Grain-Free Paleo Sugar Cookies with Coconut Butter Frosting and Christmas sprinkles on a white platter

This Christmas cookie guide will feed Santa! Youโ€™ll find delicious recipes for traditional Christmas cookies, as well as more unique cookie recipes.

Nothing makes us happier than a beautiful tray of handmade holiday cookies! Not only are Christmas cookies a great treat for Santa, but they also make wonderful handmade gifts for teachers, neighbors, and loved ones!

Weโ€™ve pulled together our very best Christmas cookie recipes for you to have all in one spot. So preheat your oven, whip out the sprinkles, and letโ€™s get baking!

Collage of nine unique and traditional Christmas cookies. A text overlay reads, "Five-Star Christmas Cookies!"

When should I start baking Christmas cookies?

If you want to bake cookies fresh for a holiday party or Christmas Day, youโ€™re going to get the best flavor and results baking them as close to the event as possible.

Protip: Do the shortbread first!

The one exception to the โ€œas close as possibleโ€ rule is shortbread. Shortbread cookies tend to improve in both flavor and texture with 2-3 days of resting time at room temperature in an airtight container.

But donโ€™t get overwhelmed yet! The great thing about the vast majority of holiday cookies is that they freeze beautifullyโ€”both fully baked and in dough form. So you can start baking your holiday cookie recipes months in advance.

Overhead of iced and decorated Christmas cookies on a table.

How do you keep cookies fresh for Christmas?

We recommend clearing out some space in your freezer to make sure you have fresh cookies for Santa on Christmas. That way, you can space out your baking so you donโ€™t get overwhelmed and your oven doesnโ€™t get overloaded.

Bake one cookie recipe per week (or every few days) leading up to the big day, pop it in the freezer, and then when itโ€™s time to assemble a tray for your holiday party or gifting, all you have to do is remove a few cookies from each batch in the freezer and assemble.

Protip: Freezing cookies

Make sure to check each individual holiday cookie recipe for the best method for freezing and storing for that particular cookie.

Okay, letโ€™s get on with the Christmas cookies!

21+ Best Christmas Cookies

This Christmas cookie guide will feed Santa! Youโ€™ll find delicious recipes for traditional Christmas cookies, as well as more unique cookie recipes.

Traditional Christmas Cookies

Unique Christmas Cookies

Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies

Cookie Gifts

Everybody loves aย food gift! These cookie-themed homemade gifts will appeal to anyone with a sweet tooth.

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One Comment

  1. Just wanted to leave a quick note that I made cookie bags for friends & family with your Chewy Gingerbread Cookies, jam Thumbprint Cookies, and Peppermint Bark. They were a huge hit! Thank you as always for the quality recipes!