39 Cookies for Santa

ByErin Parker Published onDecember 8, 2017December 12, 2024 Updated onDecember 12, 2024

The holiday season is upon us! Celebrate with these 38 cookie recipes that are perfect for Santa Claus, family members, friends, neighbors, teachers and more!

Big collage of cookies for Santa, with Pinterest text

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This year’s Sweetest Season Virtual Cookie Exchange was a smashing success!

Not only did 32 bloggers come together to create 39 new cookie-centric recipes for the season, but we met our fundraising goal… and are continuing to raise money for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.

Feeling festive this season and wanting to make a difference? Consider making a monetary donation. We’ll be raising money through the end of the month and would love for you to join us in making a difference!

I was impressed with all the cookie goodness shared this year, and I cannot wait to share all of that with y’all today!

Now who’s ready for some baked goods?

The Sweetest Season by Year

Brownies & Bar Cookies

1

White chocolate cranberry brown butter blonde brownie bars on a drying rack

theemotionalbaker.com

Cranberry Brownies

2

Peppermint mocha fuge brownies on a white plate

www.crumbtopbaking.com

Peppermint Mocha Fudge Avocado Brownies

3

A stack of 5 shortcut millionaire bars with one bar angled off the side. Caramel candy and other bars are scattered about the white counter top.

2cookinmamas.com

Shortcut Millionaire Cookie Bars

4

A close up on a Holiday Hello Dolly Cookie Bar on a wooden countertop

ciaochowbambina.com

Holiday “Hello Dolly” Cookie Bars

5

triangle-shaped Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars on brown parchment

40aprons.com

Paleo Cranberry Bliss Bars

6

Stack of peppermint chocolate chip cookie sticks spilling over a red christmas plate onto parchment paper

thecrumbykitchen.com

Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks

Cutout/Shaped Cookies

7

A stack of homemade honey cookies with red sprinkles rolled on the edges.

hellolittlehome.com

Honey Cookies

8

A stack of mint dipped shortbread cookies on a multicolored polka dot plate.

www.thinkfruitful.com

Mint Chocolate-Dipped Shortbreads

9

Eight Alfajore cookies on a drying rack that have just been covered in powder sugar with four cookies missing. To the right of the drying rack, is a gray plate with the four missing alfajores.

thepetitgourmet.com

Alfajores

10

Lofthouse Cut Out Christmas cookies on a plate alternating star shaped cookies and circle shape. Decorated in various christmas frosting adn with various sprinkles.

www.sugardishme.com

Lofthouse Cut Out Cookies

Drop Cookies

11

A tin of Andes mint chocolate cookies open with a stack of cookies beside it and one that has a bite in it in front of the tin.

www.asavoryfeast.com

Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies

12

close up of cranberry chocolate potato chip cookies with a chocolate drizzle

Cranberry Chocolate Potato Chip Cookies

13

A red christmas plate filled with chewy chocolate mint cookies and surrounded by gold glitter and ten cookies around the plate

www.bunsenburnerbakery.com

Chewy Chocolate Mint Cookies

14

e2bakesbrooklyn.com

Cashew Butter Ginger Cookies

15

A white plate filled with polvorone cookies stacked on top of another plate with a tray of freshly powdered polvorones in the background.

deliciosamentelight.com

Polvorones

16

A white plate filled with christmas M&M cookies with M&M's scattered around it.

www.ifyougiveablondeakitchen.com

Christmas M&M Cookies

17

A stack of coconut chocolate chip cookies on brown parchment paper with a glass of milk.

simpleandsavory.com

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies Gluten Free

18

Close up of Mom's M&M cookies on a stripped christmas plate

www.theculinarycompass.com

Mom’s M&M Cookies

19

A vertical stack of toffee crunch cookies with one in front with a bite in it on a wooden countertop.

www.bunsenburnerbakery.com

Toffee Crunch Cookies

20

A close up on a black and white cookie with a stack of cookies behind it.

www.bunsenburnerbakery.com

Black and White Cookies

21

A vintage glass leaf plate holding a vertical stack of chocolate peppermint cherry cookies with cherries and chocolate scattered around the plate.

savoryspin.com

Crispy Yet Gooey Chocolate Peppermint Cherry Cookies

22

A drying rack with five Oatmeal Cookies on it and a glass of milk off to the right side.

themom100.com

Oatmeal Cookies

23

A vertical stack of brown sugar spice pecan cookies tied with a christmas string with a bow on top.

www.chefintheburbs.com

Brown Sugar Spice Pecan Cookies

24

A plate of green Grinch cookies with red hearts in the center of each cookie.

www.simplywhisked.com

Grinch Cookies

Hand-Formed Cookies

25

A christmas tin filled with caramel pecan thumbprint cookies.

lifeloveandgoodfood.com

Caramel Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

26

A close up on Peppermint sugar cookies with a peppermint drizzle.

www.idigpinterest.com

Peppermint Sugar Cookies and Kids’ Charity Donation Opportunity

27

peppermint chocolate crinkle cookies stacked on a small plate

Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

28

An overhead view of a vertical stack of 3 ingredient old fashioned peanut butter cookies

strengthandsunshine.com

3-Ingredient Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies

29

An overhead view of a stack of ginger molasses snickerdoodle cookies warpped with a red and white string along with a glass of milk and half eaten cookie.

joyfullymad.com

Ginger Molasses Snickerdoodles

30

A close up of Gingerbread Cookie Cups topped with spiced pear frosting and toasted coconut.

www.crumbtopbaking.com

Spiced Pear Gingerbread Cookie Cups

31

Two vertical stacks of gluten free, flourless brown sugar shortbread cookies on a white countertop

marisamoore.com

Flourless Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies

32

An abbracci italian cookie on a plate and six on a drying rack in the background.

www.sugarlovespices.com

Abbracci, Italian Hug Cookies

33

A photo collage of ginger snap sandwich cookies stacked in various ways.

thecrumbykitchen.com

Chewy Ginger Snap Sandwich Cookies with Rum Cream Cheese

34

A collage of chocolate turtle pie cookie cups photos.

thecrumbykitchen.com

Gooey Triple-Layer Chocolate Turtle Pie Cookie Cups

Other Cookies

35

A tin full of crunch bourbon buckeyes with a few scattered in front of the tin with different christmas decorations.

www.cakenknife.com

Crispy Bourbon Buckeyes

36

A pink plate filled with cookies and cream avalanche cookies, oreos and pink ornaments.

feastandwest.com

No-Bake Cookies and Cream Avalanche Cookies

37

A close up of a glass mug of cookie butter hot chocolate with cookie butter topping.

thecrumbykitchen.com

Cookie Butter Hot Chocolate

2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011

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Do you have any baking plans for the holidays?

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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9 Comments

Julie says:

December 8, 2017 at 8:42 am

What a great collection of cookies! Thanks for organizing such a great tradition, and for an AMAZING cause this year!

Reply
Danielle Green says:

December 8, 2017 at 10:05 am

The heck with Santa! These are for me:)

Reply
Shashi at Savory Spin says:

December 8, 2017 at 11:37 am

Erin, thanks so much for telling me about this cause and including me in on this roundup! All these cookies look fantastic! Makes me wish this was a real life cookie buffet! Heyyyyy…. maybe next year??? 🙂
Hoping you and your family are enjoying this holiday season!
xoxo

Reply
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says:

December 8, 2017 at 11:49 am

All such BEAUTIFUL and delicious recipes for such a wonderful cause! xoxo
Than you for hosting!

Reply
Melissa Howell says:

December 11, 2017 at 11:41 am

These all look so amazing! I’d love to get in on this next year!

Reply
Agness of Run Agness Run says:

December 11, 2017 at 4:43 pm

Wow! These are some awesome Christmas cookies which I can’t wait to try. My mouth is watering right now, Erin!

Reply
LeAndra says:

December 11, 2017 at 9:14 pm

So many treats to bake! My oven is going to be working overtime. Thanks so much for hosting this fun project for a good cause, Erin!

Reply
Julie Evink says:

December 12, 2017 at 8:47 am

These all look amazing!!! I’m with Danielle, the heck with Santa, I’m eating all these!!!

Reply
Malinda says:

December 13, 2017 at 8:23 am

These cookies all look amazing!! I’m so glad the fundraiser met its goals and for such a great cause!! Great job!!

Reply

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