25 Delicious and Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes

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.

Photo credit: Iain Bagwell

Spiced Molasses Drops

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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.

Photo credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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!

Photo credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

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.

Photo credit: Iain Bagwell

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.

Photo credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

Photo credit: Southern Living

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!).

Photo credit: Southern Living

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.

Photo credit: William Dickey

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.

Photo credit: Laurey W. Glenn

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!

Photo credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

Photo credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

Photo credit: Ralph Anderson

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.

Photo credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

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.

Photo credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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!

Photo credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Pinwheel Cookies

Recipe: Pinwheel Cookies

These cookies use our basic butter cookie dough and some melted chocolate to make a festive treat in minutes.

Photo credit: Oxmoor House

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.

Photo credit: Southern Living

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.

Photo credit: Southern Living

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!

Photo credit: Southern Living

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.

Photo credit: Ralph Anderson

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.

Photo credit: Southern Living

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.

Photo credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

Photo credit: Ralph Anderson

Rudolph’s Christmas Sugar Cookies

RecipeRudolph’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.

Photo credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

Photo credit: Hector Sanchez

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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