Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed primarily on 25th December, it’s a both religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Christmas is popular with decorations in red, green, and gold symbolizing the blood of Jesus and eternal life. Christmas trees, bells, candles, candy canes, stockings, wreaths, and angels are several instances of traditional decorations people around the world use to set in or around their houses, along the streets, and in prominent places. As a major festival and public holiday for both Christians and non-Christians in countries around the globe, Christmas Day always brings families together for special meals; turkey, goose, pudding, mince pies, and fruit cake are well-known in the United Kingdom. However, each region has different kinds of meals reflecting the local traditions and histories.

Sweets, chocolates, and cookies have also become popular worldwide on Christmas. Many cookies incorporate shapes, colors, and flavors evoking the Christmas spirit, like stars for the Star of Bethlehem. Several iconic cookies, such as gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, and peppermint candy cane cookies take significant roles in Christmas celebrations; for example, the gingerbread cookies are usually used for building gingerbread houses and hung on Christmas trees as edible ornaments. Meanwhile, the sugar cookies are for cookie exchanges or left for Santa on Christmas Eve; and the peppermint candy cane cookies are often included in gift baskets or used as table decorations. More than just sweet treats, cookies on Christmas are for family bonding fostering togetherness and creativity, as well as a universal symbol of hospitality and love often shared in beautifully-wrapped boxes.

Cookies carry the stories and warmth of Christmas for everyone. If you’re planning to have cookies for your Christmas celebration, read on several cookie ideas below to liven up this holy day with your loved ones.

Ready to unleash your inner Christmas baker? Here are a list of 50 Christmas cookies, along with their brief ingredients and Christmas symbolism. Let’s get baking–your treat, your choice!

The most popular and iconic Christmas cookies around the world:

Made from molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It’s a classic holiday icon of gingerbread men and houses.

Made from butter, sugar, and vanilla often cut into shapes like stars, trees, and bells.

Made from butter, sugar, cinnamon. Their warmth symbolizes holiday coziness.

Heart or star cutouts representing love and joy. It’s made from almond flour and raspberry jam.

Butter, flour, and almond extract pressed into festive shapes like wreaths and snowflakes.

It’s a chocolate and peppermint candy symbolizing holiday cheer.

Made from butter, sugar, and flour. Its simplicity reflects holiday tradition.

Made from cocoa and powdered sugar. The snowy tops of the cookies evoke winter scenes.

Made from crushed cookies, cocoa, and rum. It’s a festive indulgence for adults.

Made from molasses, cloves, and anise, reflecting the spicy warmth of Christmas.

As the name implies, these are chocolate-based cookies for chocoholics:

Made from cocoa and chocolate chips. It’s a richness for holiday decadence.

Made from almonds and dark chocolate, perfect for sharing with coffee or cocoa.

Made from chocolate and peppermint extract, bringing the chocolate warmth for your Christmas.

Made from chocolate ganache and flour. It’s one of the popular Christmas gifts of chocolate.

Made from hot cocoa and mini marshmallows, evoking a cozy holiday drink.

It’s pretzels and melted chocolate for your sweet and salty holiday balance.

Made from chocolate, nuts, and marshmallows for your holiday indulgence in every bite.

It’s a mini truffle-like treat for gifting, made from chocolate and cream cheese.

Made from cocoa, butter, and sugar, shaped into snowflakes or stars.

It’s a festive green mint and chocolate richness made from cocoa and mint chips.

These are cookies packed with nuts and fruits which are both healthy and delicious:

Made from almond flour and powdered sugar, symbolizing the crescent moon of winter on Christmas.

Made from raspberry jam and almond extract. The jam centers resemble tree ornaments.

Made from pecans and powdered sugar shaped into snowball-like.

It’s an Italian holiday tradition, made from figs, dates, and nuts.

Made from dried cranberries and orange zest, representing red and orange hues of the Christmas decor.

It’s a mini version of the classic holiday cake, made from dried fruits, nuts, and spices.

Of course, you’ll have pistachios in it combined with powdered sugar for Christmas festive touch.

Made from coconut and condensed milk, resembling snowy peaks.

Made from Maraschino cherries and almond extract with typically red and white holiday colors.

Made from cardamom and orange zest for your spiced holiday warmth.

Take a look at several international cookies for Christmas to enhance your inspiration.

Made from honey, nuts, and cinnamon, representing spiced Christmas markets.

Butter and powdered sugar resembling snowy Christmas days.

Almonds and powdered sugar to celebrate the Spanish “Nochebuena” or Christmas Eve in English.

Almonds and vanilla sugar with crescent shapes for winter nights.

Made from walnuts and powdered sugar, perfect with holiday tea.

Anise and vanilla with snowflake-like patterns.

A thin and crisp cookie made from ginger, cloves, and cardamom. It’s usually used for decorating Christmas trees.

Almond flour with meringue and fillings for sophisticated holiday colors.

Only butter and sugar, representing holiday simplicity.

Made from pecans and powdered sugar ideal not only for weddings, but also any celebrations and family gatherings.

For more inspirations, don’t be afraid to experiment with your Christmas cookie designs!

You just need sugar cookies, strawberries, and whipped cream to make this unique Santa Hat cookie.

Made from pretzels, candy eyes, and chocolate shaped into Rudolph and friends.

Cookies of cheerful snowmen in edible form, made from marshmallows and royal icing.

Made from sugar cookie dough and green icing for your Christmas tree decorations.

Inspired by Dr. Seuss’s Grinch, made from green food coloring and red heart sprinkles.

Made from peppermint extract as well as red and white dough.

Cookies with delicate snowflake patterns made from royal icing and sugar cookie base.

Inspired by Elf hats for Santa’s helpers, made from sugar cookies and colored icing.

Cookies with chocolate chips and white chocolate in winter’s polar animal shapes.

Cookies with sugar and colorful candies for twinkling Christmas lights.

Baking and decorating cookies are cherished family traditions, but is it the only way for family bonding on Christmas holidays? Of course not, besides making treats and cakes, you can also hang out with your families to take your Christmas experience to the next level. Where? We recommend you to visit Malaysia, especially during the Christmas holidays.

Malaysia is the most perfect destination for a unique and enchanting Christmas Eve experience because it offers a tropical twist–compared to cold weather and snow define Christmas in Western countries–while still capturing the essence of the season. The combo of multiculturalism, culinary delights, festive attractions, and warm Asian hospitality makes your Christmas Eve in Malaysia a pleasurable and extraordinary adventure. Here are 5 top picks on your Christmas Eve in Malaysia:

As the capital city of Malaysia, this vibrant metropolis offers you with a range of best attractions during Christmas Eve, such as:

Ascend to one of the tallest towers in the world for remarkable and Instagram-worthy adventures, explore the Sky Deck at your own pace with flexible hours for day or night experiences, and appreciate the city’s breathtaking Christmas-lit landmarks and gardens–all at KL Tower!

Take your kids to a fun-packed Blue Ice Skating Rink at KL East Mall for their most unforgettable Christmas Eve ever! No experience in skating at all? No worries–all skaters are welcome here. Whether you want to learn or improve your skating skills, this place is the best option for excursions while staying active.

Petronas Twin Towers are definitely a must-see sight in Kuala Lumpur. Experience stunning views from the aerial link between towers and explore interactive digital exhibits showcasing the facts about the city and the towers. Imagine taking advantage of 360-degree the city vistas bathed in Christmas festive glow!

The second recommended stop on Christmas Eve in Malaysia is Penang. Famed throughout Asia for its mix of eastern cultures, Penang also offers various family-friendly destinations to visit during the holidays, like:

Unleash your inner kid by playing in nature and outdoors at ESCAPE Theme Park. It’s an ideal place for you and your families/friends to try on adrenaline-pumped activities with ropes, obstacle courses, and ziplines; as well as have a fun slide on the world’s longest waterslide in Waterplay.

For nature lovers, Penang Bird Park is where they should head next. Here, you can explore more than 300 bird species, take part in its daily feeding sessions, watch the shows, and get up close to many beautiful birds, including hornbills, flamingos, pelicans, and swans.

Still with Penang’s flying creatures yet smaller, welcome to Entopia by Penang Butterfly Park. It’s not only a home for butterflies, but also exotic insects around the world. Watch the Butterfly Race where their lively wings create stunning color displays and learn about the fascinating life cycle of silkworms; get to know more about how the world’s most expensive fabric is produced.

Aside from the city hubbub, there’s a hill station in Malaysia offering the visitors fresh and cold temperatures, mountain sceneries, and thriving natural landmarks called Genting Highlands. Surrounded by undisturbed natural rain forests, the area features some top sites, such as:

Welcoming travelers of all ages, Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park is the most popular attraction in Genting Highlands, offering more than 20 exciting rides. Take your little ones to embark on thrilling adventures in Tea Cups, Super Glide, Copper Express, and Ride ‘Em Round, then unwind with some quick bites from the nearby snack stalls.

Wanting to enjoy the fresh mountain air and the lush landscapes from the aerial views? Consider taking Genting Highlands Premium Outlet Cable Car. Opt for a glass-floored gondola for the best experiences and remember to stop midway to discover the local heritage at Chin Swee Caves Temple.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Adventureland is a place where all of the peculiar things in the world belong to. You can find unique artifacts of NASA, life-sized dinosaurs, and a haunted abandoned house there. Before leaving, make time for unique photos with various interactive artwork at 4D Trick Art Museum.

Your next stop would be Melaka, a Malaysia’s state noted for its unique history and one of the most-visited destinations in the country. How to enjoy this historic city? Here we’ll tell you below:

The first method to appreciate the cultural heritage of Melaka is visiting Menara Taming Sari, one of the state’s most popular and iconic landmarks. You’ll be launched upwards at a height of 80 meters off the ground and the views of Melaka, covered with Christmas decorations and lighting, will happen right in front of you!

If you prefer a hassle-free combo of Melaka’s top attractions, you might need Melaka A’Famosa Water Theme Park and Safari Wonderland. Slide on one of Southeast Asia’s tallest, longest, and widest slides, Big Ice Cream, and challenge friends to a slide race in High Speed Ride. Then, dry yourself up and get ready for amazing encounters with tigers, giraffes, elephants, and monkeys at Safari Wonderland.

Breakout Escape Game Melaka is the perfect destination for those seeking brain challenges, like engaging puzzles, as well as obstacles and escape strategies within 55 minutes. Coming with many difficulty levels, physical agility requirements, and family-friendly options with realistic designs and props, this place is suitable to test your problem-solving skills and physical stamina.

Out of some destinations in Malaysia above, you can also opt for Selangor as a spot for you and your loved ones celebrating Christmas Eve. The major sights in this state are Sunway Lagoon and Sunway Pyramid. In addition to their vibrant attractions, like Water Park, Amusement Park, Wildlife Park, X Park, Scream Park, and Sunway Lost Lagoon, Sunway Lagoon usually organizes special events featuring Christmas-themed water park attractions and holiday shows.

You can also elevate your Christmas Eve experiences with visiting Sunway Pyramid Mall that creates elaborate Christmas displays in their ice-skating rinks, decorations, and festive performances. Combine the joy of shopping with the pleasure of eating, all in one holiday experience.
Let the Christmas adventure begin! Book your dream Christmas Eve getaway on Traveloka. Flights, hotels, activities–we’ve got you covered. Easy booking, easy payment. Book now and let the Christmas Eve magic unfold!