We have searched the internet to find the best 25 Holiday Cookie Recipes for you! You'll find everything from shortbread cookies, gingerbread people, classic sugar cookies, coconut macaroons, and dressed-up store-bought cookies. These are all the festive Christmas cookie recipes you'll need for your holiday baking!

red and green Christmas cookies with the words 25 festive holiday cookie recipes on top

Most of the year we're all about healthy recipes here. (We've even put together a post about the 15 best healthy cookies.) But come Christmas, we like to treat ourselves. And that means indulging in all the browned butter, cream cheese, cookie cream sandwiches, sweet brown sugar, chocolate dipped, raspberry jam-filled, and chocolate chunk cookies with all the red and green sprinkles and candies around.

It's a glorious time of year when we can feel free to live it up and eat all the white sugar and flour cookies with zero guilt attached. Although we have included a few gluten-free cookies (like these Holiday Spiced Almond Shortbread Cookies) that are so good no one would ever think they are gluten-free.)

Whether you're looking for traditional Christmas cookies or a holiday version of your favorite oatmeal raisin or peanut butter cookies, we've got you covered.

Don't forget to share this recipe collection with your friends and family. And make sure to leave a comment letting us know which is your favorite holiday cookie recipe!

Here are the best 25 holiday cookies recipes:

A stack of Christmas shortbread cookies.

Melt In Your Mouth Shortbread Cookies

These shortbread cookies are the Christmas cookies mom has made every holiday season. They're whipped shortbread cookies that are so soft they literally melt in your mouth. You will LOVE them!
4.77 stars (126 ratings)
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close-up of monster cookies on a sheet of white parchment

Christmas Monster Cookies

These easy Christmas Monster Cookies are simple to prepare and a festive addition to any holiday cookie platter. They are simple to make and decorate so they make a great baking project with kids!
5 stars (7 ratings)
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A closeup of a slice and bake white chocolate cranberry cookie.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

White chocolate cranberry cookies are the ultimate Christmas cookies. These slice and bake cookies are simple to make and buttery delicious. 
4.84 stars (6 ratings)
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A close up of classic Canadian Nanaimo bars with one on its side so you can see the yellow custard.

Mom's Nanaimo Bars Recipe

Nanaimo Bars are a classic Canadian Christmas dessert. The holidays wouldn't be the same without them. This is my mom's recipe and it is less sweet than most. That's a good thing! They are made with a chocolate graham cracker, coconut, and walnut crust then topped with a layer of buttery custard and chocolate. They're amazing!
4.68 stars (37 ratings)
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A close up of Holiday Spiced Almond Shortbread Cookies on a white plate.

Holiday Spiced Almond Shortbread Cookies

Holiday Spiced Almond Shortbread Cookies are soft and buttery and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They're made with almond flour so are naturally gluten-free – but don't make them (or not make them) because of that. This is a Christmas cookie recipe that everyone will love.
4.86 stars (14 ratings)
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Meringue Cookies

Easy step by step recipe for crispy and light Meringue Cookies made without Cream of Tartar. Tips and Tricks for making the perfect Meringues at home!
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A tray of Cranberry Coconut Macaroons with chocolate drizzled on top and cranberries on the side.

Cranberry Coconut Macaroons

Cranberry Coconut Macaroons are soft and delicious Christmas cookies. They're perfectly sweet and have just the right hint of tartness from the cranberries. A drizzle of chocolate makes them extra special. No one will guess they are healthy cookies!
5 stars (1 rating)
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Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies – I dressed them up for Christmas but you can use any kind of sprinkles you like for other holidays or skip the sprinkles altogether and eat these year
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A closeup of a plate of Chocolate Almond Thumbprint Cookies.

Chocolate Almond Thumbprint Cookies

Chocolate Almond Thumbprint Cookies are the ultimate healthy treat. They're soft like shortbread, filled with chocolate, and are made without grains or refined sweeteners. You'll never guess they're a healthy cookie recipe.
5 stars (1 rating)
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Christmas Oreo Ornaments

Christmas Oreo Ornaments are very festive, made with white chocolate and decorated with mini peanut butter cups, M&M’s and sprinkles. They are fun and easy to make, and kids would enjoy decorating them.
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Christmas Trash Cookies Recipe – 30 minutes meals

Christmas Trash Cookies are tender and buttery, loaded with M&M’s, crushed pretzels, chips, and Rolos. They are festive and perfect to make with kids.
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Cookie Press Cookies (Spritz Cookies)

Cookie Press Cookies (Spritz Cookies). Rich, buttery cookies made into all sorts of shapes with a cookie press! Perfect for holidays.
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How to Make Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Make the perfect cut out sugar cookies every time without chilling the dough! Our recipe makes a soft cookie that’s sturdy enough for icing!
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Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies with Royal Icing

Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies are not only cute, their spiced dough and sweet royal icing decorations make them a great gift.
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Raspberry Linzer Cookies

These linzer cookies use a simple shortbread cookie recipe, and are filled with delicious raspberry jam. They definitely make a statement with the peekaboo cutout, and they will be a hit when you serve them for dessert!
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Christmas Butter Cookies – Brown Sugar Food Blog

Enjoy some Christmas Butter Cookies that are chewy and will melt in your mouth. Covered with coarse sugar colored in festive Christmas colors.
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Peppermint Oreo Balls

Peppermint Oreo Balls are crushed Oreo cookies and cream cheese dipped in sweet chocolate then rolled in crushed peppermint candies. A perfect no bake Christmas dessert to gift!
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Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms – A Tasty Holiday Treat – Chisel & Fork

These chocolate peppermint blossoms are a unique twist on a classic with a chocolate cookie and candy cane Hershey’s kiss.
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Snickerdoodle Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Snickerdoodle Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting – Snickerdoodle bars are so much FASTER AND EASIER than making snickerdoodle cookies!! The
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Ruby Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ruby chocolate crinkle cookies are a twist on a classic chocolate crinkle cookie. Crunchy on the outside, soft and moreish on the inside.
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Italian Ricotta Cookies

Recipe for Italian Ricotta Cookies. Soft, tender and fluffy sprinkle cookies with a cake-like texture that will melt in your mouth!
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Christmas Shortbread Bites

Christmas Shortbread Bites are SUPER ADDICTIVE little squares of buttery goodness! A fun alternative to the standard Christmas cookie!
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Easy Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies

All wrapped up like a present with crushed candy canes, Easy Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies are a Christmas dream come true for chocolate lovers of all ages!
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red and green Christmas cookies with the words 25 festive holiday cookie recipes on top

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5 stars (7 ratings)

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