19 Christmas cookie recipes to try this season
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Something about Christmas cookies triggers a flood of memories—and one person’s happy memory makes another’s perfect present.
We’ve rounded more than a dozen traditional Christmas cookie recipes that are perfect for making, baking and giving. Whip up a batch of one (or all) of these 15 holiday favorites and give a tinful of tradition and sugary goodness.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
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Bernard’s sugar cookies
Good enough to give tip: Secure stacks of sugar cookies with bakery string or pretty ribbon before placing in a container.
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Oatmeal lace cookies
Good enough to give tip: A glassine envelope sealed with a round office label makes every cookie perfectly presentable. Stamp the label with a festive design for an extra-special touch.
Bonus! Recipe includes 4 tasty twists: Hawaiian Lace Cookies, Apricot-Walnut Lace Cookies, Cranberry Lace Cookies With Lemon Glaze and Lacy Orange Florentines.
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Giant gingerbread man cookies
Good enough to give tip: After the cookies have cooled, sprinkle powdered sugar through a doily to make a pretty pattern.
Bonus! Recipe includes 3 tasty twists: Iced Rounds, Rum-Tum Gingerbread and Raisin Gingerbread.
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Melted snowman cookies
These melted snowman cookies are adorable and fun to make together. They’re even easier to make if you use premade dough or plain bakery-bought cookies.
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Bernard's chocolate cookie recipe
Good enough to give tip: This cute cookie wrapping idea makes giving away your freshly baked treats all too easy.
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Shortbread cookies
Good enough to give tip: Line your container with festive wrapping paper to add a dash of holiday cheer.
Bonus! Recipe includes 2 tasty twists: Lemon-Drizzled Shortbread and Petticoat Tails.
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Christmas meringue cookies
You can create a unified stand of ever-tasty evergreens or make each tree unique with your own dazzling decorative flourishes.
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Chocolate crinkle cookies
Good enough to give tip: Line a box, tin or bread pan with red-and-white tea towels to add an extra layer of protection for these sweet-and-soft chocolate goodies.
Bonus! Recipe includes 4 tasty twists: Mocha Krinkles, Almond Krinkles, Dulce De Leche Sandwiches and Sprinkle Krinkles.
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Christmas wreath cookies
This idea is more about the decorating inspo than the recipe, but trust us, it will get plenty of “oohs” and “ahhs.”
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Wafer cookies
Good enough to give tip: Punch four holes on both sides of each corner on a plain bakery box. Then lace pretty ribbons through the holes to create a gorgeous gift.
Bonus! Recipe includes 2 tasty twists: Espresso Wafers and Hazelnut Wafers.
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Raspberry linzer cookies
Good enough to give tip: Present individual linzer cookies in paper brioche molds (found at baking supply stores).
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Danish butter cookies
Good enough to give tip: Tie each wreath with a fun ribbon and stack in a narrow, paper-lined box.
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Russian tea cookies
Good enough to give tip: Wrap a box in pretty paper, nestle the cookies inside, and finish with a coordinating ribbon.
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Lebkuchen
German immigrants brought the recipe for this traditional Christmas cookie to the U.S. Lebkuchen cookies sit in sealed containers to “ripen” for a month before being consumed at Christmas.
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Vanillekipferl (crescent cookies)
Good enough to give tip: Line a vintage tin with old-fashioned doilies.
Bonus! Recipe includes 3 tasty twists: Apricot Kipfels, Jam Half-Moons and Cherry Cream Kipfels.
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Cornflake Christmas wreaths
This retro recipe is making a Christmas comeback—and it’s an easy one for the kids to make, too.
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Peppermint meringue cookies
These sweet, light-as-air swirls with a minty twist will add the perfect pop of pretty to your holiday cookie tray.
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Pepparkakor
Pepparkakor is perfect for the holidays because it makes so many. Another benefit of baking pepparkakor: Your house will smell like ginger and spice!
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Brown sugar cookies
Brown sugar, raisins and pecans or walnuts provide a rustic, nutty flavor to the cookie dough. And the buttercream icing on top is so dreamy!
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Need Something to Wash These Down?
Here are five classic Christmas punch recipes to compliment these cookies…
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