Our Best Cookies for Holiday Decorating

Updated September 06, 2019
Thomas J. Story

There's only one thing more fun that eating cookies during the holiday season, and that's decorating cookies for the holiday season. We’ve rounded up our best sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and shortbread cookies—and a few more, like pie crust cookies and iced cookies—for holiday decorating, so gather your sprinkles, icing, and cookie cutters and let the creativity commence. 

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Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

Credit: Southern Living

Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies Recipe

These sweet little cookies make an adorable topper for our Best White Cake recipe along with a few rosemary trees. While you’ll only need a few for the top of the cake, the recipe leaves you with plenty more for Christmas cookie exchanges or Santa. We picked a few of our favorite cookie cutters: doe, cabin, and a car, but you can pick any shape you want. Decorate them simply with a few dots of royal icing, or get creative with sprinkles and frosting. 

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Eggnog Cookies

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke

Eggnog Cookies Recipe

Picky eater? No problem. Even if you don't love eggnog, you'll love this easy cookie. Whether you make it for Santa or for yourself (no judgment here), this festive recipe is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season. Though they're delicious without any bells and whistles, the boozy, four-ingredient Eggnog-Bourbon Buttercream is what truly makes these cookies shine. Want something with a bit more spice? Try these Chai Tea Eggnog Cookies next. 

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Salted Chocolate-Topped Shortbread

Credit: Greg DuPree

Salted Chocolate-Topped Shortbread Recipe

These whole-wheat cookies have the expected “short” texture of classic shortbread, plus an irresistible buttery flavor. Cultured butter is worth seeking out here; the richer flavor really comes through in a cookie like this where the butter is front and center. You can also use regular unsalted butter for a still delicious but slightly less complex flavor.

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Ginger Shortbread Cookies with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Ginger Shortbread Cookies with Lemon-Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Leap for Spring with 6-ingredient, Ginger Shortbread Cookies. Look for minced crystallized ginger at your local grocery on the bottled spice aisle.

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Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

Adults will love these elegant cookies, made with a touch of brandy. And they're great for a Hanukkah party.

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Pumpkin Pie Cutout Cookies

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Pumpkin Pie Cutout Cookies Recipe

Bake the cookies up to five days ahead, and store in an airtight container. To make our wind cookies and leaf cookies, we used round cutters and swirly piping to represent the wind, and various sizes of leaf-shaped cutters for fluttering foliage. For more on decorating cookies, visit southernliving.com/cookietips.

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Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies Recipe

Prep and Cook Time: about 1 1/2 hours, plus 5 hours to chill. Notes: Freeze the two-toned dough at the end of step 5 for up to two weeks or store baked cookies airtight for up to 2 days.

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Crunchy Frostbite Cookies

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Crunchy Frostbite Cookies Recipe

Dip one side of these crispy oatmeal cookies into melted white chocolate for a “frosted” effect.

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Classic Sugar Cookies

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Classic Sugar Cookies Recipe

Cut this dough into a variety of your favorite shapes. The dippable glaze will transform the cookies into works of art almost too pretty to eat.

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Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Sugar Cookie Cutouts Recipe

We think 1/8 inch is the perfect thickness for a crisp, buttery cookie, but this dough can be rolled to 1/4 inch thick if you prefer a soft texture.

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Sparkling Ornament Cookies

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Sparkling Ornament Cookies Recipe

These richly colored vanilla and almond-flavored cookies are perfect for little hands--the more sprinkles, the better!

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Five-Spice Cookies

Credit: Greg DuPree

Five-Spice Cookies Recipe

Look for five-spice powder on the spice aisle or with the Asian foods in your grocery store. We love the sparkle of sanding sugar used to coat the outside of the cookies; you’ll find it in craft stores. Supermarket turbinado works well, too.

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Gingerbread People

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Gingerbread People Recipe

For a whimsical presentation, arrange these cookies in a lunch box lined with colorful packing paper. Use a variety of cookie cutter sizes to create "families." If you don't want to cut the dough into shapes, roll it into two logs, cover, chill, and slice into 1/8-inch rounds. Refrigerate the dough up to three days, or freeze up to one month.

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Chocolate Cutout Cookies

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Chocolate Cutout Cookies Recipe

Cut-out cookies don't have to be vanilla. This year, try a deep, dark chocolate version. Dust your cutting board with cocoa powder to preserve the color and flavor.

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Cinnamon-Sugar Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor

Cinnamon-Sugar Cookies Recipe

Buttery and sweet with a hint of spice, these favorite cinnamon-sugar cookies, otherwise known as "snickerdoodles," are right for any occasion.

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Lemon-Frosted Sugar Cookies

Credit: BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER

Lemon-Frosted Sugar Cookies Recipe

You may want to start this recipe early in the day because the dough requires at least 4 hours to chill.

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Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Credit: Sheri Giblin; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Amy Stone

Classic Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

These gingerbread cookies are sweet and not too gingery- perfect for the kids and just how you remember them. This recipe is also great for gingerbread houses. Roll the dough 1/4" thick, cut out house, and bake at 325 until firm (about 20 minutes). Rotate the pan after 10 minutes and use bold molasses for even baking and optimal flavor.

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Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Chocolate Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

Take your favorite cookie and turn it into a big slice bar. This dough is perfect for baking in an 8-inch pan. These bars are still perfect for bake sales or cookie swaps. We topped these chocolate sugar cookie bars with a creamy frosting and a few sprinkles for a festive touch. Simply switch out the sprinkle color to make them work all year round. What makes this recipe so perfect? You can prepare the dough up to 2 days in advance and bake the bars when you’re ready. What else can you make with this Chocolate Sugar Cookie recipe? Try these creamy Chocolate Cookie Cups with Caramel Filling or these Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies topped with roasted marshmallows. 

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Sugar Cookie Mittens

Credit: Gooseberry Patch

Sugar Cookie Mittens Recipe

Cozy up with these fun and festive Sugar Cookie Mittens for the holiday season. Pour a glass of milk, pull up a seat by the fire, and prepare to indulge in a fabulous sweet treat.

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Orange Sugar Cookies With Orange-Cream Cheese Frosting

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Orange Sugar Cookies With Orange-Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Orange zest lends a delicate floral, citrus flavor to this delightfully crisp and light shortbread cookies. Finished with a vibrant orange and cream cheese frosting, they’re the perfect treat to deliver a taste of sunshine on a chilly winter day.

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Glazed Condensed Milk Cookies

Credit: Jessica Colyer; Styling: Jessica Colyer

Glazed Condensed Milk Cookies Recipe

Need to throw together a last minute treat? Make a batch of fluffy and buttery, cream cheese-glazed cookies using 1 whole (14-ounce) can of sweetened and just a handful of other staple ingredients you probably already have in the fridge and pantry. You will use 2/3 cup of the condensed milk in these melt-in-your-mouth cookies (which eliminates the need for additional sugar or eggs), then simply combine the rest of the can with softened cream cheese to create a tangy-sweet glaze. After you glaze the cookies and add sprinkles (if desired), leave them on the wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes so that the glaze can set so that you don't end up with a mess. 

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Iced Shortbread Cookies

Credit: Antonis Achilles; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos and Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

Iced Shortbread Cookies Recipe

These are perfect for the holidays because they are so versatile and make for a fun project with kids. 

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Scottish Shortbread

Credit: James Carrier

Scottish Shortbread Recipe

Tired of traditional Christmas cookies like sugar cookies and gingerbread?  This super simple Scottish shortbread is the perfect cookie to enjoy with family or give as as a gift.

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Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

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Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

This fabulous cookie requires only four ingredients, making these quite possibly the easiest peanut butter cookies ever! Most of these ingredients you probably already have on hand in your own kitchen, which makes whipping up a batch of these beauties a snap. The classic recipe requires no flour, which makes these cookies perfect for those looking for a gluten free dessert option. Be sure to press the tops of the cookies with a fork for that "classic peanut butter cookie" look! 

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Iced Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Iced Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies Recipe

Whole-wheat flour adds a layer of complexity to these cookies that all-purpose flour can't achieve; the wheat in the whole grain actually enhances the flavors of butter and vanilla. Unlike classic royal icing, which starts with a pound of powdered sugar, we use just 1/2 cup and thicken it with Greek yogurt. Looking for festive colors without the chemicals? Try naturally colored sparkling sugars (such as those from India Tree), which use colorants derived from plants.

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Oak Leaf Cookies

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Oak Leaf Cookies Recipe

A cookie cutter and some food coloring are all it takes to turn sugar cookie dough into oak leaves. Wear disposable gloves if you like to keep the food coloring from staining your hands.

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Chai Shortbread

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Chai Shortbread Recipe

A combination of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper gives these chai cookies a taste reminiscent of Indian spiced tea. The fine texture of powdered sugar helps them retain the characteristic shortbread crunch.

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Soft Sugar Cookie Trees

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Soft Sugar Cookie Trees Recipe

These tender cookies are even better when topped with cream cheese icing. Make the dough up to 2 days ahead. It will be easier to roll when it's very cold.

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Light Bulb Sugar Cookies

Credit: Greg DuPree

Light Bulb Sugar Cookies Recipe

These treats are as cute as can be, and their taste is just as memorable. Because they're made with sorghum syrup, ginger, vanilla, and cardamom, their flavor is a change of pace from the usual sugar cookies. Serve the light bulbs separately, or thread several of them on a decorative ribbon or string as a party favor or gift.

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Snowy Tree Cookies

Credit: Greg DuPree

Snowy Tree Cookies Recipe

To make these adorable 3-D trees, you’ll need star-shaped cookie cutters in six different sizes. (They are often sold in sets.) Be sure the cutouts are thoroughly chilled before going in the oven so they don’t spread too much while baking.

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Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

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Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies Recipe

This dough will work for slice-and-bake cookies or as a rolled dough for your favorite cookie cutters.

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Butter Shortbread

Credit: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker

Butter Shortbread Recipe

The rich butter flavor and crumbly texture of this cookie makes it a staple of holiday baking. Plus, it's very easy to make.

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Christmas Cutout Cookies

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke

Christmas Cutout Cookies Recipe

This is the perfect sugar cookie recipe for holiday baking; it's easy to make and a great way to get kids involved in the fun. 

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Chocolate Sugar Cookies