Holidays & Occasions Christmas Christmas Recipes Our 35 Easiest Ever Christmas Cookie Recipes Christmas means cookies. Lots of cookies. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 14, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Christmas means cookies. Lots of cookies. When the season is upon us, it's time to start thinking about what cookies to bake for our family, fill up our cookie tins 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 don't always have the time to make batches of complicated masterpieces. Occasionally, we want a delicious, simple cookie that, if we're being honest, tastes just as good but with half the hassle. That's where these delicious yet easy holiday cookie recipes come in—they give you Christmas cheer with little effort. (And we are all for it). Check out these easy Christmas cookies you'll be making all season long. 01 of 35 Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies Micah A. Leal These vibrant cookies start with a box of red velvet cake mix. It can be our little secret. Pops of white chocolate makes this cake-inspired cookie one of our all-time favorites. 02 of 35 Brown Butter Snickerdoodles Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Snickerdoodles highlight the spice of the season: cinnamon. You won't be able to resist a taste after smelling these cinnamon-sugar cookies baking. The trick to making these cookies is browning the butter. 03 of 35 No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS These cookies take just 30 minutes to pull together. Store them in an airtight container for up to five days, but we doubt they'll last that long. Store-bought chocolate wafers make this dessert look fancy, even though it does not require any baking. 04 of 35 Brown Sugar Cookie Stars Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Looking for the star of your holiday dessert spread? Bake these sparkly treats in advance. All you'll have left before the party is a little decorating. 05 of 35 White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies Photo: Jennifer Causey These cookies are a Christmas classic with gooey white chocolate and dried cranberries. Test Kitchen Tip: Use white chocolate chunks instead of chips to hold their shape better when baked. Bake on the upper oven rack to prevent browning. 06 of 35 Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies Caitlin Bensel Classic, easy, and always a hit, there's a reason you baked these cookies with Grandma every year. These peanut butter and chocolate cookies are a dynamic duo made with pantry staples. Plus, one recipe makes three dozen. 07 of 35 Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall With sprinkles on the inside and the outside, these colorful funfetti-like cookies will surely bring joy to any holiday party. Make the cookie dough and chill for up to eight hours before baking. Keep extra sprinkles on hand for any necessary touch-ups. 08 of 35 Wreath Cookie Southern Living Perfect as an afternoon activity for the kids, these Christmas wreath cookies are festive, delicious, and require no baking. With only seven ingredients, you can make a cheerful recipe at any time. Substitute the red hot candy for any "ornaments" you prefer. 09 of 35 Cheesecake Cookies Caitlin Bensel 'Tis the season for sugar, and these bite-sized Cheesecake Cookies are ready in just one hour. If preparing these cookies in advance, wait until you are ready to serve to add the maraschino cherries on top. 10 of 35 Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Jennifer Causey Always a hit, no matter the season. These brown butter cookies are hard to resist. Browning the butter before combining ingredients makes the difference in this chewy, gooey cookie. 11 of 35 Pecan Snowball Cookies Micah A. Leal Decadently nutty and utterly Southern, these snowballs will bring the winter spirit to any holiday party. Whether it's a winter wonderland outside or unseasonably warm, the powdered sugar on these cookies guarantees a bit of "snow-like" magic this season. This recipe makes four dozen, so you'll have plenty to share. 12 of 35 Spritz Cookies Micah A. Leal You have to break the baking rules to get a proper spritz cookie. Use an ungreased baking sheet, and do not use parchment paper. The dough must stick to the baking sheet when extruded from the cookie press. 13 of 35 Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Crisp chocolate cookies with fresh peppermint filling make for a winning combination in these seasonal sandwich cookies. Plan enough time to allow the cookie dough to chill for an hour before baking. Refrigerating after adding the filling will firm up the cookies. 14 of 35 Cranberry-Orange Butter Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Notes of festive cranberry and orange are the ultimate upgrade to a classic butter cookie. Make the dough the night before and allow enough time to chill—at least two hours. Switch up the recipe using dried cherries instead of cranberries or lemon zest instead of orange. 15 of 35 Cathedral Window Cookies Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy With multicolored marshmallows and lots of chocolate pieces, these simple, no-bake cookies are perfect for the kids. This nostalgic recipe is ideal for your next potluck dinner. One recipe makes enough to feed a crowd. 16 of 35 Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies Katie Strasberg Rousso These cake-like cookies are a chocolate lover's dream. To drop the cookies evenly, try using a tablespoon or cookie scoop. Feel free to substitute your favorite chocolate chips into this recipe. 17 of 35 Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Micah A. Leal Crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, these sugar-dusted cookies are a chocolate lover's delight. Better yet, they only take 40 minutes to pull together. Instant espresso powder enhances the chocolate in this recipe. 18 of 35 Lemon Thumbprint Cookies Southern Living These classic cookies combine the tart flavors of raspberry and lemon while making a whopping seven-dozen batches you can use for a party or gifts. Each cookie is buttery, sweet, moist, and easy to make. 19 of 35 No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies Zoe Denenberg; Prop Stylist: Rachel Mulcahy Short on time? You can still give Pecan Pralines a run for their money. These no-bake cookies only take 10 minutes of hands-on time. These nut-free treats will be a crowd favorite. 20 of 35 Snowflake Sugar Cookies Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Rachel Mulcahy They may look complicated, but you can make these seasonal sugar cookies as intricate or easy as you'd like. It's the decorator's choice. Vary the snowflake sizes for an exciting presentation. 21 of 35 Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies Zoe Denenberg; Prop Styling: Rachel Mulcahy When it comes to classic combinations, it doesn't get much better than chocolate and peanut butter. We love this recipe for many reasons, but mostly because even an amateur baker can whip up a batch. You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry. 22 of 35 Pecan Tassies Micah A. Leal Petite and more fun to eat than your everyday Pecan Pie, these little cups offer just the right amount of decadence in an adorable package. The brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, and bourbon filling make a savory complement to the buttery and nutty crust. Toast some extra pecans to have on hand for all your holiday baking. 23 of 35 Easy Peanut Butter Cookies Betsy McCallen Lovell Four ingredients? We'll be baking these simple treats for every cookie swap this season. It doesn't get much better than homemade peanut butter cookies. 24 of 35 Barbara Bush's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies Micah A. Leal Everything's bigger in Texas, including this batch of cookies. Get ready for a mixing bowl filled to the brim. This recipe yields enough cookies for your holiday party and then some. 25 of 35 Butterscotch-Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Linda Pugliese Toasted oats and brown sugar blend perfectly with butterscotch chips in this oatmeal cookie recipe. Customize these cookies to your preferences by adding chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or raisins. With 20 minutes of active time, this recipe makes three dozen cookies. 26 of 35 Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Like a brownie in cookie form, these fudgy cookies are freezer-friendly. Chocolate, toasted pecans, and vanilla extract make these gluten-free and flourless cookies irresistibly sweet. Allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before moving them. 27 of 35 Pecan Sandies Micah A. Leal When you bake Pecan Sandies at home, you can make them any size you'd like. Extra cinnamon enhances the pecan flavoring. Add extra pecans for even more texture. 28 of 35 Peppermint Divinity Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer This reimagined divinity candy recipe uses peppermints instead of nuts, but it's still full of nostalgia. Seven ingredients are all it takes to make these classic sweet treats. Candies stay fresh for about one week. 29 of 35 Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Beth Dreiling Hontzas Nothing beats a classic chocolate chip cookie at Christmas time. Using two different types of chocolate chips adds to the rich flavoring in this recipe. Top with flaky sea salt for the perfect finishing touch. 30 of 35 Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies Hector Manuel Sanchez 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. 31 of 35 Reindeer Cookies Southern Living These no-bake cookies are cute-as-can-be and a breeze to assemble. Store-bought peanut butter cookies form the base for this reindeer-inspired treat, topped with your favorite candies. Make your own frosting or buy some pre-made. 32 of 35 Crispy Praline Cookies Southern Living You get that classic pecan praline flavor in a crispy bite. These cookies are almost too easy to grab and snack on throughout the holiday season. Easy prep and a few ingredients are a bonus. 33 of 35 Almond Snowballs Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Festive treats that don't take so much time icing and decorating. The secret to perfect nutty flavoring is toasting the almonds. After baking, allow the cookies to cool a little to make it easier to roll them in powdered sugar. 34 of 35 5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Photo: Hector Sanchez With only a few ingredients and 20 minutes of hands-on time, you'll have these ready for your next party. Remember to completely cool the cookies before adding the glaze. After glazing and decorating, let the cookies stand until they set. 35 of 35 Ambrosia Macaroons Hector Sanchez Soft, chewy macaroons are festive and fun with their ambrosia-inspired look and flavor. You can switch the garnishes from red to green cherries or orange peels if you prefer. For more simple holiday desserts, check out our best no-bake holiday cookies, bars, and pies. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit