5 Must-Make Holiday Cookie Recipes

The most wonderful time of the year is here! And, believe it or not, 93% of Americans bake cookies during the holiday season. We're here to help you make your holidays even sweeter with these five delicious Christmas cookie recipes. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients 

• 3 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 tsp baking soda 
• 1 tsp sea salt 
• ½ tsp baking powder 
• 1 cup salted butter, softened 
• 1 cup granulated sugar  
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed  
• 2 large eggs 
• 2 tsp vanilla extract 
• 2 cups chocolate chips  

Directions  

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 
2. In a small bowl, mix flour, baking soda, sea salt, and baking powder. Set aside.  
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract until fluffy. 
4. Mix in dry ingredients until well combined.   
5. Stir in chocolate chips.  
6. Roll 2-3 tablespoons of dough into balls and place them evenly on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.  
7. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes, removing them from oven when they just barely begin to turn brown.  
8. Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.   

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients 

Cookies 

• 1 stick butter 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 egg 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 Tbsp whipping cream 
• 2 cups flour, sifted 
• ½ tsp baking powder 
• ½ tsp salt 

Icing  

• 8 oz cream cheese 
• 1 stick butter 
• 1 lb powdered sugar  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
2. Make the cookies by blending the butter, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and whipping cream in a bowl. Add dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Refrigerate cookie dough for 1 hour.  
3. Roll out the cookie dough and cut with cookie cutters. 
4. Bake for 7-10 minutes and let cool. 
5. Meanwhile, make the icing by mixing all icing ingredients until well blended.  
6. Ice cookies and enjoy.  

There's nothing better than whipping up a scrumptious batch of Christmas cookies. However, it's important to practice food safety. Check out these food safety tips now. 

Ricotta Cheese Cookie Recipe

Ingredients  

• 2 cups sugar  
• 2 sticks butter, softened  
• 15 oz ricotta cheese  
• 2 tsp vanilla extract  
• 2 large eggs  
• 4 cups flour  
• 2 Tbsp baking powder  
• 1 tsp salt  
• 1½ cups powdered sugar  
• 3 Tbsp milk  
• lemon juice (to taste) 
• sprinkles (for garnish)  

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  
2. Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed. Increase speed to high, then beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.  
3. Reduce speed to medium and mix in ricotta, vanilla extract, and eggs until well combined.  
4. Reduce speed to low and add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until dough forms. 
5. Drop small portions of the dough onto a large ungreased cookie sheet.  
6. Bake for about 15 minutes or until cookies are lightly golden. 
7. Remove cookies and cool on a wire rack.  
8. While the cookies cool, make the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth. 
9. Dip cookies into the sugar mixture and top with sprinkles.  

Chocolate Toffee Oatmeal Bars Recipe 

Ingredients 

• ⅔ cup butter, softened   
• 1 cup packed brown sugar  
• ⅓ cup corn syrup  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 4 cups quick-cooking oats  
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips  
• ⅔ cup chunky peanut butter  
• 2 king-size toffee candy bars, cut into small pieces 

Directions  

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
2. Mix softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl.  
3. Add corn syrup and vanilla extract. Mix well.  
4. Stir in the oats.  
5. Press mixture into a greased 9x13 baking pan. 
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden-brown around the edges. Let cool completely on a wire rack.  
7. Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a saucepan. Stir until well blended.  
8. Remove from heat and spread the mixture over the cooled bars.  
9. Sprinkle the candy bar pieces on top.  
10. Let bars cool in the refrigerator overnight.  
11. Remove from refrigerator, place bars on a cutting board, wait 30 minutes, and cut into 1½-inch squares.  

Garbage Cookie Recipe

Ingredients 

• 2 cups all-purpose flour  
• 1 tsp baking soda  
• ½ tsp kosher salt  
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature 
• ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed  
• ½ cup white sugar  
• 1 large egg  
• 2 tsp vanilla extract  
• 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 
• 1 cup toffee bits  
• 1 cup wavy potato chips, crushed  
• ½ cup pretzels, chopped   
• ½ tsp flaky sea salt (for topping)  

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. Set aside.  
3. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with paddle, beat butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.  
4. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix on low, scraping down the bowl as needed.  
5. Add dry ingredients to mixer and mix on low until combined.  
6. Stir in chocolate chips, toffee bits, potato chips, and pretzels.  
7. Roll cookie dough into golf ball-sized balls. Place cookie dough balls on a parchment paper-lined baking sheets, leaving about 6 inches between them.  
8. Bake cookies until edges are crisp and centers are still soft, about 10-12 minutes.  
9. When you remove the cookies from the oven, firmly tap the baking sheet on the counter to deflate them. Sprinkle the cookies lightly with flaky sea salt.  
10. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.  

More Easy Cookie Recipes

These Christmas cookie recipes make the ultimate gift for friends, coworkers, family members, and neighbors. Want to spread holiday cheer with more edible treats? Check out these yummy recipes that are great for gifting!