How delightful it is that the holiday season has finally arrived! Everything seems a bit sparkler during this wonderful season, and the aroma of seasonal ingredients permeates the air, and setting the perfect scene for festive gatherings. Yes, we are discussing Christmas, which is considered as one of the most famous festivals celebrated globally.
It’s not just about the sparkling lights and beautiful decorations—this is a time of love, joy, and, of course, an array of delicious treats! The rich flavors of Christmas cakes, traditional dishes, and satisfying crunch of freshly baked cookies add a sensory experience to the holiday table. A platter of delectable cookies is a must-have for Christmas celebration, and there’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, delicious cookie straight out of the oven. These sweet treats add an essential touch to the season’s festivities, if you’re exploring Christmas village places, enjoying a slice of decadent Christmas cake, hosting a themed festive party, partaking in games and activities, or simply savoring your favorite holiday cocktails.
Are you ready to savor a festive feast of the top 10 best Christmas cookies? From rich chocolate crinkles to traditional gingerbread cookies that capture the essence of the holiday spirit, these mouthwatering creations are the perfect addition to your holiday baking repertoire. So, grab a glass of cold milk and get ready to indulge in some seriously delicious cookie goodness!
- Gingerbread Men Cookies
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Peanut Butter Blossom
- Buttery Spritz Cookies
- Best Sugar Cookies
- Thumbprint Cookies
- Linzer Cookies
- Stained Glass Cookies
- Reindeer Cookies
- Candy Cane Cookies
- Bonus- Lemon Snowdrops
- Bonus- Peanut Butter Balls (buckeyes)
1. Gingerbread Men Cookies:
Gingerbread men cookies are a timeless tradition that deserves to be at the top of the list of the best Christmas cookies. Both children and adults enjoy these classic cookies since they are not only delicious to eat but also fun to decorate.
To begin making the ideal gingerbread men cookies, combine the following ingredients in a mixing bowl: flour, baking soda, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Mix together the egg, brown sugar, butter and molasses in a separate bowl until the consistency is light and smooth. Gradually mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until well combined. Chill the dough for at least an hour, then roll it out and shape it into gingerbread men and bake them until they are evenly browned. Once they’ve cooled, you can have fun decorating them with chocolate chips, candies, or icing to make each cookie express your own festive flair.
2. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies:
A timeless and classic dessert, chocolate crinkle cookies are renowned for their rich chocolate flavor and distinctive crinkled look, which mimics a snowy winter environment.
To begin, combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, beat the vegetable oil and granulated sugar until light and frothy, and then add the eggs and vanilla extract. To create sticky dough, gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ones. For easier handling, cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator. The dough should be rolled into little balls and thoroughly coated with powdered sugar before baking; this will give the dough its distinctive cracked look as it expands in the oven. Bake the cookies until they are set but still soft in the center, giving them a fudgy texture that goes well with hot cocoa or a glass of milk. These luscious cookies will wow your guests and add a little sweetness to any festive occasion.
3. Peanut Butter Blossom:
The Peanut Butter Blossom is a famous and easy-to-make Christmas cookie that deserves a place on every platter of festive treats. These cookies, which are well-known for their delicious blend of a rich chocolate Hershey’s Kiss on top of a soft, chewy peanut butter base, demonstrate the ideal harmony of flavors and textures.
To prepare these delicious cookies, begin by beating together flour, butter, brown and white sugars, a pinch of salt, baking soda, and, of course, peanut butter. After the dough is ready, it is formed into little balls, dusted with sugar or festive-colored sugar, and baked until it turns a light golden color. When the cookies are removed from the oven and a Hershey’s Kiss is delicately pushed into the middle of each one, forming the recognizable “blossom” shape. Try these cookies this Christmas season, and you’ll see how quickly they disappear!
4. Buttery Spritz Cookies:
Nothing compares to the allure of buttery spritz cookies when it comes to Christmas baking. These cookies are a favorite classic in many homes during the Christmas season because of their delicious texture and lovely shapes.
These sweet treats are made by mixing butter, sugar, salt, egg, flour, and a small amount of vanilla extract, food coloring, and a dash of almond extract (for a nutty undertone) to make a smooth dough. Use a cookie press to make these delightful treats in their iconic shapes. Your holiday spread will seem more festive if you use this press to mold these cookies into wreaths, trees, or stars. After being loaded, the dough is extruded onto a baking sheet and baked until it turns golden brown. To make butter spritz cookies even more festive and eye-catching, you may decorate them with festive toppings like colored sugars, sprinkles, or even a chocolate drizzle.
5. Best Sugar Cookies:
Sugar cookies are consistently a popular choice during holiday celebrations due to their sweetness and versatility.
To begin, mix together the flour, eggs, butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract until smooth dough is formed. The proper proportion of ingredients and meticulous attention to detail when combining and rolling out the dough are essential for creating the ideal sugar cookie. Once the dough is flattened out, use festive cookie cutters to mold it into traditional holiday shapes like snowflakes, Christmas trees, stars, and snowmen, then bake it until it is golden brown. Sugar cookies provide a plethora of options for imaginative decorating with royal icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter to make them look even more stunning.
6. Thumbprint Cookies:
Thumbprint cookies are frequently one of the most popular holiday baking recipes during the Christmas season. With their buttery base and delicious jam filling, they offer a delightful twist to the classic Christmas cookie selection.
To begin, first mix together butter, sugar, salt, egg yolks, and vanilla extract. Add flour a little at a time until the dough is smooth. Then, shape the dough into small balls on a baking sheet and create an indentation in the middle of each cookie using a spoon or your thumb. It is recommended to chill the dough for at least half an hour prior to baking in order to achieve the best possible flavor and texture. Before baking to golden perfection, fill the spaces with your preferred chocolate ganache, jelly, or jams. Strawberry, apricot, blackberry, and raspberry jams are popular choices that add a pop of color and taste.
7. Linzer Cookies:
It can be difficult to choose the best Christmas cookies from a wide variety of options available. However, the Linzer cookie has secured a spot in the prestigious top 10 list of the best Christmas cookies. These cookies are famous for their distinctive sandwich-style structure, which consists of two soft, buttery layers that encase a rich jam filling.
It is made by first combining butter, sugar, and almond flour until they are creamy. Next, add all-purpose flour, salt, a dash of cinnamon, and vanilla extract until smooth dough is formed. The dough is properly combined, chilled until it reaches the ideal consistency, and then rolled out and cut with decorative cookie cutters to create the iconic look of Linzer cookies. It should be divided into two parts: a piece with decorative cutouts for the top layer and a solid piece for the bottom. Once baked, spread apricot or raspberry jam on the bottom layer, and then place the cutout piece on top to create a peek-through design. To finish these sophisticated touches, sprinkle with powdered sugar on top. Linzer cookies are incredibly adaptable and may be adorned with various jams and even chocolate fillings to create a modern twist on this classic.
8. Stained Glass Cookies:
A sophisticated and lovely complement to any Christmas cookie platter is stained glass cookies.
First, create the dough by mixing egg, sugar, softened butter and vanilla extract. In another bowl, whisk together cornstarch, all-purpose flour, and a touch of salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture gradually until a smooth dough forms. To create a stained glass effect, roll the dough to your preferred thickness, cut it into festive shapes, and carefully fill a cutout in the center with crushed candies before baking. The candies will melt during baking, producing a stunning and translucent window appearance. The cookies become ideal for the holiday season after they have cooled down. They can then be packaged as gifts or used as Christmas tree decorations.
9. Reindeer Cookies:
Among the many delicious options, reindeer cookies are a particularly entertaining and whimsical option that appeals to both kids and adults.
To make these cute reindeer cookies, start by combining sugar, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. In separate bowl, whisk together unsalted butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract. The wet mixture should be gradually combined with the dry ones until a smooth dough forms. When the dough is prepared, roll it out into rounds and bake it until it turns brown or lightly golden. To transform plain cookies into amusing reindeer, gently insert a red M&M for the nose, two mini chocolate chips for the eyes, and two pretzels for the antlers on top of each ball.
10. Candy Cane Cookies:
Candy cane cookies stand out as a tasty and festive option among the many cookie varieties. The delightful combination of vanilla and peppermint flavors, along with the eye-catching red and white color scheme, truly captures the essence of the holiday season.
The first step in making these delectable cookies is to whisk together sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, and peppermint extract (for a minty taste) until a smooth dough forms. Split the dough in half, then dye one half red with food coloring and leave the other half plain to create the classic candy cane pattern. To make the familiar spiral design, roll both parts into ropes and twist them together with the same length and thickness. Bake these cookies until the edges are just beginning to turn brown, and then allow them to cool before eating. Adding a dash of crushed candy canes or a drizzle of white chocolate can elevate the taste and presentation of these delightful cookies for an extra finishing touch.
11. Bonus- Lemon Snowdrop Cookies:
Lemon snowdrop cookies are a great choice among the top 10 best Christmas cookies. These zesty delights add a burst of flavor with every bite, offering a tangy twist on the classic Christmas cookie repertoire.
Key ingredients for these delicious delights include butter, flour, powdered sugar, salt, lemon juice, vanilla extract and fresh lemon zest. To prepare, simply whisk these ingredients together until a smooth dough forms, then roll into small balls and bake until the edges just start to turn golden. Once baked, dust the cookies with powdered sugar to give them a snowy appearance that complements their citrus flavor.
12. Bonus- Peanut Butter Balls (buckeyes):
Classic holiday treats such as peanut butter ball cookies are always a hit due to their delightful mixture of creamy peanut butter and luscious chocolate.
To prepare these decadent cookies, start by mixing smooth peanut butter, vanilla extract, and butter. Gradually blend in powdered sugar until the mixture forms a dough-like consistency, and then shape the dough into small balls. To prepare the peanut butter balls, it is recommended to chill them until they have solidified. Once they are firm, carefully dip each ball into melted chocolate before placing them back on a baking sheet to allow the chocolate to set. To enhance the presentation, you can sprinkle chopped peanuts or festive sprinkles over the chocolate before it completely hardens.
To wrap it up:
What really makes the holidays so wonderful is the delight of making and sharing these goodies with loved ones. Every cookie has a special place in the hearts of many people during this joyous season, whether it’s because of the pleasure of a rich chocolate delicacy or the nostalgic memories connected to a particular cookie. Which is your favorite of these amazing Christmas cookies? Share your thoughts in the comments below. May your holidays be as delightful as the sweets you enjoy! Happy baking!
