50 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes Full Of Holiday Cheer
Sometimes our schedules dictate what treats we're baking.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Christmas means cookies. Lots of cookies. But we don't always have the time to make batches upon batches of complicated sugar masterpieces. Occasionally, we want a delicious, simple cookie that, if we're being honest, tastes just as good but with half the hassle.
That's where these delicious yet easy holiday cookie recipes come in—they give you Christmas cheer with little effort. (And we are all for it). Check out these easy Christmas cookies you'll be making all season long.
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Hot Cocoa Cookies
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
These soft cookies capture the nostalgia of the season with every chocolatey, chewy bite. Plus, gooey marshmallows and a dusting of cocoa on top make them perfectly party-worthy.
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Eggnog Snickerdoodles
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
We've taken the beloved snickerdoodle and infused it with eggnog flavors for an irresistible combo. Drizzled with white chocolate, these spiced, buttery cookies are perfect for the cookie swap.
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Cherry Icebox Cookies
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia PursellRating
Candied cherries and sanding sugar turn a basic vanilla dough into the most festive cookie in the tin. The recipe makes 52 cookies, so you'll have plenty to share.
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Chocolate Kiss Cookies
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Move over, peanut butter kisses, there's a new kiss cookie for the tins this year. Made with a chocolate dough base and the same milk chocolate candies, you get a double dose of chocolate in every bite.
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Stained Glass Cookies
Brian Woodcock; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
These colorful treats, made with melted hard candies that create a beautiful stained glass effect, add an extra touch of holiday magic to the classic sugar cookie.
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No-Bake Cookies
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Lauren Odum; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
No-bake cookies are, by definition, easy, and our recipe is no exception. Our version combines chocolate, crunchy peanut butter, and oats to create a cookie with tons of texture and flavor without ever having to turn on the oven.
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Savannah Chewies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
In need of some quick holiday cheer? These cookies take less than an hour to make and their simple ingredient list make it even easier to bake a batch or two.
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Walnut Crescents
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Walnut crescent cookies are a holiday favorite, perfect for pairing with coffee or eggnog. Their powdered sugar coating clings best when rolled on the cookies while they're warm, but sturdy enough to handle.
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Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Slip a few of these into the cookie tins for chocolate lovers. Cocoa powder in the dough lends a rich, dark chocolate flavor while milk chocolate chips create tiny pools of sweet chocolate throughout.
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Thumbprint Cookies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Buttery, crumbly, and ultra-festive, these jammed-topped cookies are perfect for Santa.
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Cornflake Cookies
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
We love a streamlined cookie recipe that can be thrown together quickly, and these Cornflake Cookies are just that. The dough involves no chilling time, and the cookies do well sitting out at room temperature before baking in case you get sidetracked by other tasks.
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Chocolate Cool Whip Cookies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
These five-ingredient cookies start with cake mix, and get their signature light and chewy texture from Cool Whip. The recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, too, making it a great one to turn to for last-minute cookie needs.
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Brown Butter Snickerdoodles
Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Snickerdoodles highlight the spice of the season: cinnamon. You won't be able to resist a taste after smelling these cinnamon-sugar cookies baking. The trick to making these cookies is browning the butter. This recipe requires chill time, but you can prepare the dough the night before and bake it when you're ready.
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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Emily Laurae
These vibrant cookies start with a box of red velvet cake mix. It can be our little secret. Pops of white chocolate make this cake-inspired cookie one of our all-time favorites.
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Fruitcake Cookies
Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
If you ever find yourself waxing nostalgic for fruit cake around the holidays, these cookies can scratch that itch without all the work of a fruit cake itself.
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Lace Cookies
Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
The lacy, delicate cookies sandwiching a small scoop of Nutella are much easier to make than they look. And in a sea of sugar cookies and thumbprints, these cookies will stand out.
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Chocolate Thumbprints
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
A classic jam thumbprint is always welcome in the Christmas cookie tin, but for a fun pop of color and flavor twist, give these chocolate ones a try. Customize the look with your favorite holiday sprinkles.
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Pecan Sandies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
These sweet and buttery cookies will become your new holiday tradition. The cookie has a tender crumb and is studded with pecans throughout for texture.
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No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS
These cookies take just 30 minutes to pull together, after which you'll chill them until they set. Store them in an airtight container for up to five days, but we doubt they'll last that long. Store-bought chocolate wafers make this dessert look fancy, even though the recipe does not require any baking.
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White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Photo: Jennifer Causey
These cookies are a Christmas classic with gooey white chocolate and dried cranberries. Test Kitchen Tip: Use white chocolate chunks instead of chips; chunks hold their shape better when baked.
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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Classic, easy, and always a hit, there's a reason you baked these cookies with Grandma every year. These peanut butter and chocolate cookies are a dynamic duo made with pantry staples. Plus, one recipe makes three dozen.
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Cornflake Wreath Christmas Cookies
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Perfect as an afternoon activity for the kids, these Christmas wreath cookies are festive, delicious, and require no baking. With only seven ingredients, you can make a cheerful recipe at any time. Substitute the red hot candy for any "ornaments" you prefer.
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Cheesecake Cookies
Caitlin Bensel
'Tis the season for sugar, and these bite-sized Cheesecake Cookies are ready in just one hour. If preparing these cookies in advance, wait until you are ready to serve to add the maraschino cherries on top.
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Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Molly Bolton
Always a hit, no matter the season. These brown butter cookies are hard to resist. Browning the butter before combining ingredients makes the difference in this chewy, gooey cookie.
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Pecan Snowball Cookies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Decadently nutty and cookies, these snowballs will bring the winter spirit to any holiday party. Whether it's a winter wonderland outside or unseasonably warm, the powdered sugar on these cookies guarantees a bit of "snow-like" magic this season. This recipe makes four dozen, so you'll have plenty to share.
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Easy Spritz Cookies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
You have to break the baking rules to get a proper spritz cookie. Use an ungreased baking sheet, and do not use parchment paper. The dough must stick to the baking sheet when extruded from the cookie press.
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Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Crisp chocolate cookies with fresh peppermint filling make for a winning combination in these seasonal sandwich cookies. Plan enough time to allow the cookie dough to chill for an hour before baking. Refrigerating after adding the filling will firm up the cookies.
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Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Notes of festive cranberry and orange are the ultimate upgrade to a classic butter cookie. Make the dough the night before and allow enough time to chill—at least two hours. Switch up the recipe using dried cherries instead of cranberries or lemon zest instead of orange.
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Cathedral Window Cookies
Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy
With multicolored marshmallows and lots of chocolate pieces, these simple, no-bake cookies are perfect for the kids. This nostalgic recipe is ideal for a Christmas potluck dinner as it makes more than enough to feed a crowd.
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Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies
Katie Strasberg Rousso
These cake-like cookies are a chocolate lover's dream. To drop the cookies evenly, try using a tablespoon or cookie scoop. Feel free to substitute your favorite chocolate chips into this recipe.
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Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
Southern Living
These classic cookies combine the tart flavors of raspberry and lemon while making a whopping seven dozen cookies that you can use for a party or gifts.
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Snowflake Sugar Cookies
Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Rachel Mulcahy
They may look complicated, but you can make these seasonal sugar cookies as intricate or as easy as you'd like. It's the decorator's choice. We suggest dipping them in sanding sugar for a time-saver. Vary the snowflake sizes for an exciting presentation.
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Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies
When it comes to classic combinations, it doesn't get much better than chocolate and peanut butter . We love this recipe for many reasons, but mostly because even an amateur baker can whip up a batch. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry.
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Pecan Tassies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Petite and more fun to eat than your everyday Pecan Pie , these little cups offer just the right amount of decadence in an adorable package. The brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, and bourbon filling make a savory complement to the buttery and nutty crust. Toast some extra pecans to have on hand for all your holiday baking.
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Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living
Four ingredients? We'll be baking these simple treats for every cookie swap this season. It doesn't get much better than homemade peanut butter cookies, which get pressed with a fork for that classic look.
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Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies
Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee
Like a brownie in cookie form, these fudgy cookies are freezer-friendly and ready in just 45 minutes. Chocolate, toasted pecans, and vanilla extract make these flourless cookies irresistibly sweet. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before moving them.
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Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies
Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller
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.
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Reindeer Cookies
Southern Living
These no-bake cookies are cute-as-can-be and a breeze to assemble. Store-bought peanut butter cookies form the base for this reindeer-inspired treat, topped with your favorite candies. Make your own frosting or buy some pre-made.
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Almond Snowballs
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett
The secret to the perfect nutty flavor of these cookies is toasting the almonds. After baking, allow the cookies to cool a little to make it easier to roll them in powdered sugar.
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5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies
Photo: Hector Sanchez
With only a few ingredients and 20 minutes of hands-on time, you'll have these cookies ready for your next party in no time. Just remember to completely cool the cookies before adding the glaze.
41 of 50
Santa's Kitchen Sink Cookies
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
This festive recipe is designed to be totally adaptable—just what you need during a busy holiday season. The dough starts with the basics you already have in your kitchen, and ends with whatever sweet and crunchy treats are available. Chill the dough for an hour or overnight, whichever is more convenient.
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Molasses Crinkles
Hector Manuel Sanchez
This old-fashioned favorite is easy peasy: mix, chill, and bake. The recipe uses brown sugar instead of white to enhance the deep flavor of the molasses. These crinkles also feature the classic holiday spices of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
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Cranberry-Almond Cookies
Ralph Anderson; Styling: Mary Lyn Hill
With this no-fuss recipe, you'll have the first batch of cookies baked in less than 20 minutes. And if you don't want to use cranberries or almonds, substitute any dried fruit or chopped nuts.
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Cranberry Noel Cookies
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
These sweet little shortbread cookies pair tart cranberries with nutty pecans. The buttery dough gets rolled into logs and then sliced for baking. Coconut-lovers can coat the logs in shredded coconut for an extra touch of sweetness.
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Bourbon Balls
Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Delight bourbon lovers at your holiday party with the simplest recipe around. This no-bake treat starts with a package of vanilla wafers, which are crunched up so they can be infused with the flavor of bourbon and toasted pecans. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar.
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Chocolate Mint Cookies
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
Set out a platter of Chocolate Mint Cookies at any holiday feast, and everyone will come running. The rich cookies are studded with chopped mint candy.
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Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
If you have a box of cornflakes and a jar of peanut butter, this much-loved no-bake cookie is within your grasp. These treats take 15 minutes to make and feature just four ingredients. If you have some extra time, get creative by adding butterscotch chips or a drizzle of melted chocolate.
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Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
With sprinkles on the inside and the outside, these colorful cookies will surely bring joy to any holiday party. Make the cookie dough and chill for up to eight hours before baking. Keep extra sprinkles on hand for any necessary touch-ups.
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Icebox Cookies
Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
An easy swap of rainbow sprinkles for festive Christmas-colored ones turns this classic cookie into a holiday treat worthy of a spot in every cookie tin.
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Frosted Sugar Cookies
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
It's simply not Christmas without sugar cookies. Experiment with different colors and patterns depending on the shapes you choose.
Read the original article on Southern Living
