15 Easy Christmas Cookies to Make This Season

Spritz-Cookies-with-Sprinkles

The holiday season wouldn't be complete without some festive cookies to nosh on, but sometimes you're too busy to spend hours decorating Christmas cookies. Luckily, these easy Christmas cookies take no longer than 45 minutes of prep time, so you can have traditional holiday cookies on hand—think: sugar cookies, ginger crinkles and thumbprint cookies—without forgoing an entire afternoon.

01 of 15

Spritz Cookies

7331539.jpg

It's time to break out your spritz cookie press for these festive Christmas spritz cookies! These easy Christmas cookies can be decorated with sprinkles or flavored with citrus, spices or sweet sugar glaze. And if you're looking for healthy cookies, these fit the bill thanks to whole-wheat pastry flour that keeps their texture soft while giving them a boost of fiber.

02 of 15

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

7331276.jpg

Kids and adults alike will love this easy peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe, which—unlike most cookie recipes—doesn't call for flour. These gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy and, with only five simple ingredients, they can easily be whipped up by young chefs and enjoyed as an after-school treat. They're also perfect for a holiday party or for a cookie swap.

03 of 15

Boot Tracks

3756698.jpg

This quick, no-fuss, chewy chocolate cookie is made on your waffle iron. No need to haul out the big mixer, you can mix the batter with a small hand mixer or even by hand. Kids love these!

04 of 15

Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

4568484.jpg

This recipe takes oatmeal cookies up a notch with its cinnamony, buttery, delicious take on a much-loved classic dessert.

05 of 15

Soft Sugar Cookies

7861121.jpg

These easy and classic cookies incorporate mild-tasting white whole-wheat flour for extra fiber and nutrients.

06 of 15

Flourless Chocolate Cookies

5099282.jpg

These flourless cookies get their volume from whipped egg whites (like a meringue) instead of grains, making them gluten-free and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A chocolate chip in each bite adds to the rich chocolate flavor.

07 of 15

Vanilla Candy Cane Peppermint Bars

Vanilla Candy-Cane Peppermint Bars

These festive bars are easy to make for a cookie swap or holiday treats for friends and family.

08 of 15

Chocolate Polvorones (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

Chocolate Polvorones (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

These melt-in-your-mouth polvorones (Mexican wedding cookies) get a chocolate makeover by replacing all the nuts in the traditional version with ground chocolate. Delicious just as they are, you can also grate a little cinnamon stick over them before serving.

09 of 15

Vegan Meringue Cookies

6474208.jpg

Magical aquafaba—the liquid from canned chickpeas that often gets poured down the drain—mimics egg whites in these airy vegan meringue cookies. The other magical thing? These cookies require just three ingredients! Save the chickpeas themselves for hummus, stew or any one of our other recipes that call for canned chickpeas.

10 of 15

Lemon Drop Cookies

Italian Lemon Cookies

These soft lemon drop cookies feature both sweet and tangy flavors thanks to plenty of fresh lemon juice and a powdered sugar glaze. These easy cookies are perfect with tea and coffee and will make a great addition to your holiday cookie platter.

11 of 15

Ginger & Spice Crackles

Ginger & Spice Crackles

These soft and moist cookies are spiked with ginger, cinnamon and a hint of clove and they crackle on top when they bake. Rolling them in powdered sugar gives them a lightly sweet coating on the outside that looks like a dusting of fresh fallen snow.

12 of 15

Flourless Chocolate Cookies

5099282.jpg

These flourless cookies get their volume from whipped egg whites (like a meringue) instead of grains, making them gluten-free and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A chocolate chip in each bite adds to the rich chocolate flavor.

13 of 15

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Caitlin Bensel

Brown butter chocolate chip cookies take regular chocolate chip cookies to a whole new level. The browned butter add nuttiness to each cookie, while a sprinkle of sea salt takes these easy treats over the top.

14 of 15

Chocolate Chunk-Walnut Meringue Cookies

Chocolate Chunk-Walnut Meringue Cookies

Look to these meringue cookies if you want a new, simple, no-fuss holiday cookie recipe. They're ready to eat after drying in the oven for an hour, but you can leave them in there longer–even overnight.

15 of 15

Ginger Molasses Cookies

Ginger Molasses Cookies
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

The spelt flour in these ginger molasses cookies offers a chewy texture and a nutty flavor that shines with the ginger in this easy holiday cookie recipe.

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles