If you love holiday baking but don’t want complicated steps or long baking times, these 17 easy Christmas cookie recipes are perfect for you.
They use simple ingredients, minimal prep, and beginner-friendly techniques—yet they look and taste beautifully festive.
From classic favorites to fun, no-fuss holiday treats, this list has cookies everyone can make and enjoy.
1. Easy Sugar Cookie Cutouts
This simple sugar cookie dough rolls out easily and holds its shape well.
You only need basic ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, flour, and vanilla.
Cut into stars, trees, or ornaments, bake for 8–10 minutes, and decorate with quick icing made from powdered sugar and milk.
Perfect for kids or last-minute baking.
2. No-Chill Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies
Skip the chilling step and bake right away! Mix a standard chocolate chip cookie dough, fold in red and green M&Ms, and scoop onto a tray.
The cookies stay soft and chewy with festive pops of color. Great for cookie swaps and Santa’s plate.
3. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Just peanut butter, sugar, and an egg—simple and delicious.
Press each dough ball with a fork for a classic crisscross pattern.
Add melted chocolate drizzle or holiday sprinkles for a Christmas twist.
4. Easy Snickerdoodle Cookies
These require no fancy equipment or ingredients.
Roll the dough balls in cinnamon sugar and bake until crackled and soft.
Add a teaspoon of nutmeg or holiday-colored sanding sugar for festive flair.
5. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies (Cake Mix Version)
Using boxed chocolate cake mix makes these cookies extra easy.
Mix with eggs and oil, roll in powdered sugar, and bake.
They expand into perfect snowy crinkles with almost no effort.
6. Peppermint Bark Cookies
Use store-bought sugar cookie dough, bake the cookies, and top with melted chocolate and crushed candy canes.
These cookies look sophisticated but take under 20 minutes to prepare.
7. Easy Shortbread Cookies
This three-ingredient recipe—just butter, flour, and sugar—creates tender, buttery cookies.
Press into a pan, slice into bars, and bake. Add sprinkles before baking or drizzle with melted chocolate afterward.
8. White Chocolate Cranberry Drop Cookies
Just scoop and bake! Mix white chocolate chips and dried cranberries into a basic cookie dough.
Add a little orange zest for a bright holiday flavor. No cutting or decorating needed.
9. Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Start with a basic sugar cookie dough, roll in festive sprinkles, and bake.
They come out bright, colorful, and party-ready without any icing.
10. Easy Gingerbread Drop Cookies
Instead of rolling and cutting, these are made by simply scooping dough onto trays.
They have classic gingerbread spices and soft chewy centers—great for fast holiday baking.
11. Hot Cocoa Cookies
Make a simple chocolate cookie and top each one with a marshmallow during the last minute of baking.
Drizzle melted chocolate over the top for a cozy hot-cocoa effect.
They’re indulgent but extremely easy.
12. Sugar Cookie Bars
Skip the rolling and cutting—press sugar cookie dough into a pan, bake as bars, and frost with buttercream.
Sprinkle with red and green sprinkles for an instantly festive dessert that serves a crowd.
13. Easy Linzer-Style Thumbprint Cookies
These use simple shortbread dough rolled into balls.
Press each center with your thumb and fill with red jam before baking.
They mimic the flavor of Linzer cookies but require no layering or cutting.
14. Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Mix red velvet cake mix with eggs and oil to create soft, chewy cookies.
Add white chocolate chips for flavor contrast. Roll in powdered sugar for a wintery, frosted appearance.
15. Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies
Add chopped Andes mints to a simple chocolate cookie dough.
The pieces melt slightly while baking, creating a rich mint-chocolate flavor that tastes like Christmas in a bite.
16. Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
These cookies are hearty, chewy, and simple.
Mix oats, cranberries, butter, and brown sugar for a festive and flavorful holiday cookie.
Add white chocolate chips for extra sweetness.
17. Soft Molasses Cookies
A classic holiday cookie that’s surprisingly easy.
The dough is mixed in one bowl and scooped directly onto baking sheets.
They bake into soft, warm, spiced cookies that stay moist for days.
