The holiday season is packed full of nostalgia. Most of our holiday activities center around traditions that we’ve practiced for ages—whether that means going to the Christmas tree farm the day after Thanksgiving, stewing up a big batch of Nana’s slow-cooker hot cocoa, or hanging our cherished pass-down ornaments on the tree. If you’re in the spirit to channel the Christmases of your childhood, the kitchen is the best place to start.
While some vintage Christmas recipes may not be worth reviving—we probably will not be baking a big batch of fruit cake this year—you really can’t go wrong with vintage Christmas cookies. We’ve collected some of our favorite cookie recipes from years past to help you capture the merriment of Grandma’s kitchen. Package these cute cookies in vintage cookie tins and deliver them to friends, family, neighbors, or any other loved ones to share the festive spirit.
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
These chewy, brownie-like sweets capture everything you love about a piping cup of hot chocolate—down to the meltymarshmallow plopped on top.
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Instead of going heavy on the cinnamon like classic snickerdoodles, we added in nutmeg to infuse eggnog flavor into these buttery favorites! Drizzled with white chocolate for an extra touch of sweetness, these are sure to be a hit at the cookie swap.
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia PursellRating
These red and green slice-and-bake cookies are as festive as a Christmas tree and would make a pretty addition to cookie tins and plates.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies have long been a Christmas cookie tin (and year-round) staple, but this chocolate twist on the classic can help you mix things up this holiday season. Opt for colorful sprinkles instead of sugar on the outside for an extra festive touch.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Nutty, buttery, and satisfyingly crumbly, these are the kind of cookies grandma always had on hand. Learn to make this classic recipe yourself, so you can have them any time.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Originating in Germany and Scandinavia in the 16th century, these simple cookie-press creations will be your kids’ new favorite cookie.
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
With bright, translucent centers made from melted hard candies, these colorful sugar cookies resemble the panes of a vintage cathedral window.
Emily Laurae/Southern Living
Making homemade Pecan Pralines may take a few tries, but once you get it right, you’ll be making these candies every season.
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
If a tray of these was not at your grandmother’s house during the holidays, we’d be surprised. They are nostalgic and classic, everything you want from a vintage cookie recipe.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Buttery and festive, these shortbread cookies are a great to keep frozen and bake a batch as needed.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
With just the right amount of booze, these seemingly snowy treats will warm you up during the colder months.
Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
The delicate cookies are a holiday favorite because a small amount of dough bakes up into more than 3 dozen cookies—or 20 sandwich cookies if you put a little Nutella or chocolate between them.
Hector Sanchez
Packed full of pecans and pops of cranberry, then drizzled with a thick sheen of chocolate, these substantial bites of shortbread will be a hit at any cookie swap.
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Laura Bush’s recipe for Cowboy Cookies first rose to prominence in the 2000 presidential bake-off, and they’ve since been a staple in kitchens around the country.
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
Crumbly sugar cookies get frosted with sweet buttercream to create these fabulously festive cookies.
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss
This 1966 reader recipe features melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, flaked coconut, milk chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, sweetened condensed milk, and chopped pecans. So yes, they are the cookies of our dreams.
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley
Rolled in crunchy pecans, these decadent Bourbon Balls complete any Southern dessert spread.
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
You grew up baking these cookies with Grandma, and they’re not going out of style any time soon.
Micah A. Leal
If this chocolate chip cookie recipe is good enough for Barbara Bush, it’s certainly good enough for us.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
These little cups of pecan-pie goodness will have all your guests singing their praises.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Packed with 2 cups of finely chopped pecans, these cookies are so decadently nutty and utterly Southern.
Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living
These Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies have been there for us through many last-minute bake-sales and cookie swaps.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel
Who said candy-making has to be difficult? While we do recommend using a candy thermometer to make sure the texture of your candy comes out right, the process of making divinity candy is very straightforward.
Caitlin Bensel
Extra-fluffy on the inside and topped with a glossy maraschino cherry, these cookies deliver all the flavor of cheesecake in a bite-sized portion.
Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller
Fudgy, crunchy, and chewy, these deeply chocolate-flavored cookies are perfect for the holidays.