31 Holiday Cookies to Kick Off the Festive Season

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There’s no better way to kick off the holidays than with a batch of cookies fresh from the oven. Whether you love classic sugar cookies, chocolate crinkles, or something new, these treats bring the season right into your kitchen. Perfect for gifting, sharing, or snacking straight off the tray, each recipe captures that cozy, festive feeling we wait all year for.

Hazelnut Shortbread Wreath Cookies

 

Crisp on the edges and buttery in the center, these Hazelnut Shortbread Wreath Cookies look like they came straight from a bakery window. They’re festive, nutty, and perfect for kicking off your holiday cookie baking.
Get the Recipe: Hazelnut Shortbread Wreath Cookies

Frosted Sugar Cookies

Soft, thick, and topped with colorful frosting, these Frosted Sugar Cookies taste like pure holiday joy. Perfect for decorating with family or bringing to a cookie exchange.
Get the Recipe: Frosted Sugar Cookies

Triple Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Chocolate lovers, this one’s for you. Packed with cocoa, chocolate chips, and crushed candy canes, these cookies taste like Christmas cheer in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Triple Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Cranberry Orange Cookies bring a bright, fruity twist to the holiday cookie lineup. Chewy and citrusy, they’re perfect for gifting or nibbling with a mug of cocoa.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Orange Cookies

Christmas Shortbread Cookies

Buttery shortbread paired with sweet jam makes these Christmas Shortbread Cookies hard to resist. They’re simple, classic, and look beautiful on any cookie platter.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Shortbread Cookies

Thumbprint Cookies

Bring a touch of nostalgia to your dessert table with these Thumbprint Cookies. Buttery shortbread filled with jam and a light glaze makes them a festive favorite every year.
Get the Recipe: Thumbprint Cookies

Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe

Soft peanut butter cookies topped with a chocolate kiss make this treat impossible to turn down. They’re a nostalgic favorite that always earns a spot on the holiday tray.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Blossoms Recipe

Perfect Shortbread Cookies (Tender & Buttery)

Classic shortbread never goes out of style. These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are perfect for holiday cookie swaps or a cozy night in.
Get the Recipe: Perfect Shortbread Cookies (Tender & Buttery)

Gingerdoodle Sandwich Cookies

Spice meets sweet in these Gingerdoodle Sandwich Cookies. Two soft cookies with creamy cinnamon buttercream in the middle make them irresistible for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Gingerdoodle Sandwich Cookies

Vanilla Bean Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

Crisp edges, soft centers, and real vanilla bean make these cookies a holiday classic. They hold their shape beautifully, perfect for cutting into festive designs and icing together with friends.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla Bean Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Recipe

Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Nutella and peanut butter come together in one irresistible cookie. A little salty, a little sweet, and totally perfect for holiday dessert tables.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Thumbprint Cookies

Snickerdoodles

Soft, cinnamon-coated Snickerdoodles bring cozy holiday flavors to every bite. They’re quick to bake, easy to share, and never last long once the plate’s out.
Get the Recipe: Snickerdoodles

Peanut Butter Cookies

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies hit the sweet spot between soft and chewy. Perfect for cookie swaps or a quick treat with a cold glass of milk.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies

Butterscotch Cookies (Chewy & Sweet)

Chewy, buttery, and packed with butterscotch chips, these cookies taste like nostalgia. Bake a batch to start the season right and fill the house with that fresh cookie smell.
Get the Recipe: Butterscotch Cookies (Chewy & Sweet)

Soft Sugar Cookies

This easy recipe for Soft Sugar Cookies has been my go-to for decades! Everyone loves them! Buttery, soft and lightly sweet!
Get the Recipe: Excellent Soft Sugar Cookies

Snickerdoodle Waffle Cookies

Meet your new favorite cookie hack. Snickerdoodle Waffle Cookies cook in minutes on a waffle iron and taste even better with a drizzle of cream cheese glaze.
Get the Recipe: Snickerdoodle Waffle Cookies

Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Nothing says holiday baking like the smell of apples and cinnamon. These Apple Oatmeal Cookies are soft, cozy, and finished with brown butter frosting for the perfect festive touch.
Get the Recipe: Apple Oatmeal Cookies

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Craving cinnamon rolls but short on time? These Cinnamon Roll Cookies capture all that flavor in bite-sized, chewy form made for the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Decorated Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

These Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars are the easiest way to serve a crowd without rolling a single cookie. Frost them, sprinkle them, and you’re ready for the party.
Get the Recipe: Decorated Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies

Soft, chewy, and packed with toffee bits, these Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies will disappear fast. A must-bake for anyone who loves a good cookie tray mix-up.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies

Spritz Cookies

Bring back a holiday classic with these buttery Spritz Cookies. Use a cookie press for fun shapes and colors that look straight from a bakery tray.
Get the Recipe: Spritz Cookies

Simple To Make Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Make your cookie plate sparkle with these Christmas Sprinkle Cookies. They’re quick to bake, fun to decorate, and full of that holiday cheer everyone loves.
Get the Recipe: Simple To Make Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Super Easy Christmas Cake Mix Cookies With Only A Few Ingredients

Need cookies fast? Grab a box of cake mix and whip up these 4-ingredient Christmas cookies in under five minutes for an easy win at any gathering.
Get the Recipe: Super Easy Christmas Cake Mix Cookies With Only A Few Ingredients

Christmas Candy Cane Cookies (Chewy & Sweet!)

Get that peppermint fix with these chewy Christmas Candy Cane Cookies. They’re festive, fun, and practically beg to be left out for Santa.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Candy Cane Cookies (Chewy & Sweet!)

Gingerdoodles

Half ginger cookie, half snickerdoodle, all holiday magic. Gingerdoodles are chewy, spiced, and perfect for dunking in a mug of cocoa.
Get the Recipe: Gingerdoodles

Actually Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can’t go wrong with a classic. These Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, sweet, and filled with melty chocolate that makes every bite feel like home.
Get the Recipe: Actually Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Double Chocolate Cookies

Calling all chocolate lovers. These Double Chocolate Cookies bake up rich, fudgy, and so easy you’ll want to make them every weekend till New Year.
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Cookies Recipe

No-Bake Cookie

When the oven’s busy with other treats, these No-Bake Cookies save the day. Quick, chocolatey, and foolproof, they’re perfect for last-minute gifting.
Get the Recipe: No-Bake Cookie Recipe

Lofthouse Cookies

Soft, frosted, and straight out of your holiday dreams. These Lofthouse Cookies are a bakery favorite you can make at home for festive cookie swaps.
Get the Recipe: Lofthouse Cookies

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

These Christmas Pinwheel Cookies steal the show with their red and green swirls. Slice, bake, and stack them high for the most festive cookie platter ever.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

Nothing says the holidays have started like the smell of fresh Gingerbread Cookies. Soft, spiced, and perfectly balanced, these cookies are a must for every festive cookie tray.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cookies