33 Traditional Christmas Cookies Like Grandma Would Make
Christmas means cookies at many homes. Many of us associate our favorite Christmas cookies with cookies that our families made each year.
I don’t know about you, but every time we visited either of my Grandmas, there were always fresh baked cookies, rolls, breads and treats. Both of my wonderful Grandmas baked to show their love. I am much the same way now! No time was this more obvious than the Christmas season when the baking increased all that more!
For that reason, I compiled some of the cookie recipes I learned from my Grandma’s, as well as other Grandma’s favorite recipes around for this traditional Christmas cookie roundup.
These Christmas cookies are all simple, traditional, and perfect for baking with your kids or grandkids during the holidays. If you are looking for a new Christmas cookie recipe – that tastes just like the ones you remember from your childhood, I hope this list helps you find it!
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McCall’s Sour Cream Cookies
These buttery drop cookies are made with sour cream for extra softness. This vintage recipe is easy and makes a big batch of cookies.
Get the full recipe from 12 Tomatoes here.
Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (No Chill Needed)
These easy-to-roll sugar cookies hold their shape well and are perfect for decorating with little ones. Simple pantry ingredients make them affordable and festive for any season. While they are not my Grandma’s recipe, it is hands down the best roll out sugar cookie recipe I have ever tried.
Get the full recipe from Joyfully Thriving.
Grandma’s Date Pinwheels
Date pinwheels are a classic icebox cookie made with sweet dates and a spiced dough. This make-ahead recipe is a nostalgic favorite and stretches your ingredients.
Get the full recipe from Frugal Hausfrau.
Old-Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are often made all year long but some still like the simple classics for Christmas. This is a tried-and-true recipe that uses cold butter and classic ingredients for chewy, comforting cookies just like Grandma made.
Get the full recipe at Kitchen Parade here.
Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
These bakery-style cookies are easy enough for kids to help mix and full of rich chocolate flavor. This 1939 recipe is truly a classic one!
Get the full recipe from April J Harris.
Candy Cane Cookies (A True Holiday Classic)
One of my personal favorites are these candy cane cookies which my Grandma used to bake each Christmas. She taught my father who taught me to roll these delicious cookies who taught me! These cookies look like candy canes, but are flavored with almond extract! It really is the best dough combination, and easier to roll then you may think.
Get the full recipe at Joyfully Thriving here.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Iconic and easy, these sugar-coated peanut butter cookies topped with a chocolate kiss are always a hit with kids and adults alike. What grandma didn’t make these over the years?
Get the recipe from Mom on Timeout.
Grandma’s Oatmeal Cookies (Always a Classic)
Soft, chewy oatmeal cookies made are always a classic – year round! Even better, this Grandma’s recipe is made with only a few simple ingredients from the pantry.
Get the full recipe from Simply Recipes here.
Sand Tarts
These delicate, buttery cookies are really a very thin sugar cookie and a nostalgic addition to your holiday table. If you like thin sugar cookies, try this Nana’s recipe!
Get the full recipe from Eat Picks.
Potato Chip Cookies
This is definitely a passed down recipe! Sweet and salty with a bit of crunch, these vintage cookies are a clever way to use up pantry staples.
Get the full recipe from Erica’s Recipes.
Ginger Cookies (Or Gingersnaps)
Molasses spiced cookies are truly an old fashioned classic. With a crispy outside and tender center, this is an old fashioned family recipe everyone loves.
Get the full recipe from Dash of Sanity.
Buckeyes (Yummy Peanut Butter Balls)
From my mother’s side of the family, I learned to make buckeyes. Buckeyes are one of those simple but amazing candies that everyone (and I mean everyone!) loves. Only 5 ingredients are needed to make these delicious peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. We make these every single Christmas.
Get the full recipe with tips and tricks from Joyfully Thriving.
Old Fashioned Holiday Cut Out Cookies
Here’s another classic cookie recipe passed down from generations. This large-batch recipe freezes well and makes cookies perfect for decorating with the whole family.
Get the full recipe from Mom Makes Joy.
Italian Anise Cookies
These rounded and glazed cookies often appear on holiday cookie platters. If you are not sure about the taste of anise in a cookie, this recipe makes a smaller batch with only 18 cookies so you can try it before you make a huge batch.
Get the full recipe at My Cookie Journey.
Snickerdoodles (Classic Cinnamon Sugar Cookie)
Snickerdoodles are always a classic! These cinnamon-sugar cookies crackle on top and stay soft inside. They’re cozy, classic, and easy to make.
Get the full recipe at Foodie with Family.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
I don’t typically like raisins in my cookies unless it’s the classic oatmeal spiced cookie like this one. Packed with oats and raisins, these delicious cookies have been a classic for many families.
Get the full recipe from Entirely Elizabeth.
Jam Jams (Molasses Sandwich Cookies)
Soft molasses cookies filled with jam, these are a treasured treat that feel special but are easy to make. You can also use whatever flavor of jam you choose to make these cookies.
Get the full recipe from Lazy Spoon Farms here.
Thumbprint Cookies
Here’s another holiday cookie we probably all remember Grandma making! This buttery cookie base is topped with a dollop of jam in the center – simple, pretty, and perfect for the holidays.
Get the full recipe from Sugar Spun Run.
No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies
These chocolate and oat cookies come together on the stovetop – no oven needed and great for last-minute baking! I bake these cookies year round…including for the holidays!
Get the full recipe from Joyfully Thriving.
Snowball Cookies (Russian Tea Cakes)
Sometimes called Mexican wedding cookies or yes, Russian tea cakes, these snowball cookies are a classic. Covered in powdered sugar and filled with nuts, these melt-in-your-mouth cookies are a holiday favorite.
Get the full recipe from To Simply Inspire here.
Pudding Mix Cookies (Only 5 Ingredients)
This is one of those super easy cookies that everyone loves. Using boxed pudding mix, these soft cookies are easy, inexpensive, and endlessly customizable. We typically make them with a yellow cake mix and chocolate chips but you can adapt this recipe with any cake mix of your choosing!
Get the full recipe from Joyfully Thriving.
Linzer Cookies (Spitzbuben)
Tender butter cookies sandwiched with jam and dusted with powdered sugar are a festive holiday cookie. Traditionally a German recipe, this is a Christmas cookie favorite.
Get the full recipe from Dirndl Kitchen.
Ginger Drops Cookies
If you are looking for a ginger and molasses flavor in a simple cookie, try these old fashioned ginger drops. It’s a very simple recipe that makes a delicious spiced cookie.
Get the full recipe from Under a Tin Roof.
Old-Fashioned Shortbread Cookies
Just five ingredients make these rich, crumbly cookies that taste like they came straight from Grandma’s cookie tin. They are also topped with a cherry in the middle for a cheerful, Christmas look and unique flavor.
Get the full recipe from Rock Recipes.
Amish Sugar Cookies
These soft, puffy cookies don’t require rolling or chilling – great for busy days and big batches. If you want to bake a lot of cookies quickly this holiday season, try these deliciously soft drop sugar cookies.
Get the full recipe at The Gold Lining Girl.
Classic Vanilla Cookies
These simple, chewy vanilla cookies are made with everyday ingredients and bake up fast – perfect for filling the cookie jar.
Get the full recipe from Cloudy Kitchen.
Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
These classic cookies come together quickly and have that signature criss-cross top. They’re perfect for making with kids and are a frugal pantry favorite.
Get the full cookie recipe from Boston Girl Bakes.
Danish Butter Cookies
These traditional cookies are often bought at the holidays but they are actually simple to bake using a piping bag! They have a classic butter taste everyone loves.
Get the full recipe from Adamant Kitchen.
Moravian Spice Cookies
Incredibly thin and crisp, these molasses flavored cookies are a flavorful holiday treat. If you have the patience for rolling thin cookies, give these holiday cookies a try.
Get the full recipe from What a Girl Eats.
Hallongrotta (Swedish Raspberry Thumbprints)
These buttery cookies have a sweet raspberry jam center and are a favorite at Scandinavian Christmas tables. They are also very easy to bake!
Get the full recipe from the Scandinavian Cookbook here.
Classic Spritz Cookies
These pressed cookies are delicate, buttery, and perfect for decorating. They’ve been a favorite since the 1950s and are still a hit today.
Get the full recipe from Joyfully Thriving.
Grandma’s Christmas Cookies
Made with cherries and nuts, this is another family recipe that has been passed down and enjoyed by any generations. If you are looking for a different Christmas cookie to try, try this one!
Get the full cookie recipe from Fantabulosity.
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies
If you like shortbread cookies, try this twist on a shortbread – by adding chocolate chips and rolling them into balls. A delicious and soft shortbread cookie, this is another family favorite in our house!
Get the full cookie recipe from Joyfully Thriving.
Happy holiday baking! Do you have a favorite Christmas cookie memory or recipe from your Grandma?
