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.

santa's kitchen sink cookies
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

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

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

Toffee Cookies Recipe
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

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

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

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez

The key to oatmeal cookies that are better than your neighbor's? Toast the oatmeal.

07 of 20

Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies
Joy Howard

These will be the prettiest cookies Santa sees all night.

08 of 20

Ambrosia Macaroons

Dipped Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
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

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

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies Recipe
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

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

Dazzling Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

These sweet little cookies will look perfectly festive on your Christmas china.

13 of 20

Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

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

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

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

Dark Chocolate Sablés
Iain Bagwell

Help Santa stay awake with these decadent dark chocolate cookies.

17 of 20

Molasses Crinkles

Molasses Crinkles
Hector Manuel Sanchez

These cookies have all the sweetness of the season.

18 of 20

Pecan Snowball Cookies

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

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

All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Beth Dreiling Hontzas

We think Santa appreciates a classic recipe just as much as we do.

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