From family, friends, and co-workers, to neighbors and even strangers, everyone enjoys a festive treat around the holidays. There’s no better way to spread some holiday cheer than with a decorative holiday cookie plate.
Whether you’re baking them to give as a gift to a loved one or taking them to your next holiday gathering, a beautiful assortment of Christmas cookies is the perfect way to wish someone a merry Christmas or happy holidays. Here are 12 five-star Christmas cookie recipes that are perfect for your next holiday cookie plate.
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Credit:
Greg DuPree; Food Stylists: Emily Nabors Hall and Sally McKay; Prop Stylist: Lindsey Ellis Beatty
Inspired by the beautiful doors that line Charleston, South Carolina’s streets, these Holiday Door Sugar Cookies will be a standout on your cookie plate. With a basic sugar cookie recipe and an easy, whisk-together icing, these sugar cookies are super easy and require just a little bit of patience to decorate.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Everyone loves the look and taste of a crinkle cookie, especially if it involves chocolate. This Chocolate Crinkle Cookie is a classic: chewy and chocolatey on the inside and crinkly on the outside.
Credit:
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
While these may not be a regular on your holiday cookie plates now, these Hot Cocoa Cookies just might become your new favorite. A brownie-like cookie, warm out of the oven, is topped with chocolate chips and a marshmallow that practically melts as the cookies cool. These indulgent treats will warm you right up just like a mug of your favorite hot chocolate.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Who doesn’t love a soft, buttery thumbprint cookie filled with their favorite jam or filling? These easy thumbprints are versatile and simple, making them the perfect addition to your cookie plate.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Red is a signature color around the holidays, so these Red Velvet Cookies will fit in perfectly on your holiday cookie plate. The chunks of white chocolate are the star of this recipe, adding the perfect amount of sweetness to each bite.
Credit:
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
These adorable mitten cookies are a fun way to do Christmas cutouts. A classic vanilla cookie with a hint of almond, mitten cookies are prized for their bright red and green hues, making them the perfect pop of color on your plate.
Credit:
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
Everyone loves a soft sugar cookie that practically melts in your mouth. Not only are these sugar cookies delicious, but their bright, vibrant colors make them a standout around the holidays.
Credit:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
These rich, nutty cookies will round out any cookie plate. Their powdered-sugar-covered, spherical shape makes them a staple of assorted cookie trays. Buttery, soft, and twice-coated in powdered sugar, there’s nothing better than a Pecan Snowball Cookie at Christmas time.
Credit:
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
These Cornflake Wreath Christmas Cookies are so cute and will add a little extra cheer to your holiday table. All that’s needed for these no-bake cookies is a few simple ingredients, and you’re ready to start shaping and decorating.
Credit:
Jessica Furniss
Don’t let the name deceive you; these Smashed Sugar Cookies are just as beautiful as they are delicious. The sour cream really makes the icing, creating a creamy, tangy flavor you’ll crave all holiday season long.
Credit:
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Celebrate the flavor of a classic holiday treat in a bite-sized form. Even if you don’t consider yourself a fruitcake fan, these cookies will convert you with their chewy texture and sweet, spiced sugar cookie dough.
Credit:
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
A classic cookie around the holidays, gingerbread men are a must on holiday cookie plates. With their adorable shapes and personalities, gingerbread men are a fun treat to decorate with the whole family.
Dining and Cooking