The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (2024)

Food editors, much like the rest of us, love Christmas cookies. They develop and test recipes, style the fruits of their labor for photo shoots, and generally make a lot more cookies than we do. Naturally, we were curious about the treats they bake at home year after year.

From putting together this collection, it's clear these veteran bakers love a ginger or spice cookie for the holidays. Another trend is cookies with fruit—so much better than fruitcake, don't you think? These beloved recipes are excellent for gifting, cookie-swapping, or setting out for Santa, which means they're guaranteed to be winners among your family and friends this holiday season.

01of 12

Chewy Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (1)

"Spicy, chocolatey, and chewy with a tiny bit of crisp thrown in. It's truly my go-to," says former editorial director of food Sarah Carey. "I never make a cookie box without it."

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02of 12

Jamaretti Cookies

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (2)

Sarah likes this unusual, but easy cookie for several reasons: First, it's "made with a generous amount of almond paste that adds a lovely chew and subtle almond flavor." Next, "the method lends itself to large batching since it's so simple, and its bright swath of jam brings color and vibrancy to the box," she says.

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03of 12

Chewy Fruitcake Meringues

"These are chewy and nutty and fruity...basically a fruitcake, only in light-and-airy meringue cookie format instead of a stodgy loaf," says former deputy food director Greg Lofts.

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04of 12

Alexis's Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (4)

If you make just one cookie this year, it should be this one, says former senior food editor Lauryn Tyrell, who doesn't actually prepare an assortment of cookies during the holiday season. "As my free time is limited, especially around the holidays, I opt for a statement cookie and this is my go-to," she says.

The recipe comes from Martha's daughter, Alexis, and yields cookies that are "so impressive—in terms of size, flavor, and texture—that they always receive 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and 'where did you get these?' when I give them as gifts," she says. "Plus, since they're thin, the yield is large enough to make a batch for a few different friends and still have some leftover for myself—and my pilfering kids!"

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05of 12

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (5)

"Such a classic!" says former associate food editor Riley Wofford of this easy-to-make and hard-to-resist cookie. "I actually never ate these at Christmas growing up, but I totally get why people do—they're very festive."

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06of 12

Tropical Fruit Biscotti

"No holiday cookie round-up would be complete without something crunchy and long-lasting, something you can eat a month later with a cup of tea and think, 'Wow, this is still great!' That's why I always include biscotti in my box," says Sarah. Another reason to love this recipe? "It's a pretty shape and can be made in almost an endless variety of flavors."

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07of 12

Chai Snowballs

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (7)

Both Greg and Lauryn love these snowy cookies. "They are similar to Russian Tea Cakes but with a chai flavor profile," explains Greg. Lauryn says she loves them because they remind her of cookies her grandma used to make. Plus, she explains, "the addition of the tea and warming spices adds depth and a little extra holiday cheer."

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08of 12

Gingerbread-Espresso Crinkle Cookies

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (8)

"Chocolate crinkle cookies were a constant Christmas cookie rotation in our family and I love this sort of grown-up rendition," says Riley.

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09of 12

Marmalade Linzer Sandwiches

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (9)

"I tested these pretty cookies when I first started working at Martha Stewart and loved them instantly," says Lauryn. "They're laced with a subtle hint of cardamom that plays so well with the citrus. And the pecans add a lovely crumbly texture to the dough. I love their look, but you can customize them with any cutouts you like."

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10of 12

Shortbread Cookies

"You have to have a classic shortbread cookie at the holidays," says Greg. "These Star of David shortbread cookies are perfect for Hanukkah."

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11of 12

Citrus Thumbprints

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (10)

"Delicate in texture and full of tangy citrus flavor," these cheerful thumbprint cookie are another favorite for Sarah. "The dusting of confectioners' sugar brings holiday realness," she says.

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12of 12

Spicy Chocolate Cookies

The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (11)

"These are similar to Sarah's favorite Chewy Chocolate-Gingerbread Cookies," says Greg, "but they are all about the chocolate and spice, no ginger."

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The Christmas Cookie Recipes Our Food Editors Make Year After Year (2024)
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