The Best Cookies to Make This Christmas

Every year at the holidays begins the baking season. In my house I like to get an early start by planning out what I’m going to make ahead of time. Ever since I was a kid baking with my mom it has symbolized the cheer of Christmas and the anticipation of having so many family members around to bake for. Nibbling on cookies in front of the Christmas tree with a cup of hot cocoa or tea or eggnog in hand- I ask you is there anything cozier and more delightful? To help you get started with your baking here are some of the best, most delicious Christmas cookie recipes you can make this season, all of which are perfect for having the little ones help with, too.

These peppery German cookies have a unique flavor inside and are dusted with powdered sugar on the outside. Or you can make them with a hard glaze instead. Either way these these lively cookies bring a certain European flair to your holiday celebrations. Get the recipe here.

These cookies are a little hard to describe, but very easy to enjoy! The flavors of citrus and cinnamon combine with a subtle amount of anise seed to create an irresistible cookie! Use your star-shaped cookie cutter for a lovely little taste of New Mexico at the holidays. They’re so festive! Get the recipe here.

This is one of the cookies my mom and I used to make together when I was little and I love that I think of that memory every time I make (or eat) these wonderful cookies. They are tender, yet have that fantastic crunch from the nuts and the sugar crystals on the outer edges. These are a favorite in my family! Get the recipe here.

If you’ve ever made gingerbread for a gingerbread house and wondered why it was so tough and stodgy the answer lies in the dough. To make great gingerbread cookies you need a softer dough with more rise, like these German lebkuchen have! Lemon and orange zest along with some honey ensure that these cookies are never tough or dry. Truly these are a must-try cookie for the joyous season. Get the recipe here.

This is another one of those cookie recipes that takes me right back to being in my mom’s big kitchen helping her make these fun cookies. You could always tell which ones the kids had helped with as they were always a bit wonky, but all of them were very delicious. Get the recipe right here.

Like a fruitcake in cookie form, these cookies are packed with spices and dried fruit for a nod to European traditions. They’ve been a staple of bakeries on the East Coast for generations and are so easy to make. Get the recipe here.

Many times I or someone in my family will make white chocolate peppermint bark for the big day. The problem with this treat is that it can be super sweet. These peppermint sugar cookies solve that problem with their lightly sweet base and delicate chocolate topping. You can mix it up by using dark, milk, or white chocolate drizzle for a customized Christmas cookie. Get the recipe here.

These fall-apart-tender cookies are made with a hefty amount of (you guessed it) butter in the dough. They’re melt in your mouth soft, but punctuated with colorful sprinkles through the inside and then more on the outside. Get the recipe here.

Sugar cookies are classic any time of the year, but at Christmas they are especially fun to “dress up” in a variety of ways. These eggnog sugar cookies have eggnog in the dough and a dusting of nutmeg on top for a truly intoxicating cookie experience. Get the recipe here.

If you grew up with these cookies then the mere sight of these little wreaths can bring a lot of joy. There is a similarity to rice crispy treats, but instead of puffed rice you use cornflakes in stead. The little red berries made from cinnamon candies were always my favorite part of eating these cookies. Get the recipe here.

For those of use who love cranberry, we’ve got one more recipe for you. Along with white peppermint bark, I used to make a lot of cranberry white chocolate back, too. But, since I’ve had this cranberry cookie recipe I think I might prefer it! Get the recipe here.