Christmas is a time of joy, family gatherings, and, of course, delicious holiday treats. Christmas cookies are a long-standing tradition in many homes, filling kitchens with the warm, comforting smells of sugar, spice, and everything nice. Whether you’re baking for family gatherings, attending cookie swaps, or looking to offer an assortment of sweets to holiday guests, knowing the best cookies to bake can make all the difference.

In this article, FamilyCookbookProject.com will explore some of the most popular Christmas cookies, their flavor profiles, and how easy they are to make. We’ll also mention a few cookies that typically don’t work well for Christmas, so you can focus on the ones that shine during the holiday season.

Popular Christmas Cookies and How Easy They Are to Make

Sugar Cookies

Flavor Profile : Sweet, buttery, and simple.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : Sugar cookies are a staple for holiday baking because they’re easy to customize with festive shapes, icing, and sprinkles. They’re also incredibly versatile, making them perfect for decorating with the family or setting out at holiday parties.

Ease of Making : Moderately easy. The dough is simple to mix, but rolling out and cutting the cookies into shapes can take a little time. Decorating adds an extra step, but it’s a fun activity for all ages.

Gingerbread Cookies

Flavor Profile : Spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, with a rich molasses flavor.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : Gingerbread cookies are synonymous with Christmas, offering a warm, spiced flavor that embodies the holiday spirit. Whether you’re making gingerbread men or constructing a gingerbread house, these cookies are a festive must-have.

Ease of Making : Moderately easy. The dough is straightforward, but rolling it out and cutting shapes can take some effort. Decorating with icing and candy can be as simple or elaborate as you like.

Snickerdoodles

Flavor Profile : Soft and chewy, with a buttery cinnamon-sugar coating.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : Snickerdoodles bring warmth and comfort with their cinnamon flavor, making them a popular choice for holiday cookie plates. They have a simple, nostalgic charm that fits right in with the Christmas season.

Ease of Making : Very easy. The dough is quick to prepare, and there’s no need to chill or roll out the dough. Simply shape, roll in cinnamon-sugar, and bake.

Shortbread Cookies

Flavor Profile : Buttery, crumbly, and lightly sweet.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : Shortbread cookies are delicate, melt-in-your-mouth treats that are perfect for a more refined holiday dessert table. Their simplicity and richness make them an elegant addition to any cookie spread.

Ease of Making : Easy. The dough only requires a few ingredients, and shaping the cookies can be done by hand or with cookie cutters. Their simple nature makes them an easy, go-to Christmas cookie.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Flavor Profile : Soft peanut butter cookies topped with a Hershey’s kiss.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : These cookies combine the classic flavors of peanut butter and chocolate, making them a favorite at Christmas gatherings. The addition of the chocolate kiss on top gives them a festive look without any extra decorating effort.

Ease of Making : Very easy. The dough is simple to make, and adding the chocolate kiss to each cookie while they’re warm is quick and easy.

Linzer Cookies

Flavor Profile : Buttery, nutty cookies filled with fruity jam, typically raspberry.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : Linzer cookies are beautiful, delicate treats that are perfect for holiday gatherings. Their dusting of powdered sugar and jam-filled centers make them look as festive as they taste.

Ease of Making : Moderately difficult. The dough requires some chilling and rolling out, and you’ll need to cut out two cookie shapes for each one (one solid and one with a cut-out). The result, however, is worth the effort.

Molasses Cookies

Flavor Profile : Rich, spiced, and slightly chewy, with the deep flavor of molasses.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : Molasses cookies are warm, comforting, and packed with holiday spices like ginger and cinnamon, making them ideal for a Christmas cookie platter. They bring a traditional, old-fashioned charm to any holiday dessert table.

Ease of Making : Easy. The dough is simple to prepare, and there’s no need for intricate decorating—just a quick roll in sugar before baking.

Spritz Cookies

Flavor Profile : Buttery and lightly sweet, often with a hint of almond.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : Spritz cookies are made with a cookie press to create intricate shapes like trees, wreaths, and stars, making them a perfect fit for Christmas celebrations. They’re small, crisp, and beautiful, often decorated with colored sugar or sprinkles.

Ease of Making : Moderately easy. The dough itself is simple, but using a cookie press takes some practice. Once you’ve mastered it, they’re quick to make and bake.

Thumbprint Cookies

Flavor Profile : Buttery and sweet, filled with jam or chocolate.

Why They’re Perfect for Christmas : Thumbprint cookies are a holiday favorite due to their simplicity and versatility. You can fill them with any flavor of jam, making them a colorful and tasty addition to any Christmas cookie spread.

Ease of Making : Easy. The dough is simple, and shaping the cookies is just a matter of pressing your thumb into the center and adding your filling of choice.

Cookies That Typically Don’t Make Great Christmas Cookies

While many cookies are perfect for Christmas, there are a few that don’t quite fit the holiday spirit, either because of their flavors or textures. Here’s a short list of cookies that you might want to skip when planning your Christmas cookie lineup:

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

–  Why Not? : While these cookies are rich and delicious, their messy powdered sugar coating tends to get everywhere, making them less ideal for cookie swaps or gifting. They can also lose their fresh texture quickly.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

–  Why Not? : Oatmeal raisin cookies are hearty and wholesome, but they don’t have the festive flair that most people associate with Christmas cookies. They’re better suited for casual, everyday baking.

Macarons

–  Why Not? : While macarons are beautiful and elegant, they’re notoriously difficult and time-consuming to make, which can be stressful during the busy holiday season. They also don’t have the cozy, nostalgic feel that people look for in Christmas cookies.

Biscotti

–  Why Not? : Biscotti are delicious, but they’re typically associated with coffee and tea rather than Christmas festivities. Their dry, crunchy texture doesn’t quite fit in with the soft, chewy cookies people often crave around the holidays.

The Joy of Christmas Cookies

Christmas cookies bring a sense of tradition and warmth to the holiday season. Whether you’re baking simple sugar cookies with the kids, swapping gingerbread men with friends, or serving elegant Linzer cookies at a holiday party, there’s a perfect Christmas cookie for every occasion.

While some cookies are better left for other times of the year, the classic Christmas cookies listed above are sure to bring joy, festivity, and a little bit of sweetness to your holiday season. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake your way to a merry Christmas!

 

Bill Rice is Founder and Co-Publisher of the Family Cookbook Project, a website that helps families and individuals collect, preserve and share food memories by creating their own printed personal cookbooks. He is the author of The Wellfleet Oyster Cookbook and the Cape Cod Cocktail Cookbook (Available on Amazon), both created using FamilyCookbookProject.com. He is also editor of the Donovan Family Cookbook, now it’s third printing and is an avid genealogist tracing his family back to the 1600’s.

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