36 Easy Christmas Cookies Everyone Will Love

Waited until the last minute to bake your holiday cookies? Don't worry! These festive treats are easy to make—and will spread plenty of Yuletide cheer.

Updated on November 15, 2023

By: Food Network Kitchen

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Festive Cookies, Without All the Fuss

Whether you pair them with a cup of homemade hot chocolate, pile them high on a cookie plate (which makes the perfect edible gift!) or bake a batch to ship to someone special, it’s always a good idea to have a few cookie recipescookie recipes you can rely on during the holiday season. We like to think that these are those recipes. Once you have a few cookie basics down and learn a couple of handy tips, the rest is simple—especially with this collection of festive recipes, perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Wondering where to start? Try these sweet-and-spiced treats that taste just like a cup of Yuletide cheer!

Get the Recipe: Eggnog Blossoms

M&M Magic Bars

This quick and easy bake-sale classic goes over the top for the holidays — we've loaded the bars with your favorite Christmas candies.

Get the Recipe: M&M Magic Bars

Cornflake Christmas Wreaths

Cornflakes get dressed for the holidays when mixed with a green marshmallow coating. Shaped into individual wreaths and topped with festive candies, these crunchy treats are a fun no-bake project.

Get the Recipe: Cornflake Christmas Wreaths

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

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

Smashed Sugar Cookies

We love the imperfection of these festive smashed 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 confectioners' sugar glaze for a holiday treat perfect for a cookie tin.

Get the Recipe: Smashed Sugar 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

Gingerbread Biscotti

These biscotti have the same warm spices and crispy-crunchy texture that you love in a traditional gingerbread person, but require less time and effort than the classic cutout cookie! Each one gets an extra dip of melted white chocolate and a sprinkle of sanding sugar, for a sparkly holiday treat fit for a cookie tin. By Amanda Neal for Food Network Kitchen.

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Biscotti

Red Velvet Ooey Gooey Bars

A classic red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting has been taken to new level of ooey gooey buttery goodness, just in time for the holidays.

Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Ooey Gooey Bars

Linzer Doily Wreaths

Rolling a woven doily over cookie dough leaves an impression which, after baking and glazing with a simple green frosting, looks like the fluffy pine needles of a holiday wreath. A paper doily doesn’t provide enough of an indentation, so using a woven doily is a must—plus it can be washed and used year after year! Tart raspberry jam pairs well with the almond Linzer cookie, but feel free to mix it up with your favorite flavor.

Get the Recipe: Linzer Doily Wreaths

Eggnog Meltaway Cookies

These powdery snowball-shaped treats melt in your mouth create a sugary mashup of nutmeg, rum, and bourbon. Yum!

Get the Recipe: Eggnog Meltaway Cookies

Peppermint Cookies-and-Cream Cookies

These festive cookies are perfect for the holidays, thanks to the generous addition of crushed chocolate sandwich cookies and refreshing peppermint candies. Make sure to chill the dough before baking to ensure a thick and fluffy cookie that your friends and family will enjoy in their holiday tins.

Get the Recipe: Peppermint Cookies-and-Cream Cookies

Sandra Lee's Macadamia-Coconut Cookie

Sandra wishes every holiday cookie was as easy to make as these tropical-inspired sweets (that start with store-bought sugar cookie dough). "The hardest part," Sandra says, "is eating just one!"

Get the Recipe: Macadamia-Coconut Cookie

Holiday Swirled Sugar Cookies

A vibrant twist to your standard sugar cookie: The elegant icing swirls and smooth, glossy finish will remind you of a pepperminty candy cane.

Get the Recipe: Holiday Swirled Sugar Cookies

Ultimate Ginger Cookie

Ina's cookies are filled with spices: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger, plus chopped crystallized ginger. A coating of sugar before baking gives them a crinkly crust.

Get the Recipe: Ultimate Ginger Cookie

Classic Sugar Cookies

These familiar cookies have crispy edges (thanks to superfine sugar) and a slightly soft middle. The small amount of baking powder ensures that they puff just a little without spreading too much—so they're perfect for cut-outs in all your favorite holiday shapes.

Get the Recipe: Classic Sugar Cookies

Anne's Pignoli Cookies

Pignoli cookies may be standard at any Italian bakery but they're actually simple to make at home. Mix them in one bowl and they're ready in less than an hour. Anne Burrell's special touch? A bit of honey.

Get the Recipe: Pignoli Cookies

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

The only way to make this chocolate delight any better? Aromas of espresso and snowy, crackled powdered sugar!

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chewy Sugar Cookies

Cream your butter and sugar until they're very light and fluffy to get a great consistency for these quick-cooking sugar cookies.

Get the Recipe: Chewy Sugar Cookies

Coconut Macaroons

Simple, decadent and made in just 35 minutes, Ina's Coconut Macaroons make a great take-along treat.

Get the Recipe: Coconut Macaroons

White Chocolate Confetti Christmas Cookies

Bring the holiday cheer with these festive cookies. They're exploding with sprinkles and yummy drizzled white chocolate.

Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Confetti Christmas Cookies

Chocolate Coconut Balls

All you need is six ingredients to make Alton's macadamia and coconut balls.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Coconut Balls

Snickerdoodles

Who wouldn't love a cookie that's set with a good dose of cinnamon-sugar but still nice and soft in the center?

Get the Recipe: Snickerdoodles

Cornmeal Wreaths

These golden wreaths give the perfect amount of holiday spirit with their sweet taste and playful appearance.

Get the Recipe: Cornmeal Wreaths

Sunny's German Chocolate Cake Cookies

Sunny starts with a basic cookie recipe and then adds in cocoa powder, chocolate chips, coconut and pecans to give it the German chocolate cake twist. It's a simple cookie recipe that's ready in just 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Sunny's German Chocolate Cake Cookies

Butterscotch-Walnut Cookies

Crispy cookies with butterscotch and walnut fillings are the best way to treat yourself on a cold winter day!

Get the Recipe: Butterscotch-Walnut Cookies

Throwdown Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bobby's ideal chocolate chip cookie is crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside — and appropriate any time of the year, especially on a holiday cookie platter. These fit the bill perfectly and are done in just 25 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Throwdown Chocolate Chip Cookies

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Trisha adds cranberries, white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts to her cookie batter. Make the cookies in advance and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies

These peanut butter-filled cookies are creamed together all in one bowl. What could be easier than that?

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies

Macadamia-Almond Christmas Cookies

Feeling a little nutty this Christmas? Add that into your baked goods for some crunchy yumminess with a macadamia and almond combo!

Get the Recipe: Macadamia-Almond Christmas Cookies

Holiday Haystacks

Get festive with this cute and creative treat! Gather your traditional dessert ingredients and experiment with chow mein noodles for the layered structure. Pouring the melted chocolate and the holiday sprinkles over the cookie is what really seals the deal.

Get the Recipe: Holiday Haystacks

Super Yummy Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies

Anne is a dark-chocolate fan so she chops it up with walnuts to make these oatmeal cookies nice and chunky. Top them with a sprinkle of sea salt to give them a little something special.

Get the Recipe: Super Yummy Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies

Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Chocolate Cookies

The best alternative to your favorite winter drink? Hot Cocoa Cookies, of course! They've got cinnamon spice wrapped in a chocolatey cookie (perfected with a bonus of tasty almonds and dulce de leche).

Get the Recipe: Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Chocolate Cookies

Blondie with Dark Roots

Guy folds hazelnuts, coconut and chocolate chips into his blondie batter for an easy, but delicious, treat. Simply spread the batter into a pan, bake for 40 minutes and cool before slicing into individual squares.

Get the Recipe: Blondie with Dark Roots

Toasty Coconut Macaroons

Alton's easy macaroons use only four ingredients and take just 30 minutes to make. Bake until they develop a golden brown outside; they'll still be nice and moist in the middle.

Get the Recipe: Toasty Coconut Macaroons

Andes Mint Cookies

Calling all Andes mint candy lovers! Duff says these quick-and-easy cookies taste just like their namesake candy, thanks to peppermint extract, chocolate chips and chopped Andes chocolates.

Get the Recipe: Andes Mint Cookies