17 Of Santa's Favorite Cookies to Make and Bake

Make and bake Santa's favorite cookies that are perfect for any occasion! Whether you're whipping them up for the kids, the big guy himself, a party, or just for yourself, these recipes keep it simple and delicious. With flavors that always hit the spot, you won't need any complicated techniques or fancy tricks—just straightforward methods to achieve the perfect batch every time.

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Festive spiral cookies with red, green, and white swirls, topped with colorful sprinkles, on a white plate; more cookies and decorations in the background. — Christmast Pinwheel Cookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

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Bake some festive Christmas pinwheel cookies! These vibrant treats look great and add a fun splash of color to any holiday cookie tray.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Spiced Christmas Tree Cookies

Gingerbread cookies decorated with white, red, and green icing drops on a table with a festive background. — Spiced Christmas Tree Cookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Our favorite Spiced Christmas Tree Cookies are packed with cozy spices like cinnamon, ginger and cloves and decorated with simple icing dots. Bake a batch of these cookies to set out on a platter for the holidays or give as an edible gift.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Christmas Tree Cookies

Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Chocolate-filled cookies coated with red and green sprinkles beside christmas ornaments and a pine branch. — Christmas Sprinkle Coookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

These Christmas cookies have a surprise fudge center and are rolled in festive red, green, and white sprinkles. They’re the perfect holiday treat with extra charm and are always a favorite cookie!
Get the Recipe: Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Oatmeal Crumbl Cookies

Cookies with white icing are on a cooling rack, with some uniced cookies and a spoon applying icing. A bowl of white icing is shown in the bottom right. — Crumbl Oatmeal Cookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Bake a batch of these oatmeal Crumbl copycat cookies for a soft and chewy treat. With a sweet icing drizzle covering every nook and cranny, these cookies bring all the cozy flavor of the bakery originals.
Get the Recipe: Oatmeal Crumbl Cookie

Mint Sprinkle Cookies

A plate of green sugar-coated cookies with a cup of tea in the background. — Mint Sprinkle Sugar Cookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Indulge in the festive delight of mint cookies adorned with vibrant green and white sprinkles, adding a pop of color and flavor to each delectable bite. These treats are a scrumptious combination of festivity and deliciousness.
Get the Recipe: Mint Sprinkle Cookies

Browned Butter Blondies

Butter pecan blondies bars with icing and pecans on a cutting board. — Butter Pecan Blondies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Bake a pan of these rich and delicious Browned Butter Blondies with Pecans for dessert. These bars bake up soft and buttery with delicious, toasted pecans and a spicy cinnamon glaze that are just a bit decadent and so, so good, perfect with your afternoon hot cuppa of brew.
Get the Recipe: Browned Butter Blondies

Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

A person is dipping a spoon into some thumbprint cookies with jam. — Pecan Thumbprint Cookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

These little bite-sized jammy Pecan Thumbprint Cookies have a delicious buttery brown sugar flavor everyone loves and a tender crumb melts in your mouth.Use your favorite jam, and for the holidays, try raspberry for a pretty red color.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Introducing Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies, renowned for their rich and fudgy texture that will leave you craving more. With their unmistakable pop of vibrant red and the delectable, powdered sugar crackle top, these cookies are a feast for the eyes.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Pecan Pie Cookies

Cookies topped with chopped pecans and caramel, one has a bite taken out of it. — Pecan Pie Cookies. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Capture the essence of pecan pie in these delightful cookies. A simple yet scrumptious recipe that combines the flavors of pecans and a buttery crust, these cookies offer a taste of the classic pie in a convenient and shareable form.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Cookies

Fruit & Nut Biscotti

A cup of tea with a plate of biscotti containing dried fruits and nuts, served on a plaid green napkin. — Fruit and Nut Biscotti. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

These Fruit and nut Biscotti are filled with candied fruits, almonds, and pistachio nuts and are so festive. They're perfect for holiday baking or anytime you want a crunchy cookie. Biscotti are the perfect cookie for a gift, too!
Get the Recipe: Fruit & Nut Biscotti

Chai Shortbread Cookies

These Chai Shortbread Cookies have the delicious chai flavor of black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger baked right into a tender cookie. Bake a batch of these cookies, set out a plate for Santa, and then you can eat the rest.
Get the Recipe: Chai Shortbread Cookies

Iced Molasses Cookies

A stack of four frosted cookies with one featuring a bite taken, placed on white parchment paper, with a bowl of icing nearby. — Iced Molasses Cookies. Photo credit: Little House, Big Alaska.

Relish the timeless appeal of iced molasses cookies, combining the warmth of molasses with a sweet glaze. This classic recipe offers a comforting and flavorful addition to your holiday cookie selection.
Get the Recipe: Iced Molasses Cookies

Snowflake Sugar Cookies

These easy Snowflake Sugar Cookies are pretty iced cookies that are perfect for holiday parties, cookie trays or cookie exchanges! Use the recipe to cut out your favorite shapes.
Get the Recipe: Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Two chocolate blossom Christmas cookies on a white plate. — Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies. Photo credit: Thriving In Parenting.

Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies are a holiday favorite with fudgy chocolate cookies and a classic Hershey’s Kiss on top. These cookies will be the star of any holiday dessert platter!
Get the Recipe: Double Chocolate Blossom Cookies

Apple Pie Cookies

Six cookies topped with caramelized apples on a cooling rack. — Apple Pie Cookies. Photo credit: Little House, Big Alaska.

Apple pie cookies capture the flavor of a classic apple pie but in a convenient, bite-sized treat. They're simpler to make compared to a traditional pie!
Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Cookies

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

These Mexican hot chocolate cookies are just spicy enough with the perfect balance of sweet chocolate. This unique and tasty cookie is a hit!
Get the Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Gingerbread Bars

Nine square slices of a frosted cake, one piece is lifted slightly above the rest on parchment paper. — Gingerbread Bars. Photo credit: Little House, Big Alaska.

Delight in the warm spices of the season with gingerbread bars. A flavorful and easy-to-make treat, these bars offer the essence of gingerbread in a convenient and shareable format, perfect for holiday gatherings and festivities.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Bars