The Best Christmas Cookies to Make for Santa This Year

Basic Gingerbread Cookies

This gingerbread recipe is dependable and straightforward, and you can use it to make cutout cookies in any shape. Snowflakes, girls and boys, bells, houses, trees—anything goes.

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02 of 15

Coconut-Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies

christmas pinwheel cookies birds-eye view — Bryan Gardner

The chocolate filling rolled into these chewy Christmas pinwheel cookies creates a beautiful, brownie-like swirl that's completely irresistible.

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03 of 15

Russian Tea Cakes

Rolling these classic Christmas cookies in powdered sugar twice—once while they're still warm and again when they're completely cooled—ensures maximum snowball effect.

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04 of 15

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Everyone (and we're pretty sure that extends to Santa) loves a chocolate chip cookie. And this version—which is made in the soft and chewy style—delivers both the nostalgia of childhood and the satisfying, grown-up flavors of dark chocolate.

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05 of 15

Shaped Icebox Cookies

Here's a customizable shortbread cookie that's basically a homemade version of slice and bake. Here are a few of our favorite ingredient combinations: toasted blanched almonds and dried cherries; dried cranberries and chopped candied orange peel; and dried apricots and pistachios.

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06 of 15

Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies

Indulge in this version of the minty classic, with a holiday-inspired topping of crushed red-and-white candies.

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07 of 15

Thumbprint Cookies

A signature Christmastime sweet, these tiny almond-flavored cookies bear the print of the baker's thumb, which is gently pressed into the partially baked cookie to create a well.

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08 of 15

Snickerdoodles

It doesn't get more classic than this cinnamon-sugar cookie. Pro tip: Give them ample room on cookie sheets, as they spread a lot as they bake.

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09 of 15

Chocolate Spice Cookies

This recipe starts with a delicious ginger-spiced dough that you can take in one of two directions: emboss the dough with a cookie stamp and brush it with an orange-butter glaze; or (the more Santa-friendly option) omit the cocoa powder, swap in chocolate chunks, and roll the cookies in sanding sugar for sweet sparkle.

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10 of 15

Cocoa Shortbread Diamonds

These cookies are perfect alongside a glass of milk. To decorate them, use a spoon to drizzle the melted white chocolate (a resealable plastic bag with a corner snipped off works too).

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11 of 15

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

You can make these cookies two ways: either cut out circles using a cookie cutter and edge them in sanding sugar; or shape the dough into a log, coat it in sugar, and then chill, slice, and bake.

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12 of 15

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

These are the quintessential sweet-and-salty Christmas treat, combining a chocolate kiss with a peanut butter cookie. And we're pretty sure Santa will view these as we do: a two for one (candy plus cookie!).

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Snowmen Shortbread Cookies

Almond extract and ground almonds infuse a nutty flavor and texture to basic shortbread dough. Roll it out and cut into jaunty snowman shapes. A generous coat of confectioners' sugar is all each snowman needs to wear.

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Christmas Tree Cookies

You'll have fun tinting the Vanilla Cookie Dough two different colors to create these cutout cookies for Santa.

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Cookie Press Cookies

Rich, buttery, and made with lots of vanilla, these cookies are easy to make and to decorate. Use a cookie press—a cylinder fitted with a decorative nozzle at one end and a plunger at the other—to press the cookies directly onto the baking sheet.

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