December brings cozy evenings, twinkling lights, and kitchens filled with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked cookies. Holiday baking season transforms ordinary days into sweet celebrations, where every batch tells a story of tradition, creativity, and comfort.
These 14 homemade cookie recipes capture everything magical about December baking, from classic favorites passed down through generations to exciting new flavors that spark joy with every bite.
Each recipe promises to fill your cookie jar and warm hearts around your table. Get ready to discover your new December baking obsession as we explore cookies that have taken over kitchens everywhere this festive season.
14 Homemade Cookie Recipes Taking Over Our Kitchens This December
1. Chocolate Orange Linzer Shortbread Cookies
Rich cocoa powder transforms traditional shortbread into an indulgent treat that melts on your tongue. Delicate orange zest weaves through each bite, creating a sophisticated flavor combination that feels both festive and luxurious. Dark chocolate drizzle adds glossy elegance while intensifying the deep chocolate notes already present in these tender rounds.
Vibrant orange flakes scattered across the top provide visual appeal and hint at the citrus surprise waiting inside. These cookies strike a beautiful balance between buttery shortbread texture and bold flavor profiles. December dessert tables instantly become more impressive when these beauties make an appearance.
For recipe: [Chocolate Orange Linzer Shortbread Cookies]
2. Orange Cranberry, Pistachio, and Cardamom White Chocolate Slice and Bake Cookies
Jewel-toned cranberries and vibrant pistachios dot these buttery rounds like edible confetti. Aromatic cardamom adds an unexpected warmth that elevates the classic cranberry-orange pairing to new heights. White chocolate chunks melt into pockets of creamy sweetness throughout each slice, creating textural contrast with the crunchy nuts.
Sparkling sugar coating gives these cookies a festive, snow-kissed appearance that catches the light beautifully. Making the dough ahead and freezing it means fresh-baked cookies are just minutes away whenever cravings strike. These slices showcase how simple ingredients can transform into something truly spectacular when combined thoughtfully.
For recipe: [Orange Cranberry, Pistachio, and Cardamom White Chocolate Slice and Bake Cookies]
3. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Fudgy chocolate centers pooled with glossy ganache recreate the comfort of hot cocoa in cookie form. Crushed peppermint candies and fluffy marshmallows crown each round, bringing festive cheer to every bite. Deep chocolate shortbread provides a sturdy base that holds all these delightful toppings without becoming soggy.
Swirls of melted chocolate create artistic patterns that make each cookie unique and Instagram-worthy. Cool peppermint flavor cuts through the richness, creating a refreshing balance that keeps you reaching for more. Hot chocolate lovers will recognize their favorite winter drink transformed into a handheld treat they can enjoy anytime.
For recipe: [Peppermint Hot Chocolate Shortbread Cookies]
4. Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Chocolate Chips
Golden edges give way to soft, pillowy centers bursting with warm autumn spices in every bite. Chocolate chips stud the surface, their bittersweet notes playing beautifully against the sweet pumpkin base. Oats add wholesome texture and keep these cookies wonderfully chewy for days after baking.
Cinnamon and nutmeg swirl through the dough, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma that signals the holidays have arrived. Stacking tall, these cookies photograph like a dream and taste even better than they look. Pumpkin puree keeps them moist while adding natural sweetness and that beloved seasonal flavor everyone craves in December.
For recipe: [Chewy Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Chocolate Chips]
5. Pistachio Truffles
Luxurious pistachio truffles bring an elegant twist to traditional holiday cookies with their rich, nutty flavor and stunning presentation. Coated in silky chocolate and adorned with crushed pistachios or white chocolate drizzle, these bite-sized treats look like they came straight from a high-end bakery. Rolling them takes minimal effort, yet the results impress even the most discerning cookie enthusiasts at your holiday gatherings.
Buttery pistachio paste forms the heart of these decadent morsels, creating a texture that melts on your tongue. Dark and white chocolate variations offer visual contrast while complementing the green nuts beautifully. These truffles store wonderfully in the refrigerator, making them excellent for preparing ahead when December’s busy schedule demands efficiency without sacrificing taste.
For recipe: [Pistachio Truffles]
6. Buttered Rum Shortbread Cookies
Golden-hued shortbread cookies infused with buttered rum flavoring capture the essence of cozy winter evenings by the fireplace. Each cookie showcases artistic marbled patterns created by swirling vanilla and rum-flavored dough together before baking. Sparkling sugar crystals crown these beauties, adding a festive shimmer that catches the light on your cookie platter.
Crumbly yet tender, these shortbreads practically dissolve in your mouth with every bite. Rich butter combines with warm rum extract to create a sophisticated flavor profile that adults particularly adore. Baking them requires just a few simple ingredients, proving that elegance doesn’t always demand complexity in the kitchen.
For recipe: [Buttered Rum Shortbread Cookies]
7. Dreamy Soft Vegan Coconut Meltaway Cookies
Vegan bakers rejoice over these incredibly soft coconut cookies that prove plant-based treats can rival any traditional recipe. Shredded coconut throughout the dough creates a delicate texture that lives up to the “meltaway” name beautifully. Drizzled dark chocolate and optional coconut flakes transform these simple rounds into showstopping desserts worthy of any holiday spread.
Delicate and tender, each cookie crumbles gently with a subtly sweet coconut flavor that never overwhelms. Dairy-free chocolate ganache adds richness while maintaining the recipe’s completely vegan credentials. These cookies stay fresh for days in an airtight container, making them excellent for gifting to friends with dietary restrictions.
For recipe: [Dreamy Soft Vegan Coconut Meltaway Cookies]
8. Soft Gingerbread Latte Cookies with Brown Butter Icing
Aromatic gingerbread cookies meet your favorite coffee shop latte in this ingenious December mashup that tastes like the holidays in every bite. Warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg mingle with espresso powder to create a flavor combination that feels both familiar and excitingly new. Topped with brown butter icing speckled with espresso, these cookies balance sweetness with just enough sophistication for grown-up palates.
Incredibly soft and chewy, each cookie maintains its pillowy texture even days after baking. Brown butter icing adds nutty depth that complements the molasses-rich dough underneath beautifully. Stack them high for an impressive photo, then watch them disappear from your cookie jar faster than you can brew another pot of coffee.
For recipe: [Soft Gingerbread Latte Cookies with Brown Butter Icing]
9. White Christmas Sugar Cookies
Festive sugar cookies adorned with hand-piped Christmas trees bring charming homemade artistry to your holiday baking lineup. Smooth white royal icing creates a snowy canvas for vibrant green trees decorated with tiny red and green sprinkles that sparkle like ornaments. Golden star toppers complete each miniature evergreen, turning simple rounds into edible winter wonderland scenes.
Buttery and lightly sweet, these cookies provide the classic sugar cookie experience that never goes out of style. Rolling and decorating them becomes a joyful family activity where even novice decorators can achieve adorable results. Packaged in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon, they make thoughtful gifts that recipients will treasure almost as much as they enjoy eating them.
For recipe: [White Christmas Sugar Cookies]
10. Chai Chocolate Dipped Christmas Cookies
Aromatic chai spices infuse these tender cookies with warming flavors of cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger that evoke cozy winter afternoons. Half-dipped in glossy dark chocolate and sprinkled with festive red and green jimmies, they strike a stunning balance between rustic charm and polished presentation. Each bite delivers the comforting taste of spiced tea paired with rich chocolate decadence.
Soft and cake-like in texture, these cookies crumble gently on your tongue while releasing fragrant spice notes. Dipping them in chocolate requires minimal skill yet produces bakery-worthy results that impress guests at holiday parties. Store them in layers separated by parchment paper to keep the chocolate coating pristine and ready for serving.
For recipe: [Chai Chocolate Dipped Christmas Cookies]
11. Vegan + Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (from Café Gratitude)
Restaurant-quality cookies from beloved Café Gratitude prove that dietary restrictions never mean sacrificing flavor or texture. Studded with melty chocolate chips and crunchy nuts, these treats boast deep molasses notes and a satisfyingly chewy center. Flaky sea salt crystals scattered across the top enhance every flavor component while adding sophisticated visual appeal.
Gluten-free flour blends work magic here, creating cookies that rival their wheat-based counterparts in every way. Pools of melted chocolate dot the surface, tempting you with their glossy richness against the cookie’s darker backdrop. Friends with allergies or dietary preferences will appreciate having something truly delicious to enjoy at your holiday gatherings.
For recipe: [Vegan + Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (from Café Gratitude)]
12. Paleo Ginger Cookies
Cheerful gingerbread people decorated with bright smiles and festive details bring nostalgic joy to paleo baking enthusiasts everywhere. Almond flour and coconut sugar replace traditional ingredients while maintaining that beloved spiced flavor profile families cherish. Piped royal icing creates adorable faces and decorative details that transform simple cutouts into charming characters.
Crisp around the edges yet slightly chewy inside, these cookies deliver satisfying texture without grains or refined sugars. Rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters becomes an interactive activity kids absolutely love during December weekends. Arranged on platters, their cheerful expressions seem to smile back at you, spreading holiday cheer with every glance.
For recipe: [Paleo Ginger Cookies]
13. Chocolate Slice-and-Bake Cookies
Convenience meets indulgence in these rich chocolate slice-and-bake cookies that make weeknight baking completely manageable. Drizzled with melted chocolate and topped with chopped nuts or colorful sprinkles, they look bakery-bought despite minimal effort. Preparing the dough ahead and keeping it refrigerated means fresh cookies are just twenty minutes away whenever cravings strike.
Deeply chocolatey with a tender crumb, these cookies satisfy serious chocolate lovers without requiring complicated techniques. Slicing the chilled log creates uniform rounds that bake evenly every single time. Decorating them becomes an opportunity for creativity, letting you match different toppings to various occasions throughout the busy holiday season.
For recipe: [Chocolate Slice-and-Bake Cookies]
14. Peppermint Chocolate Shortbread Cookies (with Molten Chocolate Center)
Decadent chocolate shortbread cookies hide a surprising molten center that oozes out with each bite, creating pure bliss for peppermint lovers. Half-dipped in white chocolate and decorated with crushed candy canes, they capture the essence of December in every element. Dark chocolate drizzle adds elegant contrast against the snowy white coating, making them visually stunning on any dessert table.
Rich and buttery shortbread melts away on your palate while the gooey chocolate filling provides textural excitement. Crushed peppermint candies deliver refreshing coolness that balances the deep chocolate flavors beautifully. These showstoppers require a bit more effort than simple drop cookies, but watching guests discover that molten center makes every extra minute worthwhile.
For recipe: [Peppermint Chocolate Shortbread Cookies (with Molten Chocolate Center)]
