Nothing says December like a tray of homemade cookies. These easy Christmas cookies use pantry staples, simple doughs and minimal decorating, so you can bake for parties, gifts and cookie swaps without spending all day in the kitchen.
Pantry staples for Christmas baking
- All-purpose flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar
- Unsalted butter and eggs
- Baking soda, baking powder and salt
- Vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg
- Chocolate chips, sprinkles and powdered sugar
- Molasses (for gingerbread)
Classic Christmas cookies
- Sugar cookie cut-outs — chill the dough so shapes hold their edges.
- Gingerbread men — molasses, ginger and cinnamon give the classic flavor.
- Snickerdoodles — rolled in cinnamon sugar, soft in the middle.
- Chocolate crinkle cookies — rolled in powdered sugar for a snowy crackle.
- Peanut butter blossoms — a chocolate kiss pressed in right after baking.
- Jam thumbprints — buttery cookies filled with raspberry or apricot jam.
- Russian tea cakes / snowball cookies — nutty and dusted twice in sugar.
- Spritz cookies — pressed into trees and wreaths.
- Shortbread — just butter, sugar and flour.
- Molasses cookies — chewy and spiced.
No-bake Christmas cookies
- Chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies.
- Peppermint bark broken into pieces.
- Cornflake wreaths with green-tinted marshmallow.
- Oreo truffles dipped in white chocolate.
- Pretzel kiss bites with M&Ms.
- Rum or bourbon balls for the grown-ups.
Easy cookies for kids to help with
- Reindeer cookies with pretzel antlers.
- Melted snowman cookies.
- Santa hat brownies with strawberries.
- Christmas tree cookies decorated with sprinkles.
- Slice-and-bake pinwheels in red and green.
Best cookies for a cookie swap
- Cranberry white chocolate cookies — they travel well.
- Biscotti — sturdy and long-lasting.
- Linzer cookies — they look impressive on a platter.
- Brown butter chocolate chip cookies — always the first to go.
Simple decorating ideas
- Royal icing: powdered sugar, meringue powder and water; pipe outlines then flood.
- Easy glaze: powdered sugar plus milk, dip and add sprinkles.
- Melted chocolate drizzle over shortbread or biscotti.
- Sanding sugar before baking for sparkle with no icing at all.
Christmas baking timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Early December | Make and freeze cookie dough balls and logs |
| Two weeks before | Bake shortbread and biscotti (they keep well) |
| One week before | Bake and decorate cut-out cookies |
| 2–3 days before | Bake soft cookies and no-bake treats |
How to store Christmas cookies
- Keep soft and crisp cookies in separate airtight tins.
- Most baked cookies keep 1 week at room temperature.
- Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.
- Let royal icing dry fully (6–8 hours) before stacking.
Pack cookies with a note from our Christmas card messages, pair them with Christmas gift ideas, and serve them at your Christmas party.
FAQ
What is the easiest Christmas cookie to make?
Shortbread, peanut butter blossoms and no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies need few ingredients and almost no technique.
How far ahead can I bake Christmas cookies?
Bake sturdy cookies up to two weeks ahead, or freeze them for up to three months.
What are the most popular Christmas cookies in the US?
Sugar cookies, gingerbread, peanut butter blossoms, snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies top most holiday lists.
