Christmas means cookies. Lots of cookies. When the season is upon us, it’s time to start thinking what cookies to bake for our family, fill up our cookie tins with for gifts, serve at our potlucks, and munch on as we start wrapping yet another present. Are you going for a festive cookie to decorate with icing and candies or a more subdued cookie that evokes the season with flavors like cinnamon, peppermint, ginger, and—of course—chocolate? Well, sometimes our schedules dictate what treats we’re baking. We just don’t always have the time to make batches of complicated masterpieces. Sometimes, we want a delicious, easy cookie that, if we’re being honest, tastes just as good but with half the hassle. That’s where these scrumptious holiday-worthy cookie recipes come in—they give you all of the Christmas cheer with a little less effort. (And we are all for it). Check out these 25 easiest-ever Christmas cookies recipes you’ll be making all season long.
Spiced Molasses Drops
Recipe: Spiced Molasses Drops
These traditional spiced holiday cookies are made a little special with just a hint of black pepper for heat. Get these ready in less than an hour.
Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies
Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Crackle Cookies
You can’t beat the pretty, unfussy look of a crackle cookie. This dough requires chilling, which you can do up to five days in advance or just an hour before baking. Other than that, you’ll get these ready to bake in 15 minutes!
Snickerdoodles
Recipe: Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles highlight the spice of the season: cinnamon. After combining all of the ingredients, bake these for just 6 minutes for the perfect cookie in a flash.
Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies
Recipe: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies
Video: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies
These festive sandwich cookies are the perfect mini treats. Red velvet crackle cookies with some sweet cream cheese filling will be the star of any holiday show without too much time and effort on your part.
Snow Flurries
Recipe: Snow Flurries
These may look time-intensive, but don’t you worry. Star-shaped cookie cutters, raspberry jam, and powdered sugar do the trick without being complicated at all.
Chocolate Chunk-Mocha Cookies
Recipe: Chocolate Chunk-Mocha Cookies
For the chocolate lovers, these decadent treats are filled with chocolate chunks and topped with a rich mocha frosting (that takes less than 10 minutes to whip up!).
Crispy Praline Cookies
Recipe: Crispy Praline Cookies
You get that classic pecan praline flavor in a crispy bite with these cookies that are too easy to grab and snack on throughout the holiday season. Easy prep and few ingredients are an added bonus.
Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies
Recipe: Cranberry-White Chocolate Cookies
These cookies are a Christmas classic with gooey white chocolate and dried cranberries. Not to mention, they’re super quick to throw together.
Easy Santa Cookies
Recipe: Easy Santa Cookies
This recipe uses our basic butter cookie dough that can be made ahead. With a little imagination and Christmas cheer, you can use coconut flakes, cinnamon candies, and chocolate morsels to whip up some cute Santas!
5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies
Recipe: 5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies
These pretty holiday cookies look way more complicated than they are. With only a few ingredients and 20 minutes of hands-on time, you’ll have these ready for your next party.
Red Velvet Thumbprints
Recipe: Red Velvet Thumbprints
You don’t even need a pastry bag or crazy-good baking skills to frost these festive cookies—just fill a Ziploc and snip the corner! These look just lovely set on a holiday platter.
Cranberry-Orange Shortbread Cookies
Recipe: Cranberry-Orange Shortbread Cookies
These easy shortbread cookies are a variation of our simple slice-and-bake shortbread cookies recipewith dried cranberries and orange zest. They are fresh and festive.
Almond Snowballs
Recipe: Almond Snowballs
These look festive without taking so much time icing and decorating. Toasting the almonds is the secret touch to a perfect nutty flavor.
Bourbon-Pecan-Gingerbread Cookies
Recipe: Bourbon-Pecan-Gingerbread Cookies
These delicious cookies take only 20 minutes of hands-on time and combine our favorite holiday flavors. The Bourbon Glaze takes five minutes and three ingredients—but adds that perfect finishing touch!
Pinwheel Cookies
Recipe: Pinwheel Cookies
These cookies use our basic butter cookie dough and some melted chocolate to make a festive treat in minutes.
Crunchy Frostbite Cookies
Recipe: Crunchy Frostbite Cookies
These crispy oatmeal cookies get some extra crunch from cornflake cereal, and you only need to microwave the white chocolate and peppermint extract to dip the cookies in for a frosted effect.
Easiest Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
Recipe: Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies
You can’t beat a warm peanut butter cookie, and these are made even better because they take just four ingredients. Be sure to press the tops of the cookies with a fork for that classic peanut butter cookie look.
No-Bake Chocolate Mint Snowballs
Recipe: No-Bake Chocolate Mint Snowballs
These no-bake snowballs are perfect for a party, and everyone will love the chocolate mint candy surprise in the middle!
White Chocolate-Cherry Cookies
Recipe: White Chocolate-Cherry Cookies
Chocolate and cherries make a crowd-pleasing combo, so make these decadent treats, studded with white chocolate chips, for the whole family.
Coconut-Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies
Recipe: Coconut-Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies
We couldn’t pass up this variation of our simple slice-and-bake shortbread cookies recipe that features coconut and macadamia nuts for a deliciously easy holiday treat.
Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
Recipe: Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
These classic cookies combine the tart flavors of raspberry and lemon, while making a whopping seven-dozen batch you can use for a party or gifts.
Chewy Ginger Cookies
Recipe: Chewy Ginger Cookies
Fresh ginger, molasses, and a little black pepper makes these classic cookies have just enough of a kick. Gold sanding sugar makes these chewy cookies shine.
Rudolph’s Christmas Sugar Cookies
Recipe: Rudolph’s Christmas Sugar Cookies
If you want to get pretty festive with the least amount of effort, these adorable reindeer cookies are the way to go. Pretzel twists, cinnamon candies, and mini chocolate morsels are the simple ingredients to this Rudolph-inspired treat.
Honey-Hazelnut Crisps
Recipe: Honey-Hazelnut Crisps
These thin, lacy cookies keep best in a cookie tin between wax paper—so use them for gifts! Take these to the next level by making them into a cookie sandwich with fig preserves in the middle.
Ambrosia Macaroons
Recipe: Ambrosia Macaroons
These soft, chewy macaroons are festive and fun with their ambrosia-inspired look and flavor. You can switch up the garnishes from red cherries to green cherries or orange peels if you prefer!
SOURCE: Southern Living, Kaitlyn Yarborough
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