42 Cookies for Santa (The Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange Round-Up!)

The holiday season is upon us. Celebrate by baking cookies for Santa, family members, friends, neighbors, teachers and more! This list of 42 cookies has a bit of something for everyone.

Collage of 42 cookies for Santa, with Pinterest text

I’m so thrilled to report that this year’s Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange was a smashing success! Our exchange boasted 42 new recipes from more than 30 international bloggers.

I meaaaaaaaan… as if any holiday celebration involving butter, flour, sugar and cheer could be anything else. 😉

Last week, more than 30 blogger friends and I baked some of our old and new favorite cookies of the season. And I think they all make fabulous cookies for Santa.

Today, Susannah and I are both sharing the links to the cookies shared so y’all can have plenty of baking inspiration this month!

We’ve got brownies and bar cookies. There are cutout and drop cookies. We’ve got hand formed cookies, too, and some bonus cookies!

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    Basically: You’re going to find a cookie on this list to bake. Whether you’re baking the cookies for Santa, your family, friends, neighbors, teachers or anyone else.

    Here we go…

    Brownies & Bar Cookies

    If it's baked in a bar form (or a brownie), you'll find holiday cookie inspiration in this section!

    1
    beergirlcooks.com
    Coffee Porter Chocolate Brownie Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    2
    simpleandsavory.com
    Healthier Magic Cookie Bars
    Get the Recipe
    3
    Angled close up of Orange Cranberry Bar on a red napkin
    Orange Cranberry Bars
    Get the Recipe
    4
    anoregoncottage.com
    Quadruple Chocolate Decadent Brownies
    Get the Recipe

    Cutout/Shaped Cookies

    Any cookie that requires a cookie cutter to form it, you'll find in the section below. Think: festive sugar cookies, snowflake cookies and everything in between!

    5
    thebeachhousekitchen.com
    Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    6
    feastandwest.com
    Cardamom Ginger Cat Gingerbread Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    7
    www.asavoryfeast.com
    Christmas Cookie Pops
    Get the Recipe
    8
    thecrumbykitchen.com
    German Chocolate Cookie Cups
    Get the Recipe
    9
    thepetitgourmet.com
    Gluten Free Vanilla Sugar Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    10
    www.missmollymoon.com
    Mint Christmas Tree Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    11
    thecrumbykitchen.com
    Anise Pierniki (Polish Christmas Cookies)
    Get the Recipe
    12
    40aprons.com
    Paleo Peppermint Oreos
    Get the Recipe
    13
    thecrumbykitchen.com
    Salted Caramel Coconut Biscotti
    Get the Recipe
    14
    www.wholesomeyum.com
    Keto Sugar-Free Low Carb Gingerbread Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    15
    toasted pecan shortbread stacked on a white plate
    Toasted Pecan Shortbread Cookies
    Get the Recipe

    Drop Cookies

    These drop cookies are a little easier to make than the cutout cookies (and generally take less time!) Instead of forming them with a cookie cutter and chilling for a portion of time, you drop these cookies onto the baking sheet, and let 'em bake!

    16
    no bake peppermint bark cookies on a striped tray
    No Bake Peppermint Bark Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    17
    thecrumbykitchen.com
    Bakery Style Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    18
    www.theculinarycompass.com
    Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    19
    www.meatloafandmelodrama.com
    Easy White Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies
    Get the Recipe

    Hand-Formed Cookies

    Any cookie that needs your hands to form them are listed below! Generally speaking, you'll roll these cookies with your hands to form them before you bake them.

    20
    joyfullymad.com
    Six Ingredient Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    21
    thecrumbykitchen.com
    Chocolate Cheesecake Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    22
    2cookinmamas.com
    Easy Chocolate Chip Macaroons
    Get the Recipe
    23
    www.glistenandgrace.com
    Chocolate Cookie “Pies” with Peppermint Buttercream
    Get the Recipe
    24
    ciaochowbambina.com
    Chocolate Italian Meatball Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    25
    www.mygorgeousrecipes.com
    Old-Fashioned Ginger Snap Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    26
    strengthandsunshine.com
    Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles
    Get the Recipe
    27
    theschmidtywife.com
    Grandma’s Oatmeal Triblys
    Get the Recipe
    28
    thriftyjinxy.com
    Maraschino Cherry Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    29
    www.idigpinterest.com
    Peppermint Cheesecake Cookie Cups
    Get the Recipe
    30
    www.everydaymadefresh.com
    Peppermint Crunch Sugar Cookies
    Get the Recipe
    31
    hellolittlehome.com
    Poppy Seed Kiss Cookies
    Get the Recipe

    Other Cookies

    If it doesn't fit into one of the categories above, it'll be down here. Think: skillet cookies and pressed cookies.

    32
    www.nospoonnecessary.com
    Butterscotch Snickerdoodle Skillet Cookie
    Get the Recipe
    33
    joybileefarm.com
    Pumpkin Spice Pizzelles
    Get the Recipe

    Collage of Christmas cookies

    Do you bake cookies for Santa in December?

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

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    20 Comments

    1. Wow, so many amazing ideas! Is there time to try them all? This was such a fun collaboration. I’m loving this round up and all the delicious ideas.

      1. I bet between us, we could make ’em all. Or at least most of ’em. 😉 So happy you participated and brought those cookie pops, Jenna! So delicious!

    2. I’m in love with everyone’s cookies!! Thanks so much for including me, Erin! Happy Holidays 🙂

    3. I think Santa would be one happy man if he found one of each of these on his plate Christmas Eve night! 😉

    4. That’s such a terrific roundup! Leaving cookies out for Santa is something our kids always get super excited about 🙂

      1. Thank you! My sister and I always loved leaving cookies for Santa, and I look forward to sharing that tradition with our daughter this year or next. 🙂

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