Every holiday season, we bring together the most-loved Christmas cookie recipes—those that have been baked, perfected, and cherished year after year. With so many delicious options, Christmas is the time to bake the best! Get ready for the gooiest, chewiest, softest, and most delightful cookies that will make your holiday season truly magical.
Bakers initially created cookies to test oven temperature. They’d put a small dollop of cake batter and bake it to check if the oven was ready.
Baking cookies for Christmas isn’t just about satisfying a sweet tooth; it’s a tradition steeped in history, warmth, and holiday cheer. Here’s why this custom has become a cherished part of Christmas:
Whether baking cookies brings back childhood memories, or you’re starting your own cookie tradition, this custom is about more than just dessert. It’s a way to celebrate the season, show love to others, and make lasting memories. So preheat the oven, gather your loved ones, and enjoy the sweetness of this festive holiday tradition.
Leaving cookies and milk for Santa is a beloved Christmas Eve tradition with origins dating back centuries. The practice is thought to have started with Norse mythology, where children left treats for Odin’s eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, hoping he’d grant them gifts in return.
In America, this custom gained popularity during the Great Depression, as parents encouraged generosity even in hard times. Today, leaving cookies for Santa is a fun way for children to thank him for his hard work on Christmas Eve, and it brings an extra touch of magic to the holiday season.
Early versions of Christmas cookies likely began in Germany with lebkuchen, a spiced gingerbread that was both sweet and long-lasting—perfect for gifting during winter holidays. By the 16th century, Christmas cookies as we know them began to spread across Europe.
Gingerbread became especially popular in England, and sugar cookies gained popularity in the U.S. as baking ingredients became more accessible in the 1800s. These early Christmas cookies set the stage for the festive treats we enjoy today!
Happy baking!
