brown Sugar Cookies
- Nutmeg-Spiced Sugar Cookies
- Glazed Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers
- Cranberry Orange Spice Cookies
- Spiced Pecan Cookies
Fruity & Nutty Cookies
- Cranberry Pistachio Cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Orange Almond Biscotti
- Apricot Thumbprints
- Almond Snowball Cookies
- Raspberry Linzer Cookies
- Fig and Walnut Cookies
- Fruitcake Cookies
- Cherry Almond Cookies
- Lemon Coconut Cookies
No-Bake & Easy Cookies
- No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
- Oreo Truffles
- Peppermint Chocolate Bark Bites
- Rice Krispies Treat “Cookies”
- No-Bake Coconut Balls
- Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Sandwiches
- No-Bake Avalanche Cookies
- Chocolate Pretzel Bites
- Peanut Butter Oat Balls
International Holiday Cookies
- Italian Rainbow Cookies
- German Pfeffernüsse
- Italian Pizzelle
- Mexican Wedding Cookies
- Polish Kolaczki
- Swedish Pepparkakor
- Dutch Speculaas
- Norwegian Krumkake
- Greek Kourabiedes
- Hungarian Kiffles
Fun & Kid-Friendly Cookies
- Reindeer Face Cookies
- Melting Snowman Sugar Cookies
- Santa Hat Brownie Cookies
- Christmas Light Cookies
- M&M Holiday Cookies
- Snowball Fight Meringues
- Marshmallow Snowman Sandwiches
- Rudolph Peanut Butter Cookies
- Cookie Pops on Sticks
- Frosted Animal Cookies with Sprinkles
Creative & Unique Cookies
- Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
- Matcha White Chocolate Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
- S’mores Cookies
- Salted Caramel Stuffed Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Sugar Cookies
- Toffee Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Maple Glazed Oatmeal Cookies
- Brown Butter Pecan Cookies
- Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies
Gluten-Free & Vegan Options
- Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
- Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Coconut Macaroons
- Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
- Gluten-Free Thumbprints
- Vegan Snickerdoodles
- Gluten-Free Ginger Molasses Cookies
Recipe
1. Gingerbread Men Recipe
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
Instructions:
- Whisk flour, sugar, heating pop, flavors, and salt.
- Beat butter, molasses, and egg until smooth.
- Continuously include dry fixings.
- Chill the batter for 2 hours.
- Roll the batter and cut into gingerbread men shapes.
- Prepare at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes.
- Cool and beautiful with icing.
2. Classic Sugar Cookies (with icing) Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
- Whisk floubakinging powder and baking powder.
- Beat butter and sugar until feathery; include egg and extricates.
- Steadily include the flour blend.
- Chill the mixture for 1 hour.
- Roll and cut shapes.
- Prepare at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes.
- Cool, at that point, brighten with icing.
3. Snickerdoodles Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
- Blend flour, cream of tartar, baking powder, and salt.
- Beat butter and sugar until creamy; include eggs.
- Include dry fixings.
- Blend 2 tbsp sugar and cinnamon.
- Shape mixture into balls, and roll in cinnamon sugar.
- Prepare at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes.
4. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions:
- Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
- Beat sugar and oil, then include eggs and vanilla.
- Include dry fixings; chill mixture 4 hours.
- Frame batter balls, roll in powdered sugar.
- Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes.
5. Thumbprint Cookies with Jam Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup jam (raspberry, strawberry, etc.)
Instructions:
- Beat butter and sugar; include egg yolks and vanilla.
- Include flour and salt.
- Roll mixture into balls, press thumbprint in center.
- Fill the space with a stick.
- Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes.
6. Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Sugar for rolling
- Hershey’s Kisses (unwrapped)
Instructions:
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Beat butter, shelled nut butter, sugars; include egg, drain, and vanilla.
- Include flour blend.
- Roll into balls, coat with sugar.
- Prepare at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes.
- Press Hershey’s Kiss into the center quickly after heating.
7. Butter Spritz Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
Instructions:
- Beat butter and sugar until creamy; include egg and vanilla.
- Whisk flour aand bakingpowder.
- Continuously include flour in the butter blend.
- Utilize a cookie press to shape treats.
- Heat at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes.
8. Linzer Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Raspberry jam
Instructions:
- Whisk the flours, cinnamon, and salt.
- Beat butter and sugar; include egg and vanilla.
- Include dry fixings.
- Chill batter 1 hour; roll and cut treats.
- Cut little shapes from half of the treats for “windows.”
- Heat at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes.
- After cooling, sandwich plain and cut-out treats with a stick.
9. Russian Tea Cakes (Snowball Cookies) Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
- Additional powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions:
- Beat butter and powdered sugar; include vanilla.
- Blend flour, salt, and nuts; steadily incorporate into the butter blend.
- Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls.
- Prepare at 350°F (175°C) for 12-15 minutes.
- Roll warm treats in powdered sugar twice.
10. Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Beat butter and sugar until rich; include vanilla.
- Blend flour and salt; include steadily.
- Frame batter into a disk; chill 30 minutes.
- Roll and cut into shapes or press into a skillet.
- Prepare at 325°F (165°C) for 20-25 minutes until softly brilliant.
Megan Sheley is the passionate voice and creative force behind Clean Meal Recipes. With over 7 years of experience as a Food Blogger and Recipe Developer, Megan blends her love for wholesome food with her educational background in Public Health to create nutritious, delicious, and approachable recipes.