50 Christmas Cookie Recipes for Every Baking Skill Level

Beginner Baker: Colorful Candy Bar Cookies

No one will guess that these sweet treats with the candy bar center start with store-bought dough. Roll them in colored sugar or just dip the tops for even faster assembly. Instead of using miniature candy bars, slice regular-size Snickers candy bars into 1-inch pieces for the centers. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Be sure to check out all our favorite Christmas cookie recipes for beginner bakers.

Beginner Baker: Dipped Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

You’ll love to give tins of these chocolate-coated cookies to your lucky friends. The shortcut holiday recipe is almost too simple to believe! Here's how to make peanut butter cookies without eggs. —Jackie Howell, Gordo, Alabama

Beginner Baker: Peppermint Puff Pastry Sticks

I wanted to impress my husband's family with something you'd expect to find in a European bakery, and these chocolaty treats are what I came up with. The flaky pastry melts in your mouth. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon

Beginner Baker: No-Bake Christmas Wreath Cookies

Cornflakes take the place of traditional rice cereal in these sweet no-bake Christmas cookies from our Test Kitchen. Dressed up with green food coloring and red candies, they're a fun addition to cookie platters and dessert buffets. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Beginner Baker: Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

When my mother (who's now a great-grandmother) gave me this no-flour , gluten-free peanut butter cookie recipe about 15 years ago, I was skeptical, because it calls for only three ingredients (and no flour?!). But since then I've never had a failure. For these gluten-free peanut butter cookies—3 ingredients are all you need! —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Beginner Baker: Raspberry Almond Strips

Get ready to pour yourself a cup of tea, because you won’t be able to resist sampling one of these cookies. Almonds add taste and texture to the simple strips that are dressed up with raspberry pie filling. —Taste of HomeTest Kitchen

Beginner Baker: Cathedral Cookies

Children love the colorful marshmallows in these festive confections, which look like stained glass when they're sliced. They practically light up the room from the serving platter at our holiday parties. —Carol Shaffer, Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Beginner Baker: Cookie Sticks

If you have a craving for cookies and you want them now, these yummy strips take just a few minutes to make from start to finish. —Kathy Zielicke, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Beginner Baker: Chocolate Caramel Wafers

To keep my holiday cooking quick, I've come to rely on fast recipes like this one. The crunchy-chewy tidbits are our youngster's favorite.

Beginner Baker: Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies

With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire

Beginner Baker: No-Bake Cookie Butter Blossoms

Chewy and sweet, these easy treats mix Rice Krispies, cookie spread and chocolate kisses in an unforgettable spin on an old favorite. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana

Budding Baker: Cherry Snowballs

A juicy maraschino cherry is the secret center tucked inside these special cookies. My mom was inspired to create this by a recipe she clipped out of a newspaper more than 30 years ago. —Evy Adams, West Seneca, New York

Budding Baker: Cherry Christmas Slices

Brilliant red and green candied cherries add extra sparkle to these delicious holiday delights. What I really like best is that this recipe's easy to mix up ahead of time. In fact, I've often made the dough in November and kept it in the freezer until I needed it in December! —Katie Koziolek, Hartland, Minnesota

Check out more simple and delicious slice-and-bake cookies for the holidays.

Budding Baker: Tender Pecan Logs

Folks always ask me to make these tender nutty logs. Not overly sweet, they're just right with a steaming cup of coffee or tea. —Joyce Beck, Gadsden, Alabama

Budding Baker: Mint Chocolate Snaps

It wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t make this cookie. Several years ago, I submitted the recipe to our local newspaper and it won first prize of $35. Since then, my family refers to it as the “&35 Cookie”!

Budding Baker: Frosted Red Velvet Cookies

These dreamy morsels take me back to a special place and time—when I was in college and my student job was working in a bakery. Red velvet cake lovers will appreciate this fun riff on the classic, and the color makes them a natural fit for holidays! —Christina Petri, Alexandria, Minnesota

Budding Baker: Chocolate Snowball Cookies

These dainty cookies just melt in your mouth. I enjoy making them for get-togethers when there are lots of people around to enjoy them. —Mary Lou Welsh, Hinsdale, Illinois

Budding Baker: Cranberry Lime Macaroons

It wouldn’t be the holidays for my family and friends if I didn’t make these chewy lime-flavored macaroons. I usually make several batches a week during the season..—Alisa Costa, Chatham, New York

Budding Baker: Chocolate Mallow Cookies

Cocoa, marshmallows and ready-made frosting transform the basic dough into these delightful treats. Sometimes, I’ll top each with a pecan half. —Gloria McBride, Payson, Utah

Budding Baker: Cranberry Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

I needed a new holiday cookie, so I tweaked an old 4-H recipe. This updated oatmeal cookie with cranberries and nuts is my family’s all-time favorite. —Tammy Hoggatt, Omaha, Nebraska

Budding Baker: French Butter Cookies

The Brittany region of France is known for its use of butter. These French butter cookies, also known as sable Breton, shine the spotlight on the famous ingredient. This recipe is mildly sweet, rich, crisp and has a hint of salt. You won’t be able to resist having a second—or third. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Budding Baker: Cherry Kiss Cookies

Topped with a chocolate kiss, these cherry-flavored cookies look super cute on a dessert tray. Share them with family and friends. —Joy Yurk, Grafton, Wisconsin

Budding Baker: Big Soft Ginger Cookies

These nicely spiced, big soft ginger cookies are perfect for folks who like the flavor of ginger but don’t care for crunchy gingersnaps. —Barbara Gray, Boise, Idaho

Budding Baker: Holiday Butter Mint Cookies

My mom gave me this recipe in a special recipe collection when I got married. I make goodie boxes of them for holiday gifts for friends and neighbors—and everyone loves them! —Sherry Flaquel, Cutler Bay, Florida

Confident Baker: Gingerbread Spritz

I get so busy during the Christmas season that cutout cookies are a hassle. But I love gingerbread and spritz cookies so I combined my favorite recipes and was pleased at the results.—Sherry Gazelka, Iron, Minnesota

Love spritz? Try these other variations.

Confident Baker: Mexican Chocolate Walnut-Cherry Biscotti

I love to combine flavors and spices from different cultures. These cookies have ground cinnamon in them, which is a classic flavor in Mexican chocolate. They are very crunchy and are loaded with maraschino cherries and toasted walnuts. —Nancy C. Evans, Phoenix, Arizona

Try some more biscotti recipes here.

Confident Baker: Cranberry Nutella Sandwich Cookies

I created these cookies for my family after I realized that we had been without Nutella for far too long! Tart dried cranberries are a natural pairing to the hazelnut flavor. We can’t get enough of these sweet cookies!
—Nancy Mock, Colchester, VT

Confident Baker: Peppermint Stick Cookies

With cool mint flavor and a festive look, these whimsical creations will make you feel like you're in the North pole. The chilled dough is easy to shape, too. —Nancy Knapke, Fort Recovery, Ohio

Confident Baker: Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Pizzelle

I've experimented with different varieties of pizzelle recipes, but this is definitely a favorite. My dad likes to help make them so that we don't run out!—Aimee McCullen, Youngwood, Pennsylvania

Confident Baker: White Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprints

When I pass around the cookie tray, all eyes land on these fancy thumbprints. The white chocolate filling and dab of jewel-toned jam will satisfy even the most discriminating sweet tooth. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Confident Baker: Meringue Kisses

There's a nice chocolaty surprise inside these sweet kisses. They're my husband's top choice each Christmas.—Tami Henke, Lockport, Illinois

Need tips on how to make meringue? We’ve got ’em.

Confident Baker: Linzer Cookies

This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the results are sweet! They really help to make the holidays feel special. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin

Confident Baker: Chocolate Meringue Stars

These light, delicate chewy cookies sure make for merry munching. Their big chocolate flavor makes it difficult to keep the kids away from them long enough to get any on the cookie tray.
-Edna F. Lee, Greeley, Colorado

Confident Baker: JoJo's Ginger Cookies

It's so much fun to decorate cookies with children's help. We created gingery moose-shaped cookies to go with a book made especially for my niece's third-grade class. The crispy golden brown cookies stole the show.—Jenet Cattar, Neptune Beach, Florida

Confident Baker: Harvey's Coconut Macaroons

As the executive chef at Harveys, a resort hotel in Lake Tahoe, I modified this classic recipe, which originated a century ago at a renowned pastry shop in Vienna, Austria.

Confident Baker: Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies

I recently found this old family recipe in my mom’s kitchen. I made a few adjustments to streamline the process, and the cookies turned out wonderfully. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida

Confident Baker: Mexican Tea Cookies

Mexican tea cookies are a holiday favorite in our family. I updated the recipe by frosting them with a buttercream made with dulce de leche. They are tender, crumbly cookies that everyone enjoys. —David Ross, Spokane Valley, Washington

Expert Baker: French Macarons

Even decorated simply—a sprinkle of sugar, a drizzle of icing—these stylish beauties are part of our creative Christmas cookies collection. They will be the showstoppers on any cookie tray. —Josh Rink, Photo Stylist Taste of Home

Learn how to make macarons step-by-step here.

Expert Baker: Berry-Cream Cookie Snaps

My mom and I made up this recipe by combining two others. These cute cookies are crispy on the outside and light and fluffy inside. You could also bake the cookies flat and serve the filling as a cookie dip if you like. —Crystal Briddick, Colfax, Illinois

Expert Baker: Snow Globe Keepsake Cookies

Make holiday magic! These extra-special ornaments are totally customizable—each filled with a little snowfall of edible sprinkles. Let it snow in your house with the prettiest of decorative cookie keepsakes. —Josh Rink, Food Stylist, Taste of Home magazine

Expert Baker: Chocolate Fruit & Nut Cookies

Filled with fruit, nuts, chocolate and loads of flavor, these traditional Italian treats hit the spot. We enjoy them at Christmas with a hot beverage.

Expert Baker: Rainbow Cookies

I always bake these cookies two weeks ahead. That allows enough time for mellowing, leaving them moist and full of almond flavor. —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York

Expert Baker: Christmas Tree Cookies

Delight family and friends with these holly jolly evergreens. Iced with creamy frosting and dusted with sparkly colored sugars, the 3-D cookie trees are as delicious as they are beautiful!—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Expert Baker: Hazelnut Madeleine Cookies

These soft, cakelike cookies have a delicate hazelnut flavor—perfect for making great memories! They’re baked in the distinctive shell-shaped madeleine pan, available in kitchen specialty stores. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Expert Baker: Santa’s Elf Cookies

These rosy-cheeked elf cookies make a showstopping addition to your holiday cookie tray. Practice makes perfect to get the royal icing design just right! —Josh Rink, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Expert Baker: Berry-Filled Butter Ribbons

Tangy boysenberry is an unusual for a cookie, but it goes well with chocolate. I change the sprinkles and even the type of chocolate to suit the season.—Amy Sauerwalt, Columbia, Maryland

Expert Baker: Rosettes

These traditional deep-fried favorites are crisp and delicious with a delicate, lacy look. Dipping the edges into icing helps defines the beautiful pattern. —Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas

Expert Baker: Gingerbread Yule Logs

I was never fond of gingerbread until I rolled it up with Nutella. These logs are a fabulous addition to any cookie platter. —Terri Gilson, Calgary, Alberta

Expert Baker: Pinwheels and Checkerboards

My mom used to make these cookies every Christmas, and I still love them. They are so colorful...and you can get two kinds of cookies from one dough! They're perfect for including in gift boxes.—Jill Heatwole, Pittsville, Maryland

Expert Baker: Whipped Cream Krumkake

Our hometown has a rich Norwegian culture. That heritage is evident during our annual Nordic Fest, where this classic krumkake recipe is king. Here's your introduction to the timeless treat. —Imelda Nesteby, Decorah, Iowa