Looking for the best cookie recipes to serve this holiday season? We’ve got 50+ delicious cookie recipes to try in this list, featuring different shapes, varieties and flavors!
I’m thrilled to report that this year, we have 52 new (and updated!) cookie recipes from bloggers all over the world.
Not only are there classic cookies, like crinkle cookies, gingerbread men, snowflake cookies, and more, but there are more unique ones, too! Some of our participants have shared gluten free cookies while others have shared vegan recipes.
We’ve got easy cookie recipes, as well as some that are a little more complex and time consuming.
There are plenty of flavors shared in this year’s exchange, from chocolate to white chocolate cranberry, red velvet to hot chocolate, lemon to raspberry and more.
If you’re looking for a favorite cookie recipe or just want to try something new, there’s a little bit of everything here.
And we’ve broken them down into categories, like Brownies and Bar Cookies, Hand-Formed Cookies, no bake cookie recipes, Drop Cookies, Cut Out Cookies and more.
First, let’s talk about what this year’s Sweetest Season was all about!
Let’s talk about The Sweetest Season and Cookies for Kids Cancer!
In 2011, I decided it would be fun to share my favorite Christmas cookies… then I invited other bloggers to join me. The celebration grew, we changed the name to make it more inclusive (because that matters!), my friend Susannah stepped up to assist with all the things and the rest is history.
And now, every year, food bloggers get together to share new holiday cookie recipes to make and give.
This year, we’re raising money in support of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, which is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to funding research for new, innovative and less-toxic treatments for childhood cancer.
Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted nearly $18 million to pediatric cancer research in the form of 100+ research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the country. More than 35 treatments that are available to kids battling cancer today have been stemmed from these grants.
We’d love for you to help us raise money for this important cause! You can donate through our fundraising page.
Another exciting thing is that Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is in a matching window with their friends at OXO, meaning OXO will be matching every dollar raised through the end of 2022, up to $100,000. Whatever money we raise will automatically double on our fundraising page!
What do I need to bake cookies this holiday season?
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To be honest, it depends on what you’re baking and what you’ve already got in your kitchen.
it also has some extras in it, too. Just in case you need something specific for the recipe you’re making.
What kind of cookie is the best?
That’s up to you, my friend!
We’ve got more than 50 cookie recipes below for you to peruse, bake and then decide which is superior.
So whether you love gingerbread cookies, chocolate (or white chocolate), peppermint, peanut butter blossoms, cream cheese, citrus or any flavor in between, we’ve got a little something for everyone.
Whether you’re baking the cookies for Santa, your family, friends, neighbors, teachers or anyone else, there are SO many excellent options, thanks to the participants in this year’s Sweetest Season Cookie Exchange!
Looking for other festive cookie recipes from The Sweetest Season?
If it's baked in a bar form, you're sure to find find holiday cookie inspiration in this section!
1
easyhealthyrecipes.com
Rich & Fudgy Dairy-Free Brownies
This recipe for dairy-free brownies gives you irresistibly rich, chocolatey brownies that taste every bit as wonderful as the traditional version. Thick and chewy, moist and fudgy, with a beautiful crackly top.
Any cookie that requires a cookie cutter or a special tool to form it is in the section below. Think: festive sugar cookies, snowflake cookies, spritz cookies and everything in between!
2
savoryspin.com
Vegan Spritz Cookies
Flavored with a hint of cardamom and cinnamon, these tender and buttery, vegan spritz cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
With only five ingredients, this homemade shortbread cookies recipe comes together incredibly fast and results in the perfect crunchy, buttery cookie bite.
Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies for Gingerbread Men and Gingerbread Houses
Gluten-free gingerbread cookies can be thin, crispy and full of flavor. This cookie recipe can be rolled thin and cut with cookie cutters for crispy gingerbread before decorating with royal icing and enjoying!
It’s always the season for fun and festive cookies! These vanilla chocolate checkerboard cookies, also known as schackrutor, are a fun addition to the cookie tray.
Snowflake Cookies are the most fun shape of cut-out sugar cookies to bake! If you're baking with kids, these easy decorated snowflake cookies are the way to go because they're simply decorated with one glaze and a dash of sprinkles.
These absolutely delicious snowflake sugar cookies are really easy to make and are so fun to ice and decorate. Cut them into snowflake shapes, whip up some royal icing and decorate them with a wintry theme.
White Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Wedges
These thick and buttery shortbread wedges are loaded with white chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and pistachios. They’re as delicious as they are festive!
Adorably sweet and delicious Copycat Starbucks Snowman Cookie that’s fun to make with the kids! Made with a shortbread biscuit and decorated with royal icing, this cookie is ideal for the holiday season!
Brown sugar cinnamon biscotti topped with cinnamon sugar are a delicious and easy holiday cookie. Made with only 9 pantry ingredients, the recipe makes 2 dozen biscotti – perfect for sharing with friends and family.
These drop cookie recipes 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!
13
tastytreatsandeats.com
Easy Andes Mint Cookies Recipe
Delicious Andes Mint Cookies are so easy to make from scratch! These Chocolate Mint Cookies are tasty and fudgy and are loaded with Andes Mints.
Baci di Alassio (Italian Flourless Chocolate Hazelnut Kisses)
Made with ground hazelnuts, cocoa powder, egg whites, sugar, and honey, these cookies are a traditional regional specialty of Alassio, in the Ligurian Riviera di Ponente. The name translates as 'kisses of Alassio'.
Treat yourself to these mouthwatering Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies! These delicious cookies are loaded with gooey chocolate chunks and chopped nuts, and they're the perfect combination of crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle!
These gluten-free chocolate cookies are chewy, rich and ready in just 30 minutes! With puddles of chocolate and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top, these gluten-free cookies will satisfy any sweet tooth.
These gooey Vegan S'mores Cookies are a real treat, and nobody would ever guess they're vegan because they're just that good! Made with vegan marshmallows and dark chocolate chips, these are a perfect treat for s'mores lovers!
The sugary, crispy goodness of these Cornflake Cookies will put a smile on your face. Super light and crispy on the outside with the extra crunch of the cornflakes, but with a bit of a chewy texture to the cookie dough itself. The perfect balance.
These Large Batch Christmas M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies are easy to make and perfect for sharing because it makes 4 dozen cookies! Crispy on the edges, soft and chewy in the middle, and loaded with chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and holiday M&M’s!
Want to make the easiest sugar cookies this season? These Drop Sugar Cookies are crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside — each bite is bursting with vanilla flavors. This cookie dough doesn’t need a chill, so these cookies are made and baked within 30 minutes!
These Gingersnap Cookies are the perfect balance of sugar, spice and everything nice. With both fresh and ground ginger, these cookies aren’t too spicy and just sweet enough.
Peanut Butter Shortbread Cookies with Raspberry-Orange Glaze
A peanut butter and jelly twist on traditional shortbread cookies for the holidays! Peanut butter shortbread is topped with a tart glaze to make these Peanut Butter Shortbread Cookies with Raspberry-Orange Glaze.
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies only need a few ingredients for some of the fluffiest cookies you’ll ever make! Learn how to make Red Velvet Cookies with cake mix in just a few steps.
Soft and pillow-like with a thick layer of chocolate and vanilla frosting, these giant Black and White Cookies are just like your favorite NYC bakery. Halfway between a cookie and cake, it’s the perfect mix of chocolate and vanilla!
Equal parts stunning and delicious, these chewy oatmeal cranberry cookies are full of warm holiday flavors, all from a handful of pantry-staple ingredients.
Grinch Cookies are sure to steal the hearts of everyone this Christmas season! They have a soft, chewy texture, are colored the perfect shade of Grinch-green, then dusted with powdered sugar and a shiny red heart.
Any cookie that needs your hands to form them are listed below! Generally speaking, you'll roll these cookies with your hands or shape them to form them before you bake them.
29
Classic Snickerdoodle Cookies
Soft and fluffy Snickerdoodle Cookies are full of comfort and deliciousness. Covered in cinnamon sugar, no one can resist these sweet, flavorful cookies.
Pillowy, citrusy Lemon Crinkle Cookies strike a perfect balance! This drop cookie recipe is lemony and fabulous for sharing for holidays, birthdays or any occasion.
Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies are soft, buttery, chewy, and filled with strawberry jam. These little cookies are perfect for the holidays or any occasion! Made with simple ingredients and are easy to whip up!
Neiman Marcus Cookies are chewy and chocolatey, made with blended oatmeal, sweet chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, and grated Hershey’s milk chocolate. It’s a combination that’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Vanillekipferl (Vanilla Almond Crescent Cookies) are not super-sweet and a bit on the drier, crumblier side, but they are perfect and a family tradition.
Homemade and deliciously gooey Turtle Cookies recipe is a delicious combination of nuts, chocolate, and caramel. Turtle Thumbprint cookies, often called blossom cookies, are a joy to eat and the perfect addition to your cookie list.
Easy 5-Ingredient Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
Classic 5-ingredient Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies will make your Christmas cookie tray sparkle this season! A simple, tender shortbread dough and these thumbprint cookies will be the jewel of the holiday season.
A soft sugar cookie filled with a delicious jammy center makes up these Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies. A crowd favorite these are great to make any time year but are the perfect addition to any platter of Christmas Cookies.
These easy vegan apple pie thumbprint cookies bring the delicious scents of apple pie into the kitchen! They're super fun and easy to make (with or without kids!) with a nutty cookie base and filled with homemade apple pie jam.
These chocolate-dipped vegan mandel bread are almond-flavored cookies dunked in melted chocolate and sprinkled with toasted almonds. A great holiday or anytime cookie!
Full of flavor and just the right texture, these sour cream sugar cookies will brighten up any day and are perfect for after-school snacks, cookie jars, or special occasions.
Nothing says delicious quite like a warm Cinnamon Cookie. These soft, chewy cookies have a crisp outer layer of cinnamon sugar. This quick and easy recipe is great for the holidays or any time you’re craving some cinnamon.
Soft and chewy ube cookies that melt in your mouth. These purple yam crinkle cookies are delicious, buttery and flavorful. Coated in crunchy sugar, these cookies are really easy and fun to make.
With just three simple ingredients, these easy Butterscotch No Bake Cookies are so quick to put together. Sometimes I just don’t have time to bake desserts so this is a great recipe for a delicious alternative.
Spiced Rum Balls are a holiday delight! Made from crushed cookies, chopped pecans, cocoa powder, real spiced rum, honey and vanilla, these gorgeous treats are perfect for cookie swaps and holiday parties.
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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2 Comments
Thank you for ALL of the hard work you put into arranging this amazing event! I am thrilled to be a part of it for another year! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Erin!
Aww, Michaela. You’re so welcome! I am so happy to host this event every year with Susannah and so happy you’ve joined us for the past few. It has been so much fun!
Thank you for ALL of the hard work you put into arranging this amazing event! I am thrilled to be a part of it for another year! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Erin!
Aww, Michaela. You’re so welcome! I am so happy to host this event every year with Susannah and so happy you’ve joined us for the past few. It has been so much fun!
Merry Christmas to you and your family, too!