Holiday gatherings and cookie exchanges are the perfect opportunity to spread festive cheer with delicious treats. Whether you want to whip up a classic or try something new, we’ve got you covered with recipes and packaging tips.

Here are 20 mouthwatering ideas to bring to your next holiday celebration, complete with ingredients and instructions.

Bonus: Click here for your chance to claim a Kroger gift card to buy your baking supplies!

Classic Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional: icing, sprinkles

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cream butter and sugar, then beat in egg and vanilla.
Gradually mix in dry ingredients.
Roll out dough, cut into festive shapes, and bake for 8-10 minutes.
Decorate with icing and sprinkles when cool.

Peppermint Bark Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
½ cup crushed candy canes
½ cup regular or dark chocolate chips
½ cup white chocolate chips

Instructions:

Cream butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
Add flour, then fold in crushed candy canes and chocolate chips.
Scoop dough onto a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes.

Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup dark chocolate chunks

Instructions:

Cream butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla.
Mix in flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda.
Fold in chocolate chunks, scoop onto a baking sheet, and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.

Raspberry Almond Thumbprints

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
⅔ cup sugar
½ tsp almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup raspberry jam
Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

Cream butter, sugar, and almond extract.
Add flour and mix until combined.
Roll dough into balls, press a thumbprint in the center, and fill with jam.
Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes and dust with powdered sugar.

Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup melted dark chocolate
Sprinkles for decoration

Instructions:

Mix butter, powdered sugar, flour, and vanilla.
Shape into logs, slice, and bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes.
Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.

Gingerbread People

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt
¾ cup butter, softened
¾ cup brown sugar
⅔ cup molasses
1 egg

Instructions:

Combine dry ingredients.
Cream butter and brown sugar, then add molasses and egg.
Gradually mix in dry ingredients. Roll out dough, cut into shapes, and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup pistachios

Instructions:

Combine flour, baking powder, and sugar.
Add eggs and vanilla to form dough.
Fold in cranberries and pistachios, shape into a log, and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
Slice and bake again for 10 minutes on each side.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup powdered sugar (plus extra for rolling)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Instructions:

Cream butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
Add flour and pecans, mix until combined.
Roll dough into small balls and bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes.
While warm, roll cookies in powdered sugar.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ingredients:

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup peanut butter
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 ¾ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
Hershey’s Kisses

Instructions:

Cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars. Add egg.
Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt.
Shape dough into balls, roll in sugar, and bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes.
Press a Hershey’s Kiss into each cookie while warm.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
½ cup oil
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
Powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions:

Mix cocoa, sugar, and oil. Add eggs and vanilla.
Stir in flour and baking powder. Chill for 1 hour.
Roll dough into balls, coat in powdered sugar, and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.

Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients:

3 cups shredded coconut
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together.
Scoop into mounds on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups oats
1 cup dried cranberries

Instructions:

Cream butter and sugars, then add eggs and vanilla.
Stir in flour, baking soda, oats, and cranberries.
Drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.

Chocolate Toffee Squares

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
½ cup crushed toffee bits

Instructions:

Mix butter, sugar, egg yolk, flour, and vanilla. Press into a baking pan.
Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with chocolate chips, let melt, and spread evenly. Top with toffee bits.

Candy Cane Fudge

Ingredients:

3 cups white chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
½ tsp peppermint extract
½ cup crushed candy canes

Instructions:

Melt chocolate chips with condensed milk over low heat.
Stir in peppermint extract and crushed candy canes.
Pour into a lined pan and chill until set.

Lemon Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups flour
½ cup powdered sugar
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
½ cup lemon juice
¼ cup flour
Powdered sugar for topping

Instructions:

Mix butter, flour, and powdered sugar for the crust. Press into a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
Beat eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over crust and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Cool and dust with powdered sugar.

Snowball Truffles

Ingredients:

1 cup white chocolate chips
½ cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
Shredded coconut for coating

Instructions:

Heat cream and pour over white chocolate to melt.
Stir in vanilla, chill until firm, then roll into balls.
Coat with shredded coconut.

Mint Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients:

1 box brownie mix
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp peppermint extract
Crushed candy canes (optional)

Instructions:

Prepare brownie mix as directed, adding chocolate chips and peppermint extract. Add crushed candy canes if desired or sprinkle on top at the end.
Bake according to package instructions and cool before slicing.

Pecan Pralines

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup evaporated milk
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup pecans

Instructions:

Heat sugars, milk, and butter until thickened.
Stir in pecans and vanilla, then drop heaping spoonfuls onto parchment paper to cool.

White Chocolate Cranberry Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup white chocolate chips
½ cup dried cranberries

Instructions:

Cream butter and sugars, then add eggs and vanilla.
Stir in dry ingredients, white chocolate, and cranberries.
Press into a baking pan and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.

Festive Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

1 box red velvet cake mix
6 tbsp butter, melted
2 eggs
½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a bowl, combine the cake mix, melted butter, and eggs until a dough forms.
Scoop dough into small balls and roll them in powdered sugar.
Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are set.

Packaging and Presenting Tips for Your Holiday Treats

Making cookies is only part of the joy—presentation can make your treats even more special! Here are some creative and festive ideas for packaging and presenting your cookies:

1. Decorative Tins

Use holiday-themed tins lined with parchment paper for a classic and reusable packaging option.
Add a festive ribbon or bow on top for extra charm.

2. Cellophane Bags with Ribbon

Stack 3-5 cookies, wrap them in clear cellophane bags, and secure with a colorful holiday ribbon.
Attach a handwritten tag with the cookie name and a small holiday greeting.

3. Mason Jar Cookie Kits

For unbaked cookies, layer dry ingredients in mason jars for a “bake-at-home” gift.
Tie recipe instructions around the lid with twine.

4. Holiday Cookie Boxes

Use bakery-style boxes with a clear window to showcase your beautiful cookies.
Include dividers for multiple cookie varieties, and line the box with tissue paper for a polished look.

5. Edible Centerpieces

Arrange cookies on a tiered stand or a festive platter wrapped in cellophane for an edible centerpiece.
Add sprigs of pine or holly for decoration (be mindful of food safety).

Holiday cookie exchanges and gatherings are about more than just desserts—they’re about spreading joy and creating memories. With these delicious recipes and thoughtful packaging ideas, you’ll bring festive cheer to any celebration. Whether you choose a classic sugar cookie, a decadent truffle, or a unique treat like cranberry biscotti, your contributions will make the season brighter for everyone.