29 Unique Christmas Cookies You Need to Bake
Make your cookie plate extra merry and bright with these fun and festive treats. From too-cute sugar cookies to tropical-style macaroons, these unique treats are sure to become regulars in your holiday baking rotation.
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Photo By: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
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Spread Some Cheer
'Tis the season to bake up all the cookies you can eat (and then some!). While traditional holiday cookies are always sure to please, the holidays are a great time to try out festive designs, fun flavors and new techniques that go a step beyond the classic gingerbread. Whether you’re looking for cute cookies to wrap and gift or crowd-pleasers while holiday entertaining, these unique cookies will spread plenty of cheer. Though we suggest you try every cookie on this list, start with these festive smashed sugar cookies. The addition of two eggs gives the centers a tender and soft texture, while the crinkled edges get ever so slightly golden and crisp. Top with a simple confectioner's sugar glaze for a holiday treat perfect for a cookie tin.
Get the Recipe: Smashed Sugar Cookies
Peppermint Bark Cookies
The combination of white peppermint bark atop a chocolate cookie base equals the ultimate holiday treat. This big-batch recipe is ideal for cookie swaps, festive parties or even wrapping up as gifts. It is also easy enough for baking with the whole family. Instead of forming individual cookies, you break the giant sheet into pieces, just like you would with traditional bark.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Bark Cookies
Reindeer Mask Cookies
With these playful cookies, everyone can join in the reindeer games.
Get the Recipe: Reindeer Mask Cookies
Not-So-Ugly Sweater Cookies
Make no mistake — there’s nothing ugly about these cookies! Decorate the sweater-shaped sugar cookies with gel food coloring and shredded coconut to make fun designs.
Get the Recipe: Not-So-Ugly Sweater Cookies
Gingerbread Man Mug Mates
These gingerbread men are filled with the holiday spirit. You’ll find them hanging around wherever cozy, warm drinks are being served. Try them with hot chocolate or your favorite seasonal coffee.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Man Mug Mates
Chocolate Dipped Pineapple-Coconut Macaroons
Sweet, tart, chocolatey and chewy — all in one cookie! We love the combination of homemade pineapple jam and bittersweet chocolate in these gluten-free macaroon thumbprints. They're perfect for your next cookie swap!
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Pineapple-Coconut Macaroons
Santa Skillet Cookie
This holiday decorating project is a delicious brain teaser. "Where is the Santa?" you'll ask yourself as you pipe decorative circles and triangles over the giant sugar cookie. But then, you will suddenly see them — eight Kris Kringles! Separate the cookie into wedges for serving, or present the entire cookie and let your guests find Santa for themselves.
Get the Recipe: Santa Skillet Cookie
Pan-Banging Pecan Snickerdoodle Cookies
We packed these cookies with cinnamon, pecans and chocolate toffee chunks for the ultimate snickerdoodle experience — and then added one finishing touch. Inspired by blogger Sarah Kieffer's internet-famous crinkled chocolate chip cookies, we pulled the snickerdoodles out of the oven midway through cooking and banged the baking sheet on the counter, producing a cookie with the best of both worlds — crispy ripples around the edge and a soft, chewy center.
Get the Recipe: Pan-Banging Pecan Snickerdoodle Cookies
Peppermint Muffin-Tin Cookies
Thanks to the help of a muffin tin, these peppermint-spiked sugar cookies are perfectly round every single time. They're also easy enough for everyone in the family to pitch in to help. Frozen peppermint patties are stuffed in the middle to ramp up the flavor and provide a hidden surprise with the first bite. No need to decorate after baking — the sprinkles go right on top before going into the oven so that once they are cool, they are ready to go.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Muffin-Tin Cookies
Eggnog Blossoms
The spicy-rich flavors of eggnog (including nutmeg, cream and rum) add a new holiday twist to a classic cookie shape, and the striped chocolate candies on top make them even more festive.
Get the Recipe: Eggnog Blossoms
Chai Meringue Drops
Mix ground tea leaves with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and cloves to infuse meringue drops with a subtle, spicy flavor.
Get the Recipe: Chai Meringue Drops
Eggnog Cookies
Alex loves these cookies because "they have all the flavors of eggnog but don't have eggnog in them." Sandwich the cookies with creamy icing, then top with a drizzle of caramel and spiced sugar.
Get the Recipe: Eggnog Cookies
S'More Rockin' Reindeer Ravioli
These dessert ravioli feature a graham cracker dough stuffed with a chocolate and cream cheese filling.
Get the Recipe: S'More Rockin' Reindeer Ravioli
Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies
Santa's iconic red coat, fluffy white trim and black belt cookies are sure to bring out joyful belly laughs.
Get the Recipe: Santa Slice-and-Bake Cookies
Double-Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies
These cookie sandwiches are packed with holiday cheer, thanks to a hint of molasses and gingerbread spice in the soft, chewy cookies, as well as a generous dose of spiced cookie butter spread in the filling. Plus, there's an extra dusting of sanding sugar to add the perfect sweetness and festive sheen.
Get the Recipe: Double-Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies
Holiday Swirled Sugar Cookies
If you’re looking to win the cookie swap (or bake a fun project with kids), these swirly cookies are sure to do the trick. Dip delightful sugar cookies into colored icing to create the marbled, jewel-like effect.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Swirled Sugar Cookies
Christmas Tree Cookie Forest
Make your cookie platter vertical (and extra-impressive!) with this 3D Christmas tree forest. Chilling the dough after it has been cut helps the shapes stay sharp during baking.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Cookie Forest
Lime Spritz Cookies
Put an eye-catching spin on classic spritz cookies with plenty of lime zest and a few drops of green food coloring.
Get the Recipe: Lime Spritz Cookies
Marshmallow-Stuffed Blizzard Cookies
These holiday sugar cookies sparkle like winter snow! Vegan marshmallows don't have gelatin in them and are the key to an ooey gooey center that stays fluffy throughout baking.
Get the Recipe: Marshmallow-Stuffed Blizzard Cookies
Garam Masala-Chocolate Gingerbread
Aarti Sequeira adds subtle spice to ginger cookies with a touch of garam masala.
Get the Recipe: Garam Masala-Chocolate Gingerbread
Five-Spice Snickerdoodles
Once you add five-spice powder to your snickerdoodles, you’ll never look back. Roll each cookie in red sanding sugar for a merry and bright pop of color!
Get the Recipe: Five-Spice Snickerdoodles
Christmas Tie-Dye Sweater Cookies
These cute cookies are sure to be a hit at any holiday party. For an easier project, Jeff uses store-bought cookie mix and royal icing.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Tie-Dye Sweater Cookies
Coffee and Milk Thumbprints
Coffee lovers will appreciate this thumbprint cookie made with ground coffee beans, coated in crunchy turbinado sugar and filled with a rich homemade milk jam.
Get the Recipe: Coffee and Milk Thumbprints
Orange-Molasses Snickerdoodles
Upgrade your snickerdoodles with orange zest and a few tablespoons of molasses. You’ll have a chewy, tasty cookie that’s full of flavor and smells wonderful while baking.
Get the Recipe: Orange-Molasses Snickerdoodles
Hermit Cookies
"This is my favorite holiday cookie because it blends two of my favorite cookies," Geoffrey says. "Soft chocolate chip cookies and spicy gingerbread — the best of both worlds."
Get the Recipe: Hermit Cookies
Tiramisu Sandwich Cookies
Get all the flavors of tiramisu in one tasty bite with these tasty treats. Espresso-spiked chocolate cookies sandwich a mascarpone and coffee liqueur filling, with a dusting of powdered sugar for the perfect finishing touch.
Get the Recipe: Tiramisu Sandwich Cookies
Apple Cider Snickerdoodles
Apple cider and warm spices pack these cookies with cozy flavor. Serve with warm apple cider for a double dose of comfort.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Snickerdoodles
Toasted Marshmallow Sandwich Cookies
Marshmallow is the star ingredient in these chewy-sweet sandwich cookies. Lightly toasting a tray of marshmallows deepens their toasty vanilla-sugar flavor and softens them just enough to beat with butter to create the base of the smooth, slightly sticky batter. After baking, gooey marshmallow creme is sandwiched between them for a final pop of marshmallow texture.
Get the Recipe: Toasted Marshmallow Sandwich Cookies
Spiced Coconut-Passionfruit Sandwich Cookies
Coconut and passionfruit are a perfect flavor match when it comes to desserts. They join forces in these sandwich cookies, spiked with allspice and a little bit of rum to make them just right for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Coconut-Passionfruit Sandwich Cookies
