10+ Christmas Baking Recipes to Sweeten Your Holiday Season

Christmas is a magical time filled with joy, cheer, and, of course, delicious treats. Baking during the holiday season is a cherished tradition for many families.

You can bring warmth and sweetness to your celebrations with a variety of delightful Christmas baking recipes.

From classic cookies to festive cakes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Creating these treats not only fills your home with wonderful aromas but also helps you make lasting memories with loved ones.

You’ll find that these recipes can add an extra layer of joy to your holiday festivities.

1) Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a classic treat during the holiday season. Their spicy aroma fills your home, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. You can decorate them with icing for a fun touch.

To make these cookies, you will need ingredients like flour, sugar, and molasses. The combination of spices gives them that signature taste everyone loves. They’re perfect for sharing with family and friends.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar together.
3. Beat in the egg and molasses.
4. In another bowl, mix the dry ingredients.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
6. Roll out the dough and cut into shapes.
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

2) Eggnog Biscotti

Eggnog biscotti is a delightful treat to enjoy during the holiday season. These crunchy cookies have a rich flavor that pairs well with coffee or tea.

You’ll need ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, and of course, eggnog. You can even add some rum or whiskey for extra holiday cheer.

To make them, mix your ingredients and shape the dough into logs. Bake them at 350°F (175°C) until golden. Let them cool, then slice and bake again for that perfect crunch.

This recipe is sure to be a hit at your holiday gatherings!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup eggnog
• 3 teaspoons whiskey (optional)
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar together.
3. Add the eggs and eggnog, mixing well.
4. Gradually add flour, baking powder, and nutmeg.
5. Shape the dough into logs and place on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 25 minutes until golden.
7. Slice the logs and bake again for 10-15 minutes.
8. Cool before serving. Enjoy!

3) Stollen Bread

Stollen is a traditional German Christmas bread loved for its rich flavors. It’s packed with dried fruits, nuts, and sometimes marzipan, which adds a delightful surprise in every bite. The bread is often dusted with powdered sugar, giving it a festive look.

To make stollen, you’ll start by mixing yeast, warm water, and milk. Then, add in flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. Don’t forget to fold in your favorite dried fruits and nuts for added texture.

Baking stollen can fill your kitchen with warm, inviting scents. Once it’s done, let it cool before slicing. Enjoy it with a cup of tea or coffee during the holidays!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 3/4 cup (170g) warm water
• 1/4 cup (60ml) warm milk
• 1 large egg
• 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup (100g) sugar
• 3 1/2 cups (440g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (150g) mixed dried fruits
• 1/2 cup (75g) nuts (like almonds or walnuts)
• 1/4 cup (30g) marzipan (optional)
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine yeast, warm water, and milk. Let it sit for about 5 minutes.
2. Add the egg, butter, and sugar; mix until blended.
3. Gradually stir in the flour until a dough forms.
4. Mix in the dried fruits and nuts, and add marzipan if using.
5. Knead the dough for about 5-10 minutes until smooth.
6. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour.
7. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
8. Shape the dough into a loaf and place it on a baking sheet.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
10. Let it cool, then dust with powdered sugar before serving.

4) Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a classic treat for Christmas baking. They are simple to make and perfect for decorating. You can shape them into fun holiday designs or just keep them round.

To make sugar cookies, you’ll need butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and flour. These cookies bake evenly and have a soft texture.

When it’s time to decorate, you can use icing or sprinkles. For easy icing, use a squeeze bottle to create fun patterns.

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 ½ cups butter, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream together the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until smooth.
4. Gradually add the flour and mix until well combined.
5. Roll dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
7. Let cool before decorating.

5) Baileys Loaf Cake

Baileys Loaf Cake is a delicious treat perfect for the holiday season. It features a rich chocolate base infused with Baileys Irish cream. The soft texture makes it a favorite for many.

Topped with a creamy Baileys frosting, this cake is both decadent and festive. You can even add a sprinkle of chocolate shavings for extra charm.

This loaf cake is easy to make and a lovely addition to your Christmas baking.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200g) sugar
• ½ cup (50g) cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup (120ml) Baileys Irish cream
• ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease a loaf pan and set it aside.
3. In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients.
4. In another bowl, combine the Baileys, oil, eggs, and vanilla.
5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
6. Pour the batter into the loaf pan.
7. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

6) Mince Pie Cookies

Mince pie cookies are a fun twist on a classic holiday treat. They combine the flavors of traditional mince pies with the soft texture of cookies. Perfect for sharing or enjoying with a cup of tea.

To make these cookies, you will need ingredients like butter, brown sugar, and prepared mincemeat pie filling. The warm spices bring a festive touch, making them great for Christmas baking.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups prepared mincemeat pie filling
• 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (170°C).
2. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar until creamy.
3. Add the egg and mix until combined.
4. Stir in the mincemeat pie filling.
5. Gradually add the flour, mixing until a dough forms.
6. Scoop the dough onto a baking sheet.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden.

7) Chocolate Yule Log

A Chocolate Yule Log, or Bûche de Noël, is a festive holiday dessert that looks like a log. It’s perfect for impressing your family and friends.

To make this treat, you’ll start with a light chocolate sponge cake. After baking, roll it up with a creamy filling inside. This keeps the cake moist and adds delicious flavor.

Next, cover your rolled cake with rich chocolate ganache. This gives it the traditional log appearance. Decorate with powdered sugar to mimic snow and add festive touches like berries or rosemary.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 8 ounces dark chocolate

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease a baking pan and line it with parchment paper.
3. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
4. In another bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until fluffy.
5. Add vanilla and fold in dry ingredients.
6. Spread batter in the pan and bake for 15-20 minutes.
7. Let it cool, then roll with cream.
8. Coat with ganache and decorate as desired.

8) Panettone

Panettone is a delightful Italian Christmas bread. It has a sweet, soft texture and is filled with candied fruits and raisins. Making it at home can bring warmth to your holiday baking.

To start, gather your ingredients. You will need flour, sugar, butter, eggs, yeast, milk, and various dried fruits. The combination makes a fragrant dough that rises beautifully.

For baking, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the dough in a mold and let it rise before baking. Bake until golden brown, allowing the aroma to fill your kitchen.

Ingredients

• 5 cups (600g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon instant yeast
• 2/3 cup water
• 5 large eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• Dried fruits (raisins, candied orange)

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine the flour, yeast, and sugar in a large bowl.
2. Mix in warm water and eggs until a dough forms.
3. Knead the dough until smooth.
4. Let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
5. Add melted butter and dried fruits, then stir to combine.
6. Place in a mold and let it rise again.
7. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 30-45 minutes.

9) Cranberry Jalapeño Jelly

Cranberry jalapeño jelly is a unique and tasty treat for your holiday table. This jelly combines sweet cranberries with a spicy kick from jalapeños. It’s a great addition to crackers and cream cheese.

To make it, you’ll need fresh cranberries, jalapeños, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and pectin. The bright colors and flavors make it perfect for festive occasions.

Ingredients

• 12 oz fresh cranberries
• 6-8 jalapeños, chopped
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 package pectin

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the cranberries and place them in a pot with water.
2. Add the chopped jalapeños.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the cranberries burst.
4. Stir in the sugar and pectin, cooking for a few more minutes.
5. Pour the jelly into sterilized jars and seal.

10) Red Velvet Drip Cake

A Red Velvet Drip Cake is perfect for your Christmas celebrations. This cake features layers of soft, red sponge and creamy frosting. The shiny chocolate ganache on top adds a festive touch.

To make the cake, you’ll need a mix of all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda. The red color comes from food coloring, giving it that classic look.

Once baked and cooled, frost the layers with your favorite vanilla buttercream. Finish by drizzling the ganache over the top for a beautiful drip effect.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy cream (for ganache)
• 4 ounces white chocolate (for ganache)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. In a bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In another bowl, combine sugar, oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, and vanilla.

4. Blend the wet and dry ingredients together.

5. Divide that mix into two or three cake pans.

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

7. Let them cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans.

8. For the ganache, heat cream and pour over chopped white chocolate until smooth.

9. Assemble the cake with frosting and drizzle ganache on top.