34 Easy Cookie Recipes to Make With Kids

By Zoe Denenberg
August 06, 2013
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

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

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

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

Credit: Photo: 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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

Credit: Photo: Victor 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

Credit: Photo: 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

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

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

Credit: Photo: Victor 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

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

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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

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

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

Credit: Photo: Victor 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

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

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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

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

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

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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

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

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett; Food Styling: Rebecca Kracke Gordon

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

Credit: Photo: 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

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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