Christmas Cookies & Desserts: Sweet Traditions for the Holiday Season

Holiday baking represents one of the most cherished traditions of the Christmas season, filling homes with wonderful aromas, bringing generations together in the kitchen, and creating edible gifts that share love and sweetness with friends and family. This festive collection gathers recipes for all the cookies and desserts that define this special time of year. You'll find classics that appear on cookie platters year after year - buttery spritz cookies, fragrant gingerbread, rich chocolate crinkles, and delicate snowballs - alongside more elaborate creations perfect for centerpiece desserts and holiday entertaining. The collection includes both quick, make-ahead options ideal for busy holiday schedules and more intricate recipes perfect for afternoons devoted to the therapeutic pleasure of holiday baking. We've included guidance on creating beautiful cookie gift packages, organizing successful cookie exchanges, and adapting recipes for various dietary needs so everyone can participate in the seasonal sweetness. Whether you're maintaining long-standing family traditions or creating new ones, these recipes help make the Christmas season more delicious, more generous, and more connected to the people who matter most.

10 findings within this collection.
Refreshed on Sun, 09 Mar 2025 05:19:31 GMT

Christmas Cookies & Desserts

A variety of heart-shaped cookies decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles are arranged on a baking sheet.
Sugar Cookies for Cutting

Traditional sugar cookie cutouts with crispy edges and tender middles, perfect for topping with royal icing or buttercream. Great for holidays and celebrations.

A decorative pastry resembling a Christmas tree, dusted with powdered sugar, is prominently displayed with smaller similar pastries in the background.
Cinnamon Holiday Pastry Trees

Adorable tree-shaped treats crafted from flaky puff pastry layers with sweet cinnamon filling. A straightforward yet eye-catching holiday dessert.

Four glass dessert cups filled with layers of cream, raspberry jelly, cake crumbles, and topped with pomegranate seeds and mint leaves, dusted with powdered sugar.
Festive Mini Trifle Cups

Personal trifle servings with tasty cranberry jelly, soft cake pieces, smooth vanilla custard, and fluffy cream, finished with bright pomegranate seeds. A quick no-bake treat for the holidays.

A chocolate yule log cake dusted with powdered sugar sits on a white platter, surrounded by pine branches and red berries.
Festive Chocolate Roll

A holiday-themed chocolate roll stuffed with creamy mascarpone and wrapped in textured chocolate to mimic wood. Topped with frosted seasonal fruits.

A close-up of a square cake topped with powdered sugar, cut into four pieces and placed on parchment paper.
Festive Ginger Squares

Fudgy, moist squares packed with ginger, cinnamon, and sweet molasses giving a holiday spin on traditional brownies. Great for winter parties.

A pile of freshly baked ginger treats with creamy centers and one cookie with a bite missing, surrounded by more cookies.
Ginger Cookies with Cheesecake

Warm spiced ginger cookies hiding a rich cheesecake surprise, dusted with fragrant spiced sugar for an irresistible seasonal sweet.

A close-up of decorated gingerbread cookies in the shape of gingerbread men, featuring white icing details and powdered sugar.
Chewy Holiday Ginger Treats

Traditional ginger cookies that remain tender with a delightful mix of seasonal spices. Ideal for cutting into holiday shapes.

A plate of gorgeously decorated festive treats in different shapes, finished with bright sprinkles and icing, arranged on a holiday-themed background.
Festive Chocolate Cookie Shapes

Delicious chocolate spritz treats topped with sweet candy coating and colorful sprinkles. They'll brighten up any holiday dessert plate.

Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
Gingery Holiday Treats

Tender, aromatic ginger cookies with cracked sugar coating and festive holiday spices.

Raspberry Cookies
Raspberry Sugar Cookies

Super soft cookies dotted with real raspberries and sporting a natural pink hue from scratch-made raspberry reduction. These cookies have no gluten or eggs, can be tweaked for vegans, and stay wonderfully tender for several days.