Easy Christmas Cookies: 12 Simple Ideas for the Holidays
Nothing says the holidays like a kitchen full of easy Christmas cookies — soft sugar cookies for decorating, warmly spiced gingerbread, peanut butter blossoms with their little chocolate kiss, and more. Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange, a gift tin, or Santa’s plate, these are the simple, crowd-pleasing recipes worth making every December.
This is your complete list of 12 easy Christmas cookies, from the timeless classics to a few festive favorites — all made with simple ingredients and plenty of holiday joy. Save it and bake your way through the season.
Tips for the best Christmas cookies
- Chill your dough. For cut-out and crinkle cookies, chilling keeps them from spreading and makes them easier to shape.
- Don’t overbake. Pull cookies when the edges are set but the centers still look soft — they firm up as they cool.
- Make ahead and freeze. Mind safe freezer storage times, but most cookie doughs freeze beautifully, so you can bake fresh batches all season.
- Decorate simply. A little icing, sprinkles or powdered sugar turns any cookie festive without the fuss.
12 easy Christmas cookies
Pick a few favorites — there’s something here for every baker and every holiday table.
1. Classic Sugar Cookies
Soft, buttery cut-out cookies made for decorating. You’ll need: flour, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla. How: Cream butter and sugar, mix in egg, vanilla and flour, chill, roll and cut shapes, and bake at 350°F until just set.
2. Gingerbread Cookies
Warmly spiced and perfect for little gingerbread people. You’ll need: flour, butter, brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon. How: Make a spiced dough, chill, roll and cut, and bake until firm at the edges; decorate with icing.
3. Peanut Butter Blossoms
Soft peanut butter cookies with a chocolate kiss on top. You’ll need: peanut butter, sugar, egg, flour, chocolate kisses. How: Roll dough in sugar, bake, and press a chocolate kiss into each one right out of the oven.
4. Snickerdoodles
Soft, chewy cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar. You’ll need: flour, butter, sugar, egg, cream of tartar, cinnamon. How: Make the dough, roll balls in cinnamon sugar, and bake until just set for a soft center.
5. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Fudgy cookies with a snowy, crackled powdered-sugar top. You’ll need: flour, cocoa, sugar, eggs, oil, powdered sugar. How: Chill the dough, roll in powdered sugar, and bake until crackled.
6. Easy Shortbread Cookies
Three ingredients, buttery and melt-in-your-mouth. You’ll need: butter, sugar, flour. How: Mix, press into a pan or cut shapes, and bake low and slow until pale golden.
7. Thumbprint Cookies
Buttery cookies with a sweet jam center. You’ll need: flour, butter, sugar, egg yolk, jam. How: Roll dough balls, press a well in each, fill with jam, and bake until set.
8. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Flourless, foolproof, and ready fast. You’ll need: peanut butter, sugar, egg. How: Mix, roll, press with a fork, and bake 10–12 minutes.
9. Chocolate Chip Cookies
The timeless classic everyone loves at Christmas too. You’ll need: flour, butter, brown sugar, egg, chocolate chips. How: Cream butter and sugars, mix in egg, flour and chips, and bake until golden at the edges.
10. Snowball Cookies
Buttery, nutty cookies rolled in powdered sugar like little snowballs. You’ll need: butter, flour, powdered sugar, pecans, vanilla. How: Make the dough, roll into balls, bake, and roll in powdered sugar while warm.
11. M&M Christmas Cookies
Festive, colorful cookies the kids go wild for. You’ll need: flour, butter, brown sugar, egg, red and green M&Ms. How: Make a soft cookie dough, fold in the candies, and bake until just set.
12. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Rich chocolate cookies with cool crushed candy cane. You’ll need: flour, cocoa, butter, sugar, egg, crushed candy canes. How: Bake fudgy chocolate cookies and top with crushed candy cane while warm.
Make-ahead & gifting tips
- Freeze the dough: roll into balls or logs, freeze, and bake straight from frozen (add a minute or two).
- Freeze baked cookies: most keep 2–3 months in an airtight container; thaw and decorate fresh.
- Gift them: layer cookies in a tin with parchment, or stack in a cellophane bag with a ribbon for an easy homemade gift.
Frequently asked questions
What are the easiest Christmas cookies to make?
Shortbread, 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies and chocolate chip cookies are the simplest — just a few ingredients and no chilling or rolling required. Peanut butter blossoms are close behind.
Can I make Christmas cookie dough ahead of time?
Yes — most cookie dough can be made and refrigerated for a few days or frozen for months. Many cookies also freeze well after baking, so you can prep early and enjoy fresh cookies all season.
What Christmas cookies are best for decorating?
Classic sugar cookies and gingerbread are the best for decorating — they hold their shape and take icing and sprinkles beautifully. They’re perfect for baking with kids.
What cookies are good for a cookie exchange?
Sturdy, make-ahead cookies travel best: snowballs, crinkle cookies, thumbprints and peanut butter blossoms all hold up well and look festive on a platter.
Happy baking
With these easy Christmas cookies, the hardest part is choosing which to bake first. Pick a few, turn on the holiday music, and fill your kitchen with the best smell of the season. Save this list and come back to it all December.
Craving more sweets? Try our quick & easy desserts, our 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies, or browse all our recipes.
