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These 11 Cookie Recipes Are Filled With Holiday Cheer!
For many of us, the start of the holiday season isn’t the décor, the crisp weather or even the Christmas wish lists. It’s the baking! Flour on your hands. The aroma of cinnamon and vanilla in the air. And cookies fresh from the oven. This roundup of the best Christmas cookie recipes is your passport to holiday cheer—think buttery classics, spiced delights and whimsical creations that look as good as they taste. Whether you’re baking for Santa, gifting to friends or sneaking a treat yourself, these recipes will sweeten your season and make your kitchen the coziest spot in the house.
Hungry for more? From festive cookie cutters and loaf pans to seasonal treats, our Holiday Collection is chock full of everything for the sweetest season of ‘em all!
Earl Grey Shortbread Coins
With their delicate crumb and aromatic hint of Earl Grey, these shortbread coins bring a touch of elegance to any occasion. Crafted with finely ground tea leaves for a subtle, sophisticated flavor, they’re a perfect companion to your favorite brew.
Want to mix it up? Add cocoa for a chocolaty twist or roll the dough into festive shapes for a personalized treat.
Palmiers
Crisp, caramelized and effortlessly elegant, these Palmiers—also called elephant ears or palm trees—are a French pastry classic. Made with puff pastry and coated in crunchy turbinado sugar, they bake into golden, buttery treats with a delicate sweetness.
Perfect for any occasion, these pastries are as impressive as they are easy to make.
Cream Cheese Spritz Butter Cookies
Rich, buttery and perfectly spiced with a hint of cinnamon, these Cream Cheese Spritz Butter Cookies come together effortlessly in a mixing bowl before being pressed into intricate shapes with a cookie press. Their melt-in-your-mouth texture make them a timeless treat for every kind of holiday celebration.
Chocolate-Drizzled Caramel Coconut Macaroons
Chewy, caramel-sweet and drizzled with dark chocolate–need we say more? Made with unsweetened coconut and dulce de leche, they bake up beautifully. But they can get sticky, so be sure to use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy release.
A sprinkle of flaked sea salt adds the perfect finishing touch to these irresistible bites.
Get the Chocolate-Drizzled Caramel Coconut Macaroons recipe!
Gingerbread Cookies
Warmly spiced and deeply flavorful, these Gingerbread Cookies are a holiday classic with a rich blend of molasses, ginger and cinnamon.
Roll out the dough and use your favorite cookie cutters to create festive shapes, or free-cut them for houses and decorate with royal icing—a fun activity for kids and adults alike.
Gingerbread People
These gingerbread cookies, tested and perfected in the Sur La Table kitchen, are perfect for holiday gatherings (this recipe yields 48 large cookies).
Spiced with cinnamon, ginger and allspice, the dough is chilled before rolling, allowing you to customize the thickness for crisp, delicate cookies or thicker, chewier treats. Unlike smaller-batch recipes, this version is ideal for big celebrations or cookie swaps, and the large batch size means there’s plenty to decorate.
Linzer Cookies
Delicate and festive, these Linzer cookies are a holiday favorite with their buttery almond dough, hint of cinnamon and sweet jam filling. Shaped with two cookie cutters to create their signature cut-out tops, they’re baked to golden perfection and then dusted with powdered sugar using a sifter or sugar shaker for an elegant finish.
Orange Pistachio Cookies
These Orange Pistachio Cookies are a delightful twist on classic cutouts.
Infused with orange and vanilla extracts, studded with candied oranges and pistachios, and finished with a drizzle of rich chocolate, they’re as flavorful as they are festive. Perfect for holiday decorating, these cookies are a cheerful addition to any dessert table.
Cardamom Butter Cookies
If you’re searching for elevated Christmas cookie recipes, these cardamom butter cookies are a standout choice.
This recipe brings a touch of sophistication to your dessert table with their warm, spiced flavor and rich, buttery texture. Perfectly balanced and beautifully finished, they’re drizzled with melted chocolate and garnished with delicate dried rose petals for an elegant presentation.
They’re also great to bring to holiday gatherings or packaged up as a thoughtful gift.
Snickerdoodle Skillet Cookie
Warm, gooey and irresistibly spiced, this oversized dessert combines the comforting flavors of a classic snickerdoodle with the ease of skillet baking.
Featuring crisp edges, a soft, chewy center and a topping of cinnamon sugar, melty white chocolate and pockets of caramel, it’s a treat perfect for sharing—and perfect for cozy nights in.
Brownie Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
When brownie meets cookie, magic happens.
These Brownie Peppermint Sandwich Cookies combine the rich, fudgy texture of a brownie with the crisp edges of a cookie, creating the ultimate treat. Filled with a creamy peppermint frosting, they’re a decadent holiday dessert that’s the best of both worlds.
Hungry for more? From festive cookie cutters and loaf pans to seasonal treats, our Holiday Collection is chock full of everything for the sweetest season of ‘em all!
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