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  5. 24 Pretty Christmas Cookies with No Pipping Required

24 Pretty Christmas Cookies with No Pipping Required

marissa wu
By Marissa Wu November 03, 2021
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Candy Cane Cookies
Credit: 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.

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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

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

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Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies
Credit: Joy Howard

Recipe: Candy Cane Cookies

Santa will love these without a doubt.

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Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies
Credit: 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.

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Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

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

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Cheesecake Cookies

Cheesecake Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Cheesecake Cookies

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

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Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

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

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

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

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Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Peppermint Meltaway Cookies
Credit: 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.

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Snow Flurries

Snow Flurries
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Snow Flurries

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

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Wreath Cookie

Wreath Cookie
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Wreath Cookie

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

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Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Snowball Cookies

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

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Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Credit: 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.

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Spritz Cookies

<p>Recipe: Spritz Cookies</p> <p>Add sprinkles if you fancy, but the beauty of the Spritz Cookie is that it needs no decoration.</p>
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Spritz Cookies

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

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Spiced Molasses Drops

Spiced Molasses Drops
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Spiced Molasses Drops

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

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Cranberry Orange Butter Cookies

Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies
Credit: 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.

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Lemon Sandwich Cookies

Lemony Sandwich Cookies
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Lemon Sandwich Cookies

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

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Peppermint Pinwheels

peppermint pinwheels
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Peppermint Pinwheels

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

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Peanut Butter and Jelly Linzer Cookies

Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Peanut Butter and Jelly Linzer Cookies

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

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Reindeer Cookies

Reindeer Cookies
Credit: 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.

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Ambrosia Macaroons

Ambrosia Macaroons
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Ambrosia Macaroons

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

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Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies

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

Recipe: Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies

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

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Cream Cheese Christmas Cookie

Cream Cheese Christmas Cookie
Credit: 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.

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Dark Chocolate Sablés

Dark Chocolate Sablés
Credit: 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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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 22 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
    2 of 22 Candy Cane Cookies
    3 of 22 Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies
    4 of 22 Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies
    5 of 22 Cheesecake Cookies
    6 of 22 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
    7 of 22 Peppermint Meltaway Cookies
    8 of 22 Snow Flurries
    9 of 22 Wreath Cookie
    10 of 22 Pecan Snowball Cookies
    11 of 22 Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
    12 of 22 Spritz Cookies
    13 of 22 Spiced Molasses Drops
    14 of 22 Cranberry Orange Butter Cookies
    15 of 22 Lemon Sandwich Cookies
    16 of 22 Peppermint Pinwheels
    17 of 22 Peanut Butter and Jelly Linzer Cookies
    18 of 22 Reindeer Cookies
    19 of 22 Ambrosia Macaroons
    20 of 22 Miss Iona's Shortbread Cookies
    21 of 22 Cream Cheese Christmas Cookie
    22 of 22 Dark Chocolate Sablés

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    24 Pretty Christmas Cookies with No Pipping Required
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