Baking cookies during the holidays can make for a really fun family time. It’s a great way to spend time together, as well as enjoy some holiday treats! But sometimes all of the details and time required to make the cookies suck all of the fun out of it. But, thankfully, we’ve found 75 Christmas cookie recipes that are insanely easy to make.
These recipes feature delicious frosting, yummy sprinkles, and flavorful cookie batter. And you can enjoy these delicious treats yourself, share them with friends and family, or give them away as holiday treats at work or a family party.
So, whether you love sugar cookies, brownie cookies, or gingerbread cookies, or you prefer buttercream, peppermint, or cream cheese frosting, these recipes offer a wide variety of options to choose from. And the best part is they are super simple to make.
1) Vanilla bean sugar cookies
Spice up your holiday with this
scrumptious gingerbread cookie recipe. These cute cookies feature a holiday sweater design on the frosting that’s actually simple to do. Of course, you can use your imagination and create your own frosting design.
3) Eggnog frosted chai snickerdoodle snowmen cookies
If you love eggnog, chai, and snickerdoodle, then this is the cookie for you. The only problem is that you might not want to share them! The easy-to-follow
recipe is here.
4) Oreo chocolate cookies
If you’re an Oreo cookie lover, then you have to try this. It’s an easy way to get your holiday chocolate fix. You can use
this recipe to make hot cocoa cookies, Oreos creations that look like penguins, royal iced trees.
This recipe is so easy to make that you can stock up in advance for the holidays. These cranberry holiday cookies feature dried cranberries, white chocolate, and pistachios.
6) Gingerbread emoji cookies
Take the gingerbread cookies to a whole new level with this gingerbread
emoji cookie recipe. It’s too cute! You can make the emoji faces any way you want by easily adding frosting on top of the cookie. Make a laughing emoji, heart-eyed emoji, or wacky emoji!
7) Frosted eggnog cookies
This is my favorite recipe because they are super tasty and a breeze to make. They are truly melt in your mouth. You can make 2 dozen of these cookies in no time.
When it comes to
this recipe, I say why not! It’s super easy to make, and they’re delicious!
Here’s a
delicious twist on making traditional sugar cookies, featuring scrumptious cupcake icing and marshmallows. If you don’t have a lot of time, these are easy peasy to make.
10) Peanut butter sugar cookies
11) Cookie Christmas trees
You can quickly turn traditional cookies into holiday cookie trees with this stunning recipe design. It may look complicated, but
the step-by-step instructions are extremely easy to follow. But these cookies are so fancy that you may not want to eat them!
12) Frosted peppermint brownie cookies
These soft and moist cookies feature a chocolate and peppermint flavor with cream cheese frosting. The sprinkling of peppermint pieces on top add to the delightfulness of the
easy as pie recipe.
13) Softbatch no-roll holiday sprinkles cookies
These
buttery, soft Christmas cookies are not at all complicated to make. You use a no-roll dough with the sprinkles already baked in. You don’t even have to add any toppings … unless you want to.
14) Skinny chocolate turtle thumbprint cookies
“These cookies have definitely become one of my favorites to make. I think that’s because they remind me of one of my fondest memories from childhood,” according to Amanda Plott of The Skinny Fork. Of course! What’s not to love about
cookies that can easily be made with chocolate, caramel, and candies made with pecans? Oh, and this recipe is gluten free.
15) Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
These delicious
peppermint sandwich cookies can be made in a flash at home. These cookies are especially well suited for the holidays, as they feature a chocolate mint flavor.
16) Chewy molasses cookies
This molasses cookie recipe packs a flavorful bang! It’s also extremely chewy. And it only takes 31 minutes to make, including prep time. Quick and delicious.
17) Chai shortbread with ganache cookies
The actual title of this cookie is Vegan Chai Spiced Shortbread With Chocolate Ganache & Salted Pistachios. It’s definitely a thing of beauty! And it’s vegan. Check out the
full recipe here.
18) Animal cracker sugar cookies
Your kids will love these
animal cracker sugar cookies. But let’s be honest … so will you! “If you want to cut them out like circus animals, dunk them in pink or white chocolate, and top with plenty of rainbow sprinkles, we fully encourage that too!” according to Anna Monette Roberts of Brit + Co.
19) Chocolate covered strawberry Christmas trees cookies
If you make
these cookies, you’ll be the talk of the neighborhood. A little strawberry Christmas tree sits atop an Oreo cookie topped with icing. Yum!
20) Ginger snap with caramel and apple cookies
This too-good-to-believe cookie recipe features ginger snap, dried apples, and caramel sauce. It’s paleo-friendly, and it’s
effortless to make.
21) Cinnamon bun palmiers
These little babies taste just like little
crunchy cinnamon rolls. And unlike difficult-to-make French pastries, making these cookies is no trouble at all.
22) White chocolate candy cane fortune cookies
While these treats aren’t your traditional Christmas cookies, they are definitely tasty … and a cinch to make. And you can add your own customized fortunes inside these
white chocolate candy cane fortune cookies.
23) Ginger spiced sugar cookies
Described as “big fat buttery supermarket style frosted sugar cookies,” this
recipe is superb. In fact, you’ll want to make this all year long, not just during the holidays.
24) Sugar and spice almond flour cookies
This cookie is grain-free and features natural sugars, healthy fats, almond flour, and cinnamon. If you like Chinese almond cookies, this simple recipe is for you.
25) Buttery toffee white chocolate macadamia nut cookies
These
buckeye peanut butter balls are perfect to eat and/or package up and give as gifts to family and friends. Trust me, they’ll thank you!
27) Mini chocolate chip sandwich cookies
Chocolate lovers unite!
This decadent recipe features two mini chocolate chip cookies that are sandwiched together thanks to mouth-watering chocolate frosting. These are straightforward to make, but they won’t last long!
28) Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
“Skip the raisins and add a generous sprinkle of chocolate chips instead to make these vegan cookies extra decadent,” according to Woman’s Day Kitchen. This
oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe feature cinnamon, nutmeg, old-fashioned rolled oats, and chocolate chips.
29) Reindeer and tree cookies
For quick cut-out cookies during the holidays, this recipe will do the trick. This
reindeer and tree cookie recipe calls for sugar pearls and royal icing and only takes 40 minutes to make from start to finish.
30) Glazed sourdough snickerdoodles
This
glazed sourdough snickerdoodles cookie recipe is perfect for the holidays. “Apple cider vinegar gives these classic spiced cookies (full of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg) a little bit of tartness,” according to Woman’s Day Kitchen.
31) Candied ginger and citrus kitchen-sink cookies
While not your traditional holiday cookie, you’ll love
these beauties. They feature orange peel, pistachios, and candied ginger. You can make 60 cookies in 1 hour.
32) Snowy cookie truffles
These amazing
no-bake bites include cream cheese, crushed Oreos, and chocolate. Then you can decorate them with goodies like pretzels, M&Ms, and gummies — all in 30 minutes or less.
34) Chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookies
These cookies are known as polvorones in Latin America. They feature walnuts, almonds, and pecans, along with peanut butter. While these cookies take more time to make,
the directions are super simple to follow.
If you’re a “Frozen” fan, you and your kids will love these cookies that are based on the
lovable character Olaf. You can make 50 servings in a flash and make the entire household happy.
36) Lime and coconut coins
Departing from the holiday norm, this
cookie coin recipe packs a flavorful punch. It feature coconut and lime, and takes less than 1 hour from start to finish to make.
37) Santa is coming to town cookies
These cookies are beyond cute … and delicious. All you need to make them is a few ingredients and a Santa hat and mustache/beard stencils.
38) Double chocolate peppermint cookies
These
cookie presents are so cute! But you won’t hesitate to eat them. You’ll need melted white chocolate or red candy melts and square or rectangular cookies to start.
40) Minty chocolate-dipped candy cane cookies
41) Peanut butter blossoms
These treats feature a Hersey Kiss atop a peanut butter cookie. Called
peanut butter blossoms, these cookies are a breeze to make and take a total of only 20 minutes to make 30 cookies.
42) Chocolate mitten cookies
Here’s a cookie that you can eat or use as a tree ornament or as a part of other holiday decorations. These chocolate mitten cookies take some time to make, but have
easy-to-follow directions.
Forget those store-bought shortbread cookies. You can
make your own in no time that taste so much better. “Luckily they’re even easier to make than chocolate chip cookies. And they’re perfect for dipping in coffee or hot chocolate,” according to Makinze Gore of Delish.
44) Macadamia-coconut meltaways
These
melt-in-your-mouth morsels include macadamia and coconut. These also feature vanilla and powdered sugar. And you can make 52 in only 1 hour.
45) Polar bear sugar cookies
I don’t think I’ve seen a cuter cookie than this one. And you can even give each polar bear their own ugly Christmas sweater. Your kids will have
a lot of fun making these with you.
46) Rolo ornament cookies
This
easy recipe can be made in under an hour. These ornament cookies require Rolo candies, mini M&M, sprinkles, and vanilla frosting. You’ll have a lot of fun designing the ornament cookies with your family.
These easy-to-make holiday
sugar cookie buttons are perfect to snack on at home or give as gifts. You can actually use a ribbon to thread through the buttonholes and present them as an awesome Christmas gift.
While you don’t want a lump of coal in your stocking, you’ll definitely love these
Oreo coal cookies. You can make these in a flash with Oreos, cream cheese, and melting chocolate.
Here’s another traditional sugar cookie with a big twist, literally. You’ll use vanilla and lemon extracts to create this simple yet flavorful and
adorable holiday cookie pretzel.
50) Chocolate crinkle cookies
These delicious chocolate crinkle cookies can be made quickly. They are chewy and chocolaty, and you can made 4 dozen in only 45 minutes. The full recipe can be
found here.
51) Perfect sugar cookies
Make these
basic sugar cookies in any design, including Christmas trees, stockings, snowflakes, and candy canes. Prep time only takes 15 minutes before these yummy cookies go straight into the oven.
Red velvet snowballs are absolutely one of my favorite holiday cookies because they’re easy to make and taste wonderful. You can “fill a six-egg carton with mini lotus cupcake liners; add cookies. Tie it up with a plain tag adorned with a bottle brush wreath,” according to Emily Nabors Hall of Country Living.
53) Peace on Earth cookies
These
Peace on Earth cookies require only 35 minutes of prep time and just a few simple ingredients. You’ll need a round cookie cutter and a dove cutter to create these joyful cookies.
These
sugar cookie trees are delectable. You can whip them up quickly using cream, butter, sugar, and vanilla.
55) Candy cane cookie sandwiches
These
candy cane cookie sandwiches are positively sinful. These chocolate-mint delights take only a total of 30 minutes to make from start to finish.
56) Meringue wreath cookies
These super yummy-looking
meringue wreath Christmas cookies are sure to get your family into the spirit of the season. Pull ‘n’ Peel Twizzlers can be twisted into a cute bow to top these beauties off.
These cute
Joy and Noel thumbprint jam cookies work as a great treat for family and work holiday parties. It’s easy to make these cookies, as long as you have a fluted square cutter and alphabet cutters.
This clever recipe uses frozen poundcake, which simplifies making these
no-bake petits fours. And you can put a bow around them, making them look like tiny Christmas presents.
59) Chocolate and peppermint cookie coins
60) Pistachio and cherry polvorones
If you’re looking for
sweet shortbread cookies with pistachios and dried tart cherries (or dried cranberries), this recipe is definitely for you. Plus you can make 80 of these cookies in about an hour.
This is one of my favorite types of
sugar cookies of all time. Not just because they’re chewy, but because they are so easy to make. You can make 4 dozen of these chewy sugar cookies with sprinkles in just 30 minutes.
62) Chocolate coconut balls
This
chocolate ball recipe features macadamia nuts, shredded coconut, and semisweet chocolate morsels. Total prep and cook time is only 15 minutes for 30 balls.
Take this wonderful treat with you to a family member’s Christmas party or to a work party. You can make these
coconut macaroons in just 35 minutes with a few simple ingredients.
64) Ultimate ginger cookie
This is another “easy-level” cookie recipe that takes about a half-hour to make and bake. This
“ultimate ginger cookie” recipe features cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.
65) Holiday swirled sugar cookies
This
holiday-themed swirled sugar cookie is sure to be a family favorite. It looks like a peppermint candy cane. And all you need to make it are a few ingredients and a 2-inch round cookie cutter.
This cookie is as delicious as it looks. It’s got a sweet taste and darling appearance. You can make
cornmeal wreath cookies in just 35 minutes.
This
snickerdoodle cookie recipe features a soft cookie center and a satisfying taste of cinnamon. These cookies will become a quick family favorite.
68) Butterscotch-walnut cookies
This recipe makes about 2 dozen crispy cookies with butterscotch and walnut. If you love butterscotch, this cookie is a must. And it’s a cinch to make!
69) White chocolate confetti Christmas cookies
70) Throwdown chocolate chip cookies
These
“throwdown chocolate chip cookies” are an added treat to any holiday cookie tray. They’re chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside. Prep and bake time is only minutes.
71) German chocolate cake cookies
Wow! These delectable cookies feature a basic cookie recipe along with chocolate chips, cocoa powder, coconut, and pecans, ready in just 30 minutes. To make your own German chocolate cake cookies,
click here.
These
festive holiday treats are totally easy to make with only 15 minutes of active prep time. You’ll really love the melted chocolate and the holiday sprinkles poured over the top of the cookie.
73) Peanut butter cookies
This
peanut butter cookie recipe couldn’t be any easier to make. You just mix the ingredients into one bowl, roll out the dough, and bake. Well, then eat them all up, of course.
74) Macadamia-almond Christmas cookies
This simple yet perfect
holiday-themed cookie will make a fun treat for your family. The recipe features macadamia nuts and almonds, and the cookie is topped off with a single red-and-white striped Hershey chocolate kiss.
75) Cinnamon-spiced hot chocolate cookies
A holiday cookie recipe doesn’t need to be complicated to be amazing. And this recipe for
cinnamon-spiced hot chocolate cookies fits the bill. It’s simple to make yet delicious. These cookies feature cinnamon spice wrapped in chocolate along with yummy almonds and dulce de leche.
If you like this article, please SHARE it with your friends and family.
No matter what type of cookie you love, we’ve got a wide variety of easy-to-make recipes for you. From throwdown chocolate chip cookies to meringue wreath cookies to snowy cookie truffles, your family will love any one of these recipes.
And the best part is that all of these recipes have little prep and a minimum of baking time.
