Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • Well Done
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 1 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More Next
    • 2 The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More Next
    • 3 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More Next
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 45-Minute Recipes
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Kid Approved
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Cooking Questions
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
    • Videos
  • Extra Crispy
  • Well Done

    Well Done

    See All Well Done
    • Homemade vs. The Internet
    • How-to and Explainers
    • Mom vs.
    • Recipe Videos
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. The Holiday Table Chevron Right
  3. The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Cookies Chevron Right
  4. 103 Hottest Holiday Cookies

103 Hottest Holiday Cookies

By MyRecipes
Updated October 22, 2018
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Formula Z/S

Our top holiday cookies are gorgeous, delicious, and guaranteed show stoppers at any cookie swap or holiday party. Whip up a batch or two of these holiday cookies for teachers, hostess gifts, coworkers, or for your family to enjoy on a cozy night in. Drop cookies, meringues, traditional holiday cookies, cut outs, bars, balls, and bonbons all make their way into our top rated holiday cookie list, so browse, drool, and pick your favorite to bake this holiday season. Don't forget to pick a special one for Santa!

Start Slideshow

1 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Iced Sugar Cookies

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Sarah Smart

Iced Sugar Cookies Recipe

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

1 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Maple-Walnut Spice Cookies

Credit: Jan Smith

Maple-Walnut Spice Cookies Recipe

Spices like cloves and cinnamon balance with maple syrup to make a cookie that tastes like the holidays. Spread on some maple frosting and top with walnuts for a very special cookie.

2 of 103

3 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chai Tea Eggnog Cookies

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Caroline Murphey

Chai Tea Eggnog Cookies Recipe

Rich eggnog and spicy chai make the perfect pairing for this cookie. Use a little eggnog, powdered sugar, and nutmeg to make a simple glaze.

3 of 103

Advertisement

4 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies

Credit: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Lydia Degaris-Pursell

Autumn Maple Cutout Cookies Recipe

Maple syrup gives these cookies a subtle sweet flavor. Spice them up with cinnamon and nutmeg, and top with toasted walnuts.

4 of 103

5 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chocolate Chip Meringues

Credit: James Carrier

Chocolate Chip Meringues Recipe

Bite-sized frothy meringues studded with chocolate bits are a wonderful treat for this holiday season.

5 of 103

6 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Raspberry Linzer Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Raspberry Linzer Cookies Recipe

Crunchy almond cookies make a beautiful frame for sweet raspberry preserves. Dust with powdered sugar for a snowy holiday look.

6 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Orange-Walnut Tassies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Orange-Walnut Tassies Recipe

Flaky cream cheese dough makes the perfect nest for a sweet orange and walnut filling.

7 of 103

8 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Christmas Cookies 4 Ways

Christmas Cookies 4 Ways Recipe

Love having choices? Then this recipe is for you. Stick with classic sugar cookies, or add spices, lemon zest, or cocoa for fun variations. Cut the dough into lovely holiday shapes and decorate with Royal Icing for a truly original cookie.

8 of 103

9 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies Recipe

Rolling red and plain-colored dough gives these cookies their fun look. Sandwich them together with a layer of peppermint-cream cheese frosting.

9 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Toffee-Chocolate Chip Shortbread

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Lynn Miller

Toffee-Chocolate Chip Shortbread Recipe

Jazz up traditional shortbread with luscious bits of chocolate and salty toffee.

10 of 103

11 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Rocky Road Brownies

Credit: James Carrier

Rocky Road Brownies Recipe

Mini marshmallows melt into this walnut-topped brownie during baking, giving it a gooey, fudgy texture.

11 of 103

12 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chocolate Peppermint Patty Cookies

Credit: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker

Chocolate Peppermint Patty Cookies Recipe

Slather on the peppermint frosting when you make these cookie sandwiches and then roll the edges in crushed peppermint candy.

12 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Butterscotch Bars

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Butterscotch Bars Recipe

Condensed milk and butterscotch morsels melt together to make a gooey center for these streusel topped bars.

13 of 103

14 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies

Credit: William Dickey; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Fans of classic cookies will love these simple confections accented with dried cranberries and gooey white chocolate.

14 of 103

15 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chocolate Chip Blondies

Chocolate Chip Blondies Recipe

Put a twist on classic blondie bars by adding chocolate morsels and baking them in muffin tins.

15 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Louisiana Pecan Balls

Credit: Quentin Bacon

Louisiana Pecan Balls Recipe

These cookies are simple to make and ready in less than an hour. Dust with a little cinnamon or cocoa powder for a pretty presentation.

16 of 103

17 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Coconut-Cranberry Chews

Credit: James Carrier

Coconut-Cranberry Chews Recipe

We love the mix of coconut, red cranberries and zesty orange in these chewy delights.

17 of 103

18 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Hello Dolly Bars

Credit: Oxmoor House

Hello Dolly Bars Recipe

Also called Seven Layer Bars, this treat combines coconut, chocolate morsels, pecans, butterscotch bits and graham crackers into a sticky-sweet delight.

18 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Luscious Lemon Bars

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Kacy Carroll

Luscious Lemon Bars Recipe

A crumbly, butter cookie bottom is the perfect partner to smooth lemon filling and powdered sugar.

19 of 103

20 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies

Credit: Ralph Anderson; Mindi Shapiro Levine

Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

These reindeer come together in a snap when you use refrigerated cookie dough. Carefully break or cut pretzels for antlers and make Rudolph come to life with chocolate candies for eyes and a Red hot for his nose.

20 of 103

21 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Peppermint Bonbon Cookies

Peppermint Bonbon Cookies Recipe

This decadent holiday combination pairs a soft and chewy chocolate cookie with crunchy peppermint candy on top. These gems are great plain or try them with a double glaze.

21 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Salted Caramel Brownies

Credit: Francesco Tonelli; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite

Salted Caramel Brownies Recipe

With their rich, indulgent flavors, these layered brownies are a definite crowd-pleaser.

22 of 103

23 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches

Credit: Beatriz Da Costa

Pumpkin Cream Sandwiches Recipe

These moist pumpkin cookies are wonderful plain or sandwiched with cream cheese filling.

23 of 103

24 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Christmas Sugar Wafers with Vanilla Icing

Christmas Sugar Wafers with Vanilla Icing Recipe

Try a variety of cookie cutters for a beautifully festive presentation.

24 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

White Chocolate-Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

White Chocolate-Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies Recipe

Put a twist on classic oatmeal raisin cookies by adding white chocolate morsels and a bit of orange extract.

25 of 103

26 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Mashed banana adds rich flavor and moistness to these cookies.

26 of 103

27 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Cappuccino Blossoms

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Cappuccino Blossoms Recipe

These coffee and almond cookies topped with chocolate kisses are easy enough to make that your children can help you prepare them.

27 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Chocolate-Dipped Almond Meringues

Chocolate-Dipped Almond Meringues Recipe

Crispy, light almond meringues get a special touch when you dip them in semisweet chocolate.

28 of 103

29 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Buttery Lemon Squares

Credit: James Carrier

Buttery Lemon Squares Recipe

Bake up a dreamy lemon custard with a crumbly crust for a treat at your next holiday party.

29 of 103

30 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches

Credit: James Carrier

Raspberry Shortbread Sandwiches Recipe

Diamond-shaped cutouts add elegance to these beautiful jam-filled cookies.

30 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Hazelnut-Chocolate Biscotti

Credit: Ralph Anderson; William Dickey; Lisa Powell Bailey, Buffey Hargett; Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

Hazelnut-Chocolate Biscotti Recipe

This crunchy cookie gets its rich flavor from two kinds of chocolate candy bars and hazelnut liqueur.

31 of 103

32 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Brownie Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Brownie Cookies Recipe

You'll love how these scrumptious double-chocolate cookies are similar in texture to thick and fudgy brownies.

32 of 103

33 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Maple-Date Bars

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Maple-Date Bars Recipe

Two layers of crumbly oatmeal topping sandwich a layer of sweet dates in these super moist bars.

33 of 103

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

34 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email

Peppermint-topped Brownies

Credit: Leigh Beisch

Peppermint-topped Brownies Recipe

Get ready to indulge! These brownies have three decadent layers: moist brownie, chocolate ganache, and a beautiful layer of peppermint candy. Several reviewers recommended using WalMart’s candies, as they melt the best. If you don’t love peppermint, try topping the ganache with nuts, marshmallows, or coconut.

34 of 103

35 of 103

Save Pin
Facebook