Showstopping Christmas Cookie Recipes

Inspired by an Austrian cookie, these cut cutouts are made with a spice dough and a plain dough for a delicious combo in every bite. Inside, red raspberry and apricot preserves add natural sweetness.

Dive into the nutty-sweet goodness of chocolate thumbprint cookies topped with melted caramels and hazelnuts.

Snips of dried cherries add Christmas-red color to almond biscotti. These sweet treats bake as a roll so you can quickly cut them into cookie shapes and top with cream cheese frosting and a cherry.

A sweet kick of coffee and the smooth finish of chocolate come together in these delightful cookies "wrapped" with a chocolate bow.

A soft cream-cheese based sugar cookie gets the royal treatment with decadent swirls of easy homemade glazes.

With a delectable mix of winter fruits and luscious frosting, these cinnamon-spiced cookies make an elegant dinner-party dessert.

These pretty holiday cookies are filling with a tangy orange frosting and topped with crushed pistachio nuts.

These snazzy thumbprint cookies feature the irresistible combination of creamy dark chocolate and raspberry ganache.

With fluffy frosting and a dash of cardamom, these cake-light cookies make a gorgeous holiday open house dessert.

A pretty swirl of ganache adds a special twist to these rich and chocolatey holiday cookies.

With layers of raspberry preserves, white chocolate, and mascarpone, these decadent cookie sandwiches are irresistible.

A surprising and delicious filling of maraschino cherries and toasted walnuts makes these sweet bites irresistible. Powdered sugar makes a quick (and delicious) topper.

Fluffy vanilla frosting with red food coloring turns traditional French cookies into an impressive Christmas treat that's ideal for cookie exchanges or holiday open houses.

Get everything you need to make your own Santa madeleines! Innovative BHG Test Kitchen chefs turned shell-shape madeleine cookies into splendidly bearded Santas.

Buttery sugar cookie bars are layered with fluffy peppermint frosting. Piped bittersweet chocolate rims the top of each bar.

Cherry preserves fill these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. They're ideal to make ahead; you can store them at room temperature for up to three days or in the freezer for as long as three months.

These pretty cookies offer a creamy, cherry-flavored mixture, rolled in crushed pistachio nuts, and topped with a maraschino cherry.

Ideal for a holiday open house, these sweets feature a layer of crushed peppermint candy, velvety chocolate, and billowy meringue.

Seedless blackberry jam mixed with coconut, walnuts, and currants fills these beautiful spiral cookies.

These sweet fans are filled with blueberry jam. Cream cheese makes the dough extra moist, while lemon peel adds a touch of zest.

A fruity blend of figs, dates, pine nuts, raisins, and cinnamon -- with a light citrus punch from orange zest and juice -- fills these soft cookie pockets. A star-shaped cookie cutter and coarse sugar adds a festive touch.

These dainty cookies, decorated with powdered sugar icing and silver dragees, are always a hit at parties -- and they make beautiful gifts.

These cookies twinkle like little chocolate stars. To get the effect, dip baked cookies in melted chocolate and brush with edible gold luster dust.

A Christmas classic goes from traditional to fabulous when dipped in melted white chocolate, then rolled in nonpareils and edible glitter.

Toasted hazelnuts give these chocolaty cookies crunchy goodness. Drizzle melted chocolate over each one after they've come out of the oven.

If you love mint, try these refreshing cookies. Be sure to use white (clear) creme de menthe instead of green to avoid adding color to your cookies.