Holiday cookie requests can start long before anyone pulls out the Christmas decorations. These 19 cookie recipes offer plenty of choices, from familiar chocolate chip favorites to cinnamon swirls, pecan treats, and cookies with a little something unexpected inside. Some are simple enough for an afternoon of baking, while others make a lovely addition to a cookie box or holiday dessert tray. There is plenty here to help you plan ahead when everyone starts naming the cookies they want again this year.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft in the middle with plenty of chocolate throughout, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies give the familiar chocolate chip cookie a nutty twist. Smooth peanut butter, brown sugar, and chocolate chips make up the main flavors, and the recipe yields 24 cookies in 22 minutes. There is no required dough-chilling step, so these are handy when someone requests a fresh batch without much warning. Set a few beside a glass of milk, then pack the rest into a cookie tin for sharing.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cookie Monster Cookies
Bright blue and packed with crunchy surprises, Cookie Monster Cookies stand out from the usual brown and golden cookies on a tray. The dough includes chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, chopped Oreos, and pieces of chocolate chip cookies, with a chocolate cookie tucked inside each large portion. The recipe makes 12 generously sized cookies; allow extra time to chill the dough before baking, as the directions specify. Save these for a colorful cookie box or a party where a larger treat makes sense.
Get the Recipe: Cookie Monster Cookies
Sweet Salted Honey Cookies
Golden edges and a light sprinkle of salt make Sweet Salted Honey Cookies a change from the usual heavily decorated holiday treats. Honey and brown sugar sweeten the dough, while flaky sea salt finishes each cookie; cinnamon is optional. The recipe makes 12 cookies and includes a 30-minute chill within its 52-minute total time. Their sweet-and-salty flavor works especially well alongside plain sugar cookies in a gift tin. Serve them with hot tea when the first cold evenings arrive.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Salted Honey Cookies
Marry Me Cookies
Chewy centers with two kinds of chocolate make Marry Me Cookies an easy addition to a mixed holiday cookie plate. Old-fashioned oats, white chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, and a little cinnamon give the dough both texture and richness. The recipe makes 12 cookies in 23 minutes, which helps when you need a batch for an unexpected visit. Pair one with coffee after dinner, or tuck a few into a small cookie box when you want to share something homemade.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Cookies
Cannoli Cookies
Little bakery-style treats look especially inviting when Cannoli Cookies join the holiday assortment. Ricotta cheese keeps the cookies soft, while chocolate chips, chopped pistachios, and a drizzle of chocolate bring in familiar cannoli flavors. The recipe makes 16 cookies in about 30 minutes, leaving room to bake another variety during the same afternoon. Arrange these on a platter with a dusting of powdered sugar, or pack them carefully in a box for someone who likes Italian-inspired desserts.
Get the Recipe: Cannoli Cookies
Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Pecans
Pillowy and warmly spiced, Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Pecans bring an autumn flavor to the cookie tray well before December arrives. Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice flavor the dough, and chopped pecans add a little crunch to the soft texture. The recipe makes 12 cookies in 30 minutes, making it manageable for a weekday baking session. Include these in an early-season cookie exchange, or offer them with coffee after a weekend meal when everyone is ready for something sweet.
Get the Recipe: Soft Pumpkin Cookies With Pecans
Vegan Sugar Cookies
Simple, lightly sweet cookies have a place beside the richest holiday desserts, and Vegan Sugar Cookies fill that role beautifully. Vegan butter and almond milk form the dough, which is rolled in granulated sugar before baking. The recipe yields 12 cookies in 27 minutes, so you can make a small batch without committing the whole afternoon. Set them next to chocolate-heavy treats for variety, or save the recipe for a cookie box that needs an option without dairy or eggs.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Sugar Cookies
Banana Pudding Cookies
Old-fashioned dessert flavor makes Banana Pudding Cookies an unexpected addition to a holiday tin. Mashed ripe banana and banana pudding mix give the dough its distinctive flavor, while white chocolate chips add pockets of sweetness. The recipe yields 18 cookies in 27 minutes, leaving plenty to share without making an enormous batch. Pack them with another familiar cookie variety, or bring them to a family visit when someone has been requesting banana pudding in a more portable form.
Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding Cookies
Lemon Cookies
Glossy lemon glaze gives Lemon Cookies a welcome contrast to the richer chocolate and spice cookies that often fill holiday plates. Lemon zest flavors the buttery dough, while confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice make the glossy topping. With 36 cookies in 27 minutes, this is a useful recipe when several tins need filling. Let the glaze set before packing them, or serve a few with afternoon tea when you want something sweet without another chocolate dessert.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Cookies
Cowboy Cookies
Thick, chewy, and loaded with different textures, Cowboy Cookies make a sturdy choice for a holiday cookie exchange. Browned butter brings a nutty flavor to dough filled with old-fashioned oats, shredded coconut, pecans, and semisweet chocolate chips. The recipe makes 24 cookies in 32 minutes, which is useful when you need a larger batch for sharing. Place them in a rigid container with parchment between the layers, or serve them with cold milk after a busy afternoon of baking.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Cookies
Vegan Amaretti Cookies
Crackled, sugar-dusted tops give Vegan Amaretti Cookies the look of a traditional Italian cookie shop treat. Almond flour, aquafaba, lemon zest, and amaretto liqueur create a chewy almond cookie without eggs or dairy. The recipe yields 35 cookies and takes 70 minutes total, including a 30-minute chill. Their smaller size makes them easy to arrange between bigger cookies on a holiday platter. Add them to a gift box for someone who enjoys almond desserts and a slightly different cookie texture.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Amaretti Cookies
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie
Rustic texture and generous chocolate make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie a dependable choice when the holiday cookie requests start coming in. Rolled oats, oat flour, brown sugar, and semisweet chocolate chips give these cookies a hearty texture and familiar flavor. The recipe makes 25 cookies in 20 minutes, so one batch can fill a tin with a few left for the kitchen. Pack them beside a lighter lemon or sugar cookie, or serve them with milk after school.
Get the Recipe: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie
Copycat Crumbl Cinnamon Swirl Cookies
Swirls of cinnamon sugar make Copycat Crumbl Cinnamon Swirl Cookies look like little bakery treats rather than plain drop cookies. The buttery base gets a cinnamon filling made with butter, sugar, and flour before the cookies bake. The recipe yields 12 cookies and takes 37 minutes total, including a short chill. These are a good choice for anyone who requests cinnamon rolls but wants something easy to pass around. Set them out with coffee at a holiday brunch or afternoon visit.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Crumbl Cinnamon Swirl Cookies
Tiramisu Cookies
Coffee-shop flavor takes cookie form in Tiramisu Cookies, with espresso in the dough and a creamy mascarpone topping. The frosting uses mascarpone, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and more espresso, giving each cookie a clear nod to the classic layered dessert. The recipe makes 14 cookies in 37 minutes, a useful number for a smaller holiday dessert plate. Serve them after dinner to anyone who usually orders tiramisu instead of a cookie, and arrange them on a plate so the frosting stays neat.
Get the Recipe: Tiramisu Cookies
Chocolate Cherry Cookies
Deep chocolate cookies with a cherry in the center make Chocolate Cherry Cookies stand out on a holiday dessert platter. Cocoa powder flavors the dough, while maraschino cherries sit beneath a chocolate topping made with semisweet chips and sweetened condensed milk. The recipe yields 16 cookies in 20 minutes, so they can join a baking lineup without taking all afternoon. Their chocolate-and-fruit pairing is especially nice beside simpler butter or sugar cookies. Arrange them in a single layer until the topping is set.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Cookies
No Bake Maple Pecan Cookies
No oven space is needed for No Bake Maple Pecan Cookies, which is welcome when holiday baking is already underway. Old-fashioned oats and chopped pecans are coated in a cooked mixture of maple syrup and butter, then portioned and left to set. The recipe makes 24 cookies and takes two hours and 20 minutes total, including a two-hour rest. Prepare these while the oven is busy with other treats, then place them in a lined tin once they have firmed up.
Get the Recipe: No Bake Maple Pecan Cookies
Earl Grey Lemon Cookies
Delicate tea flavor gives Earl Grey Lemon Cookies a quieter place on a tray filled with rich chocolate treats. Earl Grey tea, lemon zest, cake flour, and almond flour flavor the dough, with lemon juice and powdered sugar making the glaze. The recipe yields 20 cookies in 30 minutes, making it suitable for an afternoon baking session. Serve them beside a pot of tea, or include a few in a cookie box for someone who prefers citrus and tea flavors over heavier desserts.
Get the Recipe: Earl Grey Lemon Cookies
Butter Pecan Cookies
Toasty pecans and a soft, buttery center make Butter Pecan Cookies a natural choice for the holiday cookie tin. The dough uses buttered chopped pecans, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla, with optional pecan halves on top. The recipe makes 16 cookies, but its four-hour chill means it is worth starting earlier in the day. Bake them after the dough has rested, then pack them next to chocolate cookies for a mix of nutty and rich flavors.
Get the Recipe: Butter Pecan Cookies
S’mores Stuffed Cookies
Hidden marshmallow-and-chocolate centers make S’mores Stuffed Cookies a treat people may request even when the weather is too cold for a campfire. Graham cracker pieces, marshmallows, and chocolate squares are tucked into dough dotted with semisweet chocolate chips. The recipe makes 12 cookies and takes one hour and 15 minutes total, including chilling time. Serve them slightly warm so the filling stays soft, or make a batch for a movie night when a regular chocolate chip cookie seems too plain.
Get the Recipe: S’mores Stuffed Cookies