41 Holiday Cookie Recipes You've Gotta Bake This December

The holiday season is here! Celebrate by baking these 41 holiday cookie recipes that are perfect for Santa, family members, friends, neighbors, teachers and more! The Sweetest Season Virtual Cookie Exchange 2018, a yearly celebration of baked goods, was a success in its seventh year, boasting 41 new recipes from more than 30 bloggers. We should bake them ALL this season! Which cookie is YOUR go-to sweet this season?

As you might have heard, The Sweetest Season Virtual Cookie Exchange was the last week of November… and y’all, we had some amazing recipes shared during that week!

Since we’re still in the season of holiday baking, I wanted to share some cookie inspiration with y’all.

(Also, if you’re looking to give back this season, we’re raising money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer through the end of the month and would love your support!)

Holiday Brownies & Bar Cookies

M&M Christmas Cookie Bars from A Joyfully Mad Kitchen, shown above

Some other holiday brownies and bar cookies that would be lovely to bake for a crowd are…

Buckeye Brownie Bites from Life, Love, and Good Food
Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Bars from An Oregon Cottage
Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies from Meatloaf and Melodrama
Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars from An Oregon Cottage

Holiday Cutout & Shaped Cookies

All-Butter Tea Cake Cookies from The Speckled Palate, shown above

Some other holiday cutout and shaped cookies that would be a wonderful addition to any cookie table this time of year are…

Ghee Jaggery Cookies from Food, Pleasure and Health
Linzer Cookies from The Little Epicurean
Slice & Bake Peppermint Teacakes from Miss Molly Moon
Stained Glass Cookies from E2 Bakes Brooklyn
Orange and Chocolate Star Cookies from SugarLoveSpices

Holiday Drop Cookies

Fruitcake Cookies from Simply Whisked, shown above

Some other festive drop cookies that would be perfect for a cookie exchange (or to make with your kids) during this holiday season are…

Almond Meringues from think fruitful
Butter Pecan Ice Cream Cookies from 2 Cookin Mamas
Chewy Chai Snickerdoodles from Love & Flour
Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Holiday Twist from Anne In Residence
Chocolate Stuffed Almond Cookies from ImPECKable Eats
Christmas Mint M&M Cookies from The Stress-Free Christmas
Cranberry Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies from Savory Spin
Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies from Feast + West
Crunchy Low-Carb Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Sustaining the Powers
Maple Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies from No Spoon Necessary
Pistachio Whipped Shortbread Cookies from 2 Cookin Mamas
Quebec Maple Pecan Drops from The Speckled Palate
Triple Chocolate Pistachio Cookies from Baumassfoods
Toffee Chocolate Cookies from A Savory Feast

Hand-Formed Holiday Cookies

Double Chocolate Crinkle Cookies from House of Nash Eats, shown above

Hand-formed cookies are so fun to make with friends and family! Below are some other favorite recipes shared during this year’s Sweetest Season that would be sweet as pie to make at home.

Candy Cane Oreo Cookies from Zest & Simmer
Chocolate Candy Cane Biscotti from Ciao Chow Bambina
Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies from Bunsen Burner Bakery
Cranberry Orange Thumbprint Cookies from Crumb Top Baking
Gluten-Free Keto Coconut Macaroons from Wholesome Yum
Grain-Free Italian Wedding Snowball Cookies (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Paleo) from Strength and Sunshine
Lofthouse-Style Soft Frosted Gluten-Free Vegan Sugar Cookies (Allergy-Free) from Strength and Sunshine
Orange Cranberry Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies from The Speckled Palate
Orange Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies from I Dig Pinterest
Paleo Coconut Thumbprint Cookies from Rebecca Lilly Costa
Peanut Butter Chocolate Star Cookies from Fork in the Kitchen
Russian Tea Cakes from Mildly Meandering
Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies from Butternut Bakery

No Bake Holiday Cookies

No bake cookies are the most simple to make, and for good reason! Two no bake recipes were shared during the Sweetest Season this year, and they’re both delightful.