16 Easy & Beautiful Christmas Cookie + Dessert Recipes to Bake This Season
Discover 16 easy and beautiful Christmas cookie and dessert recipes to bake this holiday season! From sugar cookies and peppermint brownies to no-bake truffles and gluten-free favorites, these recipes are perfect for cozy nights, cookie swaps, and festive family fun.
10/27/20258 min read
16 Easy & Beautiful Christmas Cookie + Dessert Recipes to Bake This Season
There’s something about holiday baking that just feels magical — the sound of Christmas music playing softly in the background, flour dusting the countertops, and that first whiff of vanilla and cinnamon filling the kitchen.
Whether you’re baking with kids, hosting a cookie swap, or just craving a cozy night in, these 16 easy and beautiful Christmas cookie and dessert recipes will bring warmth and joy to your kitchen. Each one is simple, delicious, and photo-worthy — perfect for sharing, gifting, or posting on your favorite feed.
Grab your mixing bowl (and maybe a helper or two) — let’s get baking!
1. Classic Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Nothing beats a traditional sugar cookie at Christmas. Roll them out, cut into festive shapes, and decorate with royal icing in reds, greens, and golds.
Tip: Use a piping bag with fine tips for delicate snowflake details.
Picture This: A kitchen table scattered with cookie cutters, pastel icing bowls, and perfectly frosted sugar cookies sparkling under string lights.
Classic Sugar Cookies with Royal Icing
Ingredients:
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
Royal Icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp meringue powder
4–5 tbsp warm water
Food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together.
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla.
Mix in dry ingredients. Chill 1 hour.
Roll dough to ¼-inch thick, cut shapes, and bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
Cool, then decorate with royal icing.
Tip: Keep icing thick for outlining and thinner for flooding.Nothing beats a traditional sugar cookie at Christmas. Roll them out, cut into festive shapes, and decorate with royal icing in reds, greens, and golds.
Tip: Use a piping bag with fine tips for delicate snowflake details.
2. Peppermint Bark Brownies
Rich chocolate brownies topped with melted white chocolate and crushed candy canes — decadent and easy.
Tip: Add a few drops of peppermint extract to the batter for extra holiday flavor.
Picture This: A tray of glossy brownies sprinkled with red-and-white candy pieces, served beside mugs of cocoa topped with whipped cream.
Peppermint Bark Brownies
Ingredients:
1 box brownie mix (plus ingredients listed on box)
½ cup crushed candy canes
6 oz white chocolate chips
1 tsp vegetable oil
Instructions:
Bake brownies per package directions and cool.
Melt white chocolate and oil; spread over brownies.
Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.
Chill 20 minutes, then slice.
Tip: Add ½ tsp peppermint extract to brownie batter for extra flavor.
3. Gingerbread Men with Lemon Glaze
These spicy, molasses-rich cookies are a holiday classic. Swap traditional icing for a tangy lemon glaze for a fresh twist.
Tip: Use a gingerbread cookie cutter set for uniform shapes.
Picture This: Golden-brown cookies lined up like a parade, each smiling with a drizzle of glossy lemon glaze, the air filled with spice and warmth.
Gingerbread Men with Lemon Glaze
Ingredients:
3 cups flour
¾ cup molasses
½ cup brown sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp cloves
Lemon Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions:
Cream butter, sugar, and molasses. Add egg.
Mix dry ingredients, then combine. Chill 2 hours.
Roll to ¼ inch, cut shapes, and bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
Cool, then brush with glaze.
Tip: Glaze while slightly warm for a shiny finish.
4. Snowball Pecan Cookies
Delicate and buttery, these powdered sugar-covered cookies look just like snowballs.
Tip: Roll twice in powdered sugar — once warm, once cooled — for that perfect frosty look.
Picture This: A vintage tin filled with round, white cookies, a dusting of sugar on the table like snowflakes under twinkling lights.
Snowball Pecan Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar + more for rolling
2 tsp vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions:
Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla. Add flour and pecans.
Roll into 1-inch balls and bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.
Roll in powdered sugar warm, then again when cool.
Tip: Substitute almonds or walnuts for variation.
5. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
Soft, chewy, and beautifully red — these cookies are showstoppers. Roll dough balls in powdered sugar before baking for a crackled, snow-dusted finish.
Tip: Add white chocolate chips for an extra festive touch.
Picture This: A stack of ruby-red cookies with crinkled sugar tops beside a sprig of holly and a cozy knit blanket.
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients:
1 box red velvet cake mix
2 eggs
⅓ cup vegetable oil
½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients into a thick dough.
Roll into balls, coat in powdered sugar.
Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
Tip: For extra richness, add ½ cup white chocolate chips.
6. Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread
Classic, buttery shortbread dipped halfway in dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermint or sea salt.
Tip: Chill the dough before baking for perfectly crisp edges.
Picture This: Golden cookies lined up on parchment paper, glossy chocolate glistening as it sets, ribbons of crushed candy decorating the tops.
Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
2 cups flour
½ tsp salt
6 oz dark chocolate, melted
Instructions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add flour and salt.
Roll into a log, chill 1 hour, slice, and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate.
Tip: Sprinkle sea salt or crushed peppermint before chocolate sets.
7. No-Bake Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Perfect for little helpers! Shape Rice Krispie treats into rectangles, add pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and red M&M noses.
Tip: Use mini pretzels for the cutest “antlers.”
Picture This: A tray of chocolate-covered reindeer treats, giggling kids sneaking candy pieces as they decorate their edible herd.
No-Bake Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients:
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
3 tbsp butter
1 bag mini marshmallows
Candy eyes, pretzels, red M&Ms
Instructions:
Melt butter and marshmallows in a pot.
Stir in cereal, press into a greased 9x13 pan.
Cut into rectangles, add pretzel antlers, eyes, and red noses.
Tip: Press lightly to keep treats soft.
8. Cranberry Bliss Bars
White chocolate, cranberries, and cream cheese frosting — this Starbucks-inspired recipe tastes like winter magic.
Tip: Add orange zest to the frosting for brightness.
Picture This: Triangular bars on a marble platter, white frosting swirled with cranberries and a drizzle of white chocolate like snow drifts.
Cranberry Bliss Bars
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
½ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup dried cranberries
1 tsp orange zest
Frosting:
4 oz cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla
Instructions:
Mix butter, sugar, and eggs. Add dry ingredients and stir-ins.
Bake at 350°F for 18–20 minutes. Cool.
Frost and sprinkle with chopped cranberries.
Tip: Chill before slicing for cleaner cuts.
9. Hot Cocoa Cookies
Chocolate cookies stuffed with gooey marshmallows and topped with chocolate chips — cozy, rich, and irresistibly soft.
Tip: Add a pinch of espresso powder to deepen the cocoa flavor.
Picture This: A stack of warm cookies next to a steaming mug of cocoa, melty marshmallow centers oozing out like pure Christmas comfort.
Hot Cocoa Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 ¾ cups flour
½ cup cocoa powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ cup mini marshmallows
Instructions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla.
Stir in dry ingredients.
Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, then press a few marshmallows into the tops while warm.
Tip: Add chocolate chips for double cocoa richness.
10. Almond Snowflake Cookies
Light almond-flavored cookies cut into snowflake shapes and dusted with powdered sugar.
Tip: Use an embossed rolling pin for elegant patterns.
Picture This: Intricate cookies arranged on a cooling rack, powdered sugar gently falling like snow in soft afternoon light.
Almond Snowflake Cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
½ tsp almond extract
1 egg
Instructions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and almond extract.
Mix in dry ingredients.
Roll, cut into snowflakes, bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
Dust with powdered sugar.
Tip: Add sliced almonds for extra crunch.
11. White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
Creamy, sweet, and done in minutes. Melt white chocolate chips, stir in sweetened condensed milk, and top with crushed candy canes.
Tip: Line the pan with parchment for easy cleanup.
Picture This: A marble tray of fudge squares gleaming with red peppermint bits, gift tins ready to be filled and tied with satin bows.
White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
Ingredients:
3 cups white chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp peppermint extract
½ cup crushed candy canes
Instructions:
Melt chocolate and milk together on low heat.
Stir in extract and pour into lined pan.
Top with candy canes and chill until firm.
Tip: Slice small — it’s rich!
12. Holiday Thumbprint Cookies
Soft, buttery cookies with centers filled with raspberry jam or chocolate ganache.
Tip: Chill the dough before baking for perfectly shaped thumbprints.
Picture This: Rows of jewel-toned cookies glowing under warm kitchen lights, raspberry reds and chocolate browns like ornaments on a tray.
Holiday Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
⅔ cup sugar
2 egg yolks
2 cups flour
½ cup jam or chocolate ganache
Instructions:
Cream butter, sugar, and yolks. Add flour.
Roll into balls, press thumb into center.
Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.
Fill with jam or ganache after baking.
Tip: Try raspberry, apricot, or salted caramel filling.
13. Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookie Bars
All the flavor of cinnamon rolls without the fuss — sugar cookie base, cinnamon-sugar swirl, and cream cheese icing drizzle.
Tip: Use parchment for easy lifting and slicing into neat squares.
Picture This: A baking dish cooling on a countertop, icing dripping down golden layers, the scent of cinnamon filling the air.
Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookie Bars
Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cinnamon sugar
Icing:
4 oz cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbsp milk
Instructions:
Beat butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.
Stir in dry ingredients and pour into 9x9 pan.
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top and swirl.
Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
Cool, frost, and cut into bars.
Tip: Serve slightly warm for that “fresh from the oven” flavor.
14. Gluten-Free Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Made with almond flour and cocoa powder, these cookies are chewy, rich, and flour-free — no one will know they’re gluten-free!
Tip: Add crushed candy canes for extra texture.
Picture This: A simple white plate of dark chocolate cookies flecked with red peppermint bits and a dusting of sugar sparkle.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups almond flour
½ cup cocoa powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup coconut oil, melted
¼ cup honey
1 egg
½ tsp peppermint extract
Instructions:
Combine dry ingredients. Add wet and mix into dough.
Roll balls, flatten slightly, and bake at 350°F for 8–9 minutes.
Tip: Cool before moving — gluten-free cookies are delicate when warm.
15. Easy Christmas Truffles
Roll cream cheese, crushed cookies, or brownie crumbs into balls and coat in melted chocolate — quick, elegant, and endlessly customizable.
Tip: Sprinkle crushed peppermint or cocoa powder on top for variation.
Picture This: A gold platter filled with chocolate truffles nestled in tiny paper cups, each one topped with glittering sprinkles.
Easy Christmas Truffles
Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 package Oreo cookies, crushed
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate, melted
Instructions:
Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs.
Roll into balls, chill 30 minutes.
Dip in melted chocolate.
Tip: Top with crushed candy or sprinkles before chocolate sets.
16. Meringue Christmas Trees
These delicate meringue cookies look like snowy little trees and melt in your mouth. Pipe green swirls and add tiny sugar pearls.
Tip: Bake low and slow for that perfect crisp texture.
Picture This: A baking sheet lined with pastel green meringue trees, the kitchen bathed in warm light as the oven door fogs slightly with sweetness.
Meringue Christmas Trees
Ingredients:
3 egg whites
¾ cup sugar
⅛ tsp cream of tartar
Green food coloring
Sprinkles or sugar pearls
Instructions:
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy.
Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
Tint green, pipe into tree shapes.
Bake at 200°F for 1 hour.
Tip: Let cool completely in the oven for crisp meringues.
Gingerbread & Chocolate Frappuccino Recipe
Ingredients (1 large or 2 small servings)
1 cup milk (whole, oat, or almond)
½ cup strongly brewed coffee or 1 shot espresso (cooled)
1 ½ tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp molasses
1 tbsp brown sugar
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
1 cup ice
Whipped cream (for topping)
Crushed ginger snaps or chocolate shavings (optional garnish)
Instructions
Combine milk, coffee, cocoa powder, molasses, brown sugar, and spices in a blender.
Add ice and blend until thick and frosty.
Pour into a glass and top generously with whipped cream.
Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon, chocolate curls, or crumbled gingerbread cookies.
Pro Tip:
Freeze your coffee in ice cube trays before blending for a stronger, less watered-down flavor.
Gingerbread + chocolate = the ultimate holiday mood ☕🍫✨
This creamy, frosty Gingerbread & Chocolate Frappuccino tastes like Christmas in a cup — and it’s easier to make than you think! 🎄
Blend coffee, milk, cocoa, and molasses with a touch of spice, then top with whipped cream and cookie crumbs.
It’s cozy, festive, and oh-so-shareable.
Summary
Whip up some holiday joy with these 16 easy and beautiful Christmas cookie and dessert recipes that are as fun to make as they are to eat! From classic sugar cookies and peppermint brownies to no-bake reindeer treats and gluten-free favorites, this collection has something for everyone. Each recipe is quick, family-friendly, and irresistibly photogenic — perfect for cookie swaps, dessert boards, or cozy nights at home.
Whether you’re baking with kids or creating pretty gifts from your kitchen, these festive treats will make your home smell like Christmas and your heart feel full.