These 40 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes Are the Gift That Keeps On Giving

Whether you pair them with a cup of homemade hot chocolate, pile them high on a cookie plate (which makes the perfect edible gift!) or bake a batch to ship to someone special, it’s always a good idea to have a few cookie recipes you can rely on during the holiday season. We like to think that these are those recipes. Once you have a few cookie basics down and learn a couple of handy tips, the rest is simple—especially with this collection of festive recipes, perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Wondering where to start? Try these sweet-and-spiced treats that taste just like a cup of Yuletide cheer!

These jolly little Santas will delight everyone at your next holiday gathering. You can bake the cookie bites ahead of time and decorate them at the last minute, so Santa’s strawberry hat stays perky and fresh.

Sweet potato and snickerdoodle lovers unite! A generous amount of canned sweet potato puree in the dough produces a fluffy cookie with the perfect chewy edge. Eddie tops them off with the quintessential cinnamon-sugar coating, then adds a piping of fluffy cream cheese frosting for a festive finish.

A classic red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting has been taken to new level of ooey gooey buttery goodness, just in time for the holidays.