Okay, real talk: the second December hits, I turn into a human cookie factory. The tree goes up, the playlists switch to Mariah Carey on repeat, and my oven basically never turns off. If your idea of holiday heaven is warm gingerbread, melty chocolate, and that unbeatable smell wafting through the house, you’re in the right place. These 15 classic Christmas baking recipes are the ones my family fights over every single year—no fancy equipment, no weird ingredients you’ll never use again, just pure nostalgic goodness. Let’s get baking, friends!
1. Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men (The Ones That Actually Stay Soft)
Nothing screams Christmas louder than a gingerbread man with a cheeky icing smile. These stay soft for days instead of turning into hockey pucks. Trust me, I’ve eaten my weight in failed crunchy versions.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup molasses (grandma’s, not blackstrap—too bitter!)
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in egg and molasses (it’ll look curdled—totally normal).
- Whisk dry ingredients separately, then mix into the wet until just combined.
- Chill dough 2 hours (or overnight if you’re patient, unlike me).
- Roll ¼-inch thick, cut out little dudes, bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
- Cool completely before you go wild with royal icing faces.
Why You’ll Love It
These are spicy, chewy perfection. Pro tip: underbake by a minute if you want them extra soft. My nephew uses mini M&Ms for buttons and it’s stupidly cute.
2. Classic Sugar Cookies with Buttercream (The Cut-Out Queens)
The cookie that launched a thousand Instagram photos.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg + 1 yolk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (or almond if you’re feeling fancy)
- 3 cups flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar for a full 3 minutes—don’t skimp!
- Add egg, yolk, and vanilla.
- Mix in dry ingredients gently.
- Chill 1 hour, roll, cut, bake 350°F for 7–9 minutes (edges barely golden).
- Frost when cool with simple buttercream (butter + powdered sugar + milk + vanilla).
Why You’ll Love It
They hold their shape like champs. I’ve done snowflakes, mittens, and even tiny Grinch faces. Zero spreading disasters.
3. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies That Look Snow-Dusted
Fudgy brownies disguised as cookies. You’re welcome.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ½ cup powdered sugar for rolling
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla.
- Stir in dry ingredients (it’ll be super sticky).
- Chill 2+ hours.
- Scoop, roll in powdered sugar (generously!), bake 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
The crackly snowy look happens all by itself. Kids think you’re a wizard.
4. Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Blossoms
Because Hershey’s Kisses were invented for this exact moment.
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter + ½ cup peanut butter
- ½ cup each brown & white sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- Extra sugar for rolling + 48 Hershey’s Kisses
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream butters and sugars.
- Add egg, milk, vanilla.
- Mix in dry ingredients.
- Roll into balls, coat in sugar, bake 375°F for 8 minutes.
- Press unwrapped Kiss into center immediately after baking.
Why You’ll Love It
Still warm with that melty chocolate center? I’m weak.
5. Russian Tea Cakes (aka Snowball Cookies)
Buttery pecan clouds that melt in your mouth.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- Extra powdered sugar for rolling
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Beat butter, sugar, vanilla until fluffy.
- Mix in flour and salt, then pecans.
- Chill 30 minutes.
- Roll into 1-inch balls, bake 400°F for 10–12 minutes (they won’t brown much).
- Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar—twice for max snowiness.
Why You’ll Love It
One bite and they literally disappear. Dangerous around me.
6. Linzer Cookies with Raspberry Jam
Fancy-looking but secretly easy.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2½ cups flour
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- Raspberry jam + powdered sugar
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream butter/sugar, add yolk and vanilla.
- Mix dry ingredients in.
- Chill, roll, cut rounds + smaller cutouts for the top.
- Bake 350°F 10 minutes.
- Sandwich with jam, dust with sugar.
Why You’ll Love It
They look straight out of an Austrian bakery but take zero skill.
7. Thumbprint Cookies with Jam or Chocolate
The choose-your-own-adventure cookie.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2¼ cups flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- Jam, Nutella, or dulce de leche for filling
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Beat butter/sugar, add yolks/vanilla.
- Stir in flour/salt.
- Roll balls, indent with thumb (or the end of a wooden spoon—less sticky).
- Bake 375°F 12–14 minutes.
- Fill while warm.
Why You’ll Love It
Make half jam, half Nutella. Everyone wins.
8. Classic Shortbread (3 Ingredients, Pure Bliss)
Butter. Sugar. Flour. That’s literally it.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (real, European if you’re extra)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups flour
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Beat butter and sugar 5 minutes until pale.
- Gently mix in flour.
- Pat into 8×8 pan or shape into a log, chill.
- Slice or score, bake 300°F for 30–40 minutes until barely golden.
Why You’ll Love It
Melts on your tongue. Dip half in chocolate if you’re feeling wild.
9. Peppermint Chocolate Bark (The 10-Minute MVP)
When you need to bring something and forgot until the last second.
Ingredients
- 12 oz dark chocolate
- 12 oz white chocolate
- ½ tsp peppermint extract
- Crushed candy canes
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Melt dark chocolate, spread thin on parchment.
- Melt white chocolate + peppermint, drizzle over.
- Sprinkle candy canes, chill 20 minutes, break into pieces.
Why You’ll Love It
Looks impressive, takes zero effort. I keep a stash in the freezer.
10. Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas Morning (Make-Ahead!)
Because waking up to these is actual magic.
Ingredients (dough)
- 1 cup warm milk
- 2¼ tsp yeast
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 4½ cups flour
- Filling: ¾ cup brown sugar + 2 tbsp cinnamon + ⅓ cup soft butter
- Cream cheese frosting
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Proof yeast in milk, add everything, knead 5 minutes.
- Rise 1 hour.
- Roll out, spread filling, roll up, slice.
- Second rise 30 minutes (or fridge overnight!).
- Bake 350°F 20–25 minutes, drown in frosting.
Why You’ll Love It
Prep the night before, bake in the morning while still in pajamas. Peak holiday.
11. Stained Glass Window Cookies
The prettiest cookies you’ll ever make.
Ingredients
- Sugar cookie dough (from #2)
- Jolly Ranchers or hard candies
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Roll dough, cut large shapes with smaller cutouts inside.
- Place crushed candy in the holes.
- Bake 350°F 8–10 minutes—the candy melts into “glass.”
Why You’ll Love It
Hang them on the tree if you’re feeling extra. Kids lose their minds.
12. Pfeffernusse (Spiced German Cookies)
Tiny, spicy, addictive.
Ingredients
- ½ cup molasses + ½ cup honey
- ½ cup butter
- 3½ cups flour
- 1 tsp each cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom
- ½ tsp white pepper (yes, really)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- Powdered sugar glaze
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat molasses, honey, butter until melted.
- Mix with dry ingredients, chill overnight.
- Roll tiny balls, bake 350°F 10 minutes.
- Toss in glaze while warm.
Why You’ll Love It
They get better after a few days. Perfect for gifting.
13. Rum Balls (No-Bake, Boozy Bliss)
My aunt’s famous “don’t let the kids have these” recipe.
Ingredients
- 3 cups crushed vanilla wafers
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1½ cups finely chopped pecans
- ¼ cup cocoa
- ½ cup rum (or bourbon)
- 3 tbsp corn syrup
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix everything except extra sugar.
- Roll into balls.
- Coat in powdered sugar. Done.
Why You’ll Love It
Zero baking, maximum holiday cheer 😉
14. Cranberry Orange Biscotti
Dunk these in coffee or hot chocolate and thank me later.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 2 eggs
- Zest of 1 orange
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup pistachios (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream butter/sugar, add eggs and zest.
- Mix in flour, then cranberries.
- Shape into two logs, bake 350°F 25 minutes.
- Cool slightly, slice, bake again 10 minutes per side.
Why You’ll Love It
Crunchy, festive, and keeps forever.
15. Yule Log Cake (Buche de Noël) – Easier Than It Looks
Yes, you can totally pull this off.
Ingredients (sponge)
- 4 eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup flour
- ¼ cup cocoa
- Filling: whipped cream + mascarpone
- Ganache: 8 oz chocolate + 1 cup cream
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Beat eggs and sugar 8 minutes until thick.
- Fold in flour/cocoa gently.
- Spread thin on jelly roll pan, bake 12 minutes.
- Roll in towel while hot (prevents cracking).
- Unroll, fill, re-roll, cover in ganache, drag fork for bark effect.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s literally just a sheet cake wearing a fancy outfit. Everyone will think you’re a pastry chef.
There you go—15 classics that never fail. Your house is about to smell incredible, your cookie tins will be legendary, and you’ll probably gain three pounds just reading this (worth it). Which one are you baking first? Drop a comment and tell me—I’m nosy like that. Happy holidays, you beautiful baker, you! 🎄❤️
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