23 Authentic 50s and 60s Cookies You’ll Want on Every Holiday Tray
Holiday baking feels extra special when it’s inspired by the cookies that started it all. These authentic recipes from the ’50s and ’60s bring back the comfort and charm of mid-century kitchens.
They’re nostalgic, delicious, and sure to earn a permanent spot on your baking list every holiday season.
Jam Filled Cookies
These vintage Jam Filled Cookies feature a delectable brown sugar cut-out dough that is rich in flavor and perfect for any occasion. Generously filled with a delightful combination of nuts and your favorite jam, these cookies strike a wonderful balance between sweetness and texture. Their simplicity makes them a breeze to prepare, allowing you to whip up a batch in no time. Ideal for sharing at gatherings or enjoying as a cozy treat at home, these nostalgic cookies are sure to bring back fond memories and create new ones with every bite!
Get the Recipe: Jam Filled Cookies.
Santa Claus Cut Out Cookie Recipe
With a crispy outside and a soft, chewy interior, this is the best cut-out cookie recipe you will ever try! The delightful texture makes them perfect for any occasion, whether enjoyed plain or beautifully decorated with icing and sprinkles. These cookies hold their shape exceptionally well, making them ideal for festive celebrations and holiday gatherings. With endless possibilities for flavors and designs, you can easily customize them to match any theme or personal preference, ensuring that each batch is a unique treat for everyone to enjoy!
Get the Recipe: Santa Claus Cut Out Cookie Recipe.
Apple Cookies
These Apple Cookies are so delicious. They are drop cookies, the easiest cookies you can make. The inside is soft and chewy, and the apples and nuts give them a nice, crispy crunch. Get the Recipe: Apple Cookies.
Vanillekipferl
Vanillekipferl, the delicate, crescent-shaped cookies dusted with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar, are a classic treat deeply rooted in the heart of European baking traditions. Originating from Austria, these cookies have become a beloved staple during the holiday season, transcending borders to be enjoyed in homes across the globe.
Get the Recipe: Vanillekipferl.
Chocolate Peppermint Cookie
These Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Stars are the perfect festive treat to brighten up your holiday season! With a delightful combination of rich chocolate and refreshing peppermint, these cookies are not only delicious but also easy to shape into stars, making them an ideal cutout cookie. The dough is smooth and easy to work with, ensuring that your holiday baking is both fun and hassle-free.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Cookie.
Hildabrötchen | Spitzbuben Shortbread Cookie With Jam
Hildabrotchen or Spitzbuben are traditional German Christmas cookies, known for their delightful filling of sweet currant jam. The dough is incredibly easy to work with, making the baking process enjoyable and resulting in beautifully crafted cookies perfect for the holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Hildabrötchen | Spitzbuben Shortbread Cookie With Jam.
Lace Cookies
Delight in the exquisite charm of lace cookies, a tantalizing treat that perfectly balances delicate crispness with rich, golden sweetness. With their intricate patterns and irresistible flavor, these thin, lacy confections promise to enchant your palate and add an elegant touch to any dessert spread.
Get the Recipe: Lace Cookies.
Ischler
These Ischler Törtchen are a decadent treat featuring rich chocolate-covered almond shortbread cookies filled with a sweet and tangy apricot jam. A cherished family favorite, these vintage Christmas cookies bring a touch of old-world charm to your holiday table, making them a beloved tradition that’s both delicious and nostalgic.
Get the Recipe: Ischler.
Haselnussmakronen, German Hazelnut Macaroons
Haselnussmakronen, or German hazelnut macaroons, are an incredibly easy, light, and flavorful cookie that will delight your taste buds. Made primarily from ground hazelnuts, these delightful treats are naturally gluten and dairy-free, making them a perfect option for those with dietary restrictions. Each bite offers a rich, nutty flavor and a satisfying texture that pairs beautifully with a cup of tea or coffee. These cookies are not only simple to make but also bring a touch of elegance to any dessert table or gathering.
Get the Recipe: Haselnussmakronen, German Hazelnut Macaroons.
No Bake Christmas Wreath Cookies
These easy and delicious Christmas Wreath Cookies require no baking & few ingredients. Perfect to make with kids. Give them out as gifts or for dessert.
Get the Recipe: No Bake Christmas Wreath Cookies.
Best Ever Sugar Cookies
The Best Ever Sugar Cookies recipe comes straight from my grandma’s recipe box. These sugar cookies are buttery & delicious with crispy edges!
Get the Recipe: Best Ever Sugar Cookies.
Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies
Tender, sweet, and so fun to make, these Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies are a favorite holiday and special event cookie!
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies.
Amish Sugar Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
These Amish Sugar Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies are a perfect treat for the holidays or any time of year. Here is how to make them!
Get the Recipe: Amish Sugar Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Homemade Biscottini
Biscottini are adorable Italian cookies, a bite-sized form of biscotti. These beauties are a delightful, healthy treat that packs a flavor punch while being incredibly simple to make. Our recipe combines a rich crunch of nuts with the sweetness of dried fruits, all nestled within a biscuit that’s been baked to perfection – not once, but twice.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Biscottini.
Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies
Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies are a delicious holiday cookie perfect for after Thanksgiving dinner or to include on this year’s Christmas cookie platter. These cookies feature a delicious gingerbread and molasses cookie with a decadent white chocolate filling.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies.
How to Make Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Wondering how to make Christmas sugar cookies? These delicious but easy Christmas sour cream sugar cookies with a cream cheese frosting are the perfect embodiment of holiday joy. If you’re looking for things to do, this makes the perfect Christmas activity for kids as well!
Get the Recipe: How to Make Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Potato Chip Cookies
You have to try these sweet and salty potato chip cookies—they’re a game-changer! Combining two favorite snacks, these cookies are the perfect mix of sweet and salty, with crunchy potato chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips that make them utterly irresistible. The texture is amazing, with crisp edges and a chewy center, and I promise there won’t be any leftovers! Trust me, this fun twist on a classic cookie (just like grandma’s) will quickly become a favorite in your house!
Get the Recipe: Potato Chip Cookies.
German Christmas Stollen Cookies
Transport yourself to a German Christmas market with these delicious German Christmas stollen cookies. As a bite-sized version of a traditional Dresdner stollen recipe, these bites offer the same classic dried fruit and citrus flavors that you love in the classic Christstollen. Perfect as a gift during the holiday season!
Get the Recipe: German Christmas Stollen Cookies.
Christmas Spice Cookies
Classic vanilla cookies with a dash of the best holiday spices for Christmas. Decorate with coarse sugar for a little extra crunch and a touch of sweetness!
Get the Recipe: Christmas Spice Cookies.
Italian Orange Almond Cookies
These authentic Italian orange almond cookies are easy to make in minutes with just a handful of ingredients. They are soft and chewy, taste like marzipan, and are bursting with orange flavor!
Get the Recipe: Italian Orange Almond Cookies.
Church Window Cookies
A classic American cookie that’s a no-bake favorite! These pretty-as-a-picture church window cookies only take 15 minutes to prepare and require zero baking time! They are loaded with fudgy chocolate, crunchy, earthy walnuts, and fruity little marshmallows. The chocolate is smooth, rich, and dense, and the texture is incredible, with the crunchy walnuts, coconut flakes, and soft, squishy marshmallows. Honestly, these make the prettiest little cookies that everyone goes crazy for. Most grocery stores stock the ingredients, so these old-fashioned treats are easily accessible.
Get the Recipe: Church Window Cookies.
Nutmeg Cookies
These sweet and spiced Nutmeg Cookies make the perfect addition to any Christmas cookie platter. Made with beautiful stamps, they taste just as good as they look!
Get the Recipe: Nutmeg Cookies.
Easy Embossed Rolling Pin Shortbread Cookie Recipe
Transform your kitchen with this easy embossed rolling pin shortbread cookie recipe! They taste amazing and have a beautiful pattern.
Get the Recipe: Easy Embossed Rolling Pin Shortbread Cookie Recipe.
