56 Festive Christmas in July Cookies

Get in the holiday spirit a little bit early this year. We've rounded up our favorite Christmas in July cookies to help you celebrate.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Baking peanut butter kiss cookies to share doesn’t get much easier than this. Stir together four ingredients. Bake. Top with a kiss. Done! Your family will love this Hershey’s peanut butter blossom cookie recipe. —Dee Davis, Sun City, Arizona

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Serve these sweets at your Christmas in July party! (Make sure to put up some beachy Christmas decor, too.)

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Festive Meringue Christmas Trees

Total Time 3 hours 20 min
Servings about 26 meringues
From the Recipe Creator: These meringues are eye-catching on the dessert table at a holiday party, and they taste heavenly! Look no further for the perfect treat to get you into the Christmas spirit. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies

Total Time 45 min
Servings 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These festive sugar-coated red velvet cookies are perfect for Christmas. They’re just as delicious as they are beautiful. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

For more delicious ideas, check out these Christmas in July dinner recipes.

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Rosemary Shortbread Christmas Tree Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 15 cookies
From the Recipe Creator: These treats are a tradition on our Christmas cookie platter. Because the scent of rosemary and the shape of its leaves remind me of pine needles, I cut these using a Christmas-tree cookie cutter. Feel free to use any shape cutter of your choice. These are fragile, so handle the dough and baked cookies carefully. —Amy Bartlett, Depew, New York

Celebrate with Hallmark’s Christmas in July movie marathon.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

Total Time 20 min
Servings 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies bring back fond memories of my mom. They were her favorite, and she always made a batch when she knew company was coming. —Jacquie McTaggart, Independence, Iowa

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Buttery Spritz Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This tender spritz cookie recipe is quite eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands-down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois

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Peppermint Patty Sandwich Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: At my annual holiday party, these cookies are a big hit with everyone, especially when I mix festive food coloring or crushed candy canes into the filling. —Amy Martin, Vancouver, Washington

Pair your cookies with some savory Christmas in July appetizers.

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Scottish Shortbread

Total Time 35 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba

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Chocolate Meringue Stars

Total Time 55 min
Servings about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These light, delicate chocolate meringue cookies sure make for merry munching. Their big chocolate flavor makes it difficult to keep the kids away before they’re on the cookie tray. —Edna F. Lee, Greeley, Colorado
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Cherry Christmas Slices

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 11 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Brilliant red and green candied cherries add extra sparkle to these delicious holiday delights. What I really like best is that this recipe's easy to mix up ahead of time. In fact, I've often made the dough in November and kept it in the freezer until I needed it in December! —Katie Koziolek, Hartland, Minnesota
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Rosettes

Total Time 50 min
Servings about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These traditional deep-fried favorites are crisp and delicious with a delicate, lacy look. Dipping the edges into icing helps defines the beautiful pattern. —Iola Egle, Bella Vista, Arkansas
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Dipped Cherry Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Our seven children and four grandkids voted this festive, flavorful cookie a keeper. We gave a batch to our mail carrier, in thanks for trudging through so much snow, and she asked for the recipe. —Ruth Anne Dale, Titusville, Pennsylvania
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Frosted Chocolate Delights

Total Time 35 min
Servings 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Before we five kids headed off to school each day, Mom took our requests for that day’s dinner. I usually asked her to make these cookies for dessert, and she would rarely disappoint. I still enjoy them today. —Patricia Ramczyk, Appleton, Wisconsin
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Jelly Sandwich Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: To create the stained glass effect of these cookies, I sandwich jelly between two layers of basic dough. Your favorite raisin filling is excellent here, too. —Gloria McBride, Payson, Utah
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Sweet and Salty Chocolate Reindeer

Total Time 50 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: You can enlist little hands to help position the antlers, eyes and noses on these adorable, crisp reindeer cookies. —Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas
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Whipped Cream Krumkake

Total Time 1 hour
Servings about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Our hometown has a rich Norwegian culture. That heritage is evident during our annual Nordic Fest, where this classic krumkake recipe is king. Here’s your introduction to the timeless treat. —Imelda Nesteby, Decorah, Iowa
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Oatmeal S’more Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I can’t count how many times I have made these cookies—they are our favorites. I love to bake all kinds of goodies with my two daughters, and my husband loves to sample the treats. —Carmen Rae, New Haven, Indiana
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White Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprints

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: When I pass around the cookie tray, all eyes land on these fancy thumbprints. The white chocolate filling and dab of jewel-toned jam will satisfy even the most discriminating sweet tooth. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
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Secret Kiss Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Here's a recipe that's literally sealed with a "kiss." This cookie's bound to tickle any sweet tooth. —Karen Owen, Rising Sun, Indiana
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Chipotle Crackle Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I usually bake these special cookies for the holidays, but my family loves them so I bake them for their birthdays. The addition of ground chipotle chile pepper gives these cookies a little zing. The dough may be sticky, so I dip my hands in confectioners' sugar for easier handling. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
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Linzer Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the results are sweet! They really help to make the holidays feel special. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin
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Chocolate Mallow Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings 40 cookies
From the Recipe Creator: Cocoa, marshmallows and ready-made frosting transform the basic dough into these delightful treats. Sometimes, I’ll top each with a pecan half. —Gloria McBride, Payson, Utah
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Whipped Shortbread Cookies

Total Time 1 hour 10 min
Servings 8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These whipped shortbread cookies melt in your mouth. Mostly I make them for the holidays, but I'll also prepare them year-round for wedding showers and afternoon teas. —Jane Ficiur, Bow Island, Alberta
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Russian Tea Cakes

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I like to present my favorite holiday cookies in a special way. I pile this fresh-baked Russian tea cakes recipe on pretty plates that I buy throughout the year, then wrap them with colored cellophane to give friends. —Valerie Hudson, Mason City, Iowa
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Cinnamon Roll Macarons

Total Time 55 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These macarons are a fall and winter staple for me. Inspired by the classic cinnamon roll, they are a delicious treat for a cold or snowy day. These pair well with a mug of tea, and you can enjoy them as a dessert or just a snack. Other fillings would work well with this too—including custard, mousse, ganache or another buttercream. —Elizabeth Ding, El Cerrito, California
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Austrian Nut Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 10 sandwich cookies
From the Recipe Creator: These are my family's favorite Christmas cookies. If you arrange the slivered almonds in pinwheel fashion, the cookie looks like a poinsettia. —Marianne Weber, South Beach, Oregon
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Vegan Gingerbread Cookies

Total Time 50 min
Servings about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: It's so much fun to decorate cookies with children's help. We created gingery moose-shaped cookies to go with a book made especially for my niece's third-grade class. The crispy vegan gingerbread cookies stole the show. —Jenet Cattar, Neptune Beach, Florida
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Maple Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I created this recipe after tasting maple cookies with a maple glaze at a bakery in Stowe, Vermont, some years ago. I get many requests to bring them for bake sales, parties and ski trips. —Delores Day, Wolcott, Vermont
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Mango Fudge Refrigerator Ribbon Cookies

Total Time 45 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I’ve always thought that a ribbon cookie is especially nice. Although it’s a single cookie, it really seems like two or three different cookies because of its lovely layers of flavor. These refrigerated ribbon cookies have a rich chocolate layer balanced by a bright orange-mango layer—a very special combination. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
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Chocolate Mint Creams

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This recipe came from an old family friend and is always high on everyone's cookie request list. I make at least six batches for Noel nibbling and give some away as gifts. —Beverly Fehner, Gladstone, Missouri
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Gnome Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Everywhere we went on our trip through Copenhagen, these sprightly wee folk greeted us. I just had to create a cookie! —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
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Holly Wreaths

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I've never come across another spritz cookie like this - one calling for cream cheese as an ingredient. That helps to keep these wreaths moist a long time, while also adding a delicious flavor. —Dee Lein, Longmont, Colorado
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Reindeer Tracks

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: This is the first cookie recipe I’ve ever created! It captures the essence of the holidays because there’s a trace of eggnog flavor in these adorable reindeer hoof prints. You can add red and green frosting to make them even more Christmasy or use brown sprinkles for a more natural reindeer look. —Pam Sano, Voorhees, New Jersey

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Chewy Gingerbread Cookies

Total Time 25 min
Servings about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These moist, delicious ginger cookies have an old-fashioned appeal that'll take you back to Grandma's kitchen. I'm never surprised when these treats disappear quickly from my cookie jar.—Bernice Smith, Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota

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Cherry No-Bake Cookies

Total Time 30 min
Servings about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I always loved my no-bake cookie recipe, but I was never able to place at the fair with it. So I mixed in some maraschino cherries, added almond extract and voila! I won a blue ribbon at the county fair in 2010. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan

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Pizzelle Cookies

Total Time 20 min
Servings about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These lovely, golden brown anise pizzelle cookies have a crisp texture and delicate anise flavor. I create them using a pizzelle iron. —Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida

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Reindeer Cookies

Total Time 45 min
Servings 32 cookies
From the Recipe Creator: Gather 'round the tree on Christmas Eve and feast on these adorable reindeer cookies. If you listen closely, you might heard reindeer hoofs on the roof! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Cashew Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Some merry dairy snacking is guaranteed when you pass out these cashew-packed goodies! I found the recipe years ago in a flier promoting dairy products. It's been this farm wife's standby ever since. —June Lindquist, Hammond, Wisconsin

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Gingersnap Cookies

Total Time 35 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: A classic New England cookie, gingersnaps are now universal. My grandma kept two cookie jars in her pantry. One always had these crisp and chewy gingersnaps in it. They’re still my favorite cookie. My daughter, Becky, won a blue ribbon for this recipe at a 4-H fair. —Deb Handy, Pomona, Kansas

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Christmas Cutout Cookies

Total Time 25 min
Servings 6 dozen (2-1/2-inch cookies)
From the Recipe Creator: Rich and buttery Christmas cutout cookies like these never last long at a party. They're one of my favorite homemade Christmas cookies. I use seasonal cutters to celebrate the holidays tastefully. —Lynn Burgess, Rolla, Missouri

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Cherry Cheese Windmills

Total Time 35 min
Servings about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These pretty cookies look fancy, but they are really not much work. They're perfect for any occasion. —Helen McGibbon, Downers Grove, Illinois
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Peanut Butter Penguins

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 32 cookies
From the Recipe Creator: Could these be any more adorable? To treat your guests to this chocolaty, peanut buttery goodness, just cover Nutter Butter cookies with chocolate and decorate! They’re a lot of fun to make and even more fun to eat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Chocolate-Dipped Orange Cookies

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: These tender cookies are pretty to look at—and the combination of cream cheese, orange, chocolate and almonds makes them almost irresistible. —Linda Call, Falun, Kansas
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Striped Icebox Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I've been using this recipe ever since I was a little girl. I like it because it's easier than making cutout cookies. You can easily mix-and-match your favorite ingredients to create different looks. —Patricia Reese, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
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Snickerdoodles

Total Time 30 min
Servings 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: The history of these whimsically named treats has been widely disputed, but their popularity is undeniable. Help yourself to one of our soft cinnamon-sugared cookies and see for yourself. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Chocolate Mint Dreams

Total Time 40 min
Servings about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Since chocolate and mint is my favorite flavor combination, these dainty frosted treats are hard to resist. But I manage to save some for guests, because they make my cookie trays look so elegant. —Anne Revers, Omaha, Nebraska
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Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Total Time 50 min
Servings 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Everyone gets a kick out of this fun take on the popular red velvet cake. Take a shortcut and use packaged cream cheese frosting for the filling. —Judi Dexheimer, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
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Peanut Butter Pie Cookies

Total Time 55 min
Servings about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, but my favorite—peanut butter pie—is tough to eat on the go. I dreamed up these cookies to get my favorite flavor combo in a bite-size package. They can be made ahead and taken to any holiday gathering. —Ashley Moyna, Elkader, Iowa
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Citrus Gingerbread Cookies

Total Time 50 min
Servings 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Orange and lemon zest give gingerbread cutouts a refreshing twist. Brushing a honey glaze over the top adds a subtle shine and an extra touch of sweetness. —Monique Hooker, DeSoto, Wisconsin
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Easy Cinnamon Thins

Total Time 20 min
Servings 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: When a co-worker’s husband came home from Iraq, we had a potluck for him. These cookies with coarse red sugar matched our patriotic theme. —Janet Whittington, Heath, Ohio
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Caramel Whiskey Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: A bit of yogurt replaces part of the butter in the traditional cookie, but you would never know. I get a lot of requests for these and can’t make a cookie tray without them. —Priscilla Yee, Concord, California
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Cinnamon Twirl Cookies

Total Time 1 hour
Servings 64 cookies
From the Recipe Creator: These rolled cookies are tasty and fun to make with your family. The sugary mixture of walnuts and cinnamon is a light, sweet filling that will leave everyone wanting another bite. —Phyllis Cappuccio, Malden, Massachusetts
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Cherry Pinwheel Cookies

Total Time 40 min
Servings about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: A crisp, light textured cookie with a mild cherry flavor will add great color to your holiday cookie tray.—Jenn Reagan, Maple Valley, Washington
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Hot Chocolate Cookies

Total Time 25 min
Servings 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Using hot cocoa mix and marshmallow bits in the cookie dough really makes these hot chocolate cookies taste like the cozy drink. —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Grahams

Total Time 30 min
Servings 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator: Because so many people seem to love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, I came up with this no-bake cookie recipe.—Geraldine Sliwa, Elgin, Illinois