25+ Christmas Cookies

You're going to love these 25+ Christmas Cookies! The holiday is nearly here, so now is the time to make ALL the treats! In this post I've pulled together 25+ recipes for cookies, bars, brownies, and more so you can finalize your holiday baking plans!

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Each of these 25+ Christmas Cookies can be served alone, or make a variety and serve them up on a tray or pack them in gift boxes for friends and family! I've also included some bar, brownie, and madeleine recipes to give you more variety!

If you're looking for more Christmasy content, check out my posts for Christmas Desserts and Christmas Breakfasts, and Gifts for Bakers!

The History of Christmas Cookies

So why do we make Christmas cookies, anyway? My nerdy nature made me wonder, so I had to investigate (with the aid of History.com)! I found that festivals to celebrate the start of Winter started eons ago, long before Christmas existed. These festivals, of course, included food and desserts.

By the Middle Ages, people were celebrating Christmas, but the old traditions of the Winter solstice festivals remained. During this time, spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper were just starting to be used. People also started using fruits such as citron, apricots, and dates to add sweetness to their gatherings. These items would have been quite expensive, as were sugar, lard, and butter. As such, it made sense that these ingredients would be used for special occasions like Christmas.

Unlike other desserts, cookies can be more easily stored and shared with others, so they became the norm to celebrate Christmas. Though cookies have, of course, changed since this time, they still tend to be spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger as they were in the Middle Ages.

Now that you've had your cookie history lesson (that no one asked for), let's get to the recipes!

Christmas Cookie Recipes

It's just not Christmas without cookies! Each of these cookies would be a beautiful (and, more importantly, delicious) addition to your holiday gatherings!

Bar & Brownie Recipes

While cookies get all the spotlight this time of year, bars and brownies are fantastic holiday treats, too!

Blondie Brownies

These Blondie Brownies are two desserts in one! The browned butter blondie layer is topped with a fudgy brownie layer for the ultimate treat! I drizzled a few of mine with homemade salted caramel sauce for a truly decadent dessert, but these are so rich and delicious they don't really need it!

Check out this recipe!

Apple Crisp Macchiato Bars

These Apple Crisp Macchiato Bars have a crisp espresso shortbread crust topped with an apple-cinnamon filling, then with a crunchy cinnamon-espresso topping! These bars are so cozy and delicious!

Check out this recipe!

Cinnamon Roll Bars

These Cinnamon Roll Bars taste just like your favorite cinnamon roll slathered in vanilla-cinnamon cream cheese frosting, but bake up in a fraction of the time!

Check out this recipe!

Oatmeal Brownies

These fudgy Oatmeal Brownies have a buttery, crisp oatmeal crust! A recipe tried-and-true from my childhood, and a regular occurrence at my house during the holidays!

Check out this recipe!

Madeleine Recipes

Looking for something a little unique to bake this Christmas? Make some of these madeleines for an easy-but-fancy treat! Part cookie, part cake--but all delicious!

Dark Chocolate Madeleines

These Dark Chocolate Madeleines are tender and suuuuper chocolatey thanks to bittersweet chocolate and black cocoa powder! I should have called them Midnight Madeleines!

Check out this recipe!

Gingerbread Madeleines

Crisp at the edges and tender in the center, these Gingerbread Madeleines are a holiday treat! With gingerbread spice and a vanilla bean glaze, you can't go wrong!

Check out this recipe!

I hope your holiday has LOTS of sweet treats--I know mine will! Happy baking!!

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