Holidays & Occasions Christmas Christmas Recipes 20 Christmas Cookie Recipes Santa Will Love If you leave out these delicious Christmas cookies for Santa, we have a feeling he'll give you everything on your list. By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Associate Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories.She grew up in Mobile, Alabama, which she insists is home to the country's first Mardi Gras (not New Orleans) and now lives in Birmingham with her husband and rescue pup Rocky, whose name is unrelated to The University of Tennessee (Roll Tide). Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis One of the most beloved Christmas traditions involves leaving out cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. We've got insider information, and hear that Santa prefers homemade Christmas cookies over store-bought varieties. To make sure he's happy this Christmas, we've got the best recipes around.From new recipes like eggnog-flavored cookies to classics like chocolate chip and red velvet cookies, you'll need to keep an eye on everyone in the house to be sure no one eats Santa's cookies before he arrives. If you leave these cookies out for Santa, we have a feeling he'll deliver everything that's on your list. And remember that cold glass of milk as well. 01 of 20 Eggnog Cookies Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Making Santa's favorite drink into a cookie is pure genius. 02 of 20 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies Micah A. Leal Santa will never know that these delicious cookies started with a box of cake mix. 03 of 20 Toffee Cookies Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn These cookies made with chocolate, butterscotch, and toffee have every sweet flavor Santa could want. 04 of 20 No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS Santa will never know that you just used the microwave and didn't have to turn on the oven to pull these decadent cookies together. 05 of 20 Santa's Kitchen-Sink Cookies Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This recipe makes three dozen cookies, so there will be plenty for the kiddos to enjoy after leaving a few out for Santa. 06 of 20 Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Hector Manuel Sanchez The key to oatmeal cookies that are better than your neighbor's? Toast the oatmeal. 07 of 20 Candy Cane Cookies Joy Howard These will be the prettiest cookies Santa sees all night. 08 of 20 Ambrosia Macaroons Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This macaroon recipe reimagines the classic fruit salad into a festive cookie. 09 of 20 Red Velvet Cake Balls Courtney West These festive white chocolate balls will be your go-to hostess gift of the season, and Santa will love them, too. 10 of 20 Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Santa will never know that these chocolatey cookies are made without flour. 11 of 20 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Caitlin Bensel The holidays call for at least one peanut butter dessert, and we think it should be these easy kiss cookies. 12 of 20 Lemon Thumbprint Cookies These sweet little cookies will look perfectly festive on your Christmas china. 13 of 20 Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Sprinkles in the cookies and on the outside of the sandwich make sure there is plenty of holiday cheer in every bite. 14 of 20 Peppermint Meltaway Cookies Micah A. Leal These cookies require just 20 minutes of hands-on time, so they're easy enough to make at the last-minute before Santa arrives. 15 of 20 Linzer Tree Cookies Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis You'll have to remind your kids that although these deliciously sweet cookies are made with jam, they cannot replace the peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches in their lunchboxes. 16 of 20 Dark Chocolate Sablés Iain Bagwell Help Santa stay awake with these decadent dark chocolate cookies. 17 of 20 Molasses Crinkles Hector Manuel Sanchez These cookies have all the sweetness of the season. 18 of 20 Pecan Snowball Cookies Micah A. Leal Santa will like these pecan snowballs much more than the snowballs he sees at home. 19 of 20 Soft Ginger Cookies Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland These ginger cookies are the most delicious break from chocolate for Santa. 20 of 20 All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies Beth Dreiling Hontzas We think Santa appreciates a classic recipe just as much as we do. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit