Looking for Christmas cookies that freeze well? This collection of recipes for Freezer Friendly Holiday Cookies are great to make ahead and give as gifts and bring to holiday parties.
This post was first published on November 25, 2019. It was updated with new recipes and more helpful baking tips and info, and republished on December 7, 2024.
It’s Christmas cookie time! I love this time of year!
One of the first holiday activities I like to get a head start on is holiday baking. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been making note of what baking items I had on hand and started stocking up on the basics, plus some holiday extras. Doing this helps you tackle several cookies in each baking session!
And more cookies = more bliss! :)
Be sure to check out our entire Christmas recipe collection for more holiday desserts!
Freezer-friendly holiday cookie ingredients checklist
Here are some of the main holiday baking ingredients I like to make sure I have on hand about a month before Christmas. This list contains most of the main ingredients in holiday cookie recipes.
- butter (pro tip: butter freezes well, so buy it when it goes on sale and keep some in the freezer!)
- all-purpose flour
- granulated sugar
- light brown sugar
- powdered sugar
- baking soda
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- molasses
- meringue powder
- cream of tartar
- baking chocolate
- chocolate chips
- holiday spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves
- holiday decorations, such as sprinkles, food coloring, holiday M & M bits, toffee bits, etc.
What is the best way to freeze holiday cookies?
Some of the cookie recipes featured here have different suggestions for freezing. But in general, it’s best to follow these steps:
- Lay cookies out on a cookie sheet in a single layer
- Place a layer of parchment paper in-between each layer of cookies.
- Give them some added protection from freezer burn by wrapping the cookies in plastic wrap.
- Then put the cookies into a freezer bag or freezer-friendly airtight container.
- Freeze the cookie dough. Then, you can let it thaw and bake cookies like normal. Bonus – cookie dough is a perfect gift during the holiday season.
How far in advance can you make and freeze cookies?
Most cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3-5 days. Cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months (using the method described above).
Which cookies do not freeze well?
While the recipes featured in this post DO freeze well, there are some kinds of cookies that do not freeze well. These include:
- cookies that are already decorated. You should bake the cookies and freeze them, and then decorate them just before you want to serve them.
- thin, delicate cookies like meringues, pizzelles and florentines
- cookies coated in chocolate or powdered sugar also do not freeze well.
Remember, treats that have frosting or other coatings on them should not be frozen. It will change how they taste and the texture won’t be the same.
But classics like sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, or your favorite (unfrosted) Christmas cookie recipe should all be easy to freeze in one simple batch.
30+ Christmas cookies that freeze well
If you’re looking for the best holiday cookies that DO freeze well and can be made in advance, try one of these delectable recipes!
From shortbread cookies to a simple dessert with white chocolate or mint, these are the flavors that will stay true, even after being stored in the refrigerator or freezer.
35+ Freezer Friendly Holiday Cookies
These are all Christmas cookies that freeze well! They can be made in advance and frozen, making them perfect for holiday cookie exchanges, holiday parties, and gift giving!
Pistachio Cranberry Shortbread
These pistachio cranberry shortbread cookie are Christmas cookies that freeze well. They're fun, festive, and easy to make!
Soft Ginger Molasses Cookies
These ginger molasses cookies are sugary, chewy, and freeze well. They also ship well and make great holiday gifts!
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
These festive Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies are sweet, chewy holiday desserts. Perfect for Valentine's Day, Christmas cookie exchanges, holiday parties, and gift-giving!
Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Shortbread Cookies
These buttery shortbread cookies are fun for kids to make as they dip them in the rich, melted chocolate.
Cinnamon Spritz Cookies
Spritz cookies are classic holiday cookies, and when you add cinnamon to them, they put even more Ho-Ho-Ho cheer into the holidays! Cinnamon Spritz Cookies are sure to be the next addition to your annual holiday baking repertoire.
Best Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
These Soft Gingerbread Cookies are chewy, and perfect to decorate for the holidays!
Best Soft Almond Sugar Cookies Ever!
These soft almond sugar cookies freeze well and the recipe makes a lot! Perfect for holidays.
Chewy Chocolate Fudge Cookies
These chocolate fudge cookies are super chewy and oh so delicious! Great for gift giving and will wow guests at your holiday gatherings. Sprinkle with festive sparkly sugar for a holiday spin!
Air Fryer Cookies
Can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies at the holidays! Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft chocolate chip cookies baked in the air fryer.
Matcha Crinkle Cookies
These matcha cookies are the perfect Grinch-y green and look so fun and festive on any holiday table!
Pinwheel Cookies
Use the base of this pinwheel cookie recipe but switch out the food coloring to green and red for Christmas, and you've got perfectly gift-able slice-and-bake Christmas cookies that freeze well!
Chocolate Chip Almond Biscotti
These twice-baked cookies freeze perfectly and look so fun and festive wrapped up in creative holiday packaging.
Lavender Shortbread Cookies
These lavender shortbread cookie freeze beautifully, and are great to give with a spa-themed gift, like with bath bombs, lavender sachets, and beauty masks.
Easy Biscotti Recipe: Gingerbread Butterscotch Biscotti
With warm holiday spice flavors and aromas in both the cookie and the frosting, these twice-baked biscotti cookies are delicious for the holidays! Freeze them without the frosting, then thaw and top with the frosting before serving or gift-giving.
Christmas Funfetti Cookies
These sugar cookies are super soft and chewy, bursting with the flavors of butter and vanilla, and packed with Christmas funtetti sprinkles.
Eggnog Cookie Recipe For The Holidays
These homemade eggnog cookies is a favorite Christmas cookie for those who love the drink! Make life easy and freeze the cookies after baking for several weeks. Simply thaw and ice! Easy peasy!
Ginger Pecan Cookies
Loaded with candied ginger and powdered ginger, these gluten free Ginger Pecan Cookies are a cinch to whip up and can be made ahead and stored until you need to whip these up for Christmas cookie exchange parties and holiday get-togethers!
Norwegian Christmas Men Cookies (Julemenn)
Norwegian Christmas Men Cookies are fat, soft cookies with a slight crisp around the edges.
Italian Almond Cookies [A Big Batch Recipe]
These Italian Almond Cookies provide you with well over ten dozen cookies sized about 1-1½ inches. That might seen like a lot, but these cookies freeze really well and are convenient to have when friends pop over for coffee.
Classic Thumbprint Cookies
There’s a reason why Classic Thumbprint Cookies are so popular. They are a holiday favorite, easy to make, and even easier to customize with different filling and flavor variations!
Italian Christmas Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies. Sciamellis. Anginette. The name may differ from household to household, but the result is the same: a delicious holiday cookie!
Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe
This gluten-free sugar cookie dough is perfect to tuck in the freezer for a holiday snack or to share as a hostess gift. The best part? It is made from a simple cake mix!
Melting Moments Cookies
These melt in your mouth cookies are the perfect mix of simplicity and deliciousness. Melting moments cookies are quick to make and oh so good.
Holiday Biscotti Cookie
This festive looking Holiday Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti cookie makes a great edible gift and is perfect for sharing at a holiday cookie exchange. 1 Weight Watchers Freestyle smart point per serving!
Russian Tea Cakes
These Russian Tea Cakes are so easy to make! They’re made with pecans and then rolled in powdered sugar after baking for a light, tender cookie you’re sure to love.
Christmas Sugar Cookies (Easy To Make!)
This Christmas sugar cookies recipe has a light texture, tastes great, & rolls out beautifully. Gather your little helpers to decorate these classic treats!
Paleo No Bake Christmas Cookies
These Paleo No Bake Christmas Cookies taste like chocolate peanut butter cookies but are peanut-free. They are easy to make and freezer friendly!
Christmas Sprinkle Pudding Cookies
You don’t want to miss these soft baked sprinkle pudding cookies. They are perfectly sweet vanilla cookies loaded with two different kinds of Christmas sprinkles.
Chewy Chocolate Snickerdoodles
With crisp edges and chewy insides, these chocolate snickerdoodles are a fun twist on the classic. Rolled in a spiced sugar, they're anything but boring!
Toasted Pecan Shortbread Cookies
These Toasted pecan shortbread cookies are perfect for the Holidays and the dough freezes really well! They are definitely a crowd pleaser!
Christmas Butter Biscuits
Three differently coloured and flavoured biscuit doughs are used here to great effect. Simple to make, these vanilla, matcha and chocolate Christmas butter biscuits are also very easy to eat.
Gingerbread Biscuits
Gingerbread biscuits made from a quick, easy and versatile gingerbread dough. Perfect for baking with children and your entire house will smell divinely festive!
Cranberry Orange Swirl Cookies
Cranberry Orange Swirl Cookies are a perfect holiday cookie. These cookies can be frozen before or after they are baked.
Skor Shortbread Meltaway Cookies
This cookie recipe has delicious Skor Bits inside a shortbread batter that is so light these cookies just melt in your mouth!
More Holiday Recipes
Did you make any of these recipes? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and comment below letting us know which one you made and how it turned out. Thank you!
My Italian family would always make SO many cookies during the holiday and freeze them. It always seemed liked there would be an endless supply of cookies! Love this post so that I can keep the tradition up myself!
What a great list. I need to start now so I can have cookies to share during the holidays.
What a great collection of Christmas cookies. I have got a feeling that this is what I need to choose from. Thanks for sharing. I am ready for Christmas:)
These are all great! Love that you can freeze the leftovers :) Going to try the air fryer recipe tonight!
Yum! Perfect timing, I’m about to start my Christmas cookie baking this weekend. Now I have my list =)
These cookies will totally come in handy this year! I plan to do my holiday baking early, so I love that these are all freezer friendly!