The only limit to these fun cutouts is your cookie cutter collection and your imagination! If you prefer crisp cookies, sprinkle with colored sugar before baking and skip the frosting. My family loves these easy holiday cookies! —Anne Grisham, Henderson, Nevada
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Check out our
Christmas Cookies Baking Guide
These peanut butter cinnamon cookies are perfect for bake sales, potlucks or holiday gift baskets. Use fun cookie cutters for any occasion you are celebrating. The cookie glaze dries shiny, so they look professional. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
(Here's
how to roll out cookie dough like a pro!)
Though they hold their cute snowman shape well, these cookies are still nice and soft. Kids love the design and everyone loves the chocolate flavor packed into the cookie. —Evangeline Bradford, Erlanger, Kentucky
For a melted snowman cookie option, these TikTok
melted snowman sugar cookies are a delicious winter treat.
"Sour Cream keeps my favorite sugar cookies extra moist," notes Lisa MacLean of Winslow, Arizona. Dress them up with a drizzle of tinted white chocolate or dip them in white chocolate, then sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
These gingerbread man cookies were ideal for a winter get-together I hosted. I like to share these crunchy
treats on the way home from cutting our fresh Christmas tree.—Shelly Rynearson, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Rich, buttery sugar cookie cutouts like these never last long at a party. They're one of my favorite homemade
Christmas cookies. I use seasonal cutters to celebrate the holidays tastefully. —Lynn Burgess, Rolla, Missouri
When the weather outside is frightful, these smiley guys are so delightful. And they really know how to celebrate the season. Let it snow! —Shannon Roum, Cudahy, Wisconsin
I discovered the wonderful
anise flavor of biscochitos, which are traditional cookies of New Mexico. I created my own version with maraschino cherries and fresh cranberries. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma
Get a little snow at the holidays, no matter where you are. Head to the kitchen and bake a batch of angel cookies swirled with heavenly frosting. —Carolyn Moseley, Dayton, Ohio
Making and decorating these tender sugar cookies left a lasting impression on our four children. Adults now, they've all asked for my Christmas cutouts recipe so they can bake them with their own children. —Shirley Kidd, New London, Minnesota
These adorable cookies shaped like coffee cups don't last long with my friends and family. For an even richer flavor, I use a mocha latte coffee mix. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana
Every year I come up with a new recipe, and this is one that's been requested over and over. Who would ever guess how good pretzels are in cookies? —Isabel Minunni, Poughkeepsie, New York
We make and decorate these cutout cookies for
different holidays and give lots of them as little
food gifts. Last year, we baked a batch a week before Christmas to be sure we'd have plenty to give and plenty for ourselves, too. These rich cookies melt in your mouth. —Kim Hinkle, Wauseon, Ohio
Whenever I visit friends in Lutsen, Minnesota, I make sure to buy maple syrup there because I think it's even better than in Quebec. These delicious cookies can be decorated with sprinkles but they're just fine as is.—Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Here's more mouth-watering
maple recipes to try.
Using prepared cookie dough gives you a nice head start to your own little forest of Christmas trees. Get the kids involved in this holiday craft to keep them busy making memories.—Sue Draheim, Waterford, Wisconsin
I've used this Christmas cookie recipe for almost 40 years and love it because it's a little different than most. My mom always made Santa cookies, and we'd put them into little clear bags tied with ribbon and hang these
edible ornaments on the tree.—Ann Bush, Colorado City, Colorado
Every time I make these wonderful cookies, the spicy aroma takes me back to my childhood. I helped Mom make them and then delivered the holiday cookies to neighbors. —Kara Cook, Elk Ridge, Utah
This cookie's flavor fits right into the holiday spirit—pick your favorite
Christmas cookie cutters to make them even more festive! —Myra Innes, Auburn, Kansas
This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the delectable results are well-worth it. I bake the tender jam-filled hearts when I need something fancy to serve for Christmas,
Valentine's Day or other special occasions. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin
I have fond memories of baking and frosting these
cutout Christmas cookies with my mom. Now I carry on the tradition with my kids. It's a messy but fun day!—Sandy Nace, Greensburg, Kansas
Our neighbor made these for me when I was little, and now I make them for my kids, grandkids and for the children at school. Serve them with milk for the kids and tea for the grown-ups. —Nancy Lynch, Somerset, Pennsylvania
It's so much fun to
decorate cookies with children's help. We created gingery moose-shaped cookies to go with a book made especially for my niece's third-grade class. The crispy golden brown cookies stole the show.—Jenet Cattar, Neptune Beach, Florida
What better way to brighten chilly winter days than with Christmas light-shaped cookies? My classic dough recipe has been a holiday tradition in our family for years. —Carolyn Moseley, Dayton, Ohio
I love
gingerbread cookies, but my grandchildren don't like the ginger flavor. Now I use chocolate and watch them smile as they take that first bite. —Nancy Murphy, Oneonta, New York
Almond
shortbread cookies cradle a delightful berry filling for this Christmas cookie favorite. The recipe is undeniably good. —Helga Schlape, Florham Park, New Jersey
These super stars are plenty sweet and sturdy, making these
cookies great for shipping. Slip decorated cookies in stacks of three inside plastic storage bags then rest stacks in disposable plastic containers. Put containers in a cardboard box, then add crumpled newspaper so everything is tightly packed. Seal it with a kiss—or a card. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Check out these
creative cookie packaging ideas, or get more specifics on
how to mail Christmas cookies.
My family gathers at the kitchen table every winter to add a white glaze to these snowflake cookies. To increase the wow factor, tint the frosting with food colors and try various sprinkles.—Carolyn Olney, Richmond, NH
No holiday treat platter would be complete without gingerbread man cookies! This is a tried-and-true Christmas cookie recipe I'm happy to share with you. —Mitzi Sentiff, Annapolis, Maryland
I created this Christmas cookie recipe because my sons liked
eggnog so much. After frosting the cookies, you can add to their festive flair by sprinkling them with colored sugar. —Glenna Tooman, Boise, Idaho
These wonderful cookies require a bit of extra effort to make and assemble, but the delight on the faces of family and friends when I serve them makes it all worthwhile. —Schelby Thompson, Camden Wyoming, Delaware
When it’s time to start the cookie-baking season, this recipe always kicks off the festivities. My mother-in-law first shared it with me, but it’s too good to keep to myself! You can tint the buttery gingerbread cookie icing a cheery pink or green and pipe it on with a
cookie decorating tip. —Ann Scherzer, Anacortes, Washington
Cookie baking can't get any more fun than when you are making—and decorating—these adorable Santa cookies. They are also really good to eat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
My family loves shortbread and I
love cranberries, so I decided to put the two together. The star shape is a festive addition to my holiday cookie tray. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California