Great Canadian Christmas Cookies

A Canadian Christmas must-have, these aromatic cookies get their warmth from ground ginger, allspice and cinnamon.

You’ll have as much fun decorating these “ugly” cookies as you will eating them. Add these to your cookie plate to put a smile on even the biggest holiday Grinch.

Butter tarts turn into sticky, decadent curlicues that skip the muss and fuss of the traditional recipe. These pinwheels stack up just like a holiday cookie, adding an unexpected, classic Canadian pop to festive sweets trays. You can make these with either puff pastry or traditional pie dough — just be sure to make them!

Who can resist an old fashioned sugar cookie? Decorate these to your liking to add sparkling seasonal appeal.

Learn how to make the Mennonite classic at home with this traditional fried cookie recipe from Saskatchewan.

Light, buttery shortbread gets a Canadian twist with a hint of maple syrup. Bonus points if you have maple leaf cookie cutters!

If you’re tired of gingerbread, try these cookies that combine fresh ginger, cinnamon, ground allspice and molasses. Dress them up by icing with festive designs.

Up your shortbread game with these extraordinary cookies. They’re made with rum and ground pecans for a sweet, rich flavour, and then drizzled with dark chocolate to finish.

Grammie Bent’s Dunkin’ Snaps, baked by Marsha Clarke when Lynn visited the he Waterloo County Quilters’ Guild, exemplify why gingersnaps are perfect little cookies. Whether you crunch them as they are or dip them in your double double, these spicy snaps offer warmth on cold Canadian days.

Consider these cookies the sleek and sophisticated alternative to the standard gingerbread. White chocolate and sprinkles give the cookies a tuxedo look.

Get the recipe for White Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

Almost too beautiful to eat, sugar cookies get a “stained glass” look thanks to fruit jam and lemon curd fillings. A dusting of icing sugar gives the “windows” a dusting of freshly fallen snow.

Freeze this dough in advance and whip it out for holiday parties, cookie exchanges or the night before Christmas, so Santa can enjoy warm and chewy chocolate cookies.

There is a double dose of maple flavour in these delectable sandwich cookies. Opt for maple extract in the cream to give intense flavour without watering it down.

Maple-flavoured sugar cookies are topped with a sweet maple glaze.

These hearty checkered cookies mimic lumberjack plaid for a fun take on Canadiana. Use vodka or lemon juice to thin out the gel food colouring and make it easier to paint onto red fondant discs for a distinctive look.

The best of Canadian junk food all in one sweet-savoury bite, these kitchen sink cookies combine Hickory Sticks, Coffee Crisp and maple fudge, because when you’ve got the munchies, nothing else will do.

This nutty cookie will appeal to fans of the classic chocolate hazelnut spread. The addition of roasted, chopped hazelnuts gives the cookies a unique crunch.

Found in the official 1946 Canadian Army Cook’s Manual, these sweet, chewy cookies were likely eaten by thousands of soldiers in mess halls across the country.

As a member of the British commonwealth, Canada’s Christmas cuisine is heavily influenced by the United Kingdom’s traditional dishes, like shortbread. On a cookie tray, these beauties scream Canadian Christmas! in a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth kind of way.

Get the recipe for Anna Olson’s Shortbread Cookies

With three flavours to choose from — lemon, earl grey, and chocolate — these stunning (and delicious) icebox cookies will satisfy any craving.

Always a hit at cookie exchanges, thumbprint cookies, with their homey, handmade feel, get an elegant twist with pie fillings. Surprise your pals with lemon curd, pecan pie or peanut butter-chocolate thumbprints. Anything goes with this versatile recipe.

This batch of chocolaty cookies are so good, your guests will never ask where the chips are!