23 Christmas cookies, just like grandma used to make

No one (and we mean no one) bakes cookies like a grandma. Maybe Grandma has gained enough baking experience over time to just know what works. Maybe it’s her effortless, old-fashioned approach to baking. Or it could be thanks to some secret ingredient like love (or cream of tartar). Just guessing. Whatever the reason, these recipes from real grandmothers are just the taste of Christmas nostalgia that everyone craves.

Melissa’s Grandma’s Ginger Lace Cakes

Vista Verde Ranch

Molasses, cinnamon and ground ginger add flavor to these soft laces. Sprinkle sugar on top for a little holiday sparkle.

Gramma’s date squares

Danielle Gwilliam

“This is my grandmother’s recipe that my whole family loves. You can use almond extract instead of lemon if you want,” says community member Michelle Young of these date-filled bars with chewy oatmeal crusts.

My grandmother’s fruitcake cookies

Allrecipes/Qi Ai


Reviewers report that these fruitcake cookies—filled with chopped mixed nuts, raisins, dates, candied pineapple, and candied cherries—taste just like their own grandmothers’ recipes.

Oma Kiener’s Christmas cookies with hazelnut

Green goddess

“This was one of two Christmas cookie recipes that my German grandmother made every year until her death at the age of 92. While they may not be as fancy as other Christmas cookie recipes, they are easy to make and taste very nutty,” says KitchenGeisha about these. icebox cakes.

Grandma’s Drop Sugar Cookies

NCHIANCONE

“My family’s favorite Christmas cookie. Buttery and crunchy. The faint coconut flavor makes this cookie the best,” says recipe creator NCHIANCONE. This simple recipe only takes 20 minutes to make.

Grandma Minecci’s Snowball Cookies

Abbey

Dusted with confectioners’ sugar and shaped like snowballs, these cookies would be perfect for a cold Christmas.

Old German gingerbread

Nicole

Allrecipes community member Darlene writes, “I got this recipe from my grandmother, who got it from her grandmother. She had to translate it and then figure out measurements. The original recipe called for ‘enough flour to make a dough.’ . Luckily Grandma knew what kind of dough.”

Grandma’s Gingersnap Cookies

Christina Florez

“This melt-in-your-mouth ginger cookie recipe, which I received from my grandmother, has been enjoyed in my family since 1899,” according to recipe author Marie Ayers.

Grandma Ruth’s Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies

Dotdash-Meredith Food Studios


With over 400 5-star reviews, this mouth-watering snickerdoodle recipe would be great for large gatherings, especially considering one batch yields 36 cookies.

Russian tea cakes

Victoria Jempty/Allrecipes

“Bubba brought it when she came from Lithuania. I’m passing it on in the true spirit of the season,” says recipe creator THEAUNT708, who adds that five generations of their family have now made these cookies at Christmas time.

Grandma’s old fashioned teacakes

dotdash meredith food studios

Make these tea cakes a day or two before Christmas to enjoy with your Christmas morning coffee.

Grandma’s Stuffed Cookies

Pam Ziegler Lutz

“My grandmother always made these around Christmas. They are the easiest, most flavorful cookies around. Be warned, they are addictive,” says Kim Borris. Fill them with the fruit flavored jam of your choice.

Granny’s Strawberry Conserves-Fill Cookies

Autumneyes


Strawberry preserves make an ideal cookie filling, especially when the berries are not in season. Recipe creator Julie Holden calls these soft, spiced cookies a Christmas favorite.

Best Mabel’s Best Bar Cakes

Kari

Oatmeal, chocolate chips and caramel topping in glass create a gooey, buttery bar. “I’ve made at least 50 batches! These are so wonderful,” writes one reviewer.

Best Snowball Cookies

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios


This recipe from home cook Lori Dehn’s grandmother includes finely crushed peppermint candies for a holiday twist on classic Russian tea cakes.

Grandma’s Lace Cakes

Dustin Poh

These thin, crunchy cookies would go perfectly with a glass of milk and a Christmas movie.

My Nana’s Lace Cookies

Blue tiger

“These are delicate lace cookies with an amazing taste! A tradition in our family for Christmas since I was a little girl,” says Bluetiger, adding, “These cookies spread into a very thin wafer, almost transparent. Super easy to make, but be careful as they can be quick to burn or cool too much on your parchment paper – and then you’ll chip the cookies off your parchment paper!”

Gramma’s Cornflake Peanut Butter Cookies

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios


These five-ingredient cookies taste like peanut butter fudge, but with a nice crunch from cornflakes.

Gram Opal’s sugar cookies

Mona Reese

“My grandmother Opal June Carlson, ‘Gram C,’ made these cookies every time my dad and I came to her cottage on Lake Okoboji to visit. Although at the time I was picking off the pecan halves that my seven- year old I made myself. I still don’t appreciate, these simply delicious cookies were amazing and will live forever in my heart with my Gram C!” – Dad’s kitchen

Granny’s Shortbread Cookies

Allrecipes/Qi Ai


“Light, buttery shortbread cookies! Cut them into Christmas shapes and decorate with colored sugar and maraschino cherries.” -Lori G

Grandma Minnie’s Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Cathleen Padier


If you’re looking for the perfect cut-out cookie dough, here it is. Just be sure to mix the eggs, cream and vanilla by hand as the recipe instructs. Using an electric mixer for this step will leave you with an incredibly soft, sticky dough from overtime.

Grandma’s Classic No-Bake Cookies

This delightful no-bake treat relies on staples like cocoa powder, peanut butter, and oats. There’s a good chance you already have everything you need to make them. When storing them, be sure to put wax paper between the layers of the cakes to prevent them from sticking.

Nana’s Spiced Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

In addition to two types of chocolate, these warming pumpkin cookies have a spicy secret ingredient: cayenne pepper. If you’re not quite sold on the heat, just try a dash of cayenne in the cinnamon-sugar coating for your first batch.

More inspiration

Valerie aka DollyDomestic