25 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

Christmas is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen and whip up some delicious treats. If you’re looking for some easy Christmas cookie recipes, look no further! We’ve rounded up 25 of the best recipes from Eat This Not That that are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. From classic sugar cookies to festive gingerbread, these recipes are sure to make your holiday season a little sweeter. So grab your apron and get baking!

25 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes

Christmas is the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen and whip up some delicious treats. Whether you’re looking for something to share with family and friends or just want to indulge in a little holiday baking, these 25 easy Christmas cookie recipes are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. From classic sugar cookies to festive gingerbread, these recipes are sure to become holiday favorites.

1. Classic Sugar Cookies

These classic sugar cookies are a must-have for any holiday gathering. They’re easy to make and can be decorated with festive icing and sprinkles. Get the recipe here.

2. Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

3. Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a must-have for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be decorated with festive icing and sprinkles. Get the recipe here.

4. Peanut Butter Cookies

These classic peanut butter cookies are a must-have for any holiday gathering. They’re easy to make and can be decorated with festive icing and sprinkles. Get the recipe here.

5. Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

6. Snickerdoodles

Snickerdoodles are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

7. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal raisin cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

8. Molasses Cookies

Molasses cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

9. Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

10. Macaroons

Macaroons are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

11. Spritz Cookies

Spritz cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

12. Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

13. Russian Tea Cakes

Russian tea cakes are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

14. Biscotti

Biscotti are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

15. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate crinkle cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

16. Coconut Macaroons

Coconut macaroons are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

17. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut butter blossoms are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

18. White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

White chocolate cranberry cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

19. Almond Cookies

Almond cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

20. Lemon Snowball Cookies

Lemon snowball cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

21. Mexican Wedding Cookies

Mexican wedding cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

22. Pecan Sandies

Pecan sandies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

23. Chocolate Crinkles

Chocolate crinkles are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

24. Jam Thumbprints

Jam thumbprints are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

25. Chocolate Mint Cookies

Chocolate mint cookies are a classic favorite and perfect for the holidays. This recipe is easy to make and can be customized with different types of chips and nuts. Get the recipe here.

The holidays, while always filled with fun and quality family time, also come with unwanted stressors. Decorating, buying gifts, preparing meals, cleaning the house, and hostessing are time-consuming and hectic. So in the spirit of maximizing the true meaning of the holidays and minimizing stress, we’ve rounded up 25 easy Christmas cookie recipes with six ingredients or less to make your to-do list just a little bit shorter. Plus, check out 16 Copycat Cookie Recipes That Are Surprisingly Healthy.

keto peanut butter cookies
Beth Lipton / Eat This, Not That!

Peanut butter is the perfect base for an easy cookie. This gluten-free and refined sugar-free recipe only includes four ingredients…and they’re likely already in your kitchen.

Get our recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies.

RELATED: Sign up for our newsletter for more healthy eating tips and everyday recipes.

Lace cookies piled in a stack
Courtesy of Sally’s Baking Addiction

These caramel chocolate delights only have six simple ingredients, and they look elegant on any dish. They’re ready in 30 minutes, making them perfect for a last-minute cookie swap.

Get the recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Lemon cake cookies on a white plate
Courtesy of Gimme Some Oven

Lemon isn’t just reserved for warmer months, and these melt-in-your-mouth crinkle cookies prove it. The secret ingredient? Cake mix.

Get the recipe from Gimme Some Oven.

RELATED: We Tasted 6 Packaged Chocolate Chip Cookies & This Is the Best!

Shortbread cookies with holiday sprinkles on a red table
Courtesy of Five Heart Home

Festive shortbread cookies belong in every Christmas cookie bundle. This recipe is foolproof, and includes the option to add fun sprinkles.

Get the recipe from Five Heart Home.

Coconut snowball cookies piled on top of each other
Courtesy of Big Man’s World

The best things in life are made with coconut, including these snowball cookies that also check plenty of boxes for your friends and family with dietary restrictions.

Get the recipe from Big Man’s World.

RELATED: 17 Best Christmas Brunch Recipes

keto shortbread cookies on cooling rack
Beth Lipton/Eat This, Not That!

What would a cookie spread be without buttery shortbread cookies? These take the cake (er, cookie), and are so simple, they’ll be ready in no time.

Get our recipe for Buttery Shortbread Cookies.

No bake peanut butter pretzel cookies with chocolate dipped pretzels
Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest

Peanut butter and pretzels are a match made in heaven. These easy cookies use five basic ingredients, but you can add cinnamon and chocolate chips for a delicious upgrade.

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

Nutella cookies with sea salt stacked on top of each other
Courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

You had me at Nutella. The chocolate hazelnut spread makes the cookies taste more complicated than they are; this recipe comes together in just 20 minutes!

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

RELATED: 24 Best Vintage Christmas Dinner Recipes

Vegan peanut butter chocolate chip cookies piled on top of each other
Courtesy of My Darling Vegan

This recipe uses banana and peanut butter as the base, which act as the binding ingredient. Add some oats and chocolate chips and pop ’em in your mouth, no baking necessary.

Get the recipe from My Darling Vegan.

Chocolate cookies with a peppermint kiss on parchment paper
Courtesy of Your Cup of Cake

If you’re short on time or in search of a Christmas cookie recipe that the kids can make almost by themselves, look no further than these chocolate and mint Hershey kiss cookies.

Get the recipe from Your Cup of Cake.

RELATED: Easy, healthy, 350-calorie recipe ideas you can make at home.

Shortbread cookies in a mug with a dark background
Courtesy of Mommy’s Home Cooking

You won’t miss the egg in these melt-in-your-mouth vanilla cookies. They’re the perfect sugar cookie to add to your holiday cookie tin, and they take less than 30 minutes to make.

Get the recipe from Mommy’s Home Cooking.

3 ingredient shortbread cookies tied up together on a wooden table
Courtesy of Bigger Bolder Baking

Butter, flour, and sugar: name a more iconic trio. These simple ingredients come together for the perfect chewy shortbread cookie.

Get the recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking.

Brownie cookie with a bite in it on a dark plate
Courtesy of Sweet Phi

These brownie cookies will satisfy even the pickiest dessert eater. Made with only five ingredients, you can whip them up on a whim using basic pantry staples.

Get the recipe from Sweet Phi.

Splitting a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie on a white table
Courtesy of Gimme Some Oven

If you can never get enough peanut butter, these are for you. Rolled in sugar and then baked, these treats are perfect served warm and gooey.

Get the recipe from Gimme Some Oven.

RELATED: We Tasted 6 Packaged Chocolate Chip Cookies & This Is the Best!

Toasted pecan cookies on a baking sheet with powdered sugar
Courtesy of Sweet Phi

What’s Christmas without snowball cookies? Chopped pecans are the main ingredient in these, but you can easily substitute them with walnuts or almonds.

Get the recipe from Sweet Phi.

Chocolate dipped peanut butter cookies with nuts on a dark counter
Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest

In place of refined sugar, this peanut butter cookie recipe uses dates to naturally sweeten. And add some melted chocolate, and you definitely won’t be missing it.

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

RELATED: We Tried 5 Milk Chocolate Bars & This Is the Best One

Puppy chow ritz cracker cookies on a bed of powdered sugar
Courtesy of Half Baked Harvest

Ritz crackers can be the perfect vessel for dessert if you like that sweet and salty combination. Combine them with peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar for an addictive treat that tastes just like the traditional Chex muddy buddies.

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.

Nutella cookies on a cooling rack with jar of Nutella
Courtesy of Bigger Bolder Baking

Pair these chocolate hazelnut cookies with a piping hot cup of coffee, and you may just run out of cookies to give to Santa.

Get the recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking.

Cornucopia cookies with small candies on a shortbread cookie
Courtesy of Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Just because it’s not Thanksgiving season anymore doesn’t mean we can’t try our hand at these adorable cornucopia cookies. Plus, you can swap in the candy bits for red and green chocolate candies for a more festive flair. Even better, there’s no real baking required. They’re perfect for kids.

Get the recipe from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

Banana bread oat cookie on a counter with chocolate drizzle
Courtesy of Big Man’s World

Banana bread in cookie form? Say no more. These gluten-free treats can be upgraded with a chocolate drizzle, too.

Get the recipe from Big Man’s World.

RELATED: 15 Best Healthy Banana Bread Recipes

Peanut butter cookies stacked up on a cooling rack with a pink napkin
Courtesy of Bigger Bolder Baking

Peanut butter, sugar, and an egg is all you need to make these yummy cookies. Next time you’re craving peanut butter, whip up a batch instead of just eating the PB out of the jar. Your sweet tooth will thank you.

Get the recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking.

Toasted marshmallows on chocolate cookies sitting on a cooling rack
Courtesy of Your Cup of Cake

These surprisingly easy hot cocoa cookies will wow your guests (especially if you tell them you flambéed the marshmallow).

Get the recipe from Your Cup of Cake.

Courtesy of Big Man’s World

According to the recipe, these cookies taste like homemade Ferrero Rocher truffles. Even if they’re half as good, we’re sold.

Get the recipe from Big Man’s World.

Holding three no bake peanut butter thumbprint cookies
Courtesy of Minimalist Baker

Peanut butter has been the star of many easy cookie recipes, but this one takes the cake because it requires no baking. They’re perfect for last-minute holiday party prep.

Get the recipe from Minimalist Baker.

RELATED: The Best & Worst Peanut Butters—Ranked!

Someone holding a stack of tuxedo chocolate chip cookies
Courtesy of Sweet Phi

A box of yellow cake mix to the rescue! These tuxedo cookies are made with dark and white chocolate chips.

Get the recipe from Sweet Phi.

Get more holiday inspiration:

20 Best-Ever Christmas Eve Side Dishes

19 Best Non-Traditional Christmas Dinner Recipes

Our 50 Best Christmas Recipes