I have made you a note you can leave for Santa after he eats the cookies you make for him.
I have also linked to many Christmas cookies that Santa would be thrilled to be able to enjoy on his long night’s travels.
You may also want to leave the recipe on one of my printable recipe cards. You know, so Mrs. Claus can make them for him on the off season!
Christmas Magic
Christmas is a magical time of year. Both the Sacred and Secular traditions place a lot of emphasis on the anticipation of the day and its significance and not just on Christmas Day itself. The Advent Season. Advent Calendars. Twelve Days of Christmas. Even Elf on a Shelf and Black Friday. This year, I am firmly under Christmas’s magic spell. It could be that we finally have a Christmas tree again after years of being afraid to put one up because of the cats. He is small yet mighty, and he is hung with ornaments we’ve collected over the years and that have been passed down to us from family. We wrapped him in strands of multicolored lights, and at night, our living room is transformed by the dappled glow of our little tree. Yes, Christmas is a time of magic. It’s a time of wonder and miracles, joy and thanksgiving. And for many, especially those who have children, it is a time for Santa. And for Santa, it’s a time of hard work and one incredibly long night. Of on Dasher and Dancers. Of “Ready, Rudolphs?!” Of countless takeoffs and landings, of trips down chimneys and up chimneys while the world holds its breath until the sun rises and children tumble downstairs in eager anticipation. Santa, you bring us all joy, and so we leave you some cookies to keep you going on the longest night of your year.Cookies for Santa Round-Up*
First, here are a few of my favorite ever Christmas cookies:- Angel Slices are shortbread based with a sticky coconut pecan filling topped with a thin, crisp lemon glaze. They are perfect.
- Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies are gluten free and deeply, darkly fudgey and chocolaty. So good, friends!
- Peppermint Brownie Brittle is as crisp as the store bought kind and is flavored with bits of peppermint bark and peppermint oil. Yum!
- Gluten-Free Peppermint Bark Cookies from Elizabeth of Gluten-Free Baking Super festive cookies!
- Orange Cookies from Christine of Mediterranean Living for a bit of sunshine in a cold, dark night. They’re beautiful!
- Chocolate Snappers from Nestle, shared by Amy who adds crushed candy canes to the dough before baking
- Gluten-Free Cut-Out Sugar Cookies from Elizabeth of Gluten-Free Baking because Santa is a sucker for a classic sugar cookie!
- Molasses Ginger Cookies with Fresh Ginger from Karen of Karen’s Kitchen Stories. If you’re going to make ginger cookies, go all the way.
- Chanukah Olive Oil Cookies from Laura of Mother Would Know, because Santa loves all cookies!
- Snickerdoodles for Santa from Beth of A Word from Aunt B–really, “for Santa” is in the name of the cookies!
- Dark & Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies from Anita of Hungry Couple Santa, be prepared for decadent yumminess at Anita’s house.
- Chocolate Brownie Tassies from Cindy of Cindy’s Recipes and Writings. Santa is a Southerner at heart, I’m certain.
- Nutella Espresso Cookies from Laura of Mother Would Know because Santa knows what’s good: Chocolate and Hazelnuts.
- Chocolate Orange Oatmeal Cookies from Betsy of Desserts Required. Santa loves a twist on a classic.
- Liz’s Sugar Cookies from Liz of Liz Reedy Creations (links to facebook) complete with recipe for royal icing. Santa cannot get enough decorated cookies.
- Double-Chocolate, Pecan, and Butterscotch Cookies from Stephanie of The Culinary Life Santa will probably ask for seconds.
- Stained Glass Christmas Cookies from Karen of Karen’s Kitchen Stories. Magically beautiful–Santa loves beautiful cookies!
- Nana’s Butter Cookies from Betsy of Desserts Required. The most elegant jam thumb print cookies ever.
- Fool’s Toffee from Abbe of This is How I Cook–Santa is no fool and will gobble this up!
- Cocoa Meringue Kisses from Jane of The Heritage Cook. Gluten-free goodness. Kisses for Santa.
- Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies from Kirsten of Comfortably Domestic. Santa loves the chocolate/raspberry combination.
- Best Christmas Cookie Recipe from Irvin of Eat the Love. Because Orange, Clove, and Cinnamon sing Christmas.
- Magenbrot from Deon of FoodJam. Deon says this is something different for Santa. From Switzerland!
- Salted Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies from Erica of The Crumby Cupcake All the things that Santa loves are in here.
- Laura’s Peanut Butter Black Onyx Dream Cookies from Cindy of Savory Spice Shop. Cindy owns our local Savory where I get my Black Onyx cocoa powder. Santa loves the peanut butter chocolate combination.
- Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti from AllRecipes, shared by Niko who makes baskets of biscotti for giving. These are one of her favorites. I’m pretty sure the red and green will speak to Santa.
- Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies from Katie of Recipe for Perfection. Crisp on the edges. Chewy in the middle. The way Katie and Santa prefer.
- Dairy Free Eggnog Cookies from Christie of Food Done Light. I am sure Santa will appreciate that not every cookie is full of calories. Plus, I hear Santa is a fan of Nog.
- Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cake Mix Christmas Cookies from Pamela of My Man’s Belly. Adorned with Festive Doo-Dads because you can’t overdo at Christmas. These will make Santa smile!
- Gingerbread Man Biscuits from Georgina of G’Gina’s Kitchenette. She and her daughter hand-shaped these–so cute. Santa will be so happy!
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Add a Pinch, shared by Lisa who made them and says they are awesome. I imagine Santa will think so too!
- Brownie Cookies from Tina of Tina’s Cookings. Leave a tall, cold glass of milk to go along with these. And seconds on the cookies!
Printable Note To Santa
I hope you and your family have a magical Christmas indeed. I leave you with some quotes from favorite Christmas stories and movies that all speak to the magic that is Christmas. Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind… —Miracle on 34th Street The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear. —Elf It’s Christmas Eve. It’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be. —Scrooged What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. —How the Grinch Stole Christmas I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. —A Christmas Carol Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see. —The Polar Express Thank you for spending some time with me today. Much love. Have a lovely day. *Thank you so much to all my friends who contributed links to recipes that will fill your kitchens with the unmistakable scent of Christmas. You guys are all the best.Would you like to save this post?
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Wow, Jenni, great collection of cookies – I’ve been visiting them all and want to make many! And I love your note to Santa – but happily since I am Jewish I don’t have to share any of these cookies with Santa 🙂 Wishing you, Jeffrey, and the kids a fabulously joyous Christmas! xo
ROFL Jamie!! =) I have quite a few of those cookies earmarked as well. For after Santa comes and goes. Because maybe I don’t want to share either. Ha!
You are the BOMB! Seriously, I KNOW Santa is going to have a blast at your house. Actually, I think there is a good chance that he and the reindeer may just camp out with you and The Beloved for the entire holiday!
Thank you so much for including Desserts Required. Your warmth and generosity is so special! <3
Thank you so much for sharing your orange chocolate chip cookies and your family recipe of Nana’s butter cookies. Your friendship means so much, Betsy. Much love to you! Hugs for Samuel and Harry! xoxo
Thank you for including my tassies, Jenni! Santa will be very please with this collection and I bet there will be something extra in your stocking!
All I want is a dozen (each) of Santa’s cookies! =) Thanks for sharing your link, Cindy! xo
Thanks so much Jenni! This is a great list and an adorable post. I love the letter to Santa =)
Thanks for contributing your links, Karen! Can’t do a good round-up without good friends and solid recipes! xoxo Merry Christmas!
Aww thank you Jenni…these are so heartfelt and I love love love all the cookies in Santa’s treats! <3 I did enjoy making those Gingerbread men with my little dottie. Sometimes we just giggled and giggled as some of their limbs turned funny or had extra limbs 😉 and had to alter 😀 Handmade cookies/biscuits is the best when you have someone fun around to make it with. 😀
I love that you made these with your little one–I hope folks do the same once they read this post. Santa deserves handmade treats made with love and giggles, Georgina! xo
So true! Ho ho ho 😀
Thank you so much, Jenni ♥
You are more than welcome, Tina! And those brownie cookies are awesome–thanks for sharing them and making Santa so happy!
I love the roundup of quotes at the end! I wish more people would carry Christmas in their hearts all year long! Think of how magical the world would be if we were able to do that! Of course, cookies help too! Thank you for sharing and including me! xoxox
Those Christmas quotes almost made me cry. I sort of wanted to write a whole Thing about them, but it was too heavy for a cookie round-up! Couldn’t agree more, though–it’s a state of mind we need to find even in the middle of June.
Thanks so much for contributing–can’t do round-ups without my wonderfully talented friends!
Sensational roundup of cookies, my friend. For not having a Christmas tree in a long stretch, you haven’t lost the skill at decorating a gorgeous, festive tree! The spirit of the holiday has enveloped you; may it carry through 2016. Season’s best to you and TB.
And to you and the Wee Walkers (not so wee anymore!) and Mrs. W!
Thanks Jenni for including the recipe i referenced. It was a go to recipe of our family for 30 years or more…I have played around with the recipe over the years…but the core recipe from Nestles…is perfect. MY favorite memories is baking cookies with my mom. I remember the first coolkies were a marbled cookie dough using card suit cookie cutters. Still have them…they have to be at least 50 yrs old. Happy Happy Again Thanks for including my fav recipe.
It’s so great to find a solid base recipe you can play around with, and this one really does sound like a winner! Lovely memories of baking with your mom, too! Thanks for sharing your link, Amy, and Merry Christmas!
Amy, those old family recipes are the best and the kind we (and Santa) love the most!!
Thank Jenni for including me! I wish I was Santa, because I could eat every one!
Thanks for sharing your link and your story, Abbe! xo
“The way Katie and Santa prefer.” LOL, priceless! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your link, Katie!! xo