126 holiday cookie recipes

Soft, buttery sugar cookies with a hint of lemon zest, made with both butter and oil for a tender crumb. Cream of tartar keeps them pillowy. A holiday cookie jar classic.

Lebkuchen (German honey cakes) blend honey, brown sugar, lemon, almonds, citron, and warm spices into a chewy spice cookie cut into fancy holiday shapes. Traditional Christmas cookie from Nuremberg.

Napoleon's Hat cookies are Scandinavian butter cookies shaped like tricorn hats with a ground almond meringue filling peeking from the top. A traditional Swedish holiday cookie.

Lemon blossom cookies are buttery thumbprint cookies made with lemon juice and powdered sugar, rolled in chopped nuts, and filled with fruit preserves or pecans. A classic holiday cookie tray staple.

Brown sugar raisin walnut drop cookies for the holiday cookie tin. All brown sugar (no white) for deep caramel chew, packed with raisins and walnuts in every bite. Three dozen from one bowl in twenty minutes.

Maria's Ischli cookies are Austrian sandwich cookies with ground hazelnuts or almonds, filled with raspberry jam and topped with chocolate icing. A classic European holiday cookie.

Cranberry drop cookies studded with chopped fresh cranberries and nuts, drizzled with a buttery orange glaze. A tart, festive holiday cookie with citrus frosting.

Pistachio and white chocolate cookies with brown sugar, butter-flavored shortening, and toasted pistachios. Chewy or crisp by choice, the classic holiday cookie tin upgrade.

Sirups kager are traditional Danish brown spice cookies made with dark corn syrup, cinnamon, and cloves. Crisp, warmly spiced, and ideal for holiday cookie tins and Christmas baking.

Melt-in-your-mouth butter pecan cookies dusted in powdered sugar. Just 5 ingredients, no eggs, and ready in 30 minutes. Shape them into crescents or balls for a snowy holiday cookie tray.

Checkerboard cookies with alternating chocolate and vanilla dough squares in a striking grid pattern. An impressive slice-and-bake cookie for holiday cookie tins and special occasions.

Hazelnut spritz cookies pressed into delicate rings, baked until pale gold, and dipped in dark chocolate. A European-style holiday cookie for cookie trays and gift tins.

Spiced pecan thumbprint cookies with cinnamon-scented dough and a glossy jam center. Buttery shortbread-style cookie with a nutty crunch, ready for the holiday cookie tin.

Cranberry-oatmeal cookies with chopped fresh cranberries, walnuts, warm spices, and a tangy orange icing drizzle. Chewy, tart-sweet, and built for the holiday cookie tin.

Glazed almond cookies rolled in sliced almonds, baked until golden, then drizzled or dipped in amaretto chocolate ganache. A festive nut cookie for cookie tins and holiday trays.

This gingery cookie is crisp and has a hint of orange flavor. It is ideal for gingerbread people or holiday cookie shapes.