Christmas Cookie Recipes

Photo: Johnny Miller

Glazed Holiday Cookies

Rather than frost after baking, Ree Drummond, host of the Food Network show The Pioneer Woman, brushes on a colored egg wash before the cookies go in the oven, which creates a stained-glass effect.

Get the recipe: Glazed Holiday Cookies

Photo: Sang An

Bittersweet Brownie Drops

These cookie-brownie hybrids are easy-to-make and have a moist, slightly gooey taste, best enjoyed with a cold glass of milk.

Get the recipe: Bittersweet Brownie Drops

Photo: Thinkstock

Rugelach

Chef Haim Ben-Simon of The Hummus & Pita Co. in New York City says you can use apricot or strawberry jam to make these traditional Jewish pastries.

Get the recipe: Rugelach

Photo: © 4ingredients.com.au

Marzipan Marbles

These four-ingredient, no-bake treats are sweet and nutty. They're also sturdy enough to withstand packing and shipping.

Get the recipe: Marzipan Marbles

Photo: Hannah Whitaker

Holiday Butter Cookies

These colorful cookies take on the pattern of whatever decorative glass, like a vintage water tumbler, you use to press them out. The bottom of a crystal bowl or vase works well, too.

Get the recipe: Holiday Butter Cookies

Photo: Hannah Whitaker

Ribbon Cookies

These playful knots from pastry chef Jerry Thornton are lightly fried and finished with a dusting of cinnamon sugar for a fanciful addition to a cookie platter.

Get the recipe: Ribbon Cookies

Photo: Hannah Whitaker

Cornmeal Biscotti with Cranberries and Pistachios

Dried cranberries, toasted pistachios, and a bit of orange zest combined together are sure to make these biscotti a favorite among friends and family at your next holiday party.

Get the recipe: Cornmeal Biscotti with Cranberries and Pistachios

Photo: Hannah Whitaker

Ginger Cookies

These ginger cookies are made with whole grain flour instead of white, but they also include a generous portion of chocolate chunks to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Get the recipe: Ginger Cookies

Photo: Hannah Whitaker

Peppermint Stick Cookies

Ever wish you could make all your cookies look as good as they taste? In the book Art of the Cookie, food stylist Shelly Kaldunski teaches tricks of the trade to making professional-looking treats like these ethereal candy-cane-inspired tuiles.

Get the recipe: Peppermint Stick Cookies

Photo: Hannah Whitaker

Plain Parisian Macarons with Lemon Buttercream

Meg Ray, the owner of San Francisco's Parisian-inspired pastry shop Miette, shares how to make picture-perfect macarons doable, not daunting.

Get the recipe: Plain Parisian Macarons with Lemon Buttercream

Photo: Thinkstock

Thumbprint Jam Cookies

The jam-filled centers contrasted with crunchy, golden brown edges make for unforgettable (and adorable!) treats.

Get the recipe: Thumbprint Jam Cookies

Photo: Con Poulos

Sweet and Salty Cookies

Classic chocolate chip cookies get updated with pumpkin seeds and a hint of red chili pepper.

Get the recipe: Sweet and Salty Cookies

Photo: Tara Striano

Snickerdoodle Cookies

Roll sugar cookie dough in cinnamon-sugar to get a treat that's both a little sweet and a little spicy.

Get the recipe: Snickerdoodle Cookies

Photo: Ditte Isager

Gingersnaps with Orange-Ginger Cream Filling

What could make a zingy gingersnap even better? Sweet, creamy frosting sandwiched between two gingersnaps!

Get the recipe: Gingersnaps with Orange-Ginger Cream Filling

Photo: Dana Gallagher

Icebox Cookies

Take the stress out of baking with this make-ahead, slice-and-bake cookie dough: You can prepare the almond-scented batter one night, freeze it and slice-and-bake whenever is convenient. One recipe makes about 15 cookies.

Get the recipe: Icebox Cookies

Photo: Anna Williams

Red-and-White Cookies

This version of the classic New York black-and-white cookie takes inspiration from candy canes, splitting the treat into red and white halves (you could also use green-gel food coloring for the white portion).

Get the recipe: Red-and-White Cookies

Photo: Tara Striano

Dried Fruit Cookies

With jewel-toned flecks of fruits like cranberries, dates, prunes and apricots running through a cinnamon dough, they'll win your heart—and a place in your holiday cookie roster.

Get the recipe: Dried Fruit Cookies

Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Cream Cheese-Chocolate Chip Cookies

These delicious cookies have two unexpected ingredients: cream cheese, which helps keep them soft; and orange zest, which lends a bright note and helps bring out the chocolate flavor even more.

Get the recipe: Cream Cheese-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo: Tara Striano

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Take these cookies out of the oven just when they are starting to crisp on the outside for extra chewy deliciousness.

Get the recipe: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Photo: Tara Striano

Poppy Seed Squares with Chocolate Tips

Poppy seeds add both a nutty flavor and a crunchy texture, bringing a savory depth to this shortbread-style dough. Balance it all out with a healthy dunk into sweet melted chocolate.

Get the recipe: Poppy Seed Squares with Chocolate Tips

Photo: Tara Striano

Everything-but-the-Kitchen-Sink Cookies

Ever wanted to mix all your favorite treats in to one cookie? Here's your chance. If the thought of a crunchy, salty bite blended in to a soft, sugary dough doesn’t speak to you, well, you have some thinking to do.

Get the recipe: Everything-but-the-Kitchen-Sink Cookies

Photo: Sang An

Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookies

Combine gingerbread and delicious lemon filling for a festive version of an Oreo cookie.

Get the recipe: Gingerbread and Lemon Sandwich Cookies

Photo: Thinkstock

Aunt Baby's Checkerboard Cookies

Interior designer Sheila Bridges shares her favorite dessert, buttery checkerboard cookies, from her great-aunt "Baby."

Get the recipe: Aunt Baby's Checkerboard Cookies

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