Each batch of these holiday cookies is baked with tradition, nostalgia, and a cause for celebration in mind. You’ll find cookies that hold up beautifully in a tin for gifting or mailing, and others that shine when served at home. Sturdy biscotti, jeweled rugelach, and citrus-scented shortbread sit alongside marbled millionaire bars, playful matcha butter cookies, and crinkles with an updated flavor profile. Whether you’re sending gifts, bringing a party platter, or simply making dessert, baking these cookie recipes will fill your kitchen with holiday spirit.
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Poppy Seed–Chocolate Rugelach Pinwheels
Eva Kolenko
A cream cheese–based rugelach dough is rolled around a swirl of citrusy poppy seed and shaved bittersweet chocolate filling. Instead of the traditional crescents, these cookies are sliced into pinwheels, an unexpected shape that still delivers the tender, flaky texture rugelach is known for. A sprinkle of crunchy golden sugar before baking gives them sparkle and plenty of holiday glitz.
Zimtsterne (German Cinnamon Star Cookies)
Eva Kolenko
You only need five ingredients for these cinnamon-spiced stars that are popular in Germany during the holiday season. The recipe from F&W’s Paige Grandjean yields a soft, chewy texture with a crunchy meringue topping.
Matcha-Butter Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell
Earthy matcha powder gives these cookies their natural holiday-green hue and delicate flavor. A drizzle of melted white chocolate adds a sweet note and festive highlights. The dough rolls and cuts easily into shapes — stars, trees, wreaths, and more — making these cookies versatile and eye-catching.
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Food & Wine / Photo by Brie Goldman / Food Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Natalie Ghazali
Make four dozen sugar cookies ahead and decorate for each occasion with this reliable recipe from The Cake Bible author Rose Levy Beranbaum. With a hint of citrus from lemon zest, they’re a sweet canvas for creativity, whatever you’re celebrating.
Spritz Cookies with Citrus Buttercream
Eva Kolenko
Tender, pressed butter cookies bake pale and delicate, with a buttery flavor that’s delicious on their own. A swirl of lemon–grenadine buttercream adds bright flavor and a soft pink hue, while silver and gold sprinkles give the cookies a glamorous holiday finish. Elegant yet playful, they’re just right for a festive cookie platter.
Thai Tea Crinkle Cookies
Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Ali Domrongchai
These chewy crinkles get their striking malty tea flavor and deep amber color from instant Thai tea powder and a hint of cardamom. Chilling the dough before baking encourages dramatic crevices, while a coating of powdered sugar highlights each crackle. A playful take on classic chocolate crinkles, this cookie works year-round and feels especially festive during the holidays.
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Food & Wine / Photo by Carson Downing / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Props Styling by Breanna Ghazali
Dutch-process cocoa makes these six-ingredient treats from 1996 F&W Best New Chef Maria Helm Sinskey rich and chocolatey. The crowd pleasers are ready in an hour and a half.
Thumbprint Molasses Cookies
Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser
Soft molasses cookies get the thumbprint treatment with warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Apricot, orange, raspberry, fig, or pear fruit jams contribute color and texture for an enticing addition to any spread.
Marranitos
Linda Xiao / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Also known as puerquitos and cochinitos, these soft and chewy pig-shaped treats are a tradition at Mexican bakeries that tastes like gingerbread.
Mandlebrot
Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Meaning “almond bread” in Yiddish, mandelbrot is a cousin of Italian biscotti and a traditional cookie offered during Hanukkah. Baked into an almond, dried fruit and coconut-studded loaf and then sliced and toasted until crisp, this cookie is perfect for serving with coffee or tea. These cookies store well and remain deeply flavorful, making them ideal for gifting or everyday snacking.
Cake Cookies
Photo by Jordan Provost / Food Styling by Thu Buser
These soft, tender cookies have a light, cakey crumb that pairs beautifully with a simple buttery chocolate frosting. Sour cream in the dough ensures the cookies stay moist and rich, while the frosting holds up well and can be made in advance for easy finishing. With their nostalgic flavor and make-ahead convenience, they’re a reliable choice for holiday baking and sharing.
White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Cookies with Dried Cherries
Emily Farris
Buttery drop cookies are loaded with creamy white chocolate, rich macadamias, and tart chopped cherries for sweet-tangy flavors and chewy texture. Their sturdiness makes them excellent candidates for packing into tins or gift bags.