Christmas Cookies – what’s not to love? The only problem is that you could probably try a new recipe every day and never run out of things to make. So we decided to share the recipes that mean the most to our family. These are tried and true and family approved. We hope you love these Christmas cookies as much as our families do!

Jen’s Christmas Cookies

Speculoos Cookies

With my in-laws, we bake and decorate cookies every year. Not only do we make gingerbread, we also make speculoos too! 

Have you ever tried Cookie Butter, or the Biscoff cookies on a Delta flight? That’s speculoos! 

Here’s a recipe from Tasty, you should give them a shot! 

SPICE BLEND

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ¼ teaspoon white pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground anise

COOKIES

• 1 ½ cups flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 3 ½ teaspoons spice blend
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg

1. To make the splice blend, combine spices in a small bowl and mix until evenly distributed.
2. To make the cookies, combine flour, salt, baking powder, and spice blend in a large mixing bowl,. Mix until blended.
3. In a new large bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Mix in the egg.
4. Add the flour mixture and combine until well mixed and dough forms.
5. Remove dough from bowl and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2-6 hours.
6. On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a ⅛- to ¼-inch (3mm – 6mm) thickness.
7. Cut the dough into desired cookie shape.
8. Optional: use speculoos style cookie molds to shape cookies.
9. Place cookies on parchment covered baking tray and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12-14 minutes.

After baking all our cookies, and letting them cool, we start decorating! We make different colors of frosting, have sprinkles, eyes, mustaches, mouths, and start decorating! 

After we decorate each of our cookies, we put them together and take photos! Sometimes we even post on Facebook, and get people to vote on their favorites!

Dianne’s Family Approved Cookies

I don’t know if I’m loyal or lazy. I’m just kidding (sorta), but when I find something I like, I stick with it. Just like these cookie recipes. I have the Better Crocker Cookie Book that I got for a Christmas gift in 1981….yep, 1981. It’s a little dogeared, but I still love it (and it’s still available on Amazon!). It’s my go-to book for Christmas cookies.

I love Betty Crocker’s classic Snickerdoodle recipe and the Candy Cane cookies are a classic. I used to make both of these when I lived at home with my parents.

When I first went to make them for my husband Jeff, it immediately took him back to his childhood – his mother made both of these also. So, just for that reason alone, I make both recipes every year.

(And I do still use shortening in the recipe – I figure it’s once year, so why not?)

Candy Cane Cookies

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon red food color
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix powdered sugar, butter, shortening, egg, almond extract and vanilla. Stir in flour and salt. Divide dough into halves. Tint 1 half with food color. For each candy cane, shape 1 teaspoon dough from each part into 4-inch rope. For smooth, even strips, roll back and forth on lightly floured board. Place 1 red and 1 white strip by side; press together lightly and twist. Complete cookies 1 at a time. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Curve top down to form handle of cane. Bake until set and very light brown, about 9 minutes. Mix candy and granulated sugar; immediately sprinkle over cookies. Remove from cookie sheet. Makes about 4 dozen.

Snickerdoodles

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Shape dough by rounded teaspoonfuls into balls. Mix 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon; roll balls in mixture to coat. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until set, 8 to 10 minutes. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Makes about 6 dozen.

(Personal Note: I tend to intentionally under bake these just a little to keep them more soft, less crispy)

My Favorite Cookie Shortcut

I will admit that I am not great with rolled/cut-out cookies. It takes me forever to roll them out and get them the right thickness to cut them out. So a few years back I discovered these pre-cut cookies from GFS for $9.99 (for 5 dozen). So these are what I make every year and it keeps my cookie stress down. There are pre-cut and you just have to bake them. That makes it easy. But to add a homemade feel to them, I do make my own icing and decorate them.

This is the sugar cookie icing recipe that I got from Allrecipes.com. I use this one every year and everyone seems to like it! I will have to add a picture after I make them this year.

Sugar Cookie Icing

• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• Assorted food coloring

In a small bowl, stir together the confectioners sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.

Divide into separate bowls and add food colorings to desired intensity. Dip cookies or paint them with a brush.

When I make this icing for the five dozen GFS cookies, I always start with a double batch. I often need to make a third batch, but it varies from time to time depending on how thick I make the icing. I usually ice the cookies on a cooling rack with wax paper underneath for easy clean up.

Learn more about our family in our latest blog post, aptly titled “Our Most Favorite Christmas Traditions: New & Old”.

And let us know in the comments below if you’re going to give any of the recipes for these Christmas cookies a try!