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  4. 34 Easy Cookie Recipes to Make With Kids

34 Easy Cookie Recipes to Make With Kids

Zoe Denenberg
By Zoe Denenberg
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Funfetti Sugar Cookies
Credit: Jennifer Causey
Think of some of your fondest holiday memories. While trips to the Christmas tree farm and visits with Santa certainly top our lists, there is one activity that stands out: baking with our loved ones. We first learned how to use a stand mixer in Grandma's kitchen, churching out batches of dough and pressing chocolate kisses into those famous peanut butter blossoms. The best way to pass on this tradition (and your love for baking) is to get the kids in the kitchen with you this holiday season.When you're baking with kids, there's a bit of a learning curve. Rather than focus on achieving perfection, the fun of baking with family is in the process. These recipes are simple enough to execute alongside your favorite little elves, but most importantly, they're built for family fun. From festive sprinkles and icing designs to classic family favorites, these recipes will help you pass on the joy of baking to the next generation. Plus, if you're gearing up for a holiday cookie swap, it's always smart to recruit some help in the kitchen. Start 'em young and pass on that baking gene.
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Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can’t go wrong with chocolate chip. Every good baker should have a homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe in her back pocket, and this twist on the classic recipe will be passed down in the family for generations.

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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

You grew up making these cookies with Grandma—now it’s your kid’s turn to press the chocolate kisses into the peanut butter cookie dough. Follow these tips from our Editor and you’ll have a photo-worthy batch in no time.

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Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies

Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies
Credit: Katie Strasberg Rousso

Recipe: Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies

Add in butterscotch chips or go without the nuts: this extra-chocolatey, freezer-friendly cookie recipe is instantly customizable.

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Snowy Tree Cookies

Christmas Bulb Sugar Cookies
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Snowy Tree Cookies

These cookies may call for a bit of construction, but the resulting 3-D Christmas trees are utterly breathtaking.

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Spritz Cookies

Spritz Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Spritz Cookies

With a dough that takes 5 minutes to prepare and the endless fun promised by a cookie press, the kids won’t be able to get enough of these fool-proof holiday cookies.

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Mrs. Iona's Shortbread Cookies

Mrs. Iona's Shortbread Cookies
Credit: Photo: Zoe Denenberg; Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Recipe: Mrs. Iona's Shortbread Cookies

The recipe for these miniature shortbread cookies hails from a church bake sale, and we can confirm: they’re utterly divine.

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Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies

Cowboy Cookies
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies

If you’re in search of a big-batch Christmas party treat, look no further than these jumbo-sized, presidential Cowboy Cookies.

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Cheesecake Cookies

Cheesecake Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

These fluffy cookies are built to be bite-sized, which means your kids can snack on a few of them without slipping into a sugar rush.

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Red-Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Dress up that box of cake mix with this easy recipe, which results in chewy, Christmas-hued chocolatey cookies that your kids will adore.

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Kitchen Sink Cookies

Kitchen Sink Cookies
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Kitchen Sink Cookies

Sweet and salty, these creative cookies hit all the right notes. The recipe calls for chocolate chunks, almonds, corn chips, and oats, but feel free to toss in any of your family’s pantry staples (pretzels? Potato chips?) to customize the recipe.

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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These cakey cookies are packed to the brim with chocolate and coated with powdered sugar. AKA, they’re any kid’s dream.

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Raspberry Jam Thumbprints

Coconut Thumbprints
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Raspberry Jam Thumbprints

Jam adds a touch of fruity tartness to these simple thumbprints that pairs beautifully with a white chocolate drizzle.

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Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Dog Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Credit: Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

Complete with a toasted marshmallow on top, these cookies are a heavenly winter cross between hot chocolate and s’mores. They’re prepared in the style of family-favorite Peanut Butter Blossoms, but they’re a great alternative for nut-free households.

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Peppermint Divinity

Peppermint Divinity
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Peppermint Divinity

Making these fluffy, minty pillows of meringue with Mama will become a cherished holiday tradition.

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Chocolate Cutout Cookies

Chocolate Cutout Cookie
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chocolate Cutout Cookies

You can cut this basic chocolate dough into any festive shapes you choose and decorate with fun holiday sprinkles.

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Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Recipe: Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies

These drop cookies make a bulk batch for all your holiday gifting. Plus, they couldn’t be easier to prepare.

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Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Dog Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Credit: Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate Sugar Cookies

What’s one easy way to bring a bit of cheer to your favorite sugar cookie recipe? Just add chocolate.

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

If pumpkin pie is your go-to Thanksgiving dessert, these Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies will be a new household staple.

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Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies

Cream Cheese Christmas Cookie
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies

A roll in red or green sanding sugar adds real holiday flair to these simple, fluffy cream cheese cookies.

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Cathedral Window Cookies

Cathedral Window Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Recipe: Cathedral Window Cookies

You can use regular mini marshmallows for this sugary recipe, but festive-colored marshmallows really replicate the look of stained glass. The kids won’t be able to get enough of these no-bake treats built for family fun.

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Easy Santa Cookies

Easy Santa Cookies Recipe
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Easy Santa Cookies

Your kitchen will look like Santa’s workshop as you set up stations to frost these whimsical Santa cookies.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies

Dog Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Credit: Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies

One of our most popular cookie swap recipes of all time, these Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies are notorious crowd-pleasers.

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Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Snowflake Sugar Cookies
Credit: Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Recipe: Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Whether you opt for intricate piping or a simple sanding sugar coating, these snowflake cookies are tailor-made for holiday fun. You don’t have to be a professional cookie decorator to whip up a batch of these beauties.

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Toasted Oatmeal Cookies

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Toasted Oatmeal Cookies

Forget about the chocolate chips—this recipe will turn your kids into oatmeal cookie fans. Develop those habits young.

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Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Snowball Cookies

Recruit the kids to roll these cookies in powdered sugar—the recipe makes 4 dozen, so you’ll be thankful to have a few elves to help out!

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Marble Snickerdoodles

Marble Snickerdoodles
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas  

Recipe: Marble Snickerdoodles

Southern Living’s Editor-in-Chief Sid Evans makes these two-toned snickerdoodles with his daughter each year. If that’s not reason enough to give this recipe a try, we don’t know what is.

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Easiest Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

Four ingredients and 35 minutes later, you’ll have a batch of scrumptious, naturally gluten-free cookies.

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Swoon Pies

Swoon Pies Recipe
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Swoon Pies

Our twist on MoonPies has tender graham cookies dipped in chocolate and a few special toppings. Kids will love these handheld treats.

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Snickerdoodles

Almond Snowballs
Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Snickerdoodles

Kids will enjoy rolling the balls of dough in the sugar mixture. They will also enjoy devouring these sweet treats.

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All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

If chocolate chip cookies are your little one's favorite, this recipe will be requested often.

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Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints

Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints
Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Recipe: Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints

These cookies feature the irresistible flavor combination of cherry and chocolate. Kids can help by pressing their thumbs into each ball of dough before baking.

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Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

How do you sneak gooey melted goodness into every oat-filled bite without the extra fat? Replace half the butter with an extra bar of chocolate. The kiddos won't know the difference.

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Fun Cookie Recipes for Kids

Almond Snowballs
Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Flourless Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies

Get the little ones in the kitchen to bake up our cookie recipes for kids! They'll enjoy helping mix the batter and putting the finishing touch on each of these sweet treats. The best part will surely be the fun memories you'll share.

These flourless kid-friendly cookies are a dream, especially with the perfect pairing of peanut butter and chocolate. Your kids will enjoy them as an after-school snack or for a weeknight dessert served with a cold glass of milk.

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Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Funfetti Sugar Cookies
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Oh how fun! These Funfetti Sugar Cookies are packed with sprinkles that will bring a bit of rainbow magic to your holiday household.

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    1 of 34 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    2 of 34 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
    3 of 34 Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies
    4 of 34 Snowy Tree Cookies
    5 of 34 Spritz Cookies
    6 of 34 Mrs. Iona's Shortbread Cookies
    7 of 34 Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies
    8 of 34 Cheesecake Cookies
    9 of 34 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
    10 of 34 Kitchen Sink Cookies
    11 of 34 Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
    12 of 34 Raspberry Jam Thumbprints
    13 of 34 Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
    14 of 34 Peppermint Divinity
    15 of 34 Chocolate Cutout Cookies
    16 of 34 Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies
    17 of 34 Chocolate Sugar Cookies
    18 of 34 Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
    19 of 34 Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies
    20 of 34 Cathedral Window Cookies
    21 of 34 Easy Santa Cookies
    22 of 34 Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies
    23 of 34 Snowflake Sugar Cookies
    24 of 34 Toasted Oatmeal Cookies
    25 of 34 Pecan Snowball Cookies
    26 of 34 Marble Snickerdoodles
    27 of 34 Easiest Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
    28 of 34 Swoon Pies
    29 of 34 Snickerdoodles
    30 of 34 All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
    31 of 34 Cherry-Chocolate Thumbprints
    32 of 34 Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies
    33 of 34 Fun Cookie Recipes for Kids
    34 of 34 Funfetti Sugar Cookies

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