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18 Holiday Cookie Recipes to Add to Your Traditions

Baking season is in full force, and while the holidays are prime time to whip out cherished family recipes, why not update your crew’s repertoire with a cookie recipe that represents you (and your badass baking skills) on the dessert tray? Whether you like your cookies gooey, sandwiched, crunchy, nutty or minty, we have the best holiday cookie recipes to whip up this year and many, many winters to come.

The 50 Best Holiday Desserts, Hands Down, No Contest


1. Pecan Brittle Bark Cookies

Homemade pecan brittle bark makes these dark chocolate chip cookies extra crunchy, a little gooey and just the right amount of sweet. 

2. Mini Sandwich Cookies

Like Oreos, only better, because you get to decide how much filling goes into each sandwich. Plus, they’re tiny, so you can have, like, 12.

3. Cranberry Pecan Sandwich Cookies

Pecans, three types of sugar and a mix of holiday spices make these dainty sandwich cookies a fabulous addition to any cookie swap. 

4. Gingerbread Lattice Cookies

No cookie cutters? No problem. All you need is a knife or pizza cutter to design these gorgeous gingerbread cookies. 

5. Giant Brown-sugar Snickerdoodle Cookies

The big secret to these oversized cookies is the cinnamon and brown sugar on the bottom, which adds an extra level of caramelization. 

6. Chocolate-peppermint Icebox Cookies

If you like peppermint bark, you’ll love these cookies. There’s peppermint in the cookie dough too, so each bite is full of chocolate mint flavor. 

7. Matcha-cranberry Linzer Cookies

These red-and-green treats are an adorable gift when packaged nicely and will surely stand out on any cookie platter. Get creative with the center cutouts if you don’t have a star shape. 

8. Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

Graham cracker crumbs make this cookie taste just like a pie crust. The cream cheese filling can be swirled with any kind of jam, so you can have multiple versions of one recipe. 

9. Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies for breakfast? Oh, yes. The instant coffee in these chocolaty cookies means you can bite into a little caffeine boost whenever you need it. 

10. Gluten-free Flourless Cocoa Cookies

These cookies are so decadent, you wouldn’t even guess they’re flourless! The gluten-free sweets lovers in the family will thank you.

11. Botanical Shortbread Cookies

Frosting and decorating can take a lot of time, put pressing fresh edible flowers (or herbs!) into your cookies adds a beautiful effect with minimal effort. 

12. Coconut Cookies

As cute and special as snowflakes, these soft cookies are super comforting and kind of perfect with a cup of cocoa. 

13. Homemade Milano Cookies

Milanos are arguably the best packaged holiday cookies, so imagine how fantastic they are when they’re homemade. You can mix flavors like peppermint extract into the ganache filling, or dip, drizzle and decorate the sandwich cookies with more icing. 

14. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies

So fluffy! So pumpkin-y! These cream-filled cookies are the best on a blustery day. 

15. Cake Batter Cookies

A sprinkle-filled cookie can add a much-needed pop of color to a white and brown holiday cookie spread. (Sprinkles can add a special element of holiday fun too.)

16. Cookies-and-cream Shortbread Cookies

Question: How cute are these cookies that look like open-face Oreos? (Answer: So, so cute.)

Just like the lunchbox cookies you grew up with, but softer and tastier. Add some dye to the frosting for festive flair.

18. Sarah Copeland’s Chocolate Chip Cookies For Modern Times

Almond flour adds more texture, flavor and just a special element to these salted chocolate chip cookies that will instantly disappear from the cookie jar.