Christmas Cookie Tray Ideas & Christmas Cookie Recipes
Working on your holiday cookie tray? Here are 12 Christmas cookie tray ideas and sweet treat recipes for you. They’re sure to be a hit on Christmas!
One of the most fun (and most delicious) parts of Christmas is the cookies? Making them, decorating them, and, (of course) eating them. Something that can step up your cookie game for Santa this year is to also make a cookie tray to give an even more finished look to your hours of cookie preparation. Regardless of if you’re using cookie tins, decorated treat bags, large trays for parties, or small plates, with these Christmas cookie tray ideas, you’ll automatically make the “nice” list every year.
Christmas Cookie Tray Ideas
1 — Christmas Cookie Dessert Charcuterie Board
Get inspired with this Christmas cookie tray. When it comes to presentation, it’s a must to have a good base. So choosing your board (shape, color, and material) is important. Once you have the board and cookies ready, arranging is the fun part. The largest cookies should be placed first and placed around the outside of the board, making them easier to grab. Layer the more unique cookies as you move toward the center of the board and place the smallest cookies in the center, stacked, to add height.
Make sure that no cookies have the same color or texture if they’re placed next to each other.If you have nuts or small candies, use small shallow bowls and place them on the board also. If you have any holes peeking out between cookies, use candy (such as Hershey’s kisses or small candy canes) to fill them up.
2 — White Chocolate & Peppermint Board
If you’re looking to switch up your tray this year, try this white chocolate and peppermint board. The cream cheese-based white chocolate dip is a great addition to any peppermint fan. Plus, the possibilities to serve with it are endless. From pretzels and Hershey kisses to marshmallows and Oreos, you’re sure to enjoy this great holiday treat.
3 — Vegan Gingerbread Cookie Tray
Hosting a party with guests who have dietary restrictions? This vegan gingerbread cookie tray has you covered, featuring a variety of gingerbread cookies, including gingerbread chestnut butter-filled sandwich cookies. Whether you’re vegan or not, these recipes are irresistibly delicious. And we love the effortless charm of serving them straight from the baking tray!
4 — Christmas Cookies & Candy Dessert Tray
Although this Christmas dessert board uses a lot of cookies, it also puts a big emphasis on using candies that other boards in this list leave out. For example, gum drops, gummy bears, Cadbury chocolates, peppermint butter mints, candy canes, and Christmas-themed Peeps and M&Ms.
5 — Everything Red & Green Christmas Board
Christmas is all about color, and this tray gives a great example of just that. Instead of having a typical brown and tan snickerdoodle, this everything red and green Christmas board has only red and green cookies on it. While a lot of the items on this board aren’t homemade, it’s easy to throw together at the last minute and incredibly delicious.
6 — Non Traditional Christmas Cookie Tray
If you’re less stingy about the color theme of your tray but want to stay festive, this Christmas cookie tray is a great example. All of the cookies on it have a Christmas-themed shape or give off a winter feeling. Pair it with some hot buttered rum for even more fun!
7 — Holiday Cookie Tray
This holiday cookie tray takes a different approach to most. It segregates each cookie type into its own holder while still looking fabulous. It uses a variety of small, mismatched items around your kitchen to make it come together like mini loaf pans, small bamboo produce baskets, butter dishes, and tiny tart pans.
8 — Tempting Christmas Cookie Tray
If you’re looking to tempt each person with a cookie or two, this temping Christmas cookie tray will do the trick. It should have several types of cookies on it — one decorated cookie, one kid-friendly item, one type of shortbread, one chocolate-based item, one item that has fruit or jam, one square item, and something with nuts.
9 — Holiday Cookie Platter
Looking to change up your holiday cookie platter this year? This cookie tray has you covered. It doesn’t use traditional Christmas cookies, but it’s every bit as delicious as the next. The cookies featured in this cookie tray are chocolate chip snowball cookies, lemon white chocolate chip cookies, gingersnaps, peanut butter cookie cups, and red velvet sugar cookies.
10 — Christmas Homemade Cookie Charcuterie Board
There are a variety of ways to arrange a Christmas homemade cookie charcuterie board, and none of them are wrong. This board in particular takes the following steps.
- Take a rectangular or square plate of cookies and place it on the center of the board.
- Start in one corner and make a “pile” of cookies. Do the same with each type of cookie on the board as you go around, making sure each color, shape, and style of cookie differs from the one next to it.
- Sprinkle little candies around the tray and fill empty spaces or holes with fresh greenery, such as rosemary.
11 — Gluten Free Christmas Cookie Platter
Create a stunning gluten-free Christmas cookie tray featuring 4 irresistible treats: classic buttery chocolate chip cookies, mint chocolate chip cookies for the Thin Mint fans, festive peppermint cookies with a soft center and crunchy specks, and decadent hot cocoa cookies loaded with marshmallows and extra chocolate.
12 — Perfect Holiday Cookie Platter
Not everyone’s definition of perfect is the same. But this perfect holiday cookie platter is so versatile it’s hard to say it’s not perfect! Every cookie platter needs at least one type of sugar cookie — one type of frosted cookie, at least one spiced cookie (gingerbread, eggnog, snickerdoodle, molasses, etc.), and at least one cookie that isn’t a typical flat and round cookie (for example, a ball-shaped cookie). When it comes to adding candies and fudge, make sure things are different colors. Don’t make everything brown or white. Toffee and truffles are also great additions to any holiday cookie platter.
Christmas Cookie Recipes
1 — Cutout Sugar Cookies
Soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet, this sugar cookie recipe is a must for your Christmas cookie tray. Whether you decorate them with frosting or sprinkles, they’re guaranteed to add festive charm and deliciousness to your holiday spread!
2 — Funfetti Reindeer Cookie Sandwiches
These reindeer cookie sandwiches are not only cute to look at with the little antlers but delicious to eat with cookies encasing the delicious filling. These are surprisingly easy to make, which makes it a great activity for the whole family this Christmas!
3 — Lemon Wreath Cookies
Brighten up your Christmas cookie tray with these soft lemony treats! Sweet, tangy, and festive, these dainty lemon cookies are as easy to make as they are to enjoy.
4 — Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups
These quick and easy hot chocolate cookie cups are a delightful holiday treat. The recipe calls for no baking since you use ready to bake sugar cookies and store bought pudding to assemble the cookies that mimic hot cocoa.
5 — Peppermint Pattie Snowdrifts
These peppermint patties snowdrift cookies are a delightful holiday treat. A rich peppermint patty is topped with a creamy dark chocolate ganache creating a festive and delicious cookie perfect for sharing with loved ones during the holiday season. The best thing is that you use a cookie mix, meaning you can spend more time decorating.
6 — Christmas Chocolate Kiss Cookies
A classic Christmas cookie, these chocolate kiss cookies are a great cookie to have around the house or to take to any holiday event. They taste delicious, are incredibly easy to make (kid-friendly!), and are easy to travel with despite their shape.
7 — Snowball Cookies
Another classic irresistible Christmas cookie, these snowball cookies are easy to throw together at the last minute and are easy to pack up for any event. The buttery cookie combined with the powdered sugar on the outside makes this cookie melt-in-your-mouth good.
8 — Christmas Cookie Trees
By stacking cookies into a tree shape and decorating with colorful frosting, you can create Christmas cookie trees for delicious and visually appealing centerpiece for your holiday table.
9 — Christmas Monster Cookies
If you’re a fan of M&M cookies, also known as monster cookies, this is a great kid-friendly recipe to try. Instead of using any color of M&M, these Christmas Monster Cookies use red and green M&Ms, oats, chocolate chips, and peanut butter to make it more and more delicious with every bite.
10 — Soft Frosted Eggnog Cookies
Eggnog? Cookies? Yes, please! These soft frosted eggnog cookies are the perfect addition to an eggnog-loving household. Whether you dip it in milk or rum or brandy, these eggnog cookies will definitely fix any craving you’ve had for the creamy drink this year.
11 — Candy Cane Cookies
If you want to take your cookie-making preparation up a notch, these candy cane cookies are twisted as can be! They’re easy to whip up but more intriguing to bake than using a simple ice cream scoop.
12 — Santa Claus Sugar Cookies
Looking for a cookie to make for Santa this year? Look no further than Santa himself with these Santa Claus sugar cookies. They’re delicious in taste and incredibly decorative. Plus, they’ll make a fun family project!
13 — Frosted Christmas Tree Cookies
These Christmas tree cookies are absolutely as delicious as they are festive. With a sugar cookie base, a pretzel trunk, and green icing decoration, these cookies are going to be your new Christmas go-to.
14 — Italian Christmas Cookies
Another holiday classic, Italian Christmas cookies are typically rich, buttery and similar to sugar cookies. However, the key ingredient is almond extract!
15 — Snowflake Linzer Cookies
Linzer cookies are a cookie tray classic. These buttery shortbread cookies feature a beautiful snowflake design and a sweet raspberry filling, making them a delightful addition to any cookie tray.
16 — Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
These Christmas pinwheel cookies feature layers of colorful sugar cookie dough that are rolled, sliced, and baked to create a beautiful pinwheel design.
17 — Melted Snowmen Cookies
A fun addition to any Christmas Cookie tray, these melted snowman cookies literally resemble a melting snowman. These peanut butter cookies are topped with a peanut butter cup, melted white chocolate, and then decorated with candies.
14 — Merry Meringue Cookies
Add a touch of elegance to your Christmas cookie tray with merry meringue cookies! These light and airy treats are sweet, crisp, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, perfect for balancing richer holiday desserts.
15 — Holiday Wreath Macarons
Feeling fancy? Macarons are the epitome of sophistication when it comes to cookies. If you’re ready to go all out, try this holiday wreath macaron hack. It’s a festive twist that can also elevate other desserts!
16 — Pennsylvania Dutch Chocolate Cookies
Pennsylvania Dutch chocolate cookies are a must-try, with a hint of cinnamon, a chewy interior, and a delightfully crunchy exterior. These cookies are the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie lineup!
Christmas Cookie Tray Filler Ideas
When there’s a blank space between cookies or your board is bigger than you thought and you have extra space, add in some fillers such as:
- Nuts: Salty nuts are a great way to offset the sweetness of the cookies and candy.
- Candy: Red and green M&Ms are classic.
- Fruit: Strawberries are red and make the board festive.
- Popcorn: Think puppy chow or funfetti popcorn.
- Cheese: Both sweet and savory.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza
- Mocha Swirl Meringue Cookies
- No Bake Chocolate Almond Cookies
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