Recipes Holidays & Events Christmas Recipes Christmas Cookie Recipes 15 Wonderful Christmas Cookies to Make for Santa This Year By Lynn Andriani Lynn Andriani Lynn is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 28, 2022 Close Photo: Bryan Gardner Leaving out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa on Christmas Eve is a much-loved and delicious tradition. It's also a great reminder of the pure joy cookies can bring. Although we don't know exactly what Santa loves, we do know this: The treats you put out for him should be three- or four-bite cookies. Anything giant-sized would slow him down (he's got work to do, after all). Your treats shouldn't be too sticky, either, lest he leave fingerprints behind on the gifts. Last but not least, you shouldn't prepare anything that requires refrigeration, as the treats could sit out for a few hours before his arrival. Our collection gathers the best cookies—favorites old and new—to share with Father Christmas this year. 01 of 15 Basic Gingerbread Cookies Alpha Smoot This gingerbread recipe is dependable and straightforward, and you can use it to make cutout cookies in any shape. Snowflakes, girls and boys, bells, houses, trees—anything goes. View Recipe 02 of 15 Coconut-Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies Bryan Gardner The chocolate filling rolled into these chewy Christmas pinwheel cookies creates a beautiful, brownie-like swirl that's completely irresistible. View Recipe 03 of 15 Russian Tea Cakes Rolling these classic Christmas cookies in powdered sugar twice—once while they're still warm and again when they're completely cooled—ensures maximum snowball effect. View Recipe 04 of 15 Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Everyone (and we're pretty sure that extends to Santa) loves a chocolate chip cookie. And this version—which is made in the soft and chewy style—delivers both the nostalgia of childhood and the satisfying, grown-up flavors of dark chocolate. View Recipe 05 of 15 Shaped Icebox Cookies Here's a customizable shortbread cookie that's basically a homemade version of slice and bake. Here are a few of our favorite ingredient combinations: toasted blanched almonds and dried cherries; dried cranberries and chopped candied orange peel; and dried apricots and pistachios. View Recipe 06 of 15 Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies Victor Schrager Indulge in this version of the minty classic, with a holiday-inspired topping of crushed red-and-white candies. View Recipe 07 of 15 Thumbprint Cookies Joseph De Leo A signature Christmastime sweet, these tiny almond-flavored cookies bear the print of the baker's thumb, which is gently pressed into the partially baked cookie to create a well. View Recipe 08 of 15 Snickerdoodles Victor Schrager It doesn't get more classic than this cinnamon-sugar cookie. Pro tip: Give them ample room on cookie sheets, as they spread a lot as they bake. View Recipe 09 of 15 Chocolate Spice Cookies Alpha Smoot This recipe starts with a delicious ginger-spiced dough that you can take in one of two directions: emboss the dough with a cookie stamp and brush it with an orange-butter glaze; or (the more Santa-friendly option) omit the cocoa powder, swap in chocolate chunks, and roll the cookies in sanding sugar for sweet sparkle. View Recipe 10 of 15 Cocoa Shortbread Diamonds Victor Schrager These cookies are perfect alongside a glass of milk. To decorate them, use a spoon to drizzle the melted white chocolate (a resealable plastic bag with a corner snipped off works too). View Recipe 11 of 15 Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies Alpha Smoot You can make these cookies two ways: either cut out circles using a cookie cutter and edge them in sanding sugar; or shape the dough into a log, coat it in sugar, and then chill, slice, and bake. View Recipe 12 of 15 Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies Bryan Gardner These are the quintessential sweet-and-salty Christmas treat, combining a chocolate kiss with a peanut butter cookie. And we're pretty sure Santa will view these as we do: a two for one (candy plus cookie!). View Recipe 13 of 15 Snowmen Shortbread Cookies Joseph De Leo Almond extract and ground almonds infuse a nutty flavor and texture to basic shortbread dough. Roll it out and cut into jaunty snowman shapes. A generous coat of confectioners' sugar is all each snowman needs to wear. View Recipe 14 of 15 Christmas Tree Cookies You'll have fun tinting the Vanilla Cookie Dough two different colors to create these cutout cookies for Santa. View Recipe 15 of 15 Cookie Press Cookies Bryan Gardner Rich, buttery, and made with lots of vanilla, these cookies are easy to make and to decorate. Use a cookie press—a cylinder fitted with a decorative nozzle at one end and a plunger at the other—to press the cookies directly onto the baking sheet. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit