Christmas Cookie Recipes & Music Playlist

ByDiane Henkler 12/15/202010/09/2022 Last updated:10/09/2022

Christmas cookies and desserts to make along with my favorite cookie baking Christmas music playlist.

The delicious aroma of baking fills my house every December. With cookies, pound cakes and more. It is unlike any other time of year with the counters filled with ingredients and there is flour everywhere.

Christmas cookies water color illustrations

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas for me without baking, keeping some for myself and wrapping up the rest in pretty packages to give to family and friends.

Just thinking about baking Christmas cookies brings back fond cookie making memories in the small kitchen with my mom and siblings in the split-level house in which I grew up.

With the snow falling outside and Christmas tunes playing in the background on a radio that sat on top of the refrigerator, we had baking marathons.

The best part of course, was getting to lick the beaters and eating way too many cookies right out of the oven.

Cookie baking with daughter and granddaughter

I have enjoyed passing the tradition down to my daughters and it looks like little Zoe is going to like baking Christmas cookies, too.

Everyone has his or her own personal idea about what makes the perfect Christmas cookie, including me.

So with that in mind. I thought I would share the cookies I make each year, plus the music that I listen to as I am mixing, baking and wrapping. The two go together perfectly in my mind – Christmas cookies and Christmas music.

Sometimes when my daughters are home and baking with me, there might even be some dancing in the kitchen to certain songs as we mix batter – #4 and #6 come to mind. :-)

Here is the link to the playlist: In My Own Style Christmas Baking Playlist

Pecan Cherry Cookies

If you like shortbread cookies that you can dunk in a mug of hot coffee or cocoa, then you will love this Pecan Cherry cookie recipe. The dough can be made ahead and frozen which makes it easy to have a fresh batch ready quickly when needed.

Chinese Almond Cookies

This is my favorite Christmas cookie recipe. I think it is the almond flavoring and the crunchy bite. They stack well to box and give as gifts.

You need the cookie cutter kit to make edible Christmas tree. It can be found online. I enjoy making it every year.

2 star Christmas cookies on the rims of glasses of milk.

Mug Hugger Cookies

You can make these cookies with a cut in them so when baked, they can sit on the edge of a mug. You can use any flat crisp cookie recipe. I made mine with this sugar cookie recipe.

Other Christmas Baked Goodies

Semifreddo

This Semifreddo recipe is a delicious desert that is a frozen treat similar to ice cream, but an elegant version.

Lemon Pound Cake

I have been making this lemon pound cake recipe every year since I married Ed. I have the recipe memorized. :-)

It is so good anytime, but I think it is best when you….

A slice of toasted old fashioned lemon pound cake.

…toast it!

Garlic Pretzels

These garlic pretzels are semi-homemade. You use a bag of store bought pretzels, break them up, add the yummy seasoning and then bake in the oven.

They make a very nice food gift. If you make them, make a double batch as everyone seems to like them, both young and old.

Wrapping Ideas for Baked Goods

Gift wrapping ideas for Christmas cookies.

When it comes time to give some of the Christmas cookies you made, here are a few ideas on how to festively wrap them to give. Hot glue dollar store tins together, wrap ribbon around them and attach a gift tag.

What Christmas cookies do you bake for your family and friends?

Do you have any special ways you wrap them for giving? I am always looking for new ideas as are other readers, so please share what you bake for the holidays.

How about other Christmas decorating and gift giving ideas?

A variety of Christmas cookies to make. Text overlay says Christmas cookies your family will love.

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15 Comments

JACK WALTON says:

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Delicious, looking so tasty, I am going to make them for my son’s birthday party so mouth-watering.

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tracey says:

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Hi Diane,
Thanks for the great recipes and playlists! I have a question about the almond cookies. If I am going to use almond meal pre ground, would it still be 1/2 cup? Or do you only recommend using whole almonds that you chop yourself? Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas!

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1. Diane Henkler says:
  
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  Happy New Year Tracey – I realize my reply to your cookie making comment is most likely too late as you probably have already made the Chinese Almond Cookies. :-)
  
  I have always used the whole almond, but pre-ground almond meal would be the same, so yes you could use it. :-) Thanks for reading my blog and commenting. I got a little behind in my replies over the holidays. I hope you had a nice one even if it was just your husband and yourself and enjoyed the cookie making playlist. Hopefully next Christmas we can celebrate in the way we love.
  
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Naomi C. says:

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Thanks for the recipes! I have Pinned them and will by trying some out this week.
Merry Christmas from the NE side of Columbia, SC!

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Lynn W says:

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Thank you for the great Christmas playlist ?

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Margo says:

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My first year married at Christmas found me pregnant with my oldest son and baking sugar cookies by myself while my husband worked nights. I had never baked cookies before and had no cookie cutters, using drinking glasses instead to make round cookies. I made filled cookies using Motts applesauce or raspberry jam. At the time I had a printed smock my grandmother gave me because nothing else would fit. It was a dark brown pattern and all I can remember is it being covered in smudges from flour. I was very happy at the time. It’s nearly 50 years later and I still enjoy baking and filling my home with the sounds and smells of Christmas.

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1. Diane Henkler says:
  
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  Hi Margo – I loved reading how your cookie making began. You were very creative using the drinking glasses as cookies cutters. :-) Wearing a smcok your grandmother gave you I am sure made those first cookies even better. Merry Christmas
  
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Janet In Kansas says:

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Christmas at my house means one thing – Candied Pecans! This recipe comes from my husband’s grandmother and they’re the easiest and tastiest little treat, suitable for gifting. Enjoy!

1 pound raw pecan halves
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp water
1 egg white

In a resealable bag, add the sugars and cinnamon and shake to mix. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat together the egg white and water until frothy. Add in the pecans and stir until they’re wet with the egg mixture. Pour the pecans into the bag and shake to fully coat. Transfer to a non stick baking sheet and bake for 1 hour at 250 degrees. Stir every 15 minutes to break up clumps and ensure even roasting. Note: you might want to plan on making more than one batch because they’re addictive! <3

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1. Diane Henkler says:
  
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  Hi Janet – Thanks for sharing the Candied Pecans. They sound DELICIOUS! Printing the recipe. :-) Merry Christmas
  
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Cheryl Atkinson says:

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Hi Diane! Thank you so much for this post and all your delicious recipes. I plan on trying the Lemon Pound cake and the almond cherry cookies this weekend. I remember me and my Aunt would get together every year and bake all kind of Christmas goodies. She lives in a nursing home and has the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s and it breaks my heart. Well I plan on keeping this tradition with my daughter and granddaughter. I hope you have a Very Merry Christmas.

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Mary Guzik says:

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Can you please tell me where to buy the Lemon Spread. I have looked on Amazon and the internet and can’t find the Lemon Spread. Thanks for your help. Merry Christmas!

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1. Diane Henkler says:
  
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  Hi Mary –
  
  Two years ago I bought a Christmas Countdown calendar at World Market. Each day held a small jar of Bonne Maman jams, preserves and spreads. The Lemon Spread was in this. If you check the Bonne Maman site here: https://bit.ly/3qU2Ubn perhaps they can tell you if they still make it. They do have a Lemon Curd, but that looks more opaque than the Lemon Spread.
  
  They have a Contact page that where you can ask questions.
  
  I hope they still make it and can tell you where it is sold. Happy Holidays
  
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Giftbasketworldwide says:

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Enjoyed your writing, expecting some further great works!

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Beth Wukasch says:

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Could you publish the vintage print so i could make it a screensaver too?

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1. Diane Henkler says:
  
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  Hi Beth –
  
  Sure. I just added it to my printables. I did have to use two of the images for my computer screen since the card resolution can’t be stretched to fit the screen. You can find the screensaver here on my holiday printable gallery:
  
  https://inmyownstyle.com/free-printables-for-the-holidays
  
  Scroll to the bottom and you will see the card. Click on the bottom of the image where there is blue link and the .pdf screen saver will show up for a laptop. If you would like it for a phone, I will have to make that .pdf. Let me know.
  
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