Cookies are a delectable part of Christmas celebrations. Whether they’re coming fresh out of the oven, eaten with hot cocoa on a chilly day, or even left on a plate for Santa–cookies are a sure-fire way to bring smiles to others’ faces!  Best of all, everyone loves the gift of holiday cookies.

Here are the top ten cookies for you this holiday season listed from least to most to most delicious-and festive! Which one will you try this December?

Chocolate Chip

Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 36

There can be no cookie list without the classic chocolate chip. There’s nothing like dipping a warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven cookie in a glass of milk. Buttery and crunchy, with hints of brown sugar and the chocolate chip chunks which melt into your mouth, these cookies are often thought of as a cozy treat you would have at your grandma’s house-making it a symbol of childhood and nostalgia. 

This five-star recipe from JoyfoodSunshine includes ingredients, equipment needed and simple, clear-cut instructions. 

https://joyfoodsunshine.com/the-most-amazing-chocolate-chip-cookies/#recipe

Meringue

Difficulty: Hard

Serves: 30

Meringue cookies can be a struggle to make due to how exact the measurements and time spent whipping has to be, but if you’re successful, they’re unbelievably light and crunchy. Meringues really only take a few ingredients, and the swirl-shape and light pastel colors are so cute. Made with egg whites and sweet sugar, meringues make a delicious small treat.

This five-star recipe from Lil’ Luna is so cute and offers everything you need to try this cookie.

https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/basic-meringue

Gingerbread

Difficulty: Medium

Serves: 24

Gingerbread cookies are great because they’re so fun to design and decorate! This brick-red colored cookie, flavored with cinnamon and brown sugar has a fiery, perfumed taste which is just unforgettable. With cookie cutters you can make ginger people, stars, snowflakes, and so much more-not to mention adding candy and frosting on top afterwards. Gingerbread houses are also a holiday staple and definitely add to the tradition of the most artistic holiday cookie.

This five-star recipe from i heart naptime has easy-to-understand instructions and just what you need to create your own gingerbread invention. 

https://www.iheartnaptime.net/gingerbread-man/

Thumbprint

Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 42

Thumbprint cookies are just so cute. Made with a chewy sugar cookie base, the middle is usually filled with tarty jam but can also be a Hershey Kiss or whatever you choose. They’re so adorable and put a spin on the classic sugar cookie. It’s also fun to press in the dough-leaving the “thumbprint” shape. Being my personal favorite cookie as a kid-these are rendered just timeless. 

This five-star recipe from LiveWellbakeOften gives instructions to make these little treats. Don’t walk, run to your kitchen. 

https://www.livewellbakeoften.com/thumbprint-cookies/

Sugar

Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 35-40

Sugar cookies are delicious. Made with mainly sugar, butter and eggs, these cookies are simple to make but so delightful to enjoy.Endlessly fluffy and sprinkled with even more sugar, these cookies just had to make the list. A sugar cookie could have festive Christmas-colored sprinkles, fun frosting in designs of Christmas trees, candy canes, ect. or can be eaten plain and still taste amazing!

This five-star recipe from Food. is just what you need to make your own take on this sweet treat. 

https://www.food.com/recipe/kittencals-buttery-cut-out-sugar-cookies-w-icing-that-hardens-261889

Oatmeal

Difficulty: Medium

Serves: 22

Oatmeal cookies are super underrated. The thick oats mixed with the raisins and walnuts offer a variety of textures and can also be a healthier alternative to other cookies-if that’s what you’re looking for. You can also interchange raisins and walnuts with other add-ons such as chocolate chips, cranberries or even just plain oatmeal, all depending on your preference. Eaten any way, they’re just the right balance of sweet and savory and taking a bite into this chewy treat is just so satisfying!

This five-star recipe from sallysbakingaddiction is the recipe for you to make super yummy oatmeal cookies!

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Molasses

Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 24

Molasses cookies are super good. With a huge burst of flavor as soon as you bite in, they have a remarkable taste, and distinct and fiery flavor. These cookies go hand-in-hand with wintertime and the holidays and are just scrumptious when warm. They also have a nice consistency which is somehow chewy and soft at the same time.

This five-star recipe from DinnerthenDessert is the literal recipe for success with this cookie. 

https://dinnerthendessert.com/molasses-cookies/

Lemon

Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 32

Lemon cookies are amazing, they’re just bursting with flavor and so tart! It’s also delicious when people add the white glaze on top or sprinkled sugar which balances out the extravagant flavor so well. The sunshine-y yellow color is just too bright and adorable and reminds you of all things happy and the once summertime weather.

This five-star recipe from dixiecrystals is the secret ingredient(or ingredients) to making this delectable cookie.

https://www.dixiecrystals.com/recipes/meltaway-lemon-cookies

Lofthouse

Difficulty: Easy

Serves: 24

Lofthouse cookies are, to put it lightly, mouth-wateringly delicious. They’re so sweet and crumble into your mouth as soon as you take a bite. These super fun cookies are just the ones you always wanted to get in the grocery store as a kid, and they do not disappoint. They always come in different neon frosting colors and bright sprinkles for the holidays (including Halloween, Fourth Of July, Christmas ect.).This makes it so festive and a symbol of just what a fluffy, sugar-filled cookie should be.

This five-star recipe from SelfProclaimedFoodie will give you a great take at this incredible cookie.

https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/lofthouse-cookies/

Snowball

Difficulty: Medium

Serves: 24

Snowball cookies are the number one best Christmas cookie, no question. With a heavenly mix of butter, nuts, vanilla and sugar-there’s no other cookie like snowball cookies. Not only does it look exactly like a snowball, which bring back bouts of nostalgia to childhood snow days, the powdered sugar is just only a fraction of what makes this cookie so amazing! The inside is so cake-y and delicious. It’s so easy to pop a snowball cookie into your mouth and the flavor is absolutely unique and matched by no other cookie.

This five-star recipe from spendwithpennies will enlighten you with just how to make the number one holiday cookie. 

https://www.spendwithpennies.com/snowball-cookies/