24 Pretty Christmas Cookies with No Pipping Required

Candy Cane Cookies
Photo: Joy Howard

What's Christmas without Christmas cookies? These holiday treats work overtime to deliver merriment and cheer all season long. Boxes of Christmas sugar cookies end up on our friends' and neighbors' front porches as gestures of goodwill. We pull out family-favorite recipes to make with our children—even if that means the kitchen is definitely covered in flour and sugar afterwards. It's worth it, if that means Santa has a plate of cookies waiting for him next to Rudolph's obligatory carrots. And while Christmas cookie decorating is always done in good fun, some designs get complicated, fast. If you find you aren't so artistically inclined or that you prefer spending more time eating than decorating, you're in luck. Here are 24 of our best Christmas cookies—no piping required.

01 of 22

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

The distinct shape of the chocolate kiss is all the decoration this cookie needs.

02 of 22

Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies
Joy Howard

Recipe: Candy Cane Cookies

Santa will love these without a doubt.

03 of 22

Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

Pull out your favorite holiday sprinkles from the top shelf of the pantry and get baking. Press sprinkles around the frosting edges for a little extra pizazz.

04 of 22

Red Velvet Cake Crinkle Cookies

Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Crinkle Cookies

What's better than a red velvet cookie? A sandwich cookie. These are dusted with powdered sugar and filled with cream cheese icing.

05 of 22

Cheesecake Cookies

Cheesecake Cookies
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

The bright red maraschino cherries add a jolt of color and festive fun to these powdery Cheesecake Cookies.

06 of 22

Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Red-Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Deep red, crinkly, and dotted with white chocolate chips, these cookies are merry and bright.

07 of 22

Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Peppermint Meltaway Cookies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

These cute cookies benefit from a dollop of icing and a sprinkling of crushed peppermint candies that add just the right amount of color.

08 of 22

Snow Flurries

Snow Flurries
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Star-shaped cookies are sandwiched between sweet raspberry jam before receiving a dusting of powdered sugar—a flurry of snow indeed.

09 of 22

Wreath Cookie

Wreath Cookie
Southern Living

Recipe: Wreath Cookie

Deck the halls with these cornflake wreaths, which are held together by melted marshmallows.

10 of 22

Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Snowball Cookies

Plenty of powdered sugar will tempt you to start a snowball fight right in the kitchen.

11 of 22

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Joy Howard

Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Up the Christmas ante with these green-and-red swirled pinwheel cookies. They'll definitely impress Saint Nick and your guests will appreciate them, too.

12 of 22

Spritz Cookies

Spritz Cookies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Spritz Cookies

Add sprinkles if you fancy, but the beauty of the Spritz Cookie is that it needs no decoration.

13 of 22

Molasses Crinkles

Spiced Molasses Drops
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Molasses Crinkles

Not only is the name magical, but the cookies look like shimmery ornaments, too, thanks to a sprinkle of sanding sugar before baking.

14 of 22

Cranberry Orange Butter Cookies

Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Cranberry Orange Butter Cookies

Dried cranberries and orange zest elevate the simple (but sophisticated) butter cookie, adding a little jewel-toned fun.

15 of 22

Lemon Sandwich Cookies

Lemony Sandwich Cookies
Iain Bagwell

Between all the chocolate and other desserts, it's always nice to have a fresh burst of citrus somewhere in the mix.

16 of 22

Peppermint Pinwheels

peppermint pinwheels
Iain Bagwell

No piping required here—just a little patience and the help of some food coloring in the dough.

17 of 22

Peanut Butter and Jelly Linzer Cookies

Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies
Iain Bagwell

For an extra-festive touch, swap the star cookie cutter for another holiday shape, such as a snowflake.

18 of 22

Reindeer Cookies

Reindeer Cookies
Southern Living

Recipe: Reindeer Cookies

With minimal effort, you'll have the cutest cookies at the potluck. All you need are some peanut butter sandwich cookies, chocolate candies, and pretzels.

19 of 22

Ambrosia Macaroons

Ambrosia Macaroons
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Ambrosia Macaroons

Fluffy piles of citrus-doused coconut wear a jubilant cherry crown.

20 of 22

Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies

Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies
Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Miss Iona was on to something. With four ingredients, you'll have beautiful holiday cookies in the shape of your choice.

21 of 22

Cream Cheese Christmas Cookie

Cream Cheese Christmas Cookie
Southern Living

Recipe: Cream Cheese Christmas Cookie

Cream cheese renders these cookies exceptionally soft. Roll the edges in sprinkles and top with a pecan for a decadent treat.

22 of 22

Dark Chocolate Sablés

Dark Chocolate Sablés
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Sablés

Give the traditional sablé a dramatic makeover with the addition of some cocoa powder. Dip in chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt or toasted pecans.

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