14 Christmas Cookies That Make the Whole House Smell Like the Holidays

Is there anything better than walking into a kitchen that smells like butter, sugar and warm spice? Christmas cookies are more than a treat. They are the memory of flour on your sleeves, a stack of tins on the counter and the people you love sneaking one before dinner. We gathered the classic Christmas cookies families bake year after year, with simple recipes so you can start your own tradition tonight. Which one will make it into your tin first..

Decorated Christmas Cookies in a Gift Box

Every holiday cookie box needs a star, and these decorated Christmas cookies always steal the show. Soft vanilla cut outs become little trees, reindeer, snowflakes and candy canes with a bit of icing and a lot of love. They are the cookie kids remember decorating at the kitchen table for years. Do you go neat and perfect, or wild and colorful? Either way, nobody ever turns one down.

You will need: 3 cups flour, 1 cup soft butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, pinch of salt, 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, food coloring.

How to make it: Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, then add the egg and vanilla. Mix in the flour, baking powder and salt. Chill the dough for 1 hour. Roll it 1/4 inch thick and cut out shapes. Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes. Stir the powdered sugar and milk into a thick icing, tint it, and decorate the cooled cookies.

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Men

Nothing says Christmas cookies quite like a tray of gingerbread men with tiny icing smiles. The warm mix of ginger, cinnamon and molasses fills the whole house with a smell that feels like a hug. They stay soft in the middle with crisp little edges. Quick poll: do you bite the head first (A), the feet first (B), or the arms first (C)? Be honest!

You will need: 3 cups flour, 3/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup molasses, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon baking soda, pinch of salt.

How to make it: Cream the butter and brown sugar, then beat in the molasses and egg. Stir in the flour, spices, baking soda and salt. Chill for 2 hours. Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick and cut out the men. Bake at 350F for 8 to 9 minutes. Cool and decorate with white icing.

Jam Filled Linzer Christmas Cookies

Linzer cookies look like they came from a fancy European bakery, but they are easy to make at home. Two buttery almond cookies hug a layer of bright raspberry jam, and a little window on top lets the jam shine through like stained glass. A snowy dusting of powdered sugar finishes them. Would you fill yours with raspberry, apricot or strawberry jam?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup ground almonds, 1 cup butter, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, pinch of salt, 1/2 cup raspberry jam, powdered sugar.

How to make it: Beat the butter and sugar, then add the yolk and vanilla. Mix in the flour, almonds, cinnamon and salt. Chill 1 hour, roll thin and cut rounds. Cut a small window in half of them. Bake at 350F for 10 minutes. Spread jam on the solid cookies, dust the window tops with powdered sugar and press together.

Crunchy Almond Biscotti

Biscotti are the Christmas cookies grown ups secretly love the most. They are twice baked, so they turn wonderfully crisp and are made for dunking into hot coffee or cocoa on a cold morning. They also keep for weeks, which makes them perfect for gift tins and neighbor plates. Are you a dunker or a nibbler? Tell us how you eat yours.

You will need: 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, 1 teaspoon baking powder, pinch of salt, 1 cup whole almonds.

How to make it: Whisk the eggs, sugar and extracts. Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt, then fold in the almonds. Shape into two long logs on a lined pan. Bake at 350F for 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, slice on an angle and lay the slices flat. Bake 10 more minutes per side until crisp.

Soft Cinnamon Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles are the cozy sweater of Christmas cookies. Soft, chewy and rolled in cinnamon sugar, they taste like the inside of a cinnamon roll in cookie form. The little tang from cream of tartar is what makes them special, so do not skip it. These tend to vanish from the cooling rack before they ever make it to a plate. Who in your family always grabs one first?

You will need: 2 3/4 cups flour, 1 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, pinch of salt, 3 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon.

How to make it: Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in the eggs. Stir in the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Roll the dough into balls and coat them in cinnamon sugar. Bake at 375F for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges set but the centers look soft.

Vanilla Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies

Pinwheel cookies look like a magic trick, but the secret is just two doughs rolled up together. Every slice reveals a perfect swirl of vanilla and chocolate that makes any cookie tray look professional. They are slice and bake friendly, so you can keep a log in the freezer all December. Be honest, would you rather eat them or just stare at those swirls?

You will need: 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, pinch of salt, 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon milk.

How to make it: Make a basic butter dough, then split it in half. Knead the cocoa and milk into one half. Roll each half into a rectangle between parchment. Stack the chocolate on the vanilla and roll it up tightly. Chill 2 hours, slice 1/4 inch thick, and bake at 350F for 9 to 11 minutes.

Eggnog Star Christmas Cookies

If you love eggnog, these star shaped Christmas cookies are calling your name. A splash of eggnog and a pinch of nutmeg turn simple sugar cookies into something that tastes just like the holidays. A thin glaze with festive sprinkles makes them sparkle on the platter. Quick poll: eggnog, yes please (A), only in cookies (B), or never ever (C)?

You will need: 2 3/4 cups flour, 1 cup butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1/4 cup eggnog, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon baking powder, pinch of salt, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons eggnog for glaze, sprinkles.

How to make it: Beat the butter and sugar, then add the egg and eggnog. Mix in the flour, nutmeg, baking powder and salt. Chill 1 hour, roll out and cut stars. Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes. Whisk the powdered sugar with eggnog, spread on the cooled stars and add sprinkles.

Melt in Your Mouth Spritz Cookies

Spritz cookies are the tiny buttery swirls that grandmas everywhere made with a cookie press. They melt on your tongue and look so pretty piped into rosettes, wreaths and little trees. No cookie press? A piping bag with a star tip works beautifully too. Did someone in your family own a cookie press? We bet it still lives in a kitchen drawer somewhere.

You will need: 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup soft butter, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, pinch of salt, colored sugar.

How to make it: Beat the butter and sugar until very light. Add the yolk and extracts, then mix in the flour and salt. Do not chill the dough. Load it into a cookie press or piping bag with a star tip. Pipe shapes onto an ungreased pan, sprinkle with colored sugar, and bake at 375F for 7 to 9 minutes.

Three Ingredient Scottish Shortbread

Sometimes the best Christmas cookies are the simplest. Classic shortbread needs only butter, sugar and flour, yet it tastes rich, tender and a little bit fancy. A sprinkle of sparkling sugar on top makes it feel extra festive. Because the recipe is so short, use the best butter you can find. Could you stop at just one piece? We definitely cannot.

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup good salted butter at room temperature, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, coarse sparkling sugar for the top.

How to make it: Beat the butter and powdered sugar until creamy. Mix in the flour until a soft dough forms. Press or roll it 1/2 inch thick and cut into shapes. Sprinkle with sparkling sugar and chill 20 minutes. Bake at 325F for 18 to 22 minutes, until just pale golden at the edges.

Pecan Snowball Christmas Cookies

These little snowball cookies look like they rolled in fresh snow. Buttery and nutty inside, they are coated twice in powdered sugar so they stay white and pretty on the tray. Some families call them Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies, but everyone agrees they disappear fast. What do you call them in your house? Tell us below!

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar plus more for rolling, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup finely chopped pecans, pinch of salt.

How to make it: Cream the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in the flour, pecans and salt. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a lined pan. Bake at 350F for 12 to 14 minutes. Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar, let them cool, then roll them again for a snowy finish.

Peppermint Christmas Cookies With Chocolate Chips

What happens when your favorite chocolate chip cookie goes to a Christmas party? It comes back with crushed candy canes and a cool hint of peppermint. These are chewy, chocolatey and fresh all at once, and the pink candy bits make them look festive without any decorating. Quick poll: mint and chocolate, love it (A), not for me (B), or only at Christmas (C)?

You will need: 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, 1 teaspoon baking soda, pinch of salt, 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips, 1/2 cup crushed candy canes.

How to make it: Cream the butter and sugars, then beat in the eggs and extracts. Mix in the flour, baking soda and salt. Fold in the chocolate chips and most of the candy canes. Scoop onto a pan, press the rest of the candy on top, and bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes.

Bright Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Not every Christmas cookie has to be chocolate or spice. Lemon crinkle cookies bring a burst of sunshine to the holiday tray with their soft, zesty centers and snowy cracked tops. They balance all the rich treats beautifully and are always the surprise favorite. Are you team lemon or team chocolate when it comes to cookies?

You will need: 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, zest of 2 lemons, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, pinch of salt, powdered sugar for rolling.

How to make it: Beat the butter, sugar and lemon zest until fluffy. Add the egg and lemon juice. Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Chill 30 minutes. Roll into balls, coat thickly in powdered sugar, and bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes until cracked on top.

No Bake Chocolate Rum Balls

Short on oven space? These no bake rum balls are a holiday lifesaver. Crushed cookies, cocoa and chopped nuts are rolled into rich little truffles with a grown up splash of rum. They actually taste better after a day or two in the fridge, so make them early. For a family friendly batch, simply swap the rum for orange juice.

You will need: 2 1/2 cups crushed vanilla wafers, 1 cup finely chopped walnuts, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons honey, 1/3 cup dark rum or orange juice, extra cocoa or sprinkles for rolling.

How to make it: Mix the crushed wafers, walnuts, powdered sugar and cocoa in a bowl. Stir in the honey and rum until the mixture holds together. Roll into 1 inch balls. Coat them in cocoa, powdered sugar or sprinkles. Store in a sealed tin in the fridge for at least one day before serving.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Red cranberries and creamy white chocolate make these the most festive looking Christmas cookies on the table. They are soft and chewy with a little tart pop in every bite. They are also a great last minute bake because there is no chilling or rolling needed. Want even more ideas? Try our cookie recipes everyone should bake at least once. Which cookie from this list are you baking first this year? Tell us in the comments!

You will need: 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 teaspoon baking soda, pinch of salt, 1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup white chocolate chips.

How to make it: Cream the butter and both sugars, then beat in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the flour, baking soda and salt. Fold in the cranberries and white chocolate chips. Scoop onto a lined pan and bake at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden at the edges. Cool on the pan 5 minutes.