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    Home » Blog » Whole Food Recipes » Best Desserts » Simple Cookies

    December 10, 2021 | By Jami

    20+ Favorite Christmas Cookies and Candies

    Here is the ultimate list of our family's tried-and-true favorite Christmas cookies - and candies - that get requested year after year. Most are made with whole grains and some are low sugar, or gluten free, too.

    christmas cookies everyone wants

    I'm so excited to share with you this list of our family's favorite Christmas cookies, candies, and other goodies (I'm not sure what to call the caramel corn Moose Munch - is it a candy?).

    Why excited?

    Because these are the recipes that have all passed our family and friend's taste test and many of them are holiday staples I make every year.

    I don't make them ALL every year (that would be a LOT, lol), but I do rotate through them so we have them on a semi-regular basis.

    Curious about what you'd see in our goodie bags every year?

    • Moose Munch for sure, because everybody loves it so much and it's requested by family.
    • Butter mints or the chocolate cream cheese mints.
    • Quadruple chocolate brownies.

    After that I look through the list and decide what looks good or what I didn't make the previous year.

    On this list of Christmas goodies I've also included year-around treats like chocolate chip cookies because they are great to have as a "regular cookie" (as Brian likes to say...) on a cookie plate.

    I know, it's crazy, isn't it that some people don't like ooey, gooey, nutty and rich treats? Ha - more for those of us who do, I like to say!

    Can't you just smell the heavenly aromas already? Let the baking begin!

    Favorite Christmas Cookies and Candies:

    Homemade Butter Mints in bowl

    1. Easy Butter Mints

    Thought you could only buy butter mints? Nope - and they're really easy and make a great, inexpensive gift.

    Frosting Whole Grain Cut Out Cookies

    2. Whole Grain Cut-Out Cookies

    Looking to up the nutrient value of traditional cut-out cookies? Adding oats and whole wheat add a nutty grain flavor that compliments the decorating frosting.

    Mini Almond Joy Brownies

    3. Mini Almond Joy Brownies

    A brownie base, coconut middle and ganache topping...what's not to love? Add the almond or not - it's up to you. But then you should call them Mounds Brownie Bites, right?

    Peanut Butter Swirl Bars with bite

    4. Peanut Butter Swirl Bars

    A cookie bar with a long history in our house - quick, easy and delicious.

    Soft chewy whole grain chocolate chip cookies

    5. The Best Chewy Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookie

    The standard chocolate chip cookie I make all year long - it really is the best. Why add them to a holiday plate? Because not everyone loves the fancy cookies (as Brian would tell you...).

    Decadent Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

    6. Decadent Quadruple Chocolate Brownies

    The ultimate once-a-year treat brownie! Decadent really doesn't come close to describing them.

    Homemade Moose Munch Honey Caramel Corn

    7. Easy Honey Caramel Corn (with "Moose Munch" and White Chocolate-Peppermint Variations)

    Hands down the favorite treat of any that we give to our family and friends - it's addictive!

    Moist and chewy mocha chip cookies

    8. Mocha Chip Cookies

    A chewy chocolate chip cookie with a hint of coffee that brings the best of two worlds together.

    Caramel Coconut Shortbread Cookie Bars are a favorite holiday cookie

    9. Caramel Coconut Shortbread Cookies

    Made with a homemade caramel and all real food, these take a bit of extra time, but they are worth it. My late father-in-law's favorite.

    Multigrain Snickerdoodle Cookies inside

    10. Multigrain Snickerdoodle Cookies

    The different grains bring a healthy change to the normal snickerdoodle while still tasting great.

    Chocolate Topped Oatmeal Bars

    11. Chocolate Topped Oatmeal Bars

    Reminiscent of a favorite candy bar, but with real food ingredients. This comes together in minutes.

    Chocolate Drizzled Nut Squares Cookie Bars

    12. Chocolate Drizzled Nut Squares

    Caramel, nuts, and chocolate...ok, this really is a homemade candy bar.

    Espresso Truffle Bars

    13. Fudgy Espresso Truffle Bars

    Everything you love about truffles without all the mess of shaping them!

    14. Classic Cream Cheese Mints with Dark Chocolate

    While you might find cream cheese mints on other's holiday platters, you probably won't find them dipped in chocolate! The chocolate makes these amazing.

    Dark Chocolate Coconut Clusters

    15. Three Ingredient Dark Chocolate Coconut Clusters

    I recreated an expensive candy shop chocolate for a fraction of the price in just minutes! This delicious candy is a great gift all on it's own in a pretty container.

    Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter balls-silver plate

    16. Healthier Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

    One of our favorite holiday goodies updated with crispy rice and a honey-sweetened center.

    cut Christmas noel cookies above

    17. Flourless Noels Bars - Updated Christmas Classic

    This is a childhood recipe I recreated to be flourless and use less sugar - but still maintain that nutty, chewy cookie we always enjoyed.

    GF Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

    18. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles (Gluten Free, Maple Syrup Sweetened)

    Truffle-like cookie dough inside of a dark chocolate coating, these not only taste good, they look good enough to gift all on their own!

    Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles

    19. Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles

    This is more of a classic truffle, along with the classic easy technique of rolling chilled chocolate dough in nuts or cocoa powder. A quick, popular candy!

    Espresso Walnut Shortbread Cookies with Dark Chocolate Filling

    20. Espresso Walnut Shortbread Sandwich Cookies

    Fun to make (roll into logs and slice!) and delicious to eat with it's ganache filling, this is another show-stopper cookie for your plate.

    Honey Peanut Butter Chocolate Cups with bite

    21. Honey Sweetened Peanut Butter Chocolate Cups

    You won't miss the sugar in the filling - honey makes a great addition and all you taste in the lovely peanut butter and chocolate combo.

    Mini truffle cakes on rack above

    22. Mini Chocolate Truffle Cakes

    A snap to make (always good at the holidays!) and so chocolatey and delicious you won't believe it.

    Coconut-Almond Bars cut on board

    23. Flourless Coconut Almond Bars

    Another option for gluten free people, this is reminiscent of macaroons, but super easy in a bar form.

    Healthy Homemade Chocolate Covered Pecans in Gift Tin

    24. Healthy Homemade Chocolate Covered Pecans

    What makes these healthy? The homemade maple sweetened chocolate coating! Don't worry, though, it's simple to put together and makes a nice, slightly sweet option for people.

    What are your favorite goodies to make at the holidays? And which of these will you be adding to your baking?

    Pin this arrow
    24 tried-true Christmas cookies

    If you'd like more ideas, be sure to follow me on Pinterest where I have boards for yummy desserts and an inspiring Christmas Food board!

    About Jami

    Since 2009 Jami Boys has been helping readers live a simple homemade life through whole food recipes, doable gardening, and easy DIY projects on An Oregon Cottage. From baking bread, to creating a floor from paper, to growing and preserving food, Jami shares the easiest ways to get things done. She's been featured in Cottages and Bungalows, Old House Journal, and First for Women magazines as well as numerous sites like Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, and Apartment Therapy.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sue J. says

      December 24, 2022 at 10:09 am

      Help! What went wrong with my Espresso Walnut Shortbread Cookies? I followed the recipe exactly and the dough would not come together at all. It was about the consistency of sand but I kept going and wrapped it into a log as best I could, thinking the fridge would firm everything up. No! The log was uncuttable and I wasn't willing to waste the ingredients so I pressed it onto my prepared pan in a circle and its in the oven now. I am so mystified because I bake quite a bit and no recipe from this site has ever failed me. Has anyone else had a problem?

      Reply
      • Jami says

        December 26, 2022 at 6:58 pm

        I'm so sorry, Sue -that's not happened to me before.
        All I can think of is that maybe the measuring was off, since they were dry.
        I scoop the flour into the cup and then level with a knife.

        Reply
    2. June says

      December 14, 2019 at 11:33 am

      So nice to hear from you Jami! Hope you all are doing well. Enjoy the time away from the blog for a bit -- you deserve it.
      Wishing all of you a very happy holiday season.

      Reply
      • Jami says

        December 14, 2019 at 12:17 pm

        Thank you - you, too, June!

        Reply
    3. Thistle says

      December 16, 2012 at 6:23 pm

      What a find! Thank you so much for sharing all this Christmas inspiration!

      Have a very Merry Christmas!

      blessings,
      karianne

      Reply
    4. [email protected] says

      November 28, 2012 at 6:18 pm

      All of these look delicious! Oh yum! I think I just gained 15 lbs. visually!

      Reply
    5. Tricia says

      November 28, 2012 at 2:24 pm

      Oh my! These recipes look delicious! Now, I just need to decide which I want to try first!

      Reply
    6. Sakura says

      November 27, 2012 at 9:39 pm

      You should really think about putting together a recipe book or ebook.

      Reply
      • Jami says

        November 28, 2012 at 11:52 am

        Ah, sweet Sakura! Thanks for the encouragement...hopefully that will happen in the near future. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Rhonda says

      November 27, 2012 at 12:25 pm

      wonderful looking recipes- thank you~

      Reply

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