6 Christmas Snickerdoodle Cookies for a Festive Holiday

Christmas baking feels a little more special with a warm batch of cinnamon-sugar cookies coming out of the oven. These Christmas snickerdoodle recipes bring together classic holiday spices, creamy eggnog, ginger, and soft chewy cookie dough. They’re simple enough for a weekend baking session and festive enough for Christmas cookie trays, family gatherings, and holiday gift boxes.

Quick Summary

This collection features six Christmas snickerdoodle cookie recipes: Holiday Snickerdoodle Cookies, Christmas Snickerdoodle Cookies, Eggnog Snickerdoodles, Easy Eggnog Snickerdoodles, Gingerdoodle Cookies, and Soft & Chewy Ginger Snickerdoodles. Each recipe combines a tender cookie texture with cozy seasonal flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and eggnog.

1. Holiday Snickerdoodle Cookies

Holiday Snickerdoodle Cookies are soft, buttery, and coated in cinnamon sugar for a classic Christmas cookie with plenty of cozy flavor.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1½ tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  3. Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to form a soft dough.
  6. Scoop and roll the dough into balls.
  7. Coat each ball generously in cinnamon sugar.
  8. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets.
  9. Bake for 10–12 minutes, keeping the centers slightly soft.
  10. Cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

2. Christmas Snickerdoodle Cookies

Christmas Snickerdoodle Cookies bring the familiar cinnamon-sugar flavor of traditional snickerdoodles to the holiday cookie table with a soft, tender texture.

Ingredients

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  3. Cream the butter with both sugars until fluffy.
  4. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
  5. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
  6. Shape the dough into small balls.
  7. Roll each ball through the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
  8. Arrange on a lined baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
  10. Let the cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes before serving.

3. Eggnog Snickerdoodles

Eggnog Snickerdoodles combine creamy eggnog with cinnamon and nutmeg for a wonderfully cozy Christmas cookie that tastes like the holidays in every bite.

Ingredients

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ⅓ cup eggnog
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Beat the butter and sugars until creamy.
  4. Mix in the egg, eggnog, and vanilla.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
  6. Chill the dough for about 20–30 minutes if it feels too soft to handle.
  7. Roll the dough into balls.
  8. Coat each cookie in the cinnamon-sugar-nutmeg mixture.
  9. Bake for 10–12 minutes until the edges are set.
  10. Cool before serving.

4. Easy Eggnog Snickerdoodles

Easy Eggnog Snickerdoodles deliver classic holiday flavor with a straightforward dough that’s quick to mix and bake.

Ingredients

  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup eggnog
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Coating

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Mix the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Cream the butter and sugar until smooth.
  4. Beat in the egg, eggnog, and vanilla.
  5. Gradually add the dry mixture.
  6. Roll the dough into balls.
  7. Coat each ball in the cinnamon-spice mixture.
  8. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
  10. Cool for several minutes before enjoying.

5. Gingerdoodle Cookies

Gingerdoodle Cookies blend classic gingerbread spices with a soft snickerdoodle texture. The combination of ginger, cinnamon, and brown sugar makes these cookies especially fitting for Christmas baking.

Ingredients

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
  3. Beat the butter and sugars until creamy.
  4. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla.
  5. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
  6. Roll the dough into balls.
  7. Coat each ball with the cinnamon-ginger sugar mixture.
  8. Arrange on a lined baking sheet.
  9. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
  10. Allow the cookies to cool slightly before serving.

6. Soft & Chewy Ginger Snickerdoodles

Soft & Chewy Ginger Snickerdoodles combine a tender center with warm ginger and cinnamon for a comforting holiday cookie that’s made for sharing.

Ingredients

  • 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Ginger Coating

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
  4. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
  5. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients.
  6. Roll the dough into evenly sized balls.
  7. Coat each ball in the cinnamon-ginger sugar.
  8. Place on lined baking sheets with space between each cookie.
  9. Bake for 10–12 minutes, taking care not to overbake.
  10. Leave the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack.
How do I keep Christmas snickerdoodles soft and chewy?

Bake the cookies only until the edges are set while the centers still look slightly soft. Letting them finish cooling on the baking sheet helps preserve their tender texture.

Can I make Christmas snickerdoodle dough ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the dough, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. Let chilled dough soften slightly before scooping and rolling.

How should I store holiday snickerdoodle cookies?

Keep completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for about 4–5 days. Separate different varieties with parchment paper when storing several flavors together.