The holiday season is here — and with it comes the irresistible aroma of freshly baked cookies. Nothing quite compares to the joy of creaming butter and sugar, sprinkling festive decorations, and sharing the results with loved ones. Whether you crave classic favorites or cookies with flavorful twists, this collection of holiday cookie recipes is sure to brighten your celebrations.
From the warm spice of gingerbread to the buttery richness of shortbread, each recipe is crafted to infuse your kitchen with holiday magic. Preheat your oven, grab your cookie cutters, and let’s bake up some festive cheer!
Why These Cookies Made the Holiday Cut
These aren’t just recipes — they are small celebrations in cookie form. Whether you favor warm spices, nutty richness, chewy textures, or light crispiness, there’s a cookie here for every mood and gathering.
This holiday lineup is designed to:
- Deliver variety: from gluten-free and whole-grain to decadent and traditional.
- Fit different baking styles: quick weekday cookies, cut-out masterpieces, or show-stopping holiday treats.
- Bring joy: cookies that fill your home with warmth, aroma, and memories.
Chai Masala Brown Sugar Cookies
Warm spices, deep caramel sweetness, and a soft, chewy center are what I reach for every holiday season, and these chai masala brown sugar cookies deliver all three in one cozy bite. Inspired by the fragrant spice blends used in masala chai, these cookies bring together cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and black pepper for a
Hazelnut Cinnamon Mexican Wedding Cookies
Mexican wedding cookies — also known as polvorones, biscochitos, or Russian tea cakes — are beloved for their crumbly texture and subtle sweetness. This version, with toasted hazelnuts and warm cinnamon, is one of my favorite cookies to bake during the holidays and in chilly weather.
Buckwheat & Oat Christmas Cutout Cookies (Gluten-Free Option)
These whole-grain cookies bring a sandy shortbread-like texture but remain gluten-free. If the dough proves tricky to roll, freeze it and roll between parchment sheets for easier shaping. For a simpler route, shape into small patties instead of cutouts — same cozy flavor, no fuss..
Milk Pistachio Cookies
A delicious treat perfect with a cup of hot tea or coffee. Inspired by Indian sweets that pair pistachios and milk, these cookies are crisp on the edges and tender in the center — a lovely balance of nutty crunch and soft sweetness.
Perfect Gingersnap Cookies
Love ginger’s spicy bite? These gingersnaps deliver it. With three varieties of ginger, a touch of black pepper, and crunchy demerara sugar, they’re a cozy match for warm drinks when the weather cools.
Caramelized Date and Fig Oatmeal Cookies
Sweet, chewy, and full of nostalgia — these spiced oatmeal cookies with caramelized dates and figs are perfect for holiday cookie tins (though you might want to hide them first; they’re dangerously good warm).
Spiced Golden Shortbread Cookies
These buttery shortbreads melt in your mouth, inspired by festive teasides and teatime sweets. Turmeric gives a golden glow, while sesame and fennel seeds add a gentle crunch and warm aroma.
Thumbprint Cookies
Simple, effortless, and delicious — these cookies need no cutters, just a thumb to make a hole for your favorite jam. They’re easy to customize and always crowd-pleasers.
Bolinhas/Goan Semolina Coconut Cookies
Coconut lovers, rejoice. These crisp, semolina-based cookies evoke the aromas of sweet, spiced tea in Goa. Opt for fine-grade semolina or quality coconut extract for maximum flavor.
Spicy Chocolate Chip Cookies and The New York Times, What A Week!
In the early eighteenth century, a marriage took place in Turin, Italy, and the world has never been quite the same ever since. I’m talking about the sacred union of chocolate and hazelnuts, ground together into what is called gianduja. It was born out of economic necessity when cocoa was expensive, and hazelnuts became a filler. Be forewarned: these cookies are maddeningly good.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are one of those recipes like meatballs or mac and cheese, they’re highly personal, we all have opinions on what characteristics makes them special. I like my cookies to be crispy at the exterior and chewy in the center. The chocolate must be a little bitter but not too sweet as the rest of the cookie batter is sweet enough, that chocolate must stand out! I also prefer earthier sweetness in chocolate chip cookies, the darker the brown sugar the better.
Salted Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies
A twist on the classic — rye flour brings a nutty, slightly smoky undertone, paired with sea salt for contrast. Swap butter for ghee for added depth.
chocolate brownie cookies
A hybrid treat: crisp, cookie-but soft and fudgy in the middle. With toasted pistachios or optional ghee, these cookies are a decadent holiday standout.
Checkerboard Cookies
A childhood favorite reborn. These black-and-white checkerboard cookies are fun, festive, and surprisingly simple to make. Double or triple the dough to make larger batches — perfect for gifting or cookie swaps.
Tahini Rosewater Cookies
Soft, fragrant, and a lovely blend of nutty and floral notes — a nod to Middle Eastern and Mediterranean holiday sweets.
Baking Tips to Make Them Even Better
- Read my guides to the Importance of Weighing Ingredients and Make Sure to Double Check Your Oven Temperature (and Fix it).
- For easier rolling — especially with whole grain or semolina dough — chill or freeze before shaping.
- Use parchment paper, especially for sticky doughs (like buckwheat-oat or semolina).
- For softer cookies with crackled tops, golden syrup helps maintain moisture while the exterior crisps.
- Swap in ingredients like jaggery or piloncillo for deeper, more complex sweetness.
- Don’t skip the resting or chilling steps — they help flavors meld and dough behave better.
Ready to Bake & Share the Holiday Joy?
This holiday cookie collection is about more than just recipes — it’s about connection, warmth, and sharing. I hope each batch brings cozy mornings, laughter, and love around your table or your gifting circle. Preheat that oven, roll out the dough, and make sure you have extra tins on hand — these cookies disappear fast.
Happy holidays and happy baking!
One Response
Merry Merry Happy Happy! This is the BEST 2024 list of Holiday cookie recipes I have seen…and I have seen a lot, lol.
Might take me until 2025 to bake them all, which I do intend to do, but what a fantastic way to begin the new year.
Thanks for all you do, Nik. Your creative, scientifically delicious writing and recipes never ceases to amaze. I appreciate you as one of the best gifts this and every year.