There’s something truly magical about the smell of freshly baked cookies drifting through the house at Christmastime. The combination of butter, sugar, spice, and a sprinkle of festive cheer instantly makes any kitchen feel warmer. Whether you’re baking with family, wrapping up edible gifts for friends, or leaving a treat for Father Christmas, Christmas cookies are an essential part of the season.
From crisp iced sugar biscuits and chewy gingerbread men to indulgent chocolate-spiced delights, there’s a cookie recipe to suit every taste and baking style. The best part? They’re fun to make, easy to decorate, and perfect for sharing — because nothing says “Merry Christmas” quite like a homemade biscuit.
1. Sparkling Vanilla Christmas Cookies – BBC Good Food
A delicate vanilla-flavoured biscuit, rolled and cut into festive shapes, then iced and decorated (even ribbon-threaded if you like). Great for gifts or tree decorations. Get the recipe here (Good Food)
2. Spiced Christmas Cookies (Molasses/Black Treacle) – Lost in Food
These cookies combine rich black treacle (a UK-friendly substitute for molasses) with warming winter spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Soft and delicious with icing-optional. Get the recipe here (Lost in Food)
3. Best Christmas Cookies Recipe – Cooking With Emily
A reliable recipe for decorated festive cookies, offering tips on getting crisp edges and stamp-cut shapes that hold well. Ideal for cookie trays or gifting. Get the recipe here (cookingwithemily.co.uk)
4. Christmas Sugar Cookies with Easy Icing – Sally’s Baking Addiction
A more American-style sugar cookie with an icing technique that makes decorating fuss-free — lovely if you like bright, fun shapes and coloured icing. Get the recipe here (Sally’s Baking Addiction)
5. Christmas Sugar Cookies (Vanilla Biscuits / Shape-Cut) – RecipeTin Eats
Vanilla biscuit dough that’s designed specifically to hold its shape after baking — perfect for rolling out cookie-cutters, decorating with icing, or just serving plain. Get the recipe here (RecipeTin Eats)
6. Christmas Pudding Cookies – Jane’s Patisserie
A playful twist: cookies modelled to look like mini Christmas puddings, with chocolate chunks and a white-chocolate “dome” buttercream decoration. Get the recipe here (janespatisserie.com)
7. Cinnamon Christmas Cookies – She Who Bakes
Quick, cute and full of cinnamon — these are perfect when you want a fast bake that still feels special for Christmas. Get the recipe here (shewhobakes.co.uk)
Related
- Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Chocolate Cherry Kisses Cookies
8. Easy German Gingerbread Cookies (Lebkuchen Kekse) – MyDinner.co.uk
Bring a touch of the Christmas market to your kitchen with these German-style gingerbread cookies, spiced and easy to shape into hearts or festive motifs. Get the recipe here (My Dinner)
9. Christmas Sugar Cookies – Zoella
A simple and stylish sugar cookie recipe featured on a lifestyle blog — light, fluffy and perfect for shape-cutting with a chilled dough. Get the recipe here (Zoella)
10. Christmas Gingerbread Biscuits – Recipes Made Easy
A classic gingerbread biscuit recipe with Christmas in mind — ideal for kids and adults alike, decorated or plain. Get the recipe here (recipesmadeeasy.co.uk)
11. Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Cookies – I Am a Food Blog
These cookies lean into chewy centres, crisp edges and a good punch of gingerbread spice — great baked ahead and enjoyed over the holidays. Get the recipe here (i am a food blog)
12. Polish Spiced Christmas Cookies – Ren Behan (via The Guardian)
A heritage-style cookie recipe: spiced with honey, chocolate, poppy seeds and candied peel — rich in flavour and tradition. Get the recipe here (The Guardian)
13. White Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies – Helena Garcia (via The Guardian)
Gingerbread meets white chocolate: a twist for those who love bold flavour combinations with their festive cookies. Get the recipe here (The Guardian)
14. Chocolate, Rye & Festive Spice Cookies – George Fuest (via The Guardian)
A richer, slightly more grown-up cookie: dark chocolate, rye flour, and warming spices come together for something special. Get the recipe here (The Guardian)
15. Handmade Christmas Cookie Gifts – Cakes by Lynz
A blog post focused on cookies made for gifting: chocolate cookies styled as mini Christmas puddings, great for giving (or keeping!). Get the recipe here (cakesbylynz.co.uk)