12 Holiday Cookie Recipes So Good You'll Be the Apple of Your Family's Eye

It’s Day 3 of our 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Here are another dozen holiday cookies for you to bake in December and take with you to your annual holiday cookie exchange. In today’s roundup, you’ll find everything from classic gingerbreads cookies to gluten-free options, if that’s something you need.

Day 3 of 12 Days of Cookies features 12 types of cookies, including gingerbread, sugar, oatmeal, and snowball cookies, each displayed in individual labeled sections.

Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies are a holiday classic I can’t get enough of. Their spicy-sweet flavor and crisp, yet slightly chewy texture make them the perfect treat for decorating or just enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa. The ginger and cinnamon make every bite warm and comforting!
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Cookies

No Spread Sugar Cookies

Decorated Christmas cookies shaped like trees and a gingerbread person with red, green, and white icing. — No Spread Cookies. Photo credit: Little House Big Alaska.

No Spread Sugar Cookies are perfect for when I need cookies to hold their shape during baking. With a soft, buttery texture and the perfect level of sweetness, they’re ideal for creating intricate shapes and designs that stay true to their form. Plus, they’re super easy to decorate!
Get the recipe: No Spread Sugar Cookies

Church Window Cookies

A pile of chocolate slices with colorful marshmallows and sprinkled coconut on a plate. — Church Window Cookies. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Church Window Cookies are a festive, colorful treat that always reminds me of holiday celebrations. The combination of rich chocolate and bright bits of colored marshmallows creates a beautiful, sweet and crunchy contrast.
Get the recipe: Church Window Cookies

White Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

A glass jar on its side with cookies spilling out onto a tiled surface, next to a floral napkin and a small vase of purple flowers. — White Chocolate Crinkled Cookies. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

White Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are soft, chewy and absolutely decadent. The sweet white chocolate chips blend beautifully with the rich cocoa flavor, and the powdered sugar coating gives them a snowy, festive appearance. They’re perfect for a holiday cookie tray!
Get the recipe: White Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies

A plate of homemade peanut butter cookies with fork crosshatch patterns on top. — Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies are a deliciously gluten-free treat that still packs all the flavor of traditional peanut butter cookies. The almond flour gives them a slightly nutty, tender texture that pairs perfectly with the rich, creamy peanut butter.
Get the recipe: Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies

Eggnog Cookies

Plate with eight round, golden-brown scones on a wooden table. — Eggnog Cookies. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Eggnog Cookies are like a bite of holiday cheer. The warm spices of nutmeg and cinnamon blend perfectly with the creamy eggnog flavor, creating a soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookie. These are my go-to for cozy winter gatherings or as a festive treat to enjoy by the fire.
Get the recipe: Eggnog Cookies

Mint Sugar Cookies

Cookies covered in green and white sprinkles surround a small dish of green and white nonpareils on a marble surface. — Mint Sugar Cookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Mint Sugar Cookies are the perfect balance of fresh, minty flavor and the buttery sweetness of a classic sugar cookie. The cool mint makes them refreshing, while the soft texture and light sweetness make them irresistible.
Get the recipe: Mint Sugar Cookies

Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint Cookies are an adorable, melt-in-your-mouth treat that I love to make with different jams or even chocolate spreads in the center. The buttery cookie base complements the sweet filling perfectly. It’s fun customizing with different flavors in the center.
Get the recipe: Thumbprint Cookies

Red Velvet Cake Cookies

Close-up of a red velvet cookie topped with white and dark chocolate chips on a plate. — Red Velvet Cookies. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Red Velvet Cake Cookies are rich, soft and vibrant. These cookies have all the flavor of a red velvet cake in a chewy, cookie form. The cream cheese frosting drizzle adds a delicious, tangy touch that makes them extra indulgent. They’re a beautiful and festive treat for any occasion.
Get the recipe: Red Velvet Cake Cookies

Kolacky with Poppy Seed Filling

A plate of linzer cookies with dark filling and powdered sugar, surrounded by red ribbon and a gold bow. — Kolacky with Poppy Seed Filling. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Kolacky with Poppy Seed Filling are a traditional treat that always remind me of holiday gatherings. With their buttery, delicate dough and sweet fruit filling, they’re the perfect balance of richness and sweetness. I love how each bite is a little burst of flavor.
Get the recipe: Kolacky with Poppy Seed Filling

Maple Oatmeal Cookies

A close-up of oatmeal cookies drizzled with white icing, surrounded by rolled oats and cinnamon sticks. — Maple Oatmeal Cookies. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Maple Oatmeal Cookies are the perfect mix of chewy and comforting. The rich maple flavor comes from baking with maple syrup and blends beautifully with the hearty oats, creating a warm and cozy cookie.
Get the recipe: Maple Oatmeal Cookies

Snowball Cookies

A small bowl filled with round, powdered sugar-covered cookies sits on a festive tablecloth. — Snowball Cookies. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Snowball Cookies are little bites of buttery, nutty perfection, dusted in powdered sugar to resemble tiny snowballs. The shortbread-like texture makes them melt in your mouth, and the combination of nuts and sweetness makes them utterly irresistible. These are a must-have for the holiday cookie tray!
Get the recipe: Snowball Cookies

Day 2 of Holiday Cookie Recipes

A round cookie decorated with chocolate antlers, eyes, and a red candy nose sits in front of a glass bottle of milk. — Reindeer Sugar Cookies. Photo credit: Southern Food and Fun.

Did you miss Day 2 of our 12 Days of Christmas Cookies roundup? That collection included 13 holiday treats sure to steal the show and make you a star at your annual holiday cookie exchange.
Get the recipe: 13 Holiday Treats Sure to Steal the Show

12 Holiday Cookie Recipes So Good You’ll Be the Apple of Your Family’s Eye