16 Christmas Sugar Cookies

Few treats feel as festive as Christmas sugar cookies, and making a batch is an easy way to get into the holiday season. From cut-out trees and candy canes to colorful pinwheels and marbled designs, there’s a style to match any cookie tray.

You can package them up as homemade gifts or bring a plate to your next Christmas gathering. These cookies bring a touch of holiday cheer to every kitchen.

1. Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

Christmas tree cookies with green frosting and sprinkles on a gold rack. — Photo Credit: Love From The Oven

These homemade Christmas tree sugar cookies use a simple piping technique that creates tree-like branches. The design looks festive on a cookie tray while still being easy enough for beginners to do.

Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies

2. Christmas Pinwheel Sugar Cookies

Red and white pinwheel cookies with sprinkles. — Photo Credit: The Slow Roasted Italian

These cookies slice cleanly and keep their bright colors after baking. They’ll add a pop of red and green to your Christmas dessert table.

Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Sugar Cookies

3. Marbled Christmas Sugar Cookies

Overhead shot of marbled sugar cookies, candy canes, and a glass of milk. — Photo Credit: The Fresh Cooky

These pretty marbled sugar cookies look fancy but are super simple to decorate. You can get as creative as you want with the color combinations.

Get the Recipe: Marbled Christmas Sugar Cookies

4. Vanilla Bean Brown Butter Sugar Cookies

Close-up of iced sugar cookies with sprinkles and hazelnuts on a white surface. — Photo Credit: The Baking Chocolatess

The brown butter adds a warm flavor that comes through clearly in every bite. The cookies stay soft in the center and have a tasty vanilla bean glaze.

Get the Recipe: Vanilla Bean Brown Butter Sugar Cookies

5. Cut Out Sugar Cookies

Collage of decorated Christmas cookies: trees, stars, candy canes, and snowflakes. — Photo Credit: The Toasty Kitchen

You can never go wrong with classic cut-out sugar cookies. You’ll have a lot of fun decorating them.

Get the Recipe: Cut Out Sugar Cookies

6. Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Christmas sprinkle sugar cookies with red, green, and white sprinkles. — Photo Credit: Savor The Spoonful

These drop cookies bake up perfectly, and the sprinkles are a festive touch. The no-chill method speeds up the process and gets a batch on the table quickly.

Get the Recipe: Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

7. Sugar Cookie Cups

Mini sugar cookie cups filled with white frosting and Christmas sprinkles. — Photo Credit: My Rad Kitchen

These cookie cups will be a hit with everyone. The cream cheese frosting is delicious, and you can decorate them with holiday sprinkles.

Get the Recipe: Sugar Cookie Cups

8. M & M Sugar Cookies

Overhead shot of M&M cookies with red and green candies on a wire rack. — Photo Credit: My Diaspora Kitchen

These cookies land right in the middle of crisp and soft, which gives them a nice mix of textures. They don’t take much time to prep, so if you’re looking for an easy cookie recipe, you should try this one.

Get the Recipe: M & M Sugar Cookies

9. Dipped Sugar Cookie Sticks

Chocolate-dipped sugar cookie sticks in a "Stay Cozy" mug with milk. — Photo Credit: xoxoBella

These sugar cookie sticks are such a clever idea. Dip them in chocolate and choose your favorite toppings.

Get the Recipe: Dipped Sugar Cookie Sticks

10. Holiday Sugar Cookies

Stack of sugar cookies with white icing and crushed candy canes on a plate. — Photo Credit: Love From The Oven

You’ll love these big bakery-style sugar cookies. Various frosting recipes are included, such as peppermint, eggnog, and hot chocolate. Pick one or all three to have a variety on your cookie tray.

Get the Recipe: Holiday Sugar Cookies

11. Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies

sugar cookies in box — Photo Credit: Crayons & Cravings

Perfect for gifting or cookie exchanges, these classic Christmas sugar cookies will be a hit with everyone. The dough is freezer-friendly, which is always a plus.

Get the Recipe: Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies

12. Sourdough Sugar Cookies

Sugar-covered cookies on a wooden plate with a bottle of milk and plaid tablecloth. — Photo Credit: Sourdough Brandon

These sourdough sugar cookies will be your new favorite. They come together with simple steps and bake into soft, chewy rounds.

Get the Recipe: Sourdough Sugar Cookies

13. Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Overhead shot of sugar cookie bars with white frosting and Christmas sprinkles. — Photo Credit: My Rad Kitchen

These bars stay soft and buttery and hold a thick layer of frosting without crumbling. They’re a good pick for when you want sugar cookies but don’t have time to roll dough and cut out shapes.

Get the Recipe: Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

14. Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

A stack of sprinkle-covered cookies and a jar of sprinkles. — Photo Credit: Boston Girl Bakes

The cream cheese keeps the dough soft while still letting the edges firm up during baking. Rolling them in sprinkles gives them a pop of color.

Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

15. Christmas Sugar Cookie Pizza

Overhead shot of a sugar cookie pizza decorated with white frosting, peppermint candies, and red and green M&Ms. — Photo Credit: xoxoBella

This cookie pizza bakes evenly in a single pan and cools quickly for fast decorating. This recipe uses store-bought dough, so it couldn’t be easier to make.

Get the Recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookie Pizza