19 Christmas cookie recipes to try this season
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Christmas meringue cookies
You can create a unified stand of ever-tasty evergreens or make each tree unique with your own dazzling decorative flourishes.
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.
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.”
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.
Raspberry linzer cookies
Good enough to give tip: Present individual linzer cookies in paper brioche molds (found at baking supply stores).
Danish butter cookies
Good enough to give tip: Tie each wreath with a fun ribbon and stack in a narrow, paper-lined box.
Russian tea cookies
Good enough to give tip: Wrap a box in pretty paper, nestle the cookies inside, and finish with a coordinating ribbon.
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.
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.
Cornflake Christmas wreaths
This retro recipe is making a Christmas comeback—and it’s an easy one for the kids to make, too.
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.
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!
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!
Need Something to Wash These Down?
Here are five classic Christmas punch recipes to compliment these cookies…
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