Sugar cookies come in many delightful varieties, each offering a unique twist on the classic treat. For festive occasions, roll out easy sugar cookie dough into holiday shapes that hold beautifully during baking, making them ideal for icing. If you prefer a softer bite, soft sugar cookies deliver a tender texture, especially when coated with sugar for added sweetness. For a more nuanced flavor, honey sugar cookies bring a natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with buttercream or meringue-based icing. Those who love a little crunch will enjoy crisp sugar cookies, thin and ideal for cutting into fun shapes. For something unique, smashed sugar cookies incorporate sour cream for a distinct texture and flavor. Elevate your baking with vanilla orange sugar cookies, combining high-quality vanilla and orange zest for a sophisticated twist, or impress with red velvet sugar cookies, a luxurious and rich option. Sprinkle lovers can’t go wrong with funfetti cookies, bursting with colorful sprinkles for nostalgic charm. Finally, easy soft and chewy sugar cookies require no rolling but still deliver the classic taste, perfect for decorating with holiday sprinkles.

Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Put a holiday twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie, or stick with the tried-and-true version that's perfect year-round. For the best chocolate chip cookie recipe ever, rich chocolate chunks provide incredible texture and flavor, earning it a spot as an all-time favorite. Turn them into Christmas chocolate chip cookies by adding festive red and green candies, or take it up a notch with chocolate chip Christmas cookies, dipped in chocolate and topped with holiday-themed sprinkles for a show-stopping dessert platter. For those who crave bakery-style treats, the big, fat, chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe delivers oversized, decadent cookies that are perfect with coffee or milk. Try brown butter chocolate chip cookies for a gourmet touch, where nutty browned butter elevates the flavor to a whole new level. For a sophisticated twist, salted chocolate chunk cookies balance the sweetness of rich chocolate with a sprinkle of sea salt, while raspberry chocolate chunk cookies add a fruity burst to complement the chocolate. If you're feeling indulgent, caramel chocolate chip cookies combine gooey caramel chips with chocolate for a delightful duo, or try mint chocolate chip cookies, which bring a refreshing pop of mint and a festive green color to your holiday cookie tray.

Butter cookies

Butter cookies are a holiday favorite, cherished for their delicate texture and buttery, sweet flavor. Classic butter cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delights that can be prepped in advance and baked fresh as needed. Add a festive twist with candy cane cookies, where red and white dough is shaped into candy canes and flavored with peppermint or left as is for that buttery goodness. For a quick and easy option, easy Christmas butter cookies come together in just 20 minutes and can be piped into intricate shapes, dipped in chocolate, or adorned with sprinkles. For an extra soft treat, Christmas ooey gooey butter cookies combine festive red and green sprinkles with a tender, rich texture. If you're pressed for time, one-bowl 30-minute butter cookies deliver the same delicious taste with minimal mess. Get creative with eight flavor-rich butter cookies, using the classic recipe as a base to try variations like walnut “snowballs” or cinnamon-sugar coatings. For a bright and tangy spin, lemon butter cookies add zest and lemon juice for a refreshing twist, while Danish butter cookies offer the ultimate traditional experience, perfect for piping into intricate swirls and designs.

Gingerbread cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a quintessential holiday treat, perfect for creating festive memories and sweet indulgences. For a soft, spiced option, big soft ginger cookies deliver bold ginger flavor with hints of cinnamon and cloves, balanced by molasses and a sugar coating. If you love decorating, the best gingerbread men cookies can be personalized with icing and make thoughtful, edible gifts. For a show-stopping centerpiece, a gingerbread house recipe lets you construct and decorate your own magical holiday creation with candies and frosting. Those seeking a celebrity-approved recipe can try gingerbread cookies by Alex Guarnaschelli, who shares tips for even baking. Plant-based bakers will love vegan gingerbread cookies, which swap butter for plant-based shortening without sacrificing flavor. For a unique twist, gingerbread stocking ornaments can double as tree decor and festive snacks, while drizzled gingerbread biscotti pairs beautifully with coffee or cocoa for a cozy treat. If rolling dough isn’t your style, gingerbread cookie bars with spiced cream cheese frosting offer the same holiday flavors in an easy-to-make format.

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Chocolate cookies

Chocolate cookies are the ultimate holiday indulgence, with endless possibilities for flavor and flair. Chocolate crinkle cookies offer a classic choice with their rich chocolate flavor and snowy powdered sugar coating, making them as fun to eat as they are to make. For brownie lovers, brownie cookies deliver gooey centers and crisp edges, just like your favorite pan of brownies. If you’re short on time, no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies—or chocolate oaties—are a quick and flavorful treat that comes together without an oven. Chocolate-covered cherry cookies bring elegance to your cookie tray with their decadent pairing of chocolate and cherry, perfect for gifting or savoring. For a cozy twist, hot chocolate cookies pack the comforting flavors of holiday cocoa right into the dough. Meanwhile, homemade whoopie pies add a nostalgic touch with their fluffy buttercream filling and chocolate cookie layers, customizable with festive sprinkles. Looking for something extraordinary? Chocolate caramel blossoms feature caramel-kissed chocolate cookies that are true showstoppers, while Mexican chocolate walnut-cherry biscotti combines a hint of heat with walnut and cherry for a bold, coffee-ready treat. Finally, chocolate alfajores cookies bring Argentinian flair with dulce de leche sandwiched between chocolate shortbread—pure decadence in every bite.

Try one of these festive cookies to turn your next holiday cookie swap into an extra-delicious affair.  No holiday season is complete without the aroma of freshly baked cookies filling your home. With these festive recipes, you’ll have plenty of inspiration to create sweet treats that bring joy to every celebration and make the season extra special.