Christmas Recipes - Just a Taste

Make it a holiday to remember with an assortment of family favorite Christmas Recipes for cookies, pastries, cupcakes and more. Plus, find inspiration for easy entertaining with festive brunch ideas, holiday appetizer recipes, edible gifts for all ages and more.

Collage of images: Marshmallow Christmas Wreaths, Puff Pastry Christmas Tree, Frosted Sugar Cookies and Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Are you ready to take your holiday entertaining to the next level? Eat, drink and be merry with classic and creative recipes, plus all of my tips and tricks for all things Christmas cookies.

Cookies 101

Preheat your oven for dozens of tried and tested holiday favorites

Christmas Tree Shortbread Cookies

Sprinkle Sugar Cookie Sticks

Chocolate Rugelach

Soft and Chewy Ginger Cookies

Frosted Soft Sugar Cookie Bars

No-Bake Gingerbread Cookie Balls

The Best Christmas Cookies

The Best Cutout Sugar Cookies: This foolproof recipe makes the softest, most buttery Christmas cookies that hold their shape after baking.
Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies: Buttery shortbread and velvety ganache join forces for these bite-sized cookies.
Marshmallow Christmas Wreaths: My mom, Noni, taught me this recipe over 25 years ago and it’s been a family favorite ever since! These treats are the perfect make-ahead (and no-bake) option for your cookie platter.
Easy Coconut Macaroons with Chocolate: All it takes is five ingredients and 15 minutes to make the softest, chewiest coconut macaroons that are slightly crisped on the edges.
Salted Caramel Snickerdoodles: Soft and buttery snickerdoodle cookies with chewy caramel centers and slightly crisped edges.

Rows of Marshmallow Christmas Wreaths on a white marble background

Which Christmas cookies freeze well?

Drop cookies, slice-and-bake, cutout and some shaped cookies like thumbprints all freeze well. Avoid freezing any cookies that are already frosted or decorated, as well as any that are covered in chocolate or powdered sugar. It’s also best not to freeze delicate cookies like meringues and wafer cookies.

To freeze baked cookies, allow them to cool completely before placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer the cookies to an airtight container with layers separated by parchment paper or wax paper.

To thaw frozen Christmas cookies, take them out of the container they were stored in and spread them out in a single layer on a cooling rack until they reach room temperature. Once defrosted, you can frost and decorate them, serve them, or refresh them in a 325˚F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

Cookies that are properly frozen will last up to six months. Find inspiration to get ahead with these festive recipes.

How long will Christmas cookies keep?

Christmas cookies will keep for about five days at room temperature.

Soft cookies like sugar cookies, snickerdoodles and chocolate chip, should be stored in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag. To help keep the cookies soft, you can place a slice of bread inside the container, which will absorb any excess moisture.

Crisp cookies like gingersnaps, biscotti and shortbread, should be stored in containers that are left partially unsealed to avoid trapping moisture inside.