19 Delicious Holiday Cookie Recipes To Make This Year

It’s cookie season! (Well…to be honest, in my family it’s cookie season year-round, but go with me on this.) While I don’t celebrate Christmas, I realize that cookies play a huge part in festivities this time of year, so I wanted to share a bunch of the best holiday cookie recipes for you to try.

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One thing I love about all of these cookie recipes is how easy they are…they’re not complicated, many-step, or fussy. I wouldn’t do that to you. Many don’t require any special shaping, piping, or filling, and the shaped ones are the perfect excuse to bust out your favorite cookie cutters (these are my fave, especially the T-rex, and this set is even massive).

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True holiday cookie staples: flavor + indulgence

From fall and winter classic flavors to some interesting ones you may not have considered, here are a bunch of traditional and “classic with a twist” recipes you’ll love.

The Best Soft Molasses Cookies

These soft ginger molasses cookies might be the best cookies EVER. I find most ginger cookies or gingersnaps to be too hard and bite-y…instead, these are packed with warm, comforting spices, the sweet-bitter flavor of molasses, and are soooo soft and chewy.

These have been a family staple since I was a kid, and they are the quintessential holiday cookie.

Chai Spiced Shortbread Cookies

These delightful little shortbreads have subtle spice flavors and melt on your tongue. They’re perfect as a snack with a cup of coffee any day of the week, and are sturdy enough that they make great gifts. I sometimes dip them in melted caramelized white chocolate for an extra hit of sweetness.

Amazing Intensely Dark Chocolate Sable Cookies

I am OBSESSED with these cookies. They might be the most perfect cookies to exist. While they look unassuming, they are like being punched in the face with rich, bittersweet dark chocolate. They’re delicious and not too sweet and totally addictive.

Levain Bakery Copycat Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

These are potentially the best cookies I’ve ever had in my life. Yes, they pack quite the caloric punch. They are monsters. But they’re completely worth it.

These are a copycat recipe for famous cookies from the iconic Levain Bakery in NYC…which you can order and have shipped to you for $75 for 4 cookies! So these are a better deal, and they’re just as delicious as the original 🙂

Apple Fritter Cookies with Spiced Maple Glaze

These delicious cookies are an amazing representation of the iconic donut…soft, spiced, sweet, juicy apple perfection. They’re super easy to make, totally unique, and a crowd pleaser at any get-together!

Almond Chocolate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal cookies are not usually my go-to, but somehow two versions made this list. These are so delicious, with dried cherries and a hint of almond extract, which ultimately make these a bit like a Bakewell tart in cookie form (with some chocolate for good measure).

The Absolute Best, Easiest Classic Shortbread (Plain or Flavored)

Sometimes a simple classic is exactly what you need. I finally found what is (IMO) the perfect shortbread cookie recipe, after years of trying different versions.

These are super easy, can be plain or flavored with different citrus zest or fresh herbs (an orange rosemary is one of my fave combos), and makes a great gift.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Chocolate Chip Cookies

I adapted Woodford’s distiller’s recipe slightly to fit my tastes (using dark chocolate and some whole wheat flour), but what’s amazing is how delightfully a little bit of Double Oaked shines through. You really get all the delicious baking aromatics without it tasting like booze.

These are a special treat any time of year, but definitely some of the best holiday cookies!

Triple Dark Chocolate Cookies

These delicious cookies manage a hat trick of being packed with chocolate, indulgently rich, and yet not nauseatingly sweet. They’re the perfect treat for any chocoholic, and crazy easy to whip up. (Bonus: I like to add a splash of good bourbon to the batter to give it a li’l somethin’ extra)

Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Every so often I run into a recipe that becomes my White Whale…I just keep going at it, and going at it, and can’t conquer it. This was one of those…deceptively simple, but getting to the perfect flavors while nailing the texture took some time.

They’re peanut butter-y and short, with a delightful sea salt crunch and they avoid being too sweet. Basically perfection.

Miso Rye Hazelnut Dark Chocolate Cookies

Despite their lengthy name, these delicious miso rye hazelnut dark chocolate cookies are super easy to whip up. They’re a total crowd pleaser—upgraded chocolate chip cookies, with more complex and nuanced flavors.

These cookies will make you a hero at work, or with your family, or…with yourself.

Brown Butter Cinnamon Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Again, the oatmeal cookies coming through for the win, unexpectedly. Subtly sweet but not overpowering, spiced, textured, and soft, these will make your house smell amazing. If you don’t know how awesome cinnamon chips are, you need to find them immediately.

Salted Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

These are a classic cookie executed with simplicity, but elevated by big chocolate chunks and a dusting of flaky sea salt. They’re super easy and a total crowd-pleaser.

Brown Butter Snickerdoodles

Who doesn’t love a twist on a classic?? Brown butter makes everything better, and I’m a sucker for a cinnamon-sugar flavor combo.

Options for dietary restrictions that are ALSO DELISH

I’m calling these ones out separately, but don’t take that to mean that they’re *only* for people with dietary restrictions. I pride myself on finding recipes that not only tick the boxes for the people that need them (e.g. gluten-free) but also are adored by everyone.

Easy & Awesome Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies

These soft gingerbread cookies are the BOMB. I got obsessed with the idea after going to Prague last year during their Christmas market season, and fell in love with their traditional gingerbread recipe. These mimic that in the specific spice combo and the fact that they’re soft.

They’re delicious and not only gluten-free, they’re also vegan (dairy- and egg-free) and nut-free. It’s a holiday miracle.

Amazing Dark Chocolate Tahini Cookies (GF, vegan, nut-free)

These win the award for “cookies I make on an almost-everyday basis”. They are SO delicious, beloved by even not-gluten-free people, and are sneaky because you can make a batch of the dough and keep it in your fridge to bake up fresh a few cookies at a time.

Whole Wheat Cranberry Pistachio Orange Shortbread (egg-free)

Yes, another shortbread 🙂 The flavor combo here is a total holiday winner, and they make great gifts. They’re pretty darn healthy as well.

Salted Dark Chocolate Shortbread (dairy-free)

This was another tricky one to nail, but once I did I was sooo happy. Chocolate shortbread is quite unique, and the sea salt flakes take it over the top to “absolutely perfect”. They’re also unique in being made with oil instead of butter, so an easy dairy-free dessert option.

A special shout-out to biscotti…

Biscotti are technically cookies, but I feel like they sit in a special sub-genre. They’re purposefully harder and drier, meant for dunking in coffee or tea and snacking on whenever the mood strikes.

They’re perfect to make ahead and keep on hand for guests, and also make awesome gifts. Here are my favorite ones for the holidays!