Santa’s Secret Stash 15 Irresistible Holiday Cookies to Bake This Year

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Get into the holiday spirit with this collection of 15 festive Christmas cookie recipes. From classics like Soft Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies to unique treats like Hot Chocolate Cookies and Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies, these recipes are perfect for holiday baking. Whether you’re hosting a cookie swap, decorating with family, or gifting a homemade treat, these cookies bring sweetness and joy to the season. Bake a batch and spread the holiday cheer!

Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

An orange chocolate chip cookie has a bite taken out and sits on a stack of more cookies. — Image Credit: Namely Marly

Get ready to elevate your cookie game with these irresistible Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies! Bursting with the zesty brightness of real orange zest and loaded with gooey, melty chocolate chips, each buttery bite is pure bliss. Treat yourself to the perfect balance of citrus and chocolate magic!

Get the recipe: Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies

Soft Sugar Cookies

iced sugar cookies on a cooling rack — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are rich with butter and boast a delightful chew. Decorate them with your favorite icing for a personalized touch, or keep it simple with a roll in sugar or colorful sprinkles. They’re a blank canvas for your creativity!

Get The Recipe: Soft Sugar Cookies

Maple Brown Sugar Cookies

An iced cookie with a bite taken out sits on top of another cookie. — Image Credit: Sally’s Baking Addiction

Move over, every other cookie out there—Maple Brown Sugar Cookies are here to take center stage! Packed with rich maple syrup, sweet brown sugar, and crunchy pecans, these cookies are pure magic in every bite. Soft, tender, and bursting with cozy flavor, they’re guaranteed to be your new favorite treat!
Get the Recipe: Maple Brown Sugar Cookies

Best Ever Snickerdoodle Recipe

Snickerdoodles stacked on a cooling rack. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Our Snickerdoodle recipe is the result of years of dedication. These cookies boast a perfect balance of soft, fluffy insides, crisp exteriors, and just the right amount of cinnamon sugar.

Get The Recipe: Best Ever Snickerdoodle Recipe

Soft Molasses Cookies

A stack of molasses cookies shows the top one with a bite out. — Image Credit: Namely Marly

These Soft Molasses Cookies are pure comfort in every bite! Packed with rich, molasses flavor, they’re a timeless classic that never disappoints. Easy to whip up and guaranteed to deliver irresistibly soft cookies with a perfectly crispy crust every single time—get ready to fall in love with your new favorite treat!

Get the recipe: Soft Molasses Cookies

Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies

Festive Christmas cookies drizzled with chocolate and topped with red, white, and green sprinkles, surrounded by red ribbons and holly leaves with berries, adorn a wooden surface. Don't miss trying these delightful treats in 2024! — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Super easy festive cookies that need no chill time or fancy equipment! Just grab some mixing bowls and a spoon, and you’ll be on your way to making amazing cookies.

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies

Butter Cookies

Got a sweet tooth? These Vanilla Butter Cookies are your answer! Packed with rich, buttery flavor and incredibly easy to whip up, they’re the ultimate crowd-pleaser. One bite, and everyone will be asking for the recipe!

Get The Recipe: Butter Cookies

Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

Festive reindeer-shaped cookies with chocolate frosting and candy eyes sit on a wooden surface dusted with powdered sugar, perfect for any holiday baking adventure. They're surrounded by decorative red and white swirled candies, making an irresistible treat from your favorite cookie recipes. — Image Credit: Half Baked Harvest

Transform your holiday baking with this festive Gingerbread Reindeer Cookie recipe! Take classic gingerbread cookies, flip them upside down, and decorate them into the cutest reindeer ever. They’re guaranteed to be the star of your next party! Add red noses for a fun Rudolph twist and watch everyone light up with joy.

Get The Recipe: Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

Hot Chocolate Cookies

A close-up of chocolate cookies on a cooling rack, each topped with a marshmallow and covered in melted chocolate, glistening under light—a perfect treat for holiday baking or an indulgent addition to your favorite cookie recipes. — Image Credit: Sugar Spun Run

These super cute hot chocolate cookies start with a rich, fudgy chocolate base and are topped with gooey marshmallows and even more chocolate. They’re such a treat and so much fun to make!

Get The Recipe: Hot Chocolate Cookies

Funfetti Christmas Cookies

Close-up of colorful cookies topped with chocolate chips and festive sprinkles in shades of red, green, and yellow, arranged on a dark green plate. These delightful treats showcase the magic of holiday baking, boasting a soft, chewy appearance with a joyful holiday theme. — Image Credit: Sugar Spun Run

Soft, chewy, and bursting with festive sprinkles, these Funfetti Christmas Cookies are the ultimate holiday treat! Brighten up your baking this season and add these delightful cookies to your holiday lineup—they’re guaranteed to spread joy with every bite!

Get The Recipe: Funfetti Christmas Cookies

Chocolate Snickerdoodles

Close-up of a stack of cookies on a cooling rack, perfect for holiday baking. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. These brown cookies are sprinkled with sugar for a textured appearance. The softly blurred background adds to the cozy cookie recipes ambience. — Image Credit: Sugar Spun Run

Chocolate Snickerdoodles are the ultimate cozy upgrade to a classic favorite! This easy recipe gives you soft, thick cookies with zero hassle—no mixer, no chilling, just pure cookie bliss.

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Snickerdoodles

Xmas Snowflake Cookies

a snowflake xmas cookie filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Vanilla icebox cookies rolled out and cut into fun festive shapes, filled with whatever filling you like. They’re perfect for a day of Christmas baking with the kids!

Get The Recipe: Xmas Snowflake Cookies

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Pucker up for perfection! Lemon Shortbread Cookies are a delightful combination of tangy lemon zest and buttery sweetness. They’re a guaranteed treat for any cookie lover.

Get The Recipe: Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Blossom Cookies

A close up image of a plate of peanut butter blossom cookies with chocolate kisses in the center. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

These cookies have a deliciously nutty peanut butter flavor with a sweet and crispy outside. And the surprise Hershey’s Kiss in the middle gives them a creamy chocolatey touch, making these cookies a totally irresistible treat.

Get The Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Blossom Cookies

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

a stack of festive Chocolate Christmas Crinkle Cookies tied together with a ribbon — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Spread holiday joy (and deliciousness) with these easy chocolate cookies! Perfect for gifting or enjoying yourself, this recipe is sure to become a favorite.

Get The Recipe: Chocolate Christmas Cookies