Holiday gatherings feel special when a cookie platter steals the spotlight. People love simple, pretty ideas they can copy without pressure. This guide brings easy Christmas cookie platter ideas anyone can make, even on a small budget. Each idea works for casual family nights or big parties. You’ll find styling tips, simple layouts, and low-cost ways to decorate cookies without stressing in the kitchen.
1. Classic Red & Green Assortment
A classic red-and-green cookie platter always works. Use simple sugar cookies with red sanding sugar, green buttercream swirls, and chocolate-dipped pieces for contrast. Keep shapes easy so you don’t spend hours cutting dough. Shortbread circles, basic stars, and rectangles are quick to decorate. Add small mints or chocolate candies around the edges for colour. If you’re keeping costs low, buy one tub of white frosting and tint small bowls with gel colours. Arrange cookies in loose clusters instead of perfect rings, which saves time. A mix of soft and crunchy textures creates variety without extra work.
2. Gingerbread Family Tray
Gingerbread cookies feel warm and nostalgic. You can create a cute “family” by baking small, medium, and large gingerbread people. Keep the icing design simple—one piping bag with a tiny round tip is enough. If you don’t want to mix spices, use a store mix and tweak it with a spoon of brown sugar. Add little hearts, scarves, or buttons with red and white icing. Place them standing upright against each other on the platter so it looks playful. Fill gaps with mini gingerbread bites or broken cookie pieces dusted with powdered sugar. The tray looks full without needing dozens of cookies.
3. Peppermint Wonderland Plate
Peppermint treats bring brightness to a platter. Roll sugar cookie dough into logs with red gel colouring streaks to create a candy-cane swirl. Slice and bake—no cutters needed. Add chocolate cookies rolled in crushed peppermint for extra contrast. For a low-budget trick, buy a small bag of candy canes and crush them with a zip bag and rolling pin. Sprinkle over melted white chocolate on top of cookies for a festive look. Keep the rest of the platter simple with white frosted rounds so the peppermint theme stays clear.
4. White Christmas Frosted Set
An all-white platter looks clean and wintery. Use one icing colour: plain white. Try snowflakes, trees, bells, or round shapes. You don’t need fancy piping skills. Spread icing smoothly with the back of a spoon and add white sprinkles for texture. If you want a quick hack, dip cookies in melted white chocolate instead of frosting. Place them in neat rows or a tight spiral to make them stand out. Powdered sugar dusted onto the board adds a snowy effect without much effort.
5. Hot Cocoa Cookie Board
Chocolate lovers enjoy this theme. Add brownies cut into small squares, chocolate crinkles, and basic chocolate-chip cookies. For fun, top some cookies with mini marshmallows and torch lightly or broil for a few seconds. Use cocoa powder to dust the platter. For affordable add-ons, break chocolate bars into small shards and tuck them around the cookies. You don’t need matching shapes—chocolate textures look great together. Add a small bowl of marshmallows in the centre as a cute touch.
6. Rustic Farmhouse Cookie Spread
A rustic theme feels warm and homey. Stick with simple cookies like shortbread rounds, oatmeal cookies, and brown sugar bars. They look charming without bright colours. Use brown parchment paper under the cookies to add texture. Fill empty spaces with cinnamon sticks or dried orange slices. If you want to save money, slice the shortbread into uneven rectangles—they look intentional in a rustic setup. This layout works great for casual gatherings.
7. Snowflake Gallery Tray
Snowflake cookies feel artistic even with minimal effort. Mix white and soft blue icing and use a fine tip to draw quick lines. They don’t need perfect symmetry—the variety makes them look handmade and charming. Arrange them in a layered circle so the designs overlap. If piping feels stressful, dunk the cookies and add sugar crystals for sparkle. One batch goes far because the shapes are larger and eye-catching.
8. Santa’s Workshop Cookie Set
Turn your platter into a playful Santa theme. Use simple shapes like hats and mittens. Frost with red icing and add white outlines with a piping bag. A budget hack: buy one pack of red food colouring and mix different intensities to add depth without buying more colours. Add small chocolate-chip cookies to fill the corners. Place a few cookies tilted on top to mimic a “busy workshop” look.
9. Minimalist Scandinavian Layout
This style works well if you prefer a simple look. Use neutral cookies: butter cookies, almond cookies, and powdered sugar bites. Keep shapes basic like circles and squares. Add a few cranberries or simple greenery sprigs for a natural accent. Don’t overcrowd the board—leave some breathing room. If you’re short on time, bake one dough type and cut multiple shapes from it.
10. All-Chocolate Cookie Circle
Make a dramatic platter using only chocolate-based cookies. Chocolate crinkles, brownie bites, sandwich cookies, and dipped shortbread give a mix of textures. Arrange them in a ring pattern so the colour shades shift from dark to light. Melt leftover chocolate to drizzle across a few cookies for a “finished” look. This theme costs less because you can use one flavour base and tweak each batch.
11. Red Velvet Cookie Plate
Red velvet cookies add rich colour to a table. They’re easy because most recipes are drop cookies—just scoop and bake. Add white chocolate chips for contrast. A small budget trick: buy boxed red velvet cake mix and turn it into cookie dough. Add cream cheese frosting to some cookies and keep others plain. Mix in chocolate-dipped pretzels for variety.
12. Candy Cane Forest Display
Tree-shaped cookies sprinkled with crushed candy canes look festive with very little work. Use a tree cutter and frost cookies with pale green icing. Press crushed candy pieces lightly on top while the icing is wet. To save time, dip only the edges in chocolate and candy bits for a fast design. Place the cookies vertically around the board to create a “forest” look.
13. Sprinkle Explosion Board
This platter is fun for kids and adults. Bake simple sugar cookies and cover them in white icing. Pour holiday sprinkles into small bowls and let people dip cookies themselves or decorate freely. It creates a colourful plate with minimal effort. To stretch your budget, mix leftover sprinkles from past holidays—they blend well on white icing. Use different cookie sizes so the platter looks lively.
14. Cozy Cabin Cookie Mix
Choose flavours that feel warm: cinnamon cookies, gingersnaps, and chocolate chip. Place them on a wooden board for a cozy look. Add small piles of nuts or raisins between cookies if guests like variety. Keep decoration simple—these cookies look best as they are. Cut one batch into uneven chunks to mimic a homemade feel.
15. Elegant Gold-Touched Cookies
White cookies brushed with gold accents look stylish for fancy gatherings. Use edible gold paint or gold dust mixed with a drop of water. You don’t need artistic skills—simple gold strokes or dots look beautiful. Keep the frosting smooth and the cookie shapes simple. Pair the gold cookies with plain shortbread to balance the platter without extra cost.
16. Mixed Shapes Holiday Set
If you like variety, this is the easiest approach. Make one dough and cut different shapes from it. Decorate them lightly so the colours stay consistent. Choose two icing shades to avoid buying multiple colours. Arrange cookies randomly for a cheerful, full look. Fill small gaps with mini marshmallows or chocolate candies.
17. Shortbread & Jam Thumbprint Plate
Thumbprint cookies add pops of colour with jam. They’re simple and don’t require fancy decorating tools. Use strawberry, raspberry, or apricot jam for variety. Mix the dough ahead of time and chill to save baking stress. Place jam-filled cookies in the centre and surround them with shortbread fingers. The mix looks balanced and inviting.
18. Holiday Biscotti & Cookie Duo
Mix biscotti with soft cookies for a contrast of textures. Use chocolate biscotti or cranberry biscotti for a festive feel. Add small butter cookies alongside. This keeps the platter visually interesting. Biscotti are great because they slice into many pieces, so they stretch your budget. Add dried fruit clusters to fill space.
19. Caramel Drizzle Cookie Set
A caramel theme feels cozy. Bake oatmeal cookies, chocolate cookies, or shortbread. Drizzle warm caramel over the tops and let it set. You don’t need homemade caramel—melt store-bought wrapped caramels with a splash of milk. Add chopped nuts to some cookies for variety. Arrange the cookies tightly so the caramel details stand out.
20. Pastel Winter Cookie Platter
Pastel colours give your platter a calm winter look. Tint small amounts of icing with very light gels. Stick to simple shapes like rounds and stars. Pastels work well when you mix matte icing with glossy touches. For a budget tip, use one icing base and lighten colours gradually instead of mixing separate bowls. Add white sprinkles for texture.
21. Nutty Holiday Tray
Nut-topped cookies look rich without much work. Use almonds, walnuts, or pistachios. Press nuts into dough before baking or sprinkle onto icing. Pair nut cookies with chocolate-dipped rounds. To save money, buy mixed nuts and chop them yourself. Add a few whole nuts on the platter for decoration.
22. Marshmallow Snowman Board
These are adorable and easy. Bake round cookies and frost them white. Add a marshmallow on top as the snowman “head.” Use a toothpick dipped in chocolate to draw small eyes and a smile. Orange sprinkles work as noses. Kids love helping with this style. Add mini marshmallows around the platter for texture.
23. Holiday Cookie + Fruit Fusion
Mix cookies with fruit for a colourful plate. Use small berries like strawberries or raspberries alongside sugar cookies or shortbread. Add thin citrus slices for fragrance. Keep fruit in small clusters so it doesn’t soften the cookies. This idea works well if you want a fresh contrast without complicated baking. Use parchment underneath the fruit to protect the cookies.
Conclusion
These Christmas cookie platter ideas make gatherings feel warm and festive without putting pressure on you. Each idea is simple, pretty, and adaptable for any party size. Pick one theme or mix a few styles to create something unique. With basic dough, a bit of colour, and thoughtful arranging, you can create a platter that everyone remembers—and enjoys eating.
Hannah Collins is a passionate home cook and food storyteller who believes every recipe tells a little love story. At TastyWriter, she shares simple, delicious recipes made for real kitchens and busy days — from cozy comfort dishes to creative new favorites. When she’s not cooking, you’ll find her photographing food, testing family recipes, or sipping tea while dreaming up her next tasty idea.
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