Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (2024)

Sugar cookies, chocolate cookies, butter cookies and more will add a little sparkle, a little dazzle and lots of memories to your holiday season.

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Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies with Watercolor Icing

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (1)

These crisp, airy cookies taste like old-fashioned bakery cookies—but they're decorated in a totally modern way that's fun and so kid-friendly. The "canvas" is royal icing, and the "paint" is just food coloring!

How to Decorate Dazzling Cookies

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Chocolate-Dipped Espresso Stars

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (2)

These buttery cookies are a staff favorite at Zingerman's Bakehouse in Ann Arbor and look beautiful on a holiday cookie plate. The recipe comes from the cookbook Zingerman's Bakehouse Celebrate Every Day (Chronicle, $30).

Zingerman's Cooking Classes Teach What You Knead to Know (Really!)

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Pepparkakor

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (3)

Kim Van Patten says these Swedish spice cookies are popular at Christmas. Heart shapes are traditional to encourage kindness and sweetness. It certainly is nice that her Iowa State Fair blue-ribbon winners are mixed up in one saucepan!

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04of 30

Macarons

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (4)

This festive recipe comes from Nathan Sivitz of Macaron Bar in Cincinnati. Try with his White Chocolate and Vanilla Whipped Ganache—or fill cookies with fruit curd, dulce de leche or dark chocolate ganache. Check out Sivitz's step-by-step guide and problem-solving tips.

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Vanilla Bean Sables

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (5)

Simple. Elegant. Buttery. These vanilla bean cookies are the perfect slice-and-bake treat, and you can make them four ways.

5 Sweet Holiday Gifts

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06of 30

Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (6)

These easy, nostalgic-tasting cookies are a favorite of Stephanie Simmons, the Wisconsin blogger behind Blue Bowl Recipes and author of the cookbook, The One-Bowl Baker. Use your favorite preserves—Stephanie likes raspberry.

The Midwest's Best Cookie Recipes

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Sandbakkels

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (7)

Sandbakkels means "sand tarts" because the cookies (which, flipped over, can double as tiny shells to hold cream and fruit) have such a fine, crisp texture. Find them in Shauna Sever's book Midwest Made: Big, Bold Baking from the Heartland.

08of 30

Sugar Cookies Like You Remember

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (8)

Nutmeg lends unmistakable holiday flavor to these puffy, old-fashioned cut-out cookies. They do spread a bit, so don't use this recipe for delicate shapes. It's best-suited for circles, bells and the like.

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09of 30

Peanut Butter Temptations

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (9)

Calling all peanut butter fans! These cookies offer double-the-PB compared to the classic peanut blossom cookie with a chocolate kiss on top. And they couldn't be easier.

So-Good Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes

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Mindy Segal's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (10)

These to-die-for cookies use special chocolate and two kinds of salt, and they call for an overnight chill—and you can absolutely taste the difference. Because of the expense and time involved, we don't recommend them for any old weekend, but they are incredible for a gift or other special occasion. The recipe comes from Chicago chef Mindy Segal's cookbook Cookie Love.

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Valencia Delights

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (11)

Orange and chocolate: a holiday cookie match that will tempt every Santa to take seconds. This recipe comes from Jill Drury in Milwaukee, who created these cookies with her grandmother.

Favorite Family Holiday Recipes

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Oaxacan Mexican Chocolate Cookies

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (12)

The recipe for these ultra-rich, cinnamon-laced cookies comes from the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago.

Decadent Chocolate Dessert Recipes

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Caramel Heavenlies

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (13)

Graham crackers form the base for this bar cookie with layers of marshmallows, brown sugar, almonds and coconut. The recipe comes from Georgine Simmonds of Genesee, Michigan.

Best Holiday Desserts

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Lebkuchen

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (14)

The secret to perfect lebkuchen is in the resting phase after glazing. An apple wedge in the storage container provides moisture that softens the cookies. This German classic is from Shauna Sever's book Midwest Made: Big, Bold Baking from the Heartland.

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Crispy Gingerbread

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (15)

This festively spiced recipe (with a hint of orange zest) makes thin, crunchy cookies that work well for gingerbread houses, edible place cards and ornaments.

Gingerbread Recipes for the Holidays

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Chocolate Peppermint Pinwheels

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (16)

These cookies are easier than they look. Make one batch of dough, divide it in half, and blend cocoa into one portion and crushed candy canes and peppermint extract into the other.

Holiday Peppermint Recipes

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17of 30

Fanciful Raspberry Ribbons

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (17)

These festive "bake-and-slice" cookies look stunning on a tray of holiday desserts.

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Lemon Sugar Cookies

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (18)

The light lemon flavor gives these sparkling sugar cookies a little special twist. Judy Kiburz Harrison's recipe won best-in-class at the Iowa State Fair.

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Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (19)

These cookies from the Inn at Cedar Falls in Logan, Ohio, make a colorful treat anytime of year.

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Tosca Diamonds

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (20)

These cookies are extremely rich, so cut them into small bars. We love the indulgent flourish of the caramel sauce, but the cookies are delicious without it.

11 Scandinavian Cookie Recipes

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21of 30

Holiday Seven-Layer Bars

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (21)

Chocolate, nuts, coconut and more fill our easy-to-make bar cookies. Mixed dried fruit bits and candy-coated milk chocolate pieces are among the layers that make this bar cookie distinctive.

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22of 30

Polvorones

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (22)

Polvorones are Mexico's crispy, airy answer to shortbread (you may know them as Mexican wedding cookies). Food writer Shauna Sever coats them in cinnamon sugar for a churro-like effect.

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23of 30

Lingonberry Hearts

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (23)

A "window" on the top of these cookies shows off the jam inside, but if you're feeling lazy, just sandwich the preserves between two solid cookies. They'll taste just as good.

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24of 30

Apricot and Orange Blossom Kolacky

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (24)

This tender pastry cookie, a cousin to Jewish rugelach, has Polish origins. In her book Midwest Made: Big, Bold Baking from the Heartland, Shauna Sever's apricot filling nods to Hungary.

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Fat Molasses Cookies

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (25)

Packed with flavor from molasses, ginger, cinnamon and brown sugar, these cookies look especially nice when cut with a scalloped or round cutter and sprinkled with coarse sugar or crystallized ginger.

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26of 30

Triple Peanut Butter Streusel Bars

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (26)

Dry-roasted peanuts, peanut butter-flavored pieces and peanut butter bring triple flavor to this make-ahead bar cookie.

Our Best Bar Cookies

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Anisette Buttons

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (27)

"Anisettes feel so Italian because it's about abundance," says Chicago food writer Shauna Sever, of these deliciously soft, cakey cookies with a licorice flavor. "Small bites, but a huge yield."

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Date Pinwheel Cookies

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (28)

Minneapolis blogger Alyssa Ruesch says it's not Christmas without these slice-and-bake cookies. It's her grandma's recipe.

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White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (29)

Dip these cherry-studded cookies in melted white chocolate, then roll in nonpareils and edible glitter for extra color.

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Cranberry Date Puffs

Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (30)

These addictive, puff pastry-wrapped cookies have a sweet, nutty filling and are delicious when they're still slightly warm. If you have a food processor, they're a cinch to make.

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Christmas Cookie Recipes to Treasure (2024)

FAQs

How do you win the cookie challenge? ›

Have you heard of The Cookie Challenge? The rules are simple, but winning is difficult. To start, tilt your head back and place your favorite cookie on your forhead. In less than 60 seconds, can you navigate the cookie down your face and into your mouth - without using your hands.

What was the first Christmas cookie? ›

History. Modern Christmas cookies can trace their history to recipes from Medieval Europe biscuits, when many modern ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds and dried fruit were introduced into the west.

What do you eat at a cookie exchange party? ›

You want guests to take some cookies home, not eat them all during the party, so you'll want to offer other snacks for your loved ones to graze on. Set out some savory appetizers, curate a cheese board, offer finger sandwiches, put out a festive party mix, or create a veggie and dip station.

How do you do a Christmas cookie exchange party? ›

The idea is simple: Everyone brings a big batch of (hopefully homemade) cookies and distributes roughly 6 - 12 cookies each to the other attendees. So at the end of the event, you and your guests will each have your own delectable assortment.

How does the Christmas cookie challenge work? ›

About the show

In Christmas Cookie Challenge, five confident and daring bakers compete to prove their holiday cookie-making skills. Tough-love judges are on hand to crown the holiday cookie master, who will go home with a $10,000 prize!

How to cheat infinite cookies? ›

There is no real way to get infinite cursors. However, you can use the code "Game. cookies=infinity", which will give you infinite cookies to buy cursors.

What cookie was not invented until 1938? ›

I bet you didn't know that the American classic dessert, the chocolate chip cookie, wasn't invented until 1938. The chocolate chip cookie was created by Framingham State University alumna, Ruth Graves Wakefield in Whitman, Massachusetts at the Toll House Inn.

What is the oldest cookie? ›

Pizzelles are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy. They were made many years ago for the “Festival of the Snakes” also known as the “Feast Day of San Domenico”.

How many cookies should everyone bring for a cookie exchange? ›

A good rule to follow is for every guest to bake a half dozen cookies per each attendee. So, if 10 people attend, each guest would bring five dozen cookies to share. We've put together a chart to help you figure out just how many cookies to ask your guests to make.

How many cookies do you need per guest at a party? ›

The general rule of thumb suggests calculating 2-3 cookies per person if other desserts are available. If cookies are the primary sweet treat, consider increasing the count to 4-6 per person.

How many dozen cookies for cookie exchange? ›

2 dozen per guest is a good minimum so everyone has a few to bring home. 6 dozen is a good maximum if everyone wants lots of cookies to take home. Ask ahead for any allergies among your guests so you can make accommodations.

How many cookies to give as a gift? ›

Decide how many cookies or pieces of fudge will make up a gift. Four is a good number to start with for an individual. Many cookie recipes, including my Hershey Kiss Cookie recipe, make 48 cookies. That's 12 potential gifts right there!

Do you win cookie clicker? ›

The goal of the game is to produce as many cookies (by clicking on the Big Cookie and buying buildings to produce them) as you can. There is no end to the game, but some believe getting all the achievements is technically seen as "finishing the game".

What is the cheat for golden cookies? ›

To spawn a golden cookie, use: var newShimmer=new Game.shimmer("golden");

What is the hardest achievement to get in cookie clicker? ›

Cookie Clicker: 10 Hardest Achievements
  • 8 Greener On The Other Sides.
  • 7 Everyone Everywhere All At Once.
  • 6 Where Is My Mind.
  • 5 Introspection.
  • 4 Oft We Mar What's Well.
  • 3 Septcentennial.
  • 2 And A Little Extra.
  • 1 And A Little Extra.
May 25, 2023

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