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Cookie season is here, and I’m sharing 40+ of the best Classic Christmas Cookies and Candies for 2021. There’s something here for everyone to help get you into the holiday spirit.
Baking season is here! Spending the whole day in the kitchen, blasting Christmas music, and wearing cute aprons, is one of my most favorite traditions. I love baking cookies and making candy to put together some unforgettable cookie trays to deliver to friends and family.
It can be fun to bake cookies by yourself or as a group with your kiddos or grandkids to help. I also love doing a baking day with girlfriends and sisters.
Baking them is the fun and easy part. But, deciding which recipes to use is always the hardest part for me.
This Christmas baking season just got a whole lot easier. So right here is your one-stop Christmas cookie recipe shopping stop! You will see my compilation of favorite recipes, from Soft Gingerbread Cookies to 3 Ingredient Fudge.
I have compiled the best of the best, just for you! Enjoy!
Christmas Cookies and Candies FAQ’s
What cookies are associated with Christmas?
Christmas is known for cookies and cookie trays. Some of the most popular cookies at Christmas-time are Cut Out Sugar Cookies, Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies, Soft Gingerbread Cookies, Shortbread Cookies, and Snickerdoodle Cookies.
How early can I make holiday cookies?
Cookies can be made ahead of time. I like to make mine up to two days before I am going to eat them. However, you can freeze cookie dough in an airtight container for up to two months. Making the dough ahead of time and freezing it might be a great option to free up some time instead of baking all your recipes in one day.
Should Christmas cookies be refrigerated?
Generally speaking, cookies are best when stored at room temperature in an airtight container. However, refer to each recipe specifically, as some cookies might be ok to refrigerate.
Cook’s Tools
- Baking Sheets
- Mixing Bowls
- Cookie Scoop
- Silicone Baking Mat
- Wire Rack
- Stand Mixer
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cup
Ginger Snaps
Whether you call them Gingersnaps, Ginger Snaps, Ginger Doodles, Ginger Biscuits, or Ginger Nut, these cookies are just plain good! They’re great any time of the year or especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas time!
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Pecan Snowball Cookies
Pecan Snowball Cookies are soft, tender cookies that melt in your mouth. Kids love rolling the cookies in snowy white powdered sugar.
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Cut Out Sugar Cookies
This Cut Out Sugar Cookies recipe makes the best soft sugar cookies, thanks to sour cream! These decorated sugar cookies are a Christmas staple!
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Dipped Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Dipped Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are an easy cookie that you can enjoy for the holidays or anytime. They’re chewier on the outside and soft in the middle. That’s cookie perfection if you ask me!
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Soft Gingerbread Cookies
It’s Christmas cookie time! The holidays wouldn’t be the same without these Soft Gingerbread Cookies. Decorating gingerbread cookies are a yearly tradition that the entire family loves.
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Peppermint Bark Cookies
These Peppermint Bark Cookies bring together everything you love about shortbread AND everything you love about peppermint bark in one bite!
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Hanging Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
This Hanging Gingerbread Cookie recipe is a unique spin on the classic. Just add a small candy cane to the back and hang the cookies from a nice warm cup of cocoa!
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Gummy Bear Thumbprint Cookies
These Gummy Bear Thumbprint Cookies help spread holiday cheer with simple surprises. They’re an easy Christmas cookie recipe that are so tasty! Grab the kids-they’ll love making them, too!
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Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Jam Thumbprint Cookies are an easy, versatile, and classic Christmas Cookie recipe everyone loves to make and eat!
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Easy Macaroons
This easy Coconut Macaroons recipe has so much coconut flavor and they are just the thing for speedy holiday baking. These are a Christmas and Easter staple around my house!
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Snickerdoodles
These chewy and tangy Snickerdoodle cookies have a light texture and are covered with glistening cinnamon sugar. Grab the kids, they’ll love helping you coat the dough balls in cinnamon sugar!
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Pistachio Pudding Cookies
These Pistachio Pudding Cookies are easy to make and melt in your mouth. These are always a massive hit at a cookie exchange!
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies with Hazelnuts
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Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookies
These Dark Chocolate Cherry Cookies are chewy, fudgy, and oh-so-good! They're festive and fabulous for giving as gifts-either baked or in cookie dough form!
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Porcelain Cookies
Porcelain Cookies are lightly lemon-flavored sugar cookie cutouts that are white-washed and simply decorated.
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Loaded Peppermint Cookies
Loaded Peppermint Cookies for all of you peppermint lovers out there! This Christmas cookie recipe is so quick and easy to make!
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are fudgy and soft on the inside and slightly crunchy and covered in powdered sugar on the outside.
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Cranberry Pistachio Cookies
Pistachios, cranberries, and white chocolate drizzle make this Cranberry Pistachio Cookies recipe festive in both flavor and color. Our recipe has a vanilla cookie base for a melt-in-your-mouth Christmas cookie that’s perfect for parties and cookie exchanges.
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Christmas Brownie Cookies
This easy Brownie Cookies Recipe is just the Christmas Cookie recipe to make for the busy holiday season. They cost only $4.75 to make and 15¢ per cookie.
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Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookies
This Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookies recipe is easy to make and so festive. It costs just $8.44 to make this recipe, that’s just 36¢ per cookie!
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Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies
This Chocolate Dipped Gingerbread Cookies recipe is easy to make and so festive. It costs just $7.38 to make this recipe, that’s just 31¢ per cookie!
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Peppermint Patty Candy
This homemade Peppermint Patty Candy is a refreshing holiday treat perfect for Christmas cookie trays and gifting.
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Christmas Wreath Cookies
Five ingredients and 15 minutes are all that you need to make these no-bake Christmas Wreath Cookies. Grad the kids, because they’ll love making these cornflake wreath cookies with you.
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Buckeye Candy
Buckeye Candy has a peanut butter fudge center, and they’re partially dipped in chocolate. Buckeyes are easy to make and require just six ingredients.
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Christmas Tree Brownies
Christmas Tree Brownies are fun festive treats that are easy to make. They’re perfect for holiday parties and adding to Christmas cookie trays.
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Easy Fudge
You only need 5 ingredients to make this super Easy Chocolate Fudge recipe. This classic holiday candy is always a favorite!
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Crockpot Candy
Crockpot Candy is an easy recipe that is perfect for holiday cookie trays and potlucks. Grab the kids because they’ll love making this Christmas candy!
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Peppermint Bark Candy
Peppermint Bark Candy makes a great holiday gift. It has layers of chocolate and white chocolate with a peppermint hint, and it’s sprinkled with crushed candy canes.
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Divinity Candy
This Divinity Candy recipe is a classic holiday favorite! You only need a handful of ingredients, a little time, and you have soft and chewy Divinity Candy.
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Gingerbread OREO Cookie Balls
These Gingerbread OREO Truffles are easy holiday treats that are great for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and gifting! Picture tutorial included!
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Slow Cooker Copycat Avalanche Cookies
Copycat Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Avalanche Cookies for the holidays! They're easy to make and so decadent!
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Old Fashioned Fudge – a 15-minute Recipe!
This Old Fashioned Fudge is the best fudge I’ve ever tasted and you only need 15 minutes of active prep time to make it!
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Almond Roca Brittle
This Almond Roca Brittle is the stuff your crispy, buttery, toffee dreams are made of! This is my most requested Christmas recipe EVER, and I made pounds and pounds of it every year!Disclosure: This post for Almond Roca recipe includes affiliate links, this means I make a few cents if you buy the item after clicking my link. This costs you nothing, but it helps keep this blog running on butter…lots of butter!
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Peanut Brittle
Homemade Peanut Brittle is a sweet, salty, and crunchy candy that is made on the stovetop. It’s one of our favorite edible gifts to give during the holidays.
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Rocky Road Fudge
This Rocky Road Fudge recipe is loaded with mini marshmallows and toasted almonds. This fudge can be enjoyed year-round or dressed up for the holidays.
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Homemade Gingerbread Houses
Our Homemade Gingerbread Houses Recipe is more than a recipe; it’s a tradition. Ours comes complete with a template. Our recipe costs just $6.95 to make 2 large houses!
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bon Bons
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bon Bons are an easy treat that is excellent year-round and for Valentine’s day! It costs $5.96 to make 30, or just 20¢ each.
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Christmas Fudge
Christmas Fudge is a classic chocolate fudge that is creamy and smooth. It’s easy to make and perfect for holiday parties and gifting.
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No Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies
These No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies are easy to make and delicious any time of the year. However, we like making them for the holidays when we need an easy cookie option for our cookie trays.
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Christmas Ornament Oreo Pops
These Christmas Ornament Oreo Pops are fun, festive treats perfect for gifting or sprucing up cookie trays. Grab the kids because they’ll love making them with you!
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Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses
These Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses are a fun Christmas tradition that you’ll find yourself making year after year with family and friends. They’re easy to make and so fun to customize.
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Chocolate Mint Cookies
These Chocolate Mint Cookies have a chewy and fudgy texture, and they’re loaded with Andes Mint pieces. They’re easy to make and perfect for Christmas cookies trays.
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Shortbread Cookie Recipe
This Christmas Shortbread Cookie Recipe is perfect for embossed rolling pins. The designs from the rolling pin come out clear and crisp every time!
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Red Velvet Cookies with White Chocolate Chips
These Red Velvet Cookies with White Chocolate Chips are soft and chewy in the center and crisp around the edges.
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White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
This White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge recipe is a soft, velvety fudge with a marshmallow creme base. It’s easy to make and perfectly festive for the holidays.
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Church Window Cookies
These Church Window Cookies are easy no-bake chocolate, marshmallow, and coconut cookies that are fun to make and a little something different for your cookie trays.
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Ricotta Cookies
This Ricotta Cookies recipe is a soft buttery Italian cookie with a hint of lemon and almond and is covered in icing and sprinkles. They’re popular during Christmas and Easter, but can be enjoyed year-round.
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Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
These Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies are fudgy and have a light almond and cherry flavor, just like the famous confection.
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Rosemarie Baiga says
Great cookie recipe,love this site
Elizabeth says
Aaaahhhh I want to make every single thing here! It’s gonna be hard to choose, so maybe I’ll let my kids pick a few things to make together. Thanks for all the great ideas!
Alisa Infanti says
Oh my I have a lot to bake looking at all these wonderful recipes!
Lauren Michael Harris says
What a great list of cookies with such variation! There is something to everyone. I need to add a few of these to the line up this Christmas.
Jacqueline Debono says
Christmas is about the only time of year I make cookies. I love to give them as prezzies. You have some really fun ideas here. I like the hanging gingerbread cookies and the Christmas wreath cookies!