45 Best Unique Christmas Cookies

1Cake Mix CookiesPHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Short for time on baking all of your holiday cookies this year? Think of these cake mix cookies as your magical helpers, here to save the day. These sprinkled cookies use vanilla cake mix to create the softest, fluffiest cookie you’ve ever had.

Get the Cake Mix Cookies recipe.

2Peppermint Snowball CookiesPHOTO: DANE TASHIMA; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBER

This holiday season, we challenge you to a snowball fight! Not with the actual cold stuff, of course, but with these pretty snow white cookies. Better eaten than thrown, these peppermint snowball cookies are similar to polvorones (AKA Mexican wedding cookies), but made Christmas-ready with a hit of peppermint extract.

Get the Peppermint Snowball Cookies recipe.

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3Panettone CookiesPHOTO; ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST; MAKINZE GORE

To think a fluffy, enriched bread like panettone can somehow translate into a buttery cookie might seem preposterous. But don’t stop reading! These cookie are the perfect base for the orange peel, currants, dried apricots, chocolate, and almonds you love about the original, with half the work.

Get the Panettone Cookies recipe.

4PfeffernüssePHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: DUNCAN FITZPATRICK

Barely crunchy on the outside and soft and almost-fudgy on the inside, our version of this German cookie also has a cardamom-flavored glaze. The addition of fresh ginger, orange zest, and rum gives these little bites a warm sweetness that blends well with the dark notes of molasses and black pepper.

Get the Pfeffernüsse recipe.

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5Santa’s Trash CookiesLindsay Conchar

Even Santa has a snacky side. These cookies are loaded with chocolate chips, sprinkles, pretzels, and potato chips for the salty-sweet dessert of your (and his!) dreams.

Get the Santa’s Trash Cookies recipe.

6Strawberry Love NotesPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

Sending sweet cards to loved ones shouldn’t just be for Valentine’s Day! These strawberry “love notes” are the perfect twist on letters to Santa, and will be a fun, unexpected treat in your holiday cookie exchange. Feel free to change up the jam if you like!

Get the Strawberry Love Notes recipe.

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7Potato Chip CookiesPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON8Cookie BrittlePHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Cookie brittle is a particularly great hack for the holidays or any time you’re entertaining when you don’t have time or the oven space to bake multiple trays too. Think of it like a faster, easier way to make a big batch of chocolate chip cookies. 😍

Get the Cookie Brittle recipe.

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9Kolaczki Cream Cheese CookiesPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: DUNCAN FITZPATRICK

Kolaczki cookies are Polish in origin, often made and eaten during the holidays. Some recipes use canned pie filling, though we opted for jam in this version. Use your favorite flavor; just make sure to dilute it with cornstarch and water so it doesn’t turn into hard candy during the bake.

Get the Kolaczki Cream Cheese Cookies recipe.

10Tiramisu Cookie CupsPhotographer: Erik Bernstein, Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne

Tiramisu is one of our favorite desserts, but the process of making it the traditional way requires a lot of work. This version takes out all the extra work without sacrificing flavor. Another perk: These cup-shaped cookies make it even easier to share and eat.

Get the Tiramisu Cookie Cups recipe.

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11SequilhosPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Delicate, buttery, and oh-so-easy-to-make, sequilhos are a household staple across Brazil. Made with a handful of ingredients like butter, cornstarch, and condensed milk, these meltaway cookies also come together in just one bowl.

Get the Sequilhos recipe.

12Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprint CookiesAndrew bui

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13Lace CookiesPHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: DUNCAN FITZPATRICK

These delicate little lace cookies—also known as Italian Florentine cookies—are so easy to make and a fun addition to your holiday cookie spread. They are shatteringly crispy and caramel-y with just enough flour and almonds to barely hold the cookies together.

Get the Lace Cookies recipe.

14Cannoli CookiesPHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: DREW AICHELE

If you love cannoli, but making them from scratch seems daunting, let us introduce you to these cookies. They all of the flavors you love in a cannoli, like ricotta, orange zest, mini chocolate chips, and pistachios, yet they require just a fraction of the effort (perfect for a busy holiday season!).

Get the Cannoli Cookies recipe.

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15Ube Crinkle CookiesPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: VICTORIA GRANOF

With its striking color and a unique nutty vanilla flavor profile, ube has taken over the world. Upgrade your average crinkle cookie this Christmas with ube extract and ube halaya, a popular Filipino pudding made with ube and condensed milk. Your guests won’t know what hit ’em!

Get the Ube Crinkle Cookies recipe.

16Sesame CookiesPHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Sesame’s nutty flavors can pack a bitter undertone, which is why these sesame cookies use licorice-like anise and bright citrus zest to neutralize the earthiness for a more balanced flavor. These not-too-sweet treats are great for adding variety to your holiday cookie boxes.

Get the Sesame Cookies recipe.

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17CuccidatiPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If Fig Newtons had a grown-up, glamorous sister, she would be cuccidati. Packed with a sticky-sweet, spiced fig filling and showered in rainbow sprinkles, these bite-sized Italian cookies are more than ready for a Christmas party.

Get the Cuccidati recipe.

18Brown Butter Snickerdoodle CookiesPHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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19Inside Out Red Velvet CookiesParker feierbach20Grinch CookiesAndrew Bui

Not everyone’s all about the Christmas cheer, and that’s okay! These adorable sugar cookies will warm hearts even if they’re 10 sizes too small this holiday season.

Get the Grinch Cookies recipe.

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