Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food and Recipes
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Holidays & Occasions
  • Home
  • Gardening Ideas
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      The Best New Haircuts to Try in 2022

      Here are the haircuts you'll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • 50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      50 Thoughtful Messages for a Meaningful Thank You Note

      Not sure what to write in a thank you card? Here's how to show your gratitude with a handwritten note. Read More
  • Food and Recipes

    Food and Recipes

    See All Food and Recipes
    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    4 Easy Ways to Tell if an Egg Has Gone Bad

    It’s not all in the senses, but they sure can help.
    • Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Dinner
    • Kitchen Assistant
    • Casserole
    • Holiday and Occasion Food
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Healthy and Light
    • Side Dishes
    • Party Food and Drink
    • Appetizers
    • Meat
    • Breakfast
    • BBQ
    • Drinks
    • What's Cooking
  • Culture and Lifestyle

    Culture and Lifestyle

    See All Culture and Lifestyle
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Quotes and Sayings
    • Biscuits and Jam Podcast
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Healthy Living
    • Coastal Living
  • Style

    Style

    See All Style
    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The Coziest Winter Nail Colors for January 2022

    The beginning of a new year often has us all feeling like starting off fresh by taking on better habits, getting rid of old ones, and—most commonly—changing up our look. While others are hitting the squats and going into the salon for a pixie cut, why not start slow and steady with a cozy winter manicure in a color that feels new to you? It takes only a little courage to step outside your usual OPI Lincoln Park After Dark or Essie Bordeaux, which is all you need to kick 2022 off on a fanciful foot.  From new wintry takes on classic dark nail colors to unique pops of color that'll have you feeling the opposite of boring, these are the best nail colors to try this January and tick off all the way into spring. 
    • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Fashion
    • Short Hairstyles
    • Nails
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Skincare
    • Long Hairstyles
  • Holidays & Occasions

    Holidays & Occasions

    See All Holidays & Occasions
    • Thanksgiving
    • Gifts
    • Christmas
    • Mother's Day
    • Hanukkah
    • New Year's
    • Easter
    • Mardi Gras
    • 4th of July
    • Weddings
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    16 Kitchen Design Trends Southern Designers Predict Will Be Everywhere in 2022

    There's no denying how the pandemic fundamentally changed the world—including how we live (and work) inside our homes. An overall trend toward celebrating the history and originality of our homes is displacing ultramodern aesthetics and sharp lines as we all look to create cozier, colorful, more personalized spaces that better suit our lifestyles. We're turning away from big-box stores and toward vintage items—first, out of necessity due to supply-chain issues, and now, for design reasons—to add charm and character to every room in the house, including the kitchen. Here, interior designers from around the South share their predictions for what's trending in kitchen design for 2022 and beyond.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Kitchen Design
    • Before & After Photos
    • Bathroom Design
    • Curb Appeal
    • Bedroom Design
    • DIY Home Decor
    • Color Palettes & Paint
    • House Plans & Builders
    • Inspired Communities
  • Gardening Ideas

    Gardening Ideas

    See All Gardening Ideas
    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    If You Keep Finding Ladybugs in Your House, Here's What You Need to Know

    Plus a few strategies for keeping them out-of-doors
    • Container Gardening
    • Gardening Flowers
    • Fruit, Vegetable & Herb Gardens
    • Garden Pests
    • Plant Guides A-Z
    • Indoor Plants
    • Fall Plants
    • Landscaping Ideas
    • The Grumpy Gardener
  • News

    News

    See All News
    • Celebrities
    • Local News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Food and Recipes
  3. Desserts
  4. Cookies
  5. 32 Freezer-Friendly Christmas Cookies to Make Before Things Get Really Crazy—And You Know They Will

32 Freezer-Friendly Christmas Cookies to Make Before Things Get Really Crazy—And You Know They Will

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Assistant Editor and Writer for Southern Living
By Kaitlyn Yarborough
Skip gallery slides
FB
Brown Sugar Cookie Stars
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

The holiday season brings out the best and worst in us. Are we stressed and twitchy beyond all get-out? Yes. Are we loving every minute of it? Also, yes. From attending Christmas sweater-themed parties to watching all the Hallmark Channel movies to baking countless dozens of holiday cookies, we're maximizing that Christmas cheer at all times. As for the cookies—made for cookie swaps, church potlucks, household snacking, and Santa's plate—there is one little cheat: make now, freeze for later. You'll find that most of your favorite Christmas cookie recipes can be made ahead anywhere from a month to six months before the 25th of December. (Consult this handy how-to guide to the matter!)Generally, most recipes will be best if baked then frozen. When baking recipes that require royal icing or other accouterments, leave the cookie decorating until after you've defrosted the batch. And as a rule, slice-and-bake cookies do well when the dough logs are frozen for later use. Those are the rough guidelines to live by during cookie-baking season!Here are 32 of our best-ever make-ahead Christmas cookie recipes that freeze well.

Start Slideshow

1 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Start Your Christmas Baking Early With These Freezable Cookies

1 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Snowflake Sugar Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Recipe: Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Nothing says Christmas like a batch of iced snowflake cookies. These are best baked then frozen, but leave the icing until after thawed.

2 of 33

3 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies

Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies

Add an extra festive note to classic butter cookies with cranberry and orange. Freeze the rectangular roll of the dough before thawing to slice-and-bake later.

3 of 33

Advertisement

4 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies Swap
Credit: Betsy McCallen Lovell

Recipe: Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

Four ingredients? Even more the reason to whip up and freeze a batch on any autumn afternoon.

4 of 33

5 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Snowball Cookies

Rolled in powdered sugar, snowballs are a cheerful holiday classic. This recipe makes 4 dozen, which makes it perfect for make-ahead food gifts. After defrosting, you might need to re-roll in powdered sugar.

5 of 33

6 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies
Credit: Victor Protasio

Recipe: Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies

These cookies are airy and crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, like a brownie in cookie form.

6 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Molasses Crinkles

Molasses Crinkles Recipe
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Molasses Crinkles

Loaded with classic Christmas spices, like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, these cookies are packed with holiday flair.

7 of 33

8 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Chocolate-Caramel Cookie Cups
Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Everyone's favorite holiday cookie got a chocolatey makeover—and just like that, it got even better. Freeze now and decorated with royal icing and sprinkles later.

8 of 33

9 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Peppermint Pinwheels

Peppermint Pinwheels
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Peppermint Pinwheels

For a super-festive cookie tin, swap out red and green food coloring in your batches. Either freeze the dough rolls before slicing and baking later, or choose to freeze the already-baked pinwheels.

9 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Toasted Oatmeal Cookies

Make a case for oatmeal over chocolate chips with this toasty recipe. It's a game-changer.

10 of 33

11 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dipped Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

Dipped Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Dipped Pistachio Shortbread Cookies

This is the combination you never knew you needed. Leave the chocolate-dipping and pistachio-coating until after you've thawed the frozen shortbread cookies.

11 of 33

12 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Recipe
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

You'll never regret making a batch or two of these boozy confections before the holiday season starts.

12 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mark our words: Browning the butter is the key step to making the most gift-worthy chocolate chip cookies to dole out this Christmas.

13 of 33

14 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Red-Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Cake mix cookies are here to make your life even easier leading up to the holidays, especially this festive red-and-white batch. They'll look merry and bright in your cookie tin or on a cake stand.

14 of 33

15 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies

Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies

These tasty cookies check off all the boxes for a winning holiday treat: rich, dark chocolate flavor, a slight hint of heat from both crystallized and ground ginger, and the deep smoky sweetness of molasses.

15 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Marble Snickerdoodles

Marble Snickerdoodles
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas  

Recipe: Marble Snickerdoodles

Chocolate—it's just the thing to make your classic snickerdoodles a little more dressed up for the occasion.

Fun fact: Southern Living's Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans makes these two-toned snickerdoodles with his daughter each year.

16 of 33

17 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Spritz Cookies

Spritz Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Spritz Cookies

It doesn't get much more nostalgic than spritz cookies. Grab your best helpers to form the dough shape with a cookie press, and leave the sprinkling until after defrosted later.

17 of 33

18 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread

Red Velvet Thumbprints
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread

These shortbread triangles—also cute when shaped with holiday cookie cutters!—are packed with the flavors of the season: cranberry and pecan. Feel free to drizzle with chocolate either before or after freezing; just make sure to let them cool completely before placing them in the freezer.

18 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Brown Sugar Cookie Stars

Brown Sugar Cookie Stars
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Brown Sugar Cookie Stars

Have you ever seen a batch of Christmas cookies so sparkly? We thought not. Prep the pretty star-shaped sugar cookies in advance and leave the decorating until after pulled out from the freezer.

19 of 33

20 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chewy Ginger Cookies

Chewy Ginger Cookie
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Chewy Ginger Cookies

Don't let the black pepper scare you off. These chewy cookies (with even more kick from fresh ginger and molasses!) look and taste wonderfully nostalgic.

20 of 33

21 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies
Credit: Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Butterscotch-Toasted Oatmeal Cookies

We're partial to butterscotch chips, but you can sub in chocolate chips or cranberries (or go half-and-half) as you'd like. It's your Christmas cookie batch, after all!

21 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut butter and chocolate is the foolproof duo we rely on every Christmas. Many remember making these simple and delicious cookies with Grandma.

22 of 33

23 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Micah Leal

Recipe: Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our Test Kitchen's secret for keeping cookies crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside? Adding a bit of corn syrup to the batter. This recipe calls for both mini chocolate chips and chopped mint chocolate.

23 of 33

24 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Spiced Molasses Drops

Spiced Molasses Drops
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Spiced Molasses Drops

Something about the holiday season just makes molasses cookies seem extra warm and inviting. This deeply-spiced cookie recipe combines brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and light molasses.

24 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Kitchen Sink Cookies

Kitchen Sink Cookies
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Kitchen Sink Cookies

A cookie that packs all sorts of sweet, salty, and indulgent goodness into every bite? That's somehthing we can get behind. Prepare to wow the crowd.

25 of 33

26 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Butterscotch Cookies

Butterscotch Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Butterscotch Cookies

Butterscotch chips give way to caramelized, buttery bites of goodness throughout. These are best baked and then frozen.

26 of 33

27 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies

Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Recipe: Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies

Mrs. Iona's paper doll-shaped shortbread, or her "little men" as she calls them, are buttery with a subtle sweetness. Make sure to be prepared with cookie tins or freezer space—because this recipe makes five dozen mini cookies.

27 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars

No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars

"No-Bake, "Fudgy," and "Toffee?" Sounds like a Christmas miracle to us. While these are just as easy to make the night before your Christmas occasion, feel free to make and freeze the delicious bars.

28 of 33

29 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Cranberry-Orange Shortbread Cookies

Slice-and-Bake Shortbread Cookies
Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Shortbread Cookies

Orange zest and dried cranberries make this cookie recipe a no-brainer come December. Freeze the dough logs for up to a month before baking.

29 of 33

30 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Brown Butter Snickerdoodles

Brown Butter Snickerdoodles
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Brown Butter Snickerdoodles

Cinnamon and sugar make a tasty pair, and no holiday cookie swap is complete without a plate of these all-time favorites.

30 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

31 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Recipe: Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies

This drop cookie recipe has all of your holiday gift-giving needs covered—it makes five dozen!

31 of 33

32 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies
Credit: Courtesy of Damaris Phillips

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies

Dried tart cherries add a surprising note to classic chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Chef Damaris Phillips shared this sweet recipe with us (the first one she ever wrote!).

32 of 33

33 of 33

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Sugar-and-Spice Rugelach Cookies

Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sugar-and-Spice Rugelach Cookies

Sugar, spice, and everything nice, hm? This old-school recipe is oozing with holiday cheer.

33 of 33

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Kaitlyn Yarborough

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 33 Start Your Christmas Baking Early With These Freezable Cookies
    2 of 33 Snowflake Sugar Cookies
    3 of 33 Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
    4 of 33 Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
    5 of 33 Pecan Snowball Cookies
    6 of 33 Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies
    7 of 33 Molasses Crinkles
    8 of 33 Chocolate Sugar Cookies
    9 of 33 Peppermint Pinwheels
    10 of 33 Toasted Oatmeal Cookies
    11 of 33 Dipped Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
    12 of 33 Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls
    13 of 33 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    14 of 33 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
    15 of 33 Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies
    16 of 33 Marble Snickerdoodles
    17 of 33 Spritz Cookies
    18 of 33 Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread
    19 of 33 Brown Sugar Cookie Stars
    20 of 33 Chewy Ginger Cookies
    21 of 33 Toasted Oatmeal Cookies
    22 of 33 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
    23 of 33 Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
    24 of 33 Spiced Molasses Drops
    25 of 33 Kitchen Sink Cookies
    26 of 33 Butterscotch Cookies
    27 of 33 Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies
    28 of 33 No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars
    29 of 33 Cranberry-Orange Shortbread Cookies
    30 of 33 Brown Butter Snickerdoodles
    31 of 33 Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies
    32 of 33 Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies
    33 of 33 Sugar-and-Spice Rugelach Cookies

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Southern Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    32 Freezer-Friendly Christmas Cookies to Make Before Things Get Really Crazy—And You Know They Will
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.