The Best Christmas Cookie Recipes We've Ever Tried

christadiserio said:  My husband is Italian and this is one of their family favorite Christmas cookies! This year, I made them for my family and they were all gone within the hour. They are buttery and delicious. It's the perfect cookie for someone who's craving something sweet but doesn't want anything overly sugary. The best part is - if you're the one making the cookies, you don't have to carve out hours of time to bake. This is an easy and quick recipe that will only take you about 35 minutes from start to finish.

Juan L. said:  Gingersnaps just smell and feel like the holidays. This is one of the best Christmas cookie recipes because a dunk in white chocolate makes them look extra special and pairs perfectly with the strength and spice of the ginger flavor. They are relatively simple and quick to make.

Beth Wood said:  These cookies bring together the wonderful tastes of classic sugar cookie, melted white chocolate and crushed peppermint. They are easy Christmas cookies to make and are always a hit in our house around the holidays.

Amanda Banta said:  Crinkle cookies make the best Christmas cookies because the coating of confectionery sugar always reminds me of a fresh dusting of snow. In addition to their good looks, these gingerbread crinkle cookies have a delicious holiday flavor. You get a strong gingerbread taste, but instead of a snappy crunch, it's in a chewy cookie, with a little extra sweetness on top with the powdered sugar. Little helpers will love rolling the balls of dough in the sugar!

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  These traditional buttery Christmas cookies are made with the use of a cookie press in the shapes of trees, wreaths, stars and more. You can also color the dough and add festive sprinkles to make these cookies shine.

Amanda Banta said:  At first look of this recipe I was skeptical about the combination of red velvet and peppermint, but it turns out that this is a delicious pairing! The cookies are soft and chewy, thanks to the cake mix. And the peppermint candies and extract add a festive Christmas flavor.

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  Fudgy chewy cookies rolled in confectioners sugar and baked to crackled perfection. These chocolate crinkle cookies are always among the best Christmas cookies and with good reason. Enjoy these with a cup of homemade hot cocoa and you'll be in chocolate heaven!

Tracy Snyder Molina said:  Growing up, these bourbon balls were in standard rotation on my family's Christmas cookie list. These are best made a few days ahead to let the flavors develop. Careful, they do pack a punch so save these holiday treats for the adults!

Amanda Banta said:  You won't regret adding these sweet and crispy biscotti to your Christmas cookie platter this holiday season. Kids are drawn to the candy cane pieces and white chocolate drizzle. I love to dip these into a post-dinner cup of hot coffee.

Give yourself plenty of time to bake these and follow the steps as described. It's tempting to rush the cooling period between the first and second baking but it's an important step. If you want to reduce sweetness and sugar intake, skip the chocolate drizzle. The cookies still are super delicious without it!

Tim Ponisciak said:  Everyone knows Santa's favorite Christmas cookies are chocolate chip! This recipe features a heavy dose of chocolate chips along with sea salt adding a little something extra. Plan ahead though as this recipe requires chilling the dough for at least 24 hours.

Katie G. said:  Growing up, my mom always made lemon bars for Christmas. I'll admit as a kid I preferred the sprinkled sugar Christmas cookies over lemon bars, but as an adult I have come to appreciate the citrusy taste of these cookies. With a buttery crust, tangy lemon filling and powdered sugar on top, these bars give you a taste of summer during the cold winter months.

christadiserio said:  These cranberry almond treats are favorite Christmas cookies in my husband's family. They're easy to make and appeal to those who are big or moderate dessert fans. Something to note about this recipe is that baked cookies can be frozen for up to 6 months, meaning you can bake your cookies early and not have to worry about compromising the flavor or texture!

Vanessa M. said:  It doesn't feel like Christmas until I bake these chewy ginger molasses cookies! This old-fashioned cookie recipe has just the right blend of spices; the mixture of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves sings to your taste buds like two partridges in a pear tree. Made with real molasses and rolled in sugar before baking, this cookie has a crisp sugar-laced outside, with a satisfyingly thick and chewy inside.

Beth Wood said:  If you like coconut, you'll love these coconut macaroons. Chewy on the inside, crunchy on the outside with the bold taste of coconut, these are always a crowd pleaser! And they are super easy Christmas cookies to make! We sometimes melt chocolate chips and dip the macaroons in chocolate for an added treat!

Kristy Pepping said:  One of my favorite easy Christmas cookie recipes, these are a dropped version of the traditional Christmas sugar cookie. No need to roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters. Just flatten the cookies a bit with the bottom of a glass and stick them in the oven. This recipe is still a great sugar cookie, but takes a little less time. I then frost these cookies and let our kids decorate them how they want. It's simple and even little ones can be involved in the decorating!