16 Tasty Christmas Cookies to Fill Your Holiday Cookie Tins
Christmas cookies are the heart of holiday baking – those special treats that make the house smell like cinnamon and joy. I’ve rounded up my favorite cookie recipes that are perfect for gift giving, cookie swaps, or just keeping your family happy all season long.
1. Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies
These soft gingerbread cookies hit all the right Christmas notes with molasses and warm spices, but the addition of chocolate takes them up a notch. The candied ginger adds little bursts of heat that balance perfectly with the dark chocolate chunks. They’re like the sophisticated cousin of regular gingerbread cookies.
2. Spiced Oat and White Chocolate Cookies
The warm spices in these oatmeal cookies scream Christmas morning to me. Rolling them in sugar before baking gives them that sparkly, festive look that’s perfect for holiday cookie plates. The white chocolate chunks look like little snowflakes scattered throughout.
3. Lemon Cookies with Lemon Glaze
I know lemon might seem like a spring flavor, but these bright cookies are a welcome break from all the heavy holiday desserts. The glaze hardens to a beautiful white finish that looks like fresh snow, and the citrus cuts through all that rich holiday food perfectly.
4. Lemon Iced Oatmeal Cookies
These chewy oatmeal cookies get a festive twist with the lemon icing on top. The golden raisins add natural sweetness and give them that homey, old-fashioned Christmas cookie vibe. They’re the kind of cookies grandmas have been making for decades.
5. Homemade Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Classic peanut butter cookies are a must-have on any Christmas cookie tray. The brown butter technique I use gives them such a deep, nutty flavor that makes them taste way more sophisticated than regular PB cookies. Plus, everyone recognizes that classic crosshatch pattern.
6. Flourless Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe
These dense, fudgy cookies are basically Christmas in cookie form – you can press a chocolate kiss or any festive candy into the center. The intense peanut butter flavor pairs perfectly with whatever chocolate topping you choose, and they’re naturally gluten-free which is great for holiday parties.
7. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
When you want to go full chocolate for the holidays, these are your cookies. The layers of chocolate flavor from cocoa powder, brown butter, and two kinds of chocolate chips make them incredibly rich. They look elegant enough for gift giving but taste like pure comfort.
8. Chewy Salted Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
The hint of orange zest and ginger in these cookies gives them subtle holiday spice notes. I love how the flaky salt on top makes them look so professional and bakery-worthy. They’re perfect for people who want something familiar but with a little Christmas twist.
9. Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’ve been feeding a sourdough starter all year, these cookies are the perfect way to use up that discard during the holidays. The subtle tang balances all the sweetness, and the brown butter adds this amazing nutty depth. They’re my secret weapon for using up starter during cookie baking season.
10. Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sometimes you just need a perfect, soft chocolate chip cookie for your Christmas spread. The orange zest in these gives them just enough brightness to feel festive without being obvious about it. Plus, no mixer required means you can whip them up even when your kitchen is packed with other holiday baking.
11. Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies
The combination of rye flour, rosemary, and bourbon makes these cookies taste like a sophisticated winter evening. They’re definitely for the adults at your Christmas party, and the nutty rye flavor pairs beautifully with dark chocolate. The herbs make them feel very seasonal and special.
12. Miso White Chocolate Cookies
I know miso sounds weird in Christmas cookies, but trust me on this one. The salty-sweet balance is addictive, and white chocolate always feels wintery to me. These large, bakery-style cookies make a real statement on a holiday dessert table.
13. Peanut Butter Miso Cookies
These chewy peanut butter cookies get an unexpected depth from white miso that balances all the sweetness of the season. The chopped peanuts add great texture, and they’re the kind of unique cookie that gets people talking at holiday parties. Sometimes different is exactly what your cookie tin needs.
14. Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies Recipe
These stay soft and chewy for days, which is crucial during the busy holiday season when you’re making cookies ahead. The brown butter technique adds so much flavor, and oatmeal cookies always feel wholesome and homey – perfect for Christmas morning or late-night cookie sneaking.
15. Dark ‘n’ Stormy Cookies
The ginger and lime flavors in these cookies remind me of winter cocktails and cozy evenings. Dipping them in dark chocolate makes them feel extra special and gift-worthy. They’re definitely more grown-up than your average Christmas cookie, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
16. Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies
While pumpkin screams fall, these chewy cookies bridge the gap perfectly into early winter holiday baking. The spices work beautifully with Christmas flavors, and the dense, chewy texture makes them feel substantial and satisfying. Plus, that orange color looks beautiful next to all your other holiday cookies.
