Best Christmas Cookie Recipes for Holiday Cookie Trays and Platters

Whether you're filling Christmas cookie boxes, treat bags, dessert platters, or a cookie exchange tray, you'll find plenty of recipes to choose from.

How to Build the Perfect Christmas Cookie Platter

The best Christmas cookie trays have variety. You don't need to make every recipe in this collection. Instead, choose a few cookies with different flavors, textures, colors, and shapes.

Here are a few things I like to include:

• A classic cookie: Sugar cookies, shortbread, or butter cookies.
• A spiced cookie: Gingerbread, molasses, or ginger cookies.
• A chocolate cookie: Chocolate peppermint, German chocolate, or hot cocoa cookies.
• A colorful cookie: Frosted sugar cookies or decorated Christmas cookies.
• A no-bake treat: Star Crunch cookies, Avalanche cookies, or Scotcheroos.
• Something unexpected: Pecan toffee bars or one of the fun shaped gingerbread cookies.

I also like mixing large and small cookies. Tiny cookies and bite-size treats fill in the empty spaces on a platter and make it easy for guests to grab just one or two.

For a beautiful Christmas cookie tray, choose 4–6 different recipes rather than trying to make everything at once.

Jump to:

• How to Build the Perfect Christmas Cookie Platter
• Shortbread and Sugar Christmas Cookies
• Oatmeal Christmas Cookies
• Chocolate Christmas Cookies
• Gingerbread and Molasses Christmas Cookies
• Peppermint and Mint Christmas Cookies
• Peanut Butter and Candy Christmas Cookies
• Lemon Christmas Cookies
• No-Bake Christmas Cookie Recipes
• How to Store Christmas Cookies
• Can You Freeze Christmas Cookies?
• How to Make a Christmas Cookie Box
• Christmas Cookie Baking Tips
• More Christmas Recipes

Shortbread and Sugar Christmas Cookies

These classic Christmas cookies are perfect for the foundation of a holiday cookie platter. They're buttery, sweet, and easy to pair with other flavors.

1. Bakery-Style Sugar Cookies

These soft, thick bakery-style sugar cookies are buttery, tender, and melt in your mouth. The dough doesn't require refrigeration, making them an easy choice when you want classic Christmas sugar cookies without rolling and cutting shapes.

→ Get the Bakery-Style Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe

2. Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookies

These copycat Lofthouse sugar cookies are incredibly soft and thick, topped with fluffy homemade buttercream. They're the perfect Christmas cookie when you want a soft, frosted sugar cookie without having to roll and cut shapes. Frost with red or green buttercream frosting!

→ Get the Copycat Lofthouse Sugar Cookie Recipe

3. Classic Candy Cane Sugar Cookies

These festive candy cane sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and shaped like classic candy canes. They're a fun Christmas baking project and add plenty of holiday color to a cookie platter.

→ Get the Classic Candy Cane Sugar Cookie Recipe

4. Chubby Snowman Sugar Cookies

These adorable chubby snowman sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and decorated to look like little snowmen. They're a fun Christmas baking project and especially cute on a holiday cookie tray.

→ Get the Chubby Snowman Sugar Cookie Recipe

5. Little Debbie Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

These homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies are soft, tender, frosted, and coated in chocolate. They're a fun homemade version of the classic holiday treat.

→ Get the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Sugar Cookie Recipe

6. Quick and Easy Triangle Christmas Tree Cookies

These festive Christmas tree cookies are made in a simple triangle shape, making them much easier than complicated decorated cookies. They're a fun project for kids and a colorful addition to a Christmas cookie platter.

→ Get the Triangle Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe

7. Shortbread Christmas Tree Cookies

Buttery shortbread cookies are cut into Christmas tree shapes, dipped in chocolate, and decorated with festive sprinkles. They're beautiful on a Christmas cookie platter and make wonderful holiday gifts.

→ Get the Shortbread Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe

8. Drop Sugar Cookies with Marshmallow Frosting

These soft drop sugar cookies are perfect if you don't want to roll or cut cookie dough. They're topped with fluffy marshmallow frosting and are incredibly soft and tender.

→ Get the Drop Sugar Cookie Recipe

9. Danish Butter Cookies

These homemade Danish butter cookies are buttery, delicate, and crisp, just like the classic cookies that come in a blue tin during the holidays. The dough is piped into pretty rosettes, and there's no chilling required.

→ Get the Danish Butter Cookie Recipe

10. Stacked Snowman Cookies

Stacked snowman sugar cookies are fun to make! Round sugar cookies, frosted and stacked, with eyes, a carrot nose, a mouth, and buttons!

→ Get the Stacked Snowman Sugar Cookies

11. Frosted Fudge Shortbread Cookies

These soft chocolate shortbread cookies are rich, buttery, and covered with chocolate frosting. If you love chocolate cookies but want something softer than traditional shortbread, these are perfect.

→ Get the Frosted Fudge Shortbread Cookie Recipe

Oatmeal Christmas Cookies

Oatmeal cookies are a wonderful addition to a Christmas cookie platter because they add a chewy texture and warm, nostalgic flavor.

12. Old-Fashioned Iced Oatmeal Cookies

These old-fashioned iced oatmeal cookies have crisp edges, chewy centers, and a creamy vanilla icing. They're a nostalgic Christmas cookie that's especially good with a glass of cold milk.

→ Get the Iced Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

13. Iced Oatmeal Gingerbread Cookies

These cookies combine the chewy texture of oatmeal cookies with the warm spices and molasses flavor of gingerbread. They're finished with a simple vanilla glaze for an extra festive touch.

→ Get the Iced Oatmeal Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

If you have chocolate lovers in your family, you'll definitely want a few of these on your Christmas cookie tray.

14. North Pole Coal Cookies

These fun double chocolate cookies are decorated to look like pieces of coal and make one of the most playful additions to a Christmas cookie platter.

→ Get the North Pole Coal Cookie Recipe

15. Hot Cocoa Brownie Bites

These chocolatey, rich brownie bites are loaded with marshmallows and inspired by a mug of hot cocoa. They're especially fun for Christmas parties and cookie exchanges.

→ Get the Hot Cocoa Brownie Bite Recipe

16. German Chocolate Cookies

These decadent chocolate cookies are topped with homemade coconut pecan frosting and finished with melted chocolate. They're perfect for anyone who loves German chocolate cake.

→ Get the German Chocolate Cookie Recipe

17. Hostess Cupcake Cookies

These soft chocolate cookies are topped with marshmallow buttercream and dipped in chocolate glaze. They're a fun homemade version of the classic Hostess cupcake.

→ Get the Hostess Cupcake Cookie Recipe

18. Copycat Chick-fil-A Chocolate Chunk Cookies

These thick, bakery-style cookies are loaded with chocolate chunks, milk chocolate chips, and oats. They're large, soft, and especially good served warm.

→ Get the Copycat Chick-fil-A Chocolate Chunk Cookie Recipe

19. Pecan Toffee Bars

These buttery pecan toffee bars combine a crisp cookie base with rich toffee, chocolate, and pecans. They're an excellent addition to a Christmas cookie tray when you want something a little different from traditional cookies.

→ Get the Pecan Toffee Bar Recipe

20. Hot Cocoa Cookies

These rich chocolate cookies are loaded with marshmallow flavor and taste just like a cup of hot cocoa in cookie form. They're a fun addition to a Christmas cookie exchange.

→ Get the Hot Cocoa Cookie Recipe

Gingerbread and Molasses Christmas Cookies

Gingerbread and molasses cookies are some of my favorite Christmas cookies because they're packed with warm spices and make the whole kitchen smell like the holidays.

21. Gingerbead Man Cookies

Old-fashioned iced gingerbread man cookies are inspired by the itty-bitty cookies from the historic Scovil Bakery. Makes 150+ mini gingerbread men!

→ Get the Iced Gingerbread Man Cookies

22. Chubby Gingerbread Man Cookies

These adorable chubby gingerbread men are soft, warmly spiced, and shaped without needing a traditional gingerbread man cookie cutter. They're especially fun to make with kids.

→ Get the Chubby Gingerbread Man Cookie Recipe

23. Teddy Bear Gingerbread Cookies

These adorable teddy bear gingerbread cookies are made by shaping the dough instead of using a cookie cutter. They're soft, flavorful, and such a fun addition to a Christmas cookie tray.

→ Get the Teddy Bear Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

24. Frosted Ginger Cookies

These soft ginger cookies have crisp edges, chewy centers, warm spices, and a simple buttercream frosting. They stay soft for days, making them a great choice for Christmas cookie boxes.

→ Get the Frosted Ginger Cookie Recipe

25. Iced Molasses Cookies

These soft molasses cookies have slightly crisp edges, chewy centers, warm spices, and a simple vanilla icing. They're sturdy enough to package and stay soft for days.

→ Get the Iced Molasses Cookie Recipe

26. Disney Wilderness Lodge Molasses Cookies

These Disney Wilderness Lodge Molasses Cookies are an actual Disney recipe and are packed with warm molasses and holiday spices. They're a fun choice for Disney fans and anyone who loves a classic soft molasses cookie.

→ Get the Disney Wilderness Lodge Molasses Cookie Recipe

27. Gingerbread Cookie Houses

These gingerbread cookie houses give you all the fun of traditional gingerbread houses in a cookie that's much easier to make and serve. They're especially fun for decorating with kids.

→ Get the Gingerbread Cookie House Recipe

28. Soft Gingerbread Cookie Bars

These soft gingerbread cookie bars have all the warm spices and molasses flavor of traditional gingerbread without the rolling, cutting, or decorating individual cookies.

→ Get the Soft Gingerbread Cookie Bar Recipe

Peppermint and Mint Christmas Cookies

Peppermint and chocolate are a classic Christmas combination. These cookies add a cool, minty flavor and lots of holiday color to your cookie tray.

29. Peppermint Bark Shortbread Cookies

Crispy, buttery shortbread cookies are dipped in peppermint chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy canes. They're beautiful enough for gifting and delicious enough to disappear quickly.

→ Get the Peppermint Bark Shortbread Cookie Recipe

30. 2-Ingredient Thin Mint Cookies

These incredibly easy homemade thin mint cookies are made with just two ingredients and Ritz crackers. They're a quick Christmas treat when you don't have time to bake a traditional cookie.

→ Get the 2-Ingredient Thin Mint Cookie Recipe

31. Peppermint Bark Oreos

Oreos and Golden Oreos are covered in peppermint chocolate to create an easy no-bake Christmas cookie. They're especially good for holiday treat boxes.

→ Get the Peppermint Bark Oreo Recipe

32. Triple Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

These rich chocolate cookies combine chocolate chunks, white chocolate, and peppermint for an especially decadent Christmas cookie.

→ Get the Triple Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Recipe

33. Grasshopper Mint Cookies

These soft chocolate cookies are topped with mint buttercream and chocolate glaze. They're rich, decadent, and loaded with chocolate and mint flavor.

→ Get the Grasshopper Mint Cookie Recipe

34. Double Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies

Dark chocolate cookies are loaded with mini chocolate chips and topped with Andes mints. The mint melts into the warm cookie for an irresistible chocolate-mint treat.

→ Get the Double Chocolate Andes Mint Cookie Recipe

Peanut Butter and Candy Christmas Cookies

Peanut butter cookies are another classic addition to a Christmas cookie platter, especially when they're paired with chocolate or candy.

35. Holiday Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

These soft peanut butter cookies are topped with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and decorated with festive holiday designs. They're a fun twist on classic peanut butter cup cookies and are perfect for Christmas cookie trays.

→ Get the Holiday Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Recipe

36. No-Bake Peanut Butter Blossoms

These no-bake peanut butter blossoms start with a peanut butter Rice Krispies-style base and are topped with Hershey's Kisses. They're an easy twist on the classic peanut butter blossom.

→ Get the No-Bake Peanut Butter Blossom Recipe

Lemon Christmas Cookies

Bright lemon cookies are a great contrast to the richer chocolate, peppermint, and gingerbread cookies on a Christmas platter. These are especially good when you want something light, buttery, and citrusy.

37. Copycat Maggiano's Lemon Cookies

These soft, buttery lemon cookies are inspired by Maggiano's famous lemon cookies. They're packed with bright lemon flavor and finished with a sweet lemon glaze.

→ Get the Copycat Maggiano's Lemon Cookie Recipe

38. Lemon Cooler Cookies

These lemon cooler cookies are buttery, light, and packed with fresh lemon flavor. Each cookie is coated twice in powdered sugar while still warm, creating a sweet, tangy finish and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

→ Get the Lemon Cooler Cookie Recipe

No-Bake Christmas Cookie Recipes

No-bake cookies are some of my favorite holiday treats because they don't take up valuable oven space when you're already baking several batches of cookies.

39. Copycat Star Crunch Cookies

These homemade Star Crunch cookies combine chocolate, caramel, marshmallows, and crispy rice cereal for a soft, chewy no-bake cookie inspired by the classic Little Debbie treat.

→ Get the Copycat Star Crunch Cookie Recipe

40. Avalanche Cookies

White chocolate, peanut butter, crispy rice cereal, and mini marshmallows come together in these easy no-bake cookies. They're rich, crunchy, chewy, and incredibly simple to make.

→ Get the Avalanche Cookie Recipe

41. Chex Scotcheroos

This fun variation on traditional Scotcheroos uses corn Chex cereal instead of crispy rice cereal. Chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch make these an easy favorite for holiday treat platters.

→ Get the Chex Scotcheroo Recipe

How to Store Christmas Cookies

Most Christmas cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days, but the best storage method depends on the recipe.

For the freshest cookies:

• Allow cookies to cool completely before storing.
• Store soft cookies in an airtight container.
• Keep crisp cookies separate from soft cookies so they don't absorb moisture.
• Place parchment paper between layers of frosted or decorated cookies.
• Store cookies in the refrigerator when the individual recipe recommends it.
• Freeze cookies when you want to bake well ahead of Christmas.

I always recommend checking the storage instructions on the individual recipe, especially for cookies with frosting, cream fillings, or other perishable ingredients.

Can You Freeze Christmas Cookies?

Yes! Many Christmas cookies freeze beautifully.

Freezing cookies is one of the easiest ways to get ahead on holiday baking. Most cookies can be baked several weeks before Christmas, cooled completely, and stored in airtight freezer-safe containers or bags.

For best results:

1. Allow cookies to cool completely.
2. Place them in a freezer-safe container or bag.
3. Separate layers with parchment paper when needed.
4. Label the container with the cookie name and date.
5. Thaw cookies at room temperature before serving.

How to Make a Christmas Cookie Box

If you're giving Christmas cookies as gifts, I recommend choosing a variety of cookies rather than filling the entire box with one type.

A good cookie box might include:

• 1 classic sugar cookie
• 1 gingerbread or molasses cookie
• 1 chocolate cookie
• 1 peppermint or mint cookie
• 1 peanut butter cookie
• 1 lemon cookie
• 1 bar or no-bake treat

Use parchment paper, cupcake liners, or small treat bags to separate different flavors and keep everything looking neat.

For a really pretty cookie box, choose cookies with different shapes, colors, sizes, and textures. A frosted cookie next to a chocolate cookie and a golden shortbread cookie makes the whole box look more festive.

Christmas Cookie Baking Tips

If you're making several different Christmas cookie recipes in one day, a little planning makes the process much easier.

• Read every recipe first. Some cookie doughs require chilling while others can go straight into the oven.
• Make the doughs that need chilling first. While one dough is resting in the refrigerator, you can prepare another recipe.
• Bake similar temperatures together. This can save time when you're making several batches.
• Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This makes cleanup easier and helps cookies release from the baking sheet.
• Don't overcrowd the baking sheets. Cookies need room to spread and bake evenly.
• Let baking sheets cool between batches. Putting cookie dough onto a hot baking sheet can cause cookies to spread differently.
• Don't overbake. Many cookies will continue to set as they cool. Look for the baking cues in each individual recipe rather than waiting for every cookie to look completely done in the oven.

More Christmas Recipes

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