Our Classic Christmas Cookie Collection

Sugar, shortbread and especially chocolate chip cookies conjure up fond memories of holiday baking. Reach for a glass of milk and dig into these classic delights. Once you master this signature recipe, try a few of the provided variations, including Nutty Peanut-Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Almond-Toffee Cookies.

Recipe: All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Master this original slice-and-bake cookie, and you'll be able to create variations throughout the holiday season (and beyond!). The basic dough is mixed with unsweetened cocoa in Chocolate Icebox Cookies and turned nutty in Peanut Butter Icebox Cookies.

Recipe: Basic Icebox Sugar Cookies

See more of our favorite sugar cookie recipes.

Crisscrossed fork marks and all, these cookies are just like Mom made, with the addition of yummy butterscotch morsels for extra flavor and a sweet crunch. Bake a few batches for your holiday cookie swap.

Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies with Butterscotch Bits

This staple cookie recipe belongs in everyone's recipe file. Mix oatmeal with raisins and walnuts for a hearty, chewy cookie. Store the dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer to enjoy sweet treats in a hurry.

Recipe: Oatmeal Cookies

Perfect for gift giving, this recipe makes enough for a crowd. If you're baking a batch for your family and have leftovers, try adding the crispy cookies to other dishes, such as Gingersnap Sweet Potatoes or Gingered Pumpkin Pie.

Recipe: Gingersnaps with Crystallized Ginger

Shortbread cookies are traditionally the simplest of cookies: butter, sugar, flour, and maybe some salt. Just by bringing a new flavor or two to the table, you can totally transform this treat.

Shortbreads for Every Taste

Recipe: Brown Sugar-Pecan Shortbread

Decorate with dragée (sometimes called sugar pearls), gold or silver dust, and coarse or sparkling sugar.

Replace the candies in the center of ordinary thumbprint cookies with chocolate ganache, and you've got a decadent dessert that's best served the day it's made. For ganache lovers, add easy-to-make Chocolate Ganache Sandwiches to your cookie list.

Recipe: Chocolate Thumbprints

One reviewer called these cookies "sinfully delicious," and we must agree. Simply roll sugar cookie dough in cinnamon sugar for a Snickerdoodle delight.

Recipe: Snickerdoodles

Spritz cookies are a classic Christmas cookie. For truly authentic spritz cookies, be sure to invest in a cookie press to get that oh-so-perfect shape.

Add water to icing a drop at a time for thinner spreading consistency. Decorate with dragée (sometimes called sugar pearls), gold or silver dust, and coarse or sparkling sugar, and tint the frosting with food color paste. All are available at coppergifts.com. Make the cookie dough up to a month in advance, wrap it tightly, and freeze. Thaw dough completely by placing it in the refrigerator overnight.