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 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.
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.
My Christmas Cookie Baking Playlist
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 these. The dough can be made ahead and frozen which makes it easy to have a fresh batch ready quickly when needed.
Chinese Almond Cookies
These are my favorite. I think it is the almond flavoring and the crunchy bite. They stack well to box and give as gifts.
Edible Sugar Cookie Christmas Tree
You need the cookie cutter kit to make this, but I enjoy making it every year.
Mug Hugger Cookies
You can make these with any flat crisp cookie. I made mine with this sugar cookie recipe.
Other Christmas Baked Goodies
Lemon Pound Cake
I have been making this lemon pound cake every year since I married Ed. I have the recipe memorized. :-)
It is so good anytime, but I think it is best when you….
…toast it!
Garlic Pretzels
These 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
Cookie Gift Wrapping Tags
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.
Cookie Baking Supplies
JACK WALTON says
Delicious, looking so tasty, I am going to make them for my son’s birthday party so mouth-watering.
tracey says
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!
Diane Henkler says
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.
Naomi C. says
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!
Lynn W says
Thank you for the great Christmas playlist 💜
Margo says
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.
Diane Henkler says
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
Janet In Kansas says
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
Diane Henkler says
Hi Janet – Thanks for sharing the Candied Pecans. They sound DELICIOUS! Printing the recipe. :-) Merry Christmas
Cheryl Atkinson says
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.
Mary Guzik says
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!
Diane Henkler says
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
Giftbasketworldwide says
Enjoyed your writing, expecting some further great works!
Beth Wukasch says
Could you publish the vintage print so i could make it a screensaver too?
Diane Henkler says
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.