Name a more iconic duo than the holidays and freshly baked cookies. We’ll wait. Whether you’re looking to add a few new favorites to your standard holiday baking repertoire, on the hunt for killer treats to bring to this year’s cookie exchange or just want easy holiday cookies (that look impressive) to share with family, we’ve got you covered.
From unique and easy holiday cookies to treats that fit the vegan and/or gluten-free bill, here are 17 easy holiday cookie recipes that will have everyone reaching for just one more.
Easy chocolate chip cookie recipes for the holidays
1. Large peanut butter cookies with peanut butter and chocolate morsels
Looking to level up your go-to holiday chocolate chip cookie recipe? Try making these large peanut butter cookies loaded with peanut butter and milk chocolate morsels from Haute Cooking and Baking. Because nothing goes together quite like peanut butter and chocolate.
2. Chewy mint chocolate chip cookies
If there ever was a time to add mint to a classic chocolate chip cookie, it’s during the holidays. These chewy mint chocolate chip cookies from My Baking Addiction add that perfect little something to your wintertime cookie collection.
3. Chocolate chip cookies with milk chocolate drizzle
A simple way to up your chocolate chip cookie game? Add a drizzle of milk chocolate on top. Because nobody ever said: “No thanks, that’s enough chocolate.”
Easy sugar cookie recipes for the holidays
4. Sour cream sugar cookies
There’s a reason sugar cookies are a classic around the holidays: Everybody loves them! And these super-soft sour cream sugar cookies from Baker Bettie take things up just enough to have them stand out among the rest.
5. No-roll holiday sprinkle cookies
The best thing about these softbatch no-roll holiday sprinkles cookies from Averie Cooks? (Besides, you know, the taste.) They require no rolling or decorating. You simply throw festive sprinkles right into the batter!
Holiday vegan cookies and gluten-free cookie recipes
6. Best vegan sugar cookies
Looking for a vegan sugar cookie recipe that’s perfect for holiday cookies? Look no further than the best vegan sugar cookies from Nora Cooks. With vegan dough like this, the possibilities are endless!
7. Chocolate-dipped vegan sugar cookies
With chocolate, candy cane bits and a crunchy vegan sugar cookie base, there’s no going wrong with these chocolate-dipped vegan sugar cookies from Hashtag Vegan.
8. Vegan Gluten-Free Mexican Wedding Cookies
Oh wow, feast your eyes on these vegan gluten-free Mexican wedding cookies from Minimalist Baker. These are done in just 30 minutes. And besides, is it even the holidays if you don’t have powdered sugar sprinkled all down your front?
Cookie exchange cookies
9. Chewy Mexican chocolate cookies
Not only are these chewy Mexican chocolate cookies with raspberries from Zestful Kitchen a fun departure from the holiday classics, they’re full of natural alternatives (such as millet instead of sprinkles for crunch), so you can feel semi-virtuous eating them.
10. No-bake white chocolate and peanut butter ‘cookies’
Want to throw everyone in the cookie exchange for a loop? (Or looking for a super-easy holiday recipe — just five ingredients! — to do with the kids?) Whip up a batch of these no-bake white chocolate and peanut butter cookies from Little Broken. Ritz crackers never tasted so good.
11. Chocolate peppermint sour cream crinkle cookies
You’d be hard-pressed to find a holiday cookie more festive-looking than these chocolate peppermint sour cream crinkle cookies from We Are Not Martha. They’re almost too pretty to eat! Almost …
12. Nutella-stuffed snowball cookies
It’s a fact: Everything is better with Nutella. So, it’s a no-brainer that these super impressive Nutella-stuffed snowball cookies from The Cookie Rookie need to make it into your holiday treat repertoire.
13. Candy cane kiss cookies
The holidays aren’t the time to scale back when it comes to cookie decor, so you sort of have to make these super-festive candy cane kiss cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Your friends and loved ones will thank you.
14. No-bake peanut butter bars
Here’s another glorious no-bake recipe! These easy but decadent no-bake peanut butter bars from Mama Miss will be the talk of the cookie exchange, once they’re done savoring, that is.
Holiday pillsbury cookies
15. Sandwich sugar cookies
Sometimes you just need to stick to the classics, and these sandwich sugar cookies (filled with your favorite preserves!) from Pillsbury certainly fit the bill. Yum!
16. Easy gingerbread cookies
Looking for a super-easy gingerbread cookie recipe? Pillsbury has one that couldn’t be simpler to make — perfect for little ones who are eager to help out in the kitchen!
17. Oatmeal chip cookies
Whether you’re making a batch for the family or leaving a few out for Santa, it’s pretty much impossible to resist taking a bite out of these sweet-smelling oatmeal chip cookies from Pillsbury.
