25 Irresistible Popular Christmas Cookies to Bake This Year
popular christmas cookies tend to sneak onto our to do lists the minute the tree goes up. I get it. You want cookies that actually taste amazing, look cute on a platter, and survive a busy December without falling apart. I’ve baked my way through many tins, some triumphs and a few flops, and I’m sharing the ones that never fail. Think chewy, crisp, buttery, and festive without a ton of fuss. Stick with me and you’ll have a plate that makes people pause and say wow. 
Best Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie
If you’re only making one showstopper this season, make it the big, fat, chewy chocolate chip cookie. It’s the cookie everyone grabs first, and it anchors the rest of your tray. The secret is a higher ratio of brown sugar, a patient chill, and slightly underbaking so the centers stay soft once cooled.
The simple game plan
- Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp fine salt, 3/4 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp vanilla, 1 1/2 to 2 cups chocolate chips, flaky salt for topping optional.
- Directions:
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until glossy. Add egg, yolk, and vanilla.
- Fold in dry ingredients, then chips. Cover and chill 45 to 60 minutes.
- Scoop large balls, about 1/4 cup each, onto a lined sheet. Press a few extra chips on top.
- Bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes until edges set and centers look a touch pale. Sprinkle flaky salt.
- Let cool on the sheet 10 minutes so they set up thick and chewy.
Helpful notes: Melted butter gives that bendy, chewy center, and the extra yolk keeps things plush. Chilling prevents spreading and deepens flavor. If you’re making a big batch ahead, freeze cookie dough in scoops and bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the time.
These cookies play well with the rest of your popular christmas cookies because they add that bakery style size and texture to your platter. Bake a tray for now and stash some dough for later guests.
Classic Christmas Cookies
Let’s talk about the cookies that make it feel like the holidays the second you smell them. We’re talking sugar cookies for decorating, spicy gingerbread with snappy edges, buttery shortbread, and cinnamon dusted snickerdoodles. I keep the doughs simple and the steps realistic, because no one needs a complicated recipe in December.
Decorating that actually lasts
For cut out sugar cookies, the dough should be cool, not rock hard. Roll between two sheets of parchment to avoid extra flour, which can make cookies tough. A quick chill after cutting helps shapes stay crisp in the oven. For clean lines, use a plain piping tip, outline first, then flood with a slightly thinner icing. If you need a reliable glaze that sets without getting tooth shatter hard, try my go to mix of powdered sugar, a splash of milk, and a bit of corn syrup for shine, or go with an easy royal icing if you want sharper details.
“I used your sugar cookie method for our neighborhood exchange and had three people ask for the recipe. The edges stayed perfect and the icing actually dried glossy.”
Gingerbread wins for make ahead, since the spices bloom on day two. I like a blend of ground ginger, cinnamon, and a pinch of cloves. For shortbread, aim for sandy crumbs when mixing and press the dough gently into a pan for even thickness. Snickerdoodles want cream of tartar for tang and that signature crinkle. The result is a plate full of childhood favorites that still taste fantastic today.
And here’s a friendly truth. When your tray has a few familiar faces, people relax and reach in. Mix a few new flavors in the next section, but let these classics be the anchor to your popular christmas cookies lineup.
Super Festive Christmas Cookies
Make them sparkle without the stress
Ready for the fun part? These are the cookies that pop on Instagram and still deliver flavor. Red velvet crinkles dusted in powdered sugar look dramatic without any fancy tools. Peppermint bark cookies bring contrast with dark chocolate and crushed candy canes. Stained glass cookies are easier than they look. Just crush hard candies, fill the cutout center, and bake until the candy melts and clears. Let them cool fully on the sheet so the centers set.
For a cozy vibe, do hot cocoa cookies. Stir a little cocoa powder into the dough and press mini marshmallows on top in the last few minutes of baking. Linzer or thumbprint cookies add color with jam. Use seedless raspberry or apricot for a jewel tone finish. If your kitchen gets warm, chill trays of cut dough before they go in the oven to help keep details sharp.
To keep your platter pretty, vary shapes and textures. Round, cutout, sandwich, and chunky scoops keep the eye moving. A quick brush of simple syrup adds shine to jam cookies. And a light dusting of powdered sugar at the end can unify the look of everything in your popular christmas cookies collection. Checkout my quick holiday baking tips if you want a printable checklist for your baking day.
Allergy-Friendly Christmas Cookies
Smart swaps that work
No one should feel left out at the cookie plate. Thankfully, allergy friendly versions can taste just as good. For gluten free cookies, use a 1 to 1 baking flour with xanthan gum. Let the dough rest 15 minutes so the flour hydrates, which improves texture. For dairy free, choose a good vegan butter stick and a dairy free chocolate brand. Coconut oil works in some recipes, though it sets firmer, so keep cookies on the smaller side.
Egg free options are simple. A flax egg works for many doughs, and aquafaba the liquid in a can of chickpeas can replace egg whites in meringue style cookies. If you need nut free, sunflower seed butter is a great swap in those peanut butter blossom style cookies. Note that sunflower seeds can react with baking soda and turn green if the pH is high. A splash of lemon juice keeps the color normal.
Cross contact matters. Use clean bowls and tools, check labels, and keep allergy safe batches separate on the counter and in the oven. I like to bake allergy friendly cookies first so there’s no flour dust in the air. This way, your popular christmas cookies list includes everyone and you can relax when guests arrive.
Final Cookie Baking Success Tips
Storing and gifting like a pro neighbor
- Chill your dough 30 to 60 minutes for better shape and flavor. Even 10 minutes helps.
- Use an oven thermometer. Most ovens run hot or cool. Accurate heat equals consistent cookies.
- Keep sizes consistent by using the same scoop. Different sizes bake unevenly.
- Rotate pans halfway if your oven has hot spots.
- Underbake slightly. Pull cookies when the centers still look a touch soft. They set as they cool.
- Cool on the sheet for 5 to 10 minutes for thick cookies. It locks in that chewy middle.
- Mix textures on the platter for interest: chewy, crisp, jammy, and chocolatey.
- Pack smart: Pair similar textures together. Crisp cookies absorb moisture from soft ones if stored together.
- Ship sturdy picks like shortbread, biscotti, and thick chocolate chip. Pad boxes with crumpled parchment.
- Label and date tins. Most cookies stay great 4 to 5 days at room temp. Freeze for longer.
When in doubt, bake a test cookie first. Adjust time by a minute up or down before committing a whole tray. These tiny tweaks are how your 25 Irresistible Popular Christmas Cookies to Bake This Year come out bakery level every time. And if you’re assembling gift boxes, add a card with allergen notes plus a few napkins. Little touches make your popular christmas cookies feel extra thoughtful.
Common Questions
How far in advance can I bake for a party? Most cookies taste best within 3 days. Bake earlier and freeze. Thaw at room temp in a covered container to avoid drying out.
What’s the best way to keep cookies soft? Store soft cookies together in an airtight tin with a small piece of bread or a slice of apple for moisture. Replace the slice after a day if needed.
Why did my cutouts spread? Warm dough and too much leavening are the usual culprits. Chill cut shapes 10 minutes and check your baking soda is fresh.
How do I get neat chocolate drizzles? Melt chocolate slowly, spoon into a zip bag, snip a tiny corner, and drizzle thin lines. Let it set on parchment for clean lift off.
Which cookies are best for gifting? Sturdy ones. Think shortbread, biscotti, thumbprints, crinkles, and those big chewy chocolate chips. They travel well and still wow.
Your cookie plate is about to win the party
You’ve got the classics, the head turners, and the allergy friendly picks all lined up. Start with a couple doughs today, chill or freeze, then bake off fresh before guests arrive. If you want more ideas, browse inspiration like Our Top 25 Most Cherished Christmas Cookies and this big list from Sally’s Baking Addiction with 75+ Popular Christmas Cookie Recipes. Combine a few from each list with your own family favorites and you’ll have a cookie plate that people remember. Most of all, have fun and taste as you go. You’ve got this. 
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie
Ingrédients
Method
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- In another bowl, stir the melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until glossy.
- Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla, mixing until well combined.
- Fold in the dry ingredients, then add the chocolate chips.
- Cover the bowl and chill the dough for 45 to 60 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Scoop large balls of dough (about 1/4 cup each) onto a lined baking sheet.
- Press a few extra chocolate chips on top before baking.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are set but the centers look slightly pale.
- Sprinkle with flaky salt and let cool on the sheet for 10 minutes to achieve a thick and chewy texture.
