16 Easy Christmas Cookies That Won’t Destroy Your Sanity

Easy christmas cookies are basically the only reason I survive the holiday season without a complete meltdown. You know that feeling when you’re supposed to bake cookies for literally everyone—teachers, neighbors, coworkers, that one friend who always brings amazing gifts—and you’re also supposed to shop, wrap, decorate, and pretend you’re not exhausted? Yeah, I was drowning in that stress until I figured out these easy christmas cookies that actually work. Last year, I made six different varieties in one weekend and didn’t cry once. That’s personal growth, people.

Here’s the thing about easy christmas cookies—they can’t just be “easy” in that annoying way where bloggers call something easy but it requires specialty ingredients from three different stores and techniques you learned in culinary school. These need to be genuinely easy. Like, “I forgot about Christmas until yesterday” easy. I’ve learned this through many, many failed cookie disasters, including one incident where I tried to make elaborate gingerbread houses and ended up with gingerbread rubble. My husband still brings it up. “Remember the great gingerbread collapse?” Yes, honey. We all remember. Moving on.

Now, I’m gonna be honest with you. Some of these easy christmas cookies are traditional classics, and some are shortcuts that would make your grandma gasp. But they all taste amazing and they all actually work for real people with real lives. The goal is delicious cookies without destroying your sanity. These easy christmas cookies have saved my holidays more times than I can count, and I’m pretty sure they’ve saved my reputation as someone who can sort of bake.

Also check : Cranberry Shortbread Cookies

1. Classic Sugar Cookies (The Easy Way)

Okay, so classic sugar cookies are probably the most essential of all easy christmas cookies. These use a shortcut dough that doesn’t require chilling for hours.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Store-bought frosting and sprinkles for decorating

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper because these easy christmas cookies will stick without it.

2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

4. Add eggs and vanilla, beat until combined.

5. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix or your easy christmas cookies will be tough.

6. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut with cookie cutters.

7. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are barely golden. Set timer for 8 minutes, then inevitably check at 7 because you’re paranoid.

8. Cool completely before frosting. Use store-bought frosting to save time—nobody will judge you for these easy christmas cookies.

This is way better than those recipes that make you chill dough for three hours. Ain’t nobody got time for that during Christmas.

2. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Look, no-bake cookies might not be traditional, but they’re lifesavers for easy christmas cookies when your oven is occupied or you’re just done.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 3 cups quick oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Line baking sheets with parchment or wax paper.

2. In a saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. These easy christmas cookies need attention during this step.

3. Boil for exactly 1 minute, then remove from heat.

4. Stir in peanut butter, vanilla, salt, and oats. Mix quickly—it sets fast.

5. Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared sheets.

6. Let cool at room temperature for 30 minutes until set.

Found out by accident that these are perfect for when your oven breaks during the holidays. Not that I’m speaking from experience. Definitely didn’t happen last year.

3. Cake Mix Cookies (The Ultimate Shortcut)

These cake mix cookies are the fastest of all easy christmas cookies. Seriously, three ingredients and you’re done.

Ingredients:

• 1 box cake mix (any flavor—chocolate, vanilla, red velvet for Christmas)
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• Optional: chocolate chips, sprinkles, crushed candy canes

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil in a bowl until combined. Add any mix-ins. These easy christmas cookies couldn’t be simpler.

3. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets.

4. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set.

5. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring.

Kids love making these because they’re so simple. My 8-year-old refuses to eat anything green, but she loves “helping” make these easy christmas cookies (which means eating half the dough).

4. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Okay, so peanut butter blossoms are classic easy christmas cookies that everyone recognizes. The Hershey’s Kiss on top makes them festive.

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Sugar for rolling
• 48 Hershey’s Kisses, unwrapped

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.

3. Beat butter, peanut butter, and both sugars until fluffy.

4. Add egg and vanilla, beat well.

5. Gradually add flour mixture. These easy christmas cookies need proper mixing.

6. Roll dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in sugar.

7. Bake for 8-10 minutes until puffed and slightly cracked.

8. Immediately press a Kiss into the center of each cookie.

9. Cool completely—the Kiss will soften then firm up again.

Everyone keeps asking for this recipe, so I guess I did something right with these easy christmas cookies.

5. Snickerdoodles

These snickerdoodles are one of those easy christmas cookies that work year-round but feel extra special with cinnamon during holidays.

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

For rolling:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Whisk together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.

3. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.

4. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.

5. Mix in flour mixture. These easy christmas cookies need proper dough consistency.

6. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup sugar with cinnamon.

7. Roll dough into balls, then roll in cinnamon sugar.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers still soft.

9. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring.

The cream of tartar gives these easy christmas cookies their signature tangy flavor. Don’t skip it.

6. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Look, chocolate crinkle cookies are some of the prettiest easy christmas cookies and they taste like brownies. Win-win.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix cocoa, sugar, and oil until combined.

2. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.

3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into chocolate mixture. These easy christmas cookies need well-mixed dough.

4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. (Sorry, this one actually requires chilling.)

5. Preheat oven to 350°F.

6. Roll dough into balls, then roll generously in powdered sugar.

7. Bake for 10-12 minutes. They’ll look underdone but that’s okay.

8. Cool completely—they firm up as they cool.

It’ll look weird at first when the powdered sugar cracks during baking, but that’s the whole point. That’s why they’re called crinkle cookies in this collection of easy christmas cookies.

7. Thumbprint Cookies

These thumbprint cookies are classic easy christmas cookies that look fancy but are stupid simple.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Jam or chocolate for filling

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.

3. Add egg yolks and vanilla, beat well.

4. Mix in flour and salt until combined. These easy christmas cookies have simple dough.

5. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheets.

6. Press your thumb into center of each ball to make an indentation.

7. Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly golden.

8. If indentations puffed up during baking, re-press them while cookies are still warm.

9. Fill with jam or melted chocolate.

I usually use raspberry jam because it looks festive for these easy christmas cookies. But any jam works.

8. Shortbread Cookies

Okay, so shortbread is one of the easiest easy christmas cookies because it’s literally four ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.

2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes.

3. Gradually add flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix these easy christmas cookies.

4. Press dough into a 9×13 pan, or roll out and cut with cookie cutters.

5. If using a pan, score the dough into squares before baking.

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes until edges are golden.

7. Cool completely, then cut into pieces if you used a pan.

Good luck eating just one of these easy christmas cookies. They’re buttery and addictive and I always make a double batch.

9. Gingerbread Cookies (Easy Version)

These gingerbread cookies are essential easy christmas cookies, but this version uses a mix if you want to make it even simpler.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy.

2. Add molasses and egg, beat well.

3. Whisk together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.

4. Gradually add to butter mixture. These easy christmas cookies need proper spicing.

5. Divide dough in half, wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours.

6. Preheat oven to 350°F.

7. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters.

8. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set.

9. Cool completely before decorating.

Set timer for 8 minutes, then inevitably check at 7. These easy christmas cookies burn fast if you’re not careful.

10. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

If you want non-traditional easy christmas cookies, these white chocolate cranberry ones are festive and delicious.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.

3. Beat butter and both sugars until fluffy.

4. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.

5. Gradually add flour mixture. These easy christmas cookies need good texture.

6. Fold in white chocolate chips and cranberries.

7. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden.

9. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring.

The red cranberries and white chocolate make these easy christmas cookies look festive without trying.

11. Lemon Snowball Cookies

These lemon snowball cookies are refreshing easy christmas cookies that break up all the chocolate and cinnamon.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• Zest of 2 lemons
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until fluffy.

3. Add lemon zest and juice, mix well.

4. Stir in flour and salt until combined. These easy christmas cookies have bright flavor.

5. Roll dough into 1-inch balls.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes until bottoms are lightly golden.

7. Let cool for 5 minutes, then roll in powdered sugar while still warm.

8. Cool completely, then roll in powdered sugar again.

I think I got this recipe from my aunt… or maybe it was Pinterest? Honestly can’t remember. But these easy christmas cookies are always a hit.

12. Chocolate Chip Cookies (Classic)

Okay, chocolate chip cookies might not scream Christmas, but they’re crowd-pleasers and definitely qualify as easy christmas cookies.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.

3. Beat butter and both sugars until fluffy.

4. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.

5. Gradually add flour mixture. These easy christmas cookies are foolproof.

6. Fold in chocolate chips.

7. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets.

8. Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are golden but centers still soft.

9. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring.

Kids eat these without complaint, which makes them essential easy christmas cookies for family gatherings.

13. Peppermint Bark Cookies

These peppermint bark cookies are festive easy christmas cookies that taste like the candy but in cookie form.

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup crushed candy canes
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix cake mix, eggs, oil, and peppermint extract until combined.

3. Fold in crushed candy canes and both types of chocolate chips. These easy christmas cookies use cake mix shortcuts.

4. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets.

5. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set.

6. Cool completely—they’re soft when warm but firm up.

Found out by accident that these taste even better the next day after the peppermint flavor mellows into the cookie.

14. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Look, oatmeal raisin cookies are underrated easy christmas cookies. Not everyone likes them, but the people who do REALLY love them.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups raisins

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat butter and both sugars until fluffy.

3. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.

4. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

5. Add to butter mixture, mix well.

6. Stir in oats and raisins. These easy christmas cookies are hearty.

7. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden.

9. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring.

Some recipes online are just wrong about oatmeal cookies. I don’t care what anyone says, you need the cinnamon for these easy christmas cookies.

15. Russian Tea Cakes (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

These Russian tea cakes are classic easy christmas cookies with lots of names. They’re basically pecan snowballs.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup pecans, finely chopped
• 1 cup powdered sugar for rolling

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla until fluffy.

3. Mix in flour and salt until combined.

4. Stir in chopped pecans. These easy christmas cookies have nutty flavor.

5. Roll dough into 1-inch balls.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes until bottoms are lightly golden.

7. Let cool for 5 minutes, then roll in powdered sugar while warm.

8. Cool completely, then roll in powdered sugar again.

Set timer for 12 minutes, then inevitably check at 10. These easy christmas cookies are delicate when hot.

16. Molasses Cookies

These molasses cookies are soft, chewy easy christmas cookies that taste like gingerbread’s laid-back cousin.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Sugar for rolling

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix melted butter, sugar, molasses, and egg until combined.

3. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.

4. Add to wet ingredients, mix well. These easy christmas cookies are soft and chewy.

5. Roll dough into balls, then roll in sugar.

6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. They’ll look underdone but will firm up.

7. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring.

The key with these easy christmas cookies is not overbaking. They should be soft and chewy, not crispy.

Real Talk About Christmas Cookie Baking

Anyway, these easy christmas cookies have saved my sanity every single holiday season. The key is picking recipes that taste good, look festive, and don’t require advanced degrees in pastry arts.

Some recipes online are just wrong about Christmas cookies. I don’t care what anyone says, if a cookie recipe requires specialized equipment or techniques that take years to master, it’s NOT an easy christmas cookie. These recipes are actually doable for real people.

Oh, and another thing—people always ask if they can make these ahead and freeze them. Yes! Most of these easy christmas cookies freeze beautifully. Bake them, let them cool completely, then freeze in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature when ready to serve or gift.

Wait, I almost forgot—cookie exchanges are way less stressful when you’re making easy christmas cookies. Pick 2-3 recipes from this list, make big batches, and you’re set. No need to stress about making twelve different varieties.

Let me know how yours turn out! Seriously, try these easy christmas cookies and tell me which ones are your favorites. Anyone else doing cookie exchanges this year? I’m always looking for new easy recipes because apparently I volunteered to host next year and I’m already panicking.

Happy baking! (and may your cookies never burn) 🍪🎄