22 Old-Fashioned Christmas Cookies Like Your Grandma Made
Inside: Inspired by Grandma’s kitchen, these are the very best old-fashioned Christmas cookies for a plate of vintage sweet treats this holiday season.
Christmas cookies! What’s not to love?
Well, plenty. In an already busy time of year, the cookie expectations can be overwhelming. Piping bags? Meringue? Cookie cutters? No thanks. Even if you love to bake, it can all feel like a bit much.
The good news is this: some of the best holiday recipes are simple drop cookies and other old-fashioned favorites that you can make without a big fuss.
So say goodbye to trendy and complicated Christmas cookies. These vintage-inspired cookie recipes will make your holiday kitchen happy and cozy.
Find your favorite, grab a large bowl, and let’s preheat that oven to 350 degrees and get to work.
Classic Molasses Cookies
There’s nothing like a classic recipe! This molasses cookie recipe makes no apologies for being made with shortening and rolled in sparkling sugar.
They are perfectly soft with slightly crisp edges. As a bonus, the sweet smell of Christmas spices will make you happy while they’re baking.
Christmas Snickerdoodles
Christmas snickerdoodles are just like cinnamon-dusted holiday classics you know and love, but with a twist! These are loaded with chocolate chips and cranberry for a delicious twist. When you’re looking for something delicious and vintage-inspired but with a little creativity, this recipe fits the bill.
Old Fashioned Farmhouse Sugar Cookies
A simple sugar cookie recipe with vintage flair.
Black Forest Crinkle Cookies
These are a soft, rich delicious chocolate cookie loaded with chocolate chips and tart dried cherries. They look extra festive and beautiful with their crinkly texture covered in powdered sugar. A Christmas cookie recipe you will want to try if you’re looking for something new this year!
Candy Cane Shortbread Cookies
A delicious shortbread cookie topped with smooth chocolate and crushed candy canes. This Christmas cookie is easy to make and beautiful.
Spicy Hot Gingersnaps
There are boring gingersnaps, and then there are these gingersnaps! Loaded with warm spicy flavor and a secret hot ingredient, these are a special twist on a Christmas classic. They can be baked thin and snappy, or thick and soft, however you like them. If you don’t like the idea of spice in your cookies, just leave it out. You will have a perfect classic gingersnap!
Grandma’s Rum Balls
These have plenty of rum flavor and are the perfect thing to add a little variety to your cookie tray. Anyone who loves vintage recipes will adore these, guaranteed.
Potato Chip Cookies
Would you believe that potato chip cookies are an old-fashioned favorite? When potato chips first came out, housewives were encouraged to save the crumbs at the bottom for these cookies. And they are a delightful blend of sweet, salty, soft, and crunchy.
Christmas Spritz Cookies
A true family favorite, these buttery spritz cookies are essential on every cookie tray. When you don’t feel like cutting out shapes with cookie cutters, you can still have festive-shaped cookies with a cookie press, and this recipe is perfect!
You can even add food coloring to a portion of the dough for a little variety!
Polish Kolaczki Cookies
These are SO good and tender, as well as a great way to use up cream cheese!
They are rich and soft from butter and cream cheese, with a filling of any filling you choose. You simply mix and roll out the dough, then fill. One of our favorite Christmas treats.
Swedish Crescent Cookies
The subtle flavors of almond and lemon combine with a tender and buttery cookie for a cute treat with old-fashioned flavor. Super easy to make; you just mix up the dough and shape these by hand!
Classic Snickerdoodles
A great Snickerdoodle recipe with a nice soft cookie and classic cinnamon sugar topping. You can use the basic dough and make it crispier or softer, depending on how you like it! This recipe is very flexible. Roll them in colored sugar for extra Christmas flair. You’ll appreciate the detailed instructions for making the dough ahead of time and freezing it for a bulk cookie-making day in December. Probably one of the MOST popular Christmas cookies from the 60’s and 70’s.
Snowball Cookies with Macadamia Nuts
Snowball cookies have that vintage cookie look, don’t they? This recipe has macadamia nuts for an extra sweet, buttery flavor. They look so beautiful on a plate of mixed goodies. One of those iconic holiday treats!
Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprints
One of our VERY favorite recipes on this list! Classic thumbprint cookies with a hint of cheesecake flavor. Our favorite filling is the raspberry jam, but you could use any flavor you like. This is another one that looks beautiful on a mixed tray.
Old Fashioned Sour Cream Cookies
So soft they are almost like little cakes; these sour cream cookies are topped with a glaze and whatever your favorite Christmas sprinkles might be. They are easy to make, and you can make the dough ahead of time and chill it until you’re ready. Perfect for someone who doesn’t like super sweet desserts.
Fruitcake Cookies
These are packed with goodies and much tastier than actual fruitcakes. When you’re trying to channel the past, this is the recipe you need! They can be a bit of a challenge to make compared to drop cookies, but oh so worth it!
Chocolate Covered Shortbread
A recipe for super easy shortbread cookies, dipped in melted chocolate. Add holiday sprinkles and you’ve got a festive cookie without much fuss.
Speculaas
Traditional, beautiful, and loaded with holiday spices, this recipe is sure to please. The crisp edges and soft center combine to make everything you’re dreaming of in a Christmas cookie.
Scandandavian Rosette Cookies
Aren’t these beautiful? Their snowflake shape and powdered sugar are elegant and perfect for winter. You’ll love the flavor, too.
Austrian Linzer Cookies
Linzer cookies are a classic and for a good reason. Everyone loves the combination of buttery cookie and tart jam, and the almond flavor in these is perfect.
Pignolis
This recipe deserves a place in your cookie rotation, an Italian classic with pine nuts and a buttery cookie base. They are easy to make and the texture is amazing.
Fudge-Dipped Crescent Cookies
So rich, chocolatey, and delicious, that you’ll have a hard time saving this recipe for the holidays. These are fun to make, too!
Italian Butter Cookies
A bakery favorite, these are so delicious with jam, chocolate, and a piped, buttery base. A little more time-consuming than the others, but worth the effort.
Turtle Shortbread Cookies
Caramel, pecans, and smooth chocolate are all on top of a buttery shortbread cookie. These are so easy to make and are popular with everyone.
Getting Ready for Baking
If you like to have a few big baking days leading up to the holidays, save all the cookie recipes you’ll have. be using. Either print them, bookmark them, or save them to Pinterest.
Then gather all your cookie-baking essentials:
- Parchment paper sheets for easy cleanup.
- Pretty Christmas sprinkles that aren’t too trendy.
- Plenty of cooling racks!
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I hope you’ve found something on this list that you love, whether it’s new to you or a favorite that you’ve forgotten. Have a lovely holiday season.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.