MomSkoop
Every holiday season, our editors gather in the kitchen to bake their favorite treats. Some cookies become instant classics, showing up year after year on cookie platters and gift boxes. These twelve recipes have earned their spot as the most-loved, most-requested, and most-repeated Christmas cookies in our test kitchen.
1. Classic Gingerbread Cutouts
Warm spices fill your home when these cookies hit the oven.
The dough rolls out beautifully and holds its shape during baking, making it perfect for intricate cookie cutters.
Molasses gives them that deep, rich flavor while cinnamon, ginger, and cloves create the signature taste everyone craves.
Kids love decorating them with royal icing and sprinkles, turning cookie-making into a fun family activity.
Our editors swear by chilling the dough overnight for easier handling.
Plus, these cookies stay fresh for weeks when stored properly, making them ideal for early holiday prep or gift-giving.
2. Chewy Chocolate Crinkles
One bite reveals a fudgy center that melts in your mouth.
Cocoa powder and melted chocolate team up to deliver intense chocolate flavor in every crinkle.
Rolling the dough balls in powdered sugar before baking creates that stunning crackled appearance everyone recognizes.
Our senior editor calls them brownies in cookie form, and honestly, that description fits perfectly.
They look fancy enough for holiday parties but come together quickly on busy weeknights.
The contrast between the dark chocolate cookie and bright white sugar coating makes them photo-ready for your holiday Instagram posts.
3. Buttery Shortbread Rounds
Sometimes simplicity wins, and this recipe proves it.
Just three ingredients create melt-in-your-mouth cookies that taste like pure butter heaven.
Scottish tradition meets modern baking in these delicate rounds that pair wonderfully with hot cocoa or tea.
Our food editor adds a pinch of salt to enhance the buttery flavor and balance the sweetness.
The dough requires gentle handling since overworking makes them tough instead of tender.
Pressing fork marks on top before baking adds a classic touch while helping them bake evenly throughout.
4. Peppermint Bark Cookies
Candy canes crushed into the dough bring holiday cheer to every bite.
White chocolate chips melt slightly during baking, creating pockets of creamy sweetness throughout.
After cooling, a drizzle of dark chocolate adds visual appeal and balances the minty sweetness perfectly.
Our test kitchen discovered that using peppermint extract along with crushed candies intensifies the flavor.
These cookies capture the essence of popular peppermint bark candy but in a softer, chewier format.
They look stunning on cookie trays with their red, white, and brown color scheme screaming Christmas spirit.
5. Snickerdoodles with Cinnamon Sugar
Cream of tartar gives these cookies their signature tangy taste that sets them apart from regular sugar cookies.
Rolling warm dough balls in cinnamon sugar creates a sweet, spicy crust that crackles beautifully when baked.
The edges turn slightly crispy while centers stay wonderfully soft and pillowy.
Our associate editor makes double batches because they disappear faster than any other cookie on her holiday table.
The aroma alone makes everyone gather in the kitchen, asking when they can sample one.
They taste like Christmas morning feels—warm, comforting, and absolutely irresistible to everyone who tries them.
6. Frosted Sugar Cookie Cutouts
Every holiday party needs a platter of these beautifully decorated classics.
The dough recipe includes both butter and shortening, creating cookies that taste amazing and hold their shape.
Almond extract adds unexpected depth that makes people ask about your secret ingredient.
Our editors spend hours decorating these with royal icing in every color imaginable.
Chilling cut shapes before baking prevents spreading and keeps edges sharp and clean.
Kids and adults alike enjoy turning plain cookies into edible art, making memories while creating delicious treats for sharing.
7. Pecan Snowball Cookies
Finely chopped pecans hide inside these melt-away cookies that crumble delicately with each bite.
Rolling them in powdered sugar twice—once warm and once cooled—creates that thick, snowy coating.
Some folks call them Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes, but the taste remains equally delicious.
Our culinary director toasts the pecans first to bring out their natural oils and deepen their flavor.
They look elegant piled high on serving plates, resembling actual snowballs ready for a winter celebration.
The buttery, nutty flavor paired with sweet powdered sugar makes them dangerously addictive during holiday gatherings.
8. Salted Caramel Thumbprints
Brown sugar in the dough creates a deeper, more complex flavor than regular thumbprint cookies.
Pressing your thumb into each dough ball forms the perfect well for holding luscious caramel filling.
A tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top transforms these from good to absolutely spectacular.
Our senior baker recommends using store-bought caramel sauce to save time without sacrificing taste.
The combination of sweet and salty has become a modern classic that appeals to sophisticated palates.
They look bakery-quality fancy but come together easily enough for beginner bakers to master on their first attempt.
9. Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Chocolate lovers rejoice when these show up at holiday gatherings.
Dutch-process cocoa creates an extra-dark, almost black dough that looks dramatic against white chocolate chips.
Peppermint pieces scattered on top before baking add festive color and refreshing flavor contrast.
Our recipe tester discovered that slightly underbaking them keeps centers gloriously fudgy instead of cake-like.
They satisfy chocolate cravings while still feeling seasonally appropriate with that cool mint finish.
Even people who claim they prefer traditional cookies find themselves reaching for seconds of these rich, indulgent treats.
10. Lemon Glazed Butter Cookies
Bright citrus flavor offers a refreshing break from heavy chocolate and spice-laden holiday treats.
Fresh lemon zest in the dough provides natural oils that create intense flavor without artificial taste.
The simple glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice adds sweetness while enhancing the citrus notes.
Our editorial team loves how these cookies lighten up dessert tables filled with richer options.
They bake up tender and delicate, almost shortbread-like in their buttery crumb.
The sunny yellow glaze brings cheerful color to winter cookie platters when everything else looks brown or red.
11. Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies
Rolled oats give these cookies satisfying texture and make them feel almost wholesome despite being treats.
Tart dried cranberries balance the sweetness of white chocolate chips in every chewy bite.
Brown sugar and a touch of cinnamon add warmth that makes them perfect for cold December evenings.
Our health-conscious editor appreciates that oats provide fiber, making these slightly less guilty as indulgences go.
They stay soft for days when stored in airtight containers, unlike some cookies that turn hard overnight.
The festive red and white colors make them look Christmas-ready without requiring any fancy decorating skills.
12. Almond Biscotti with Chocolate Drizzle
Twice-baked Italian cookies bring European elegance to your American holiday cookie collection.
Whole almonds throughout provide satisfying crunch and nutty flavor in every slice.
Baking them twice creates that signature crispy texture perfect for dunking in coffee or hot chocolate.
Our editor-in-chief grew up making these with her Italian grandmother every Christmas Eve.
Dark chocolate drizzled across each piece adds richness and makes them look professionally crafted.
They keep for weeks without losing quality, making them ideal for baking ahead during the busy holiday season.