Christmas Cookies Recipes for a Crowd

20 recipes in this roundup

1. 

   1.Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies

   25 minutes · $ — Use a chocolate cookie base and peppermint candy centers for a tray that reads festive without fussy decorating. Portion the dough with a scoop so every cookie bakes evenly and stacks neatly. Finish with crushed candy for color and crunch. Bake two sheets if your oven accommodates them; otherwise keep the first tray covered while the second one cools. A white platter keeps the red centers visible.

   Read the Chocolate Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies recipe

2. 

   2.Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

   30 minutes · $ — Oats give this batch a sturdy, familiar texture that travels well from cooling rack to cookie tin. Dried cranberries and white chocolate make the color feel seasonal without icing. Mix one bowl, then use a scoop for uniform portions. Set out a second tray alongside them with clementines and napkins; the pairing fills a dessert table quickly. Reserve a few cranberries for scattering over the platter.

   Read the Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies recipe

3. 

   3.Pistachio Cherry Shortbread Cookies

   35 minutes · $$ — Slice-and-bake dough makes these a practical choice when oven space is limited. Pistachios and dried cherries bring green and red contrast without a separate decorating project. Chill the log until firm, then cut it with a sharp knife for tidy rounds. Arrange cookies in low stacks on a white plate, leaving a little space around the edges. That breathing room makes even a full plate look orderly.

   Read the Pistachio Cherry Shortbread Cookies recipe

4. 

   4.Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

   40 minutes · $ — Make this familiar cookie the dependable chocolate option for guests who skip spices and dried fruit. Use a scoop, then press a few extra chips onto each portion before baking. The surface signals what is inside and needs no frosting. Bake several trays in succession, moving cooled cookies to wire racks promptly. Stack them beside coffee, tea, and small paper napkins for an easy after-dinner setup.

   Read the Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe

5. 

   5.Chocolate Christmas Cookies with Crackled Sugar Tops

   45 minutes · $$ — These dark cookies earn their party look from a crackled sugar coating rather than piping. Roll the dough evenly so the tops bake with a consistent finish. The contrast works especially well on a pale platter among lighter cookies. Plan two trays if possible, and let them cool fully before stacking. A small bowl of extra sugar makes last-minute touchups simple when shaping gets messy.

   Read the Chocolate Christmas Cookies with Crackled Sugar Tops recipe

6. 

   6.Vanilla Sparkle Christmas Sugar Cookies

   50 minutes · $$ — Use sparkling sugar instead of detailed icing when the cookie table needs a bright, quick addition. Roll the dough to an even thickness so the cutouts bake at the same pace. Stars, trees, and rounds all work; choose one shape for a cleaner display. Cool cookies flat, then layer them between parchment in a shallow container. Set aside the prettiest dozen for the center of the platter.

   Read the Vanilla Sparkle Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe

7. 

   7.Orange Cardamom Christmas Sugar Cookies

   55 minutes · $$ — Orange zest and cardamom give cutout cookies a holiday direction without relying on elaborate decoration. Use simple rounds or stars, then finish with a light sugar coating. Keep dough portions covered while rolling so the next batch stays manageable. Bake cookies in matched sizes for tidy stacks and predictable tray space. Pair them with chocolate cookies on one plate for a two-color spread that feels complete.

   Read the Orange Cardamom Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe

8. 

   8.Reliable Almond Vanilla Christmas Cutouts

   1 hour · $$ — Almond and vanilla make these cutouts a flexible choice for hosts who want one dough with familiar flavor. Pick a single cutter shape, then vary the sugar color rather than the dough itself. That decision shortens prep and keeps the baking schedule easy to track. Cool every tray before packing cookies into boxes or tins. A left on a cake stand makes the table feel finished.

   Read the Reliable Almond Vanilla Christmas Cutouts recipe

9. 

   9.German Christmas Cookies

   1 hour · $$ — These cookies suit a crowd because their neat shapes make portioning straightforward. Choose one finish, such as powdered sugar or a thin glaze, and repeat it across the batch. Uniform decoration makes mixed cookie platters easier to arrange. Bake the same size per tray, rotating pans as needed for an even schedule. Pack extras in small paper bags for neighbors or take-home treats. Add a tag naming flavor.

   Read the German Christmas Cookies recipe

10. 

    10.Christmas Tree Cookies From One Reliable Dough

    1 hour 10 minutes · $$ — Tree shapes make a cookie tray read Christmas immediately, even with a restrained finish. Use the same green sugar or white icing on every cookie for a coordinated batch. Bake smaller and larger cutters separately so each tray has similar pieces. Arrange trees in rows on a long board, with the tallest shapes toward the back. Leave space for tongs or a serving spoon.

    Read the Christmas Tree Cookies From One Reliable Dough recipe

11. 

    11.Royal Icing Christmas Cookies

    1 hour 15 minutes · $$ — Royal icing gives a cookie tray clean lines when you need a polished finish. Keep the palette to two colors plus white, rather than decorating every detail. Flood one color at a time, then let cookies sit flat before stacking. Choose simple dots, stripes, or dipped edges for a repeatable system. Put the most decorated cookies on top of each pile, where they stay visible from above.

    Read the Royal Icing Christmas Cookies recipe

12. 

    12.Gluten Free Christmas Cutout Cookies

    1 hour 20 minutes · $$ — Cutout cookies give a mixed dessert table a shape-focused option alongside drop cookies. Use one or two familiar cutters, then dust or drizzle them in a single color. Keep the decoration simple so the shapes remain the main feature. Bake batches by cutter size, which keeps the trays easier to manage. Display these separately with a small label so guests can choose quickly at the table.

    Read the Gluten Free Christmas Cutout Cookies recipe

13. 

    13.Vegan Christmas Cookies From One Reliable Dough

    1 hour 25 minutes · $$ — A single dough can cover several cookie shapes when you need a plant-based addition to a larger assortment. Divide it into two portions and use different cutters for variety without another mixing bowl. Finish one half with cinnamon sugar and the other with a simple glaze. Keep the display together on one labeled plate. That arrangement makes serving straightforward and preserves room for every cookie.

    Read the Vegan Christmas Cookies From One Reliable Dough recipe

14. 

    14.Cinnamon Roll Cookies

    1 hour 30 minutes · $$ — Cinnamon roll cookies bring the familiar swirl look to a holiday tray without requiring individual pastries. Roll the dough tightly around a cinnamon filling, then chill it briefly for cleaner slices. Arrange the rounds with space between them so their edges stay distinct. A thin glaze added after cooling gives each spiral a finished look. Serve them on a plate near coffee or tea, where flavor fits naturally.

15. 

    15.Spritz Wreath Cookies

    1 hour 35 minutes · $ — Spritz wreath cookies make a big visual return from a modest dough batch. Pipe rings onto lined sheets, then add a small red accent to each if desired. Keep the decoration restrained so the wreath outline remains clear. Bake one pan at a time while you pipe the next. Arrange them in a circle on a round platter around a bowl of wrapped candies. It becomes a centerpiece.

16. 

    16.Molasses Crinkle Cookies

    1 hour 40 minutes · $ — Molasses crinkle cookies bring deep color and a crackled top to a mostly pale cookie spread. Roll portions in sugar before baking to make the finish consistent. Their sturdy shape works well for stacking in tins or piling on platters. Add orange slices or cinnamon sticks nearby as simple table decoration. Keep the cookies in one broad layer until the tops are set, then move them to rack.

17. 

    17.Cranberry White Chocolate Shortbread Bars

    1 hour 45 minutes · $$ — Shortbread bars are a smart crowd move because one pan becomes neat portions. Fold dried cranberries and white chocolate through the dough for color that fits a Christmas tray. Line the pan with parchment, then lift the cooled slab out before slicing. Cut smaller squares when the table has several desserts. Stack bars in rows, with a dusting of sugar only if the tops need contrast.

18. 

    18.Peppermint Bark Cookies

    1 hour 50 minutes · $$ — Peppermint bark cookies combine chocolate, white chocolate, and crushed candy in one easy tray. Spread melted layers over a lined pan, then scatter candy while the top is still soft. Once firm, break it into uneven pieces for a relaxed pile. Use a deep bowl rather than a flat plate, which keeps fragments contained. Add a few larger shards on top so the layers are easy to see.

19. 

    19.Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies

    2 hours · $$ — Gingerbread sandwich cookies turn a simple dough into a more substantial dessert option. Bake matching rounds, then pair them with a modest layer of vanilla filling. Keep the filling slightly inside the edges so stacks stay tidy. Make smaller cookies than usual because the finished sandwiches are richer than single cookies. Place them near the end of the dessert table, where guests can choose one after sampling treats.

20. 

    20.Chocolate-Dipped Orange Shortbread

    2 hours 10 minutes · $$ — Chocolate-dipped orange shortbread gives a final platter some dark contrast and a crisp edge. Bake plain shortbread fingers first, then dip only one end after they cool. That partial coating keeps the batch neat and makes stacking easier. Use a long platter and line the cookies in parallel rows for a bakery-case effect. Finish with a few curls of orange zest, then place them beside the palest cookies.