The Most Wonderful Cookies to Make for Santa This Year

Rolling these classic Christmas cookies in powdered sugar twice—one while they're still warm and again when they're completely cooled—ensures maximum snowball effect.

Indulge in this version of the minty classic, with a holiday-inspired topping of crushed red-and-white candies.

Everyone (and we're pretty sure that extends to Santa) loves a chocolate chip cookie. And this version—which is made in the soft and chewy style—delivers both the nostalgia of childhood and the satisfying, grown-up flavors of dark chocolate.

The chocolate filling rolled into these chewy Christmas pinwheel cookies creates a beautiful, brownie-like swirl that's completely irresistible.

A signature Christmastime sweet, these tiny almond-flavored cookies bear the print of the baker's thumb, which is gently pressed into the partially baked cookie to create a well.

It doesn't get more classic than this cinnamon-sugar cookie. Pro tip: Give them ample room on cookie sheets, as they spread a lot as they bake.

This recipe starts with a delicious ginger-spiced dough that you can take in one of two directions: emboss the dough with a cookie stamp and brush it with an orange-butter glaze; or (the more Santa-friendly option) omit the cocoa powder, swap in chocolate chunks, and roll the cookies in sanding sugar for sweet sparkle.

These cookies are perfect alongside a glass of milk. To decorate them, use a spoon to drizzle the melted white chocolate, or a resealable plastic bag with a corner snipped off.

This gingerbread recipe is dependable and straightforward, and you can use it to make cutout cookies in any shape. Snowflakes, girls and boys, bells, houses, trees—anything goes.

You can make these cookies two ways: either cut out circles using a cookie cutter and edge them in sanding sugar; or shape the dough into a log, coat it in sugar, and then chill, slice, and bake.

These are the quintessential sweet-and-salty Christmas treat, combining a chocolate kiss with a peanut butter cookie. And we're pretty sure Santa will view these as we do: a two for one (candy plus cookie!).

Almond extract and ground almonds infuse a nutty flavor and texture to basic shortbread dough. Roll it out and cut into jaunty snowman shapes. A generous coat of confectioners' sugar is all each snowman needs to wear.

Here's a customizable shortbread cookie that's basically a homemade version of slice and bake. A few of our favorite ingredient combinations: toasted blanched almonds and dried cherries; dried cranberries and chopped candied orange peel; and dried apricots and pistachios.

Rich, buttery, and made with lots of vanilla, these cookies are easy to make and to decorate. Use a cookie press—a cylinder fitted with a decorative nozzle at one end and a plunger at the other—to press the cookies directly onto the baking sheet.