This is my 2025 Christmas baking list — everything I plan to bake this year. These Christmas cookie recipes are tried and true: a mix of longtime favorites, a few new cookies, and some other holiday snacks.
It’s the best time of year, and my holiday baking list is ready!
This tradition began with my grandma and has become one of my favorite parts of the season. I love hearing what others bake for the holidays. Baking is one of the few times I really enjoy spending time in the kitchen!
For years Lacy and I have baked together. Every holiday we make a buche de noel — often starting late at night and taking much longer than planned. There are a few recipes we always make: candied citrus peels, homemade amaretto (which I usually gift), and a buche de noel we love. We’ve made these same things for years so they feel extra special.
We also make my smoky vanilla bourbon pretzels — a crowd-pleasing snack that’s perfect for gifting — and a batch of caramel chipotle Chex mix I package for friends and neighbors.
Holiday Baking Playlist
Here’s my favorite holiday baking playlist. If you follow me on Spotify (howsweeteats), you’ll find more holiday lists to keep you company while you bake.
MY 2025 HOLIDAY BAKING LIST
Below is my ideal list of what I’d love to make this season.
Chewy sprinkle cookies from last year — I still love them.
Always on the list: chocolate crinkle sprinkle cookies from The Pretty Dish. They’re unbeatable.
Royal cookies, a newer addition we adore.
Frosted cranberry drop cookies were a hit last year and make a festive addition.
Cashew butter buckeyes — and maybe some classic buckeyes too. Some years I’m obsessed, other years I’m over them.
Peanut butter blossoms are a must. They’re my all-time favorite and a big hit with the kids.
Lemon crinkle cookies — everyone raves about them.
Soft snickerdoodles and chewy chai snickerdoodles — I can’t always choose between them, so I often make both.
Soft gingersnaps — sometimes I make this recipe times four because we love them so much, even though I’m not usually a gingersnap person.
Old-school Oreo balls — a classic that always makes the tray.
Bourbon-soaked cherry oatmeal chocolate chip cookies — I’m really feeling these this year.
Mother Lovett’s pink and green thumbprints — a holiday staple that reminds me of family traditions.
Mother Lovett’s orange cookies — another longtime favorite that’s always well received.
Peanut butter M&M cookie bars made with red and green M&Ms for festive color.
Peanut butter fudge — I usually try a new recipe each year, though Mother Lovett’s version is a fond memory.
Pretzel peanut butter-stuffed chocolate bark — salty, sweet, and great for gifting.
Perfect cut-out sugar cookies — a foolproof simple sugar cookie I rely on. I like to use cream cheese frosting or a dip-icing technique for decorating. For some cookies I’ve even used edible glitter for a little extra sparkle.
I’ll probably make peppermint bark and chocolate-covered Oreos too. For an easy hack I buy white fudge-covered Oreos, drizzle them with dark chocolate and add sprinkles.
HOW I MAKE MY COOKIE BOX
Every year I assemble similar cookie boxes, a tradition passed down from Mother Lovett. Her cookie tins and boxes were her signature hostess gifts, and everyone looked forward to receiving them.
I’ve kept that tradition alive. Cookie tins work well and can be found at stores like Target, The Container Store, or discount retailers. For a larger presentation, I like using sugar paper gift boxes from Target in rectangular or round shapes. I customize the interior by cutting pieces of cardboard to create compartments that keep cookies separated and organized.
I should note I don’t mail these boxes; I deliver them to friends and family who live within driving distance. If you plan to mail cookies, pack them carefully with plenty of cushioning. In my experience, mailed homemade cookie boxes often arrive with broken cookies unless packed extremely well.
So tell me — what are you baking this season?