The holiday season is the perfect time for kids to get in the kitchen and help create some festive treats! Christmas cookies are a staple, and with a little creativity, they can be both fun to make and delicious to eat. From playful shapes to colorful decorations, these cookies are sure to bring joy to everyone at the table. Whether you’re making Reindeer Cookies or Chocolate Crinkles, these recipes offer a variety of flavors and textures that will keep little hands busy and smiling.
Start with the fun Reindeer Cookies, complete with pretzel antlers, or whip up some soft and chewy Chocolate Cool Whip Cookies. The classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies make a great healthier option, while Soft Christmas Cookies offer a perfect canvas for decorating with royal icing. For a nutty treat, Turtle Cookies are a delightful combination of chocolate, caramel, and pecans.
Kids will love rolling and pressing the dough for Smashed Sugar Cookies, and the rich Chocolate Crinkles will add a crinkly, snowy touch to your holiday spread. Make some fun Christmas Wreaths using marshmallows and cornflakes or bake up a batch of classic Gingerbread Cookies to decorate. Fruitcake Cookies are a great way to introduce kids to the holiday fruitcake tradition with a chewy and colorful twist.
These 10 Christmas cookie recipes are perfect for getting into the holiday spirit, and they’re easy to make with the whole family. Grab your apron, gather the ingredients, and let the baking fun begin!
1. Reindeer Cookies
These adorable reindeer cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat! Shaped like Rudolph, with pretzels for antlers, red candy for the nose, and chocolate chips for eyes, they’re a delight for kids and parents alike. The base is a soft sugar cookie dough that bakes up golden and delicious.
Kids can help assemble the antlers and noses, making it a festive family activity. Perfect for holiday parties or Christmas Eve treats, these cookies add whimsy to the season. Plus, they’re customizable—swap in your favorite candies or make a whole herd with different-colored noses!
2. Chocolate Cool Whip Cookies
These super soft chocolate cookies are a breeze to whip up, thanks to Cool Whip and cake mix! With just three main ingredients, they’re ideal for little hands eager to help in the kitchen. Rolled in powdered sugar before baking, they puff up into crinkly, fudgy delights.
They’re rich in chocolate flavor but light in texture, making them an irresistible treat. Perfect for last-minute baking, these cookies also make a wonderful addition to cookie platters. Their snowy, crackled finish gives them a festive touch that kids will adore.
3. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
A timeless classic, oatmeal raisin cookies get a Christmas makeover with a hint of warm cinnamon and nutmeg. Chewy, hearty, and lightly spiced, these cookies are a healthy option that kids can enjoy guilt-free.
The oats provide a wholesome texture, while the raisins add natural sweetness and a burst of flavor. Bake them for holiday breakfasts, as a snack, or pair them with milk for Santa. Add festive sprinkles or drizzle with icing for extra holiday cheer. These cookies are a comforting, nostalgic treat that brings warmth to the cold season.
4. Soft Christmas Cookies
These pillowy soft cookies are a holiday favorite, melting in your mouth with every bite. The dough is easy to roll out, making it perfect for festive shapes like stars, trees, or snowflakes. Decorate with vibrant royal icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter for a Christmas wonderland on your cookie plate.
Kids will have a blast cutting shapes and adding their creative touch. With their buttery, vanilla-infused flavor, these cookies are a crowd-pleaser. Bake them for a family decorating session or gift them as edible works of art!
5. Turtle Cookies
Indulge in these decadent turtle cookies, combining chocolate, caramel, and pecans in every bite. The chocolate cookie base is rolled in chopped pecans and baked to perfection, with a gooey caramel center that’s pure magic. Kids will love shaping the cookies and adding the caramel filling.
A drizzle of melted chocolate on top makes them extra special. These cookies are perfect for a cozy Christmas evening by the fire, evoking the rich flavors of holiday treats. They’re a little fancy but still kid-friendly, offering a gourmet twist on traditional Christmas cookies.
6. Smashed Sugar Cookies
Bring a splash of color to your holiday table with these smashed sugar cookies! These buttery cookies are topped with vibrant, crushed hard candies or sprinkles, making them a visual delight. Kids can help smash the candies and press them into the dough, adding a fun, hands-on element.
Once baked, the candies melt into stained-glass-like designs that are as tasty as they are pretty. These cookies are simple, festive, and perfect for making with kids. Their cheerful appearance makes them ideal for cookie swaps or Christmas parties.
7. Chocolate Crinkles
Chocolate crinkles are a Christmas classic, with their rich cocoa flavor and eye-catching powdered sugar coating. The dough is chilled, rolled in powdered sugar, and baked until it crackles beautifully. The soft, brownie-like interior contrasts with the slightly crisp exterior, creating a treat that’s irresistible to chocolate lovers.
Kids can enjoy rolling the dough balls and dusting them in sugar. These cookies look like they’ve been dusted with snow, making them perfect for the holiday season. Their fudgy texture and deep chocolate taste make them a standout addition to any Christmas dessert spread.
8. Christmas Wreaths
These no-bake Christmas wreath cookies are as festive as they are fun! Made with marshmallows, green food coloring, and cornflakes, they’re shaped into little wreaths and decorated with red candy “berries.”
The sticky, marshmallow-coated cornflakes are easy to handle, so kids can shape and decorate their own mini wreaths. These cookies are a cheerful and colorful addition to any holiday table. They’re quick to make and perfect for when you need a last-minute festive treat. Serve them on a platter for an edible holiday centerpiece!
9. Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies are the quintessential Christmas treat, with their warm spices and sturdy texture perfect for decorating. Kids will love rolling out the dough and cutting out gingerbread men, houses, or stars.
Once baked, the cookies fill the air with a cozy aroma of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Decorate with icing, candies, or edible glitter for a fun and festive project. These cookies are a great way to bond as a family during the holiday season and are ideal for creating edible ornaments or gift boxes.
10. Fruitcake Cookies
Fruitcake cookies are a modern twist on the traditional holiday fruitcake. Packed with dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices, these cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with festive flavors. They’re perfect for kids who may not enjoy traditional fruitcakes but still want a taste of the season.
Add chopped cherries, raisins, and pecans for a colorful and textured treat. These cookies make a wonderful addition to holiday platters or as gifts. Their vibrant, jewel-like appearance and rich taste will bring a festive touch to any Christmas celebration.