I love baking with my kids. And it’s even more fun during Christmas when we get to make all of our favorites! If making Christmas cookies is on your to-do list this December, here are some recipes to inspire your holiday baking.
From easy Christmas treats, to holiday favorites, to fun snacks for Christmas movies, you’ll find lots of Christmas baking ideas for everyone in your family to help out with and enjoy. I’ve also included a quick cookie guide to help you get started right away — and some helpful tips for baking with kids.
If the days are feeling chaotic and crazy as Christmas approaches, holiday baking is a great way to slow down and spend your time more intentionally. Remember, it’s less about running around and more about making holiday memories — even right at home. For me, there’s nothing better than being cozy at home with Christmas cookies and a holiday movie!
Quick Cookie Guide
Don’t feel like scrolling? I’ve got you. There’s always so much to think about and get done over the holidays, so let’s save some time and get to the baking!
The Best No-Bake Christmas Cookies: Peppermint Bark, Chocolate Christmas Tree Pretzel Sticks, and Spragels (cookie #2)
Easy Cookies to Make in Under 30 Minutes: Peanut Butter Blossoms, Chocolate Kiss Cookies, Chocolate Crackle Cookies, and Snickerdoodles
Cookies That are Worth the Chill Time: Gingerbread Cookies, Drop Style Sugar Cookies, and Pinwheel Cookies
A Sweet & Savory Snack: Potato Chip Clusters
My Family’s Personal Favorite: Spragels (cookie #2)
How to Make Baking Easier (and More Fun!) With Kids
If the idea of baking with kids sounds more fun than the reality of baking with kids, here are some tips that can help.
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Lower your expectations. If you have toddlers or younger kids, their attention span may not last through every step. The counters might get messy and the cookies might not be perfect — and that’s okay. At this age, it’s about learning, exploring, and trying their best. Even older kids can benefit from this mindset!
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Prep before they arrive. If your kids are little, measure ingredients and set everything out ahead of time. It shortens baking time and helps keep them engaged longer.
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Give each kid a job. One pours, one stirs, one rolls. This leads to fewer arguments in our house, and I don’t have to hover as much.
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Create a "baking station." Set up a designated spot where kids can work. It keeps the mess contained instead of spreading flour across your entire kitchen.
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Have a snack ready. Hungry kids make impatient bakers. A small snack beforehand keeps the hangry meltdowns at bay. Here are some easy snacks for kids.
Need more support? You can find even more baking tips here!
The Best Christmas Cookies
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Nothing beats this classic cookie! These holiday desserts are a perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate, plus they’re very simple to make. I also love the tip of freezing the Hershey’s Kisses before putting them on the cookies so they don’t melt.
Total time: 18 minutes
Spragels
This cookie recipe holds a special place in my heart. My grandma made them for my dad when he was growing up, and he passed the tradition on to me. Now they’re always one of the most requested Christmas cookies from my kids. And best of all, they are no-bake cookies!
Ingredients:
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12 oz chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate)
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12 oz butterscotch chips
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8 oz can of unsalted (or salted) peanuts
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12 oz chow mein Chinese noodles
Instructions:
Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet.
Melt the butterscotch and chocolate chips over a double boiler, stirring until smooth. In a separate bowl, mix together peanuts and noodles.
Pour the peanut and noodle mixture into the melted chips (work in batches if needed to make stirring easier), and mix until everything is completely coated.
Spoon out portions of the mixture onto your prepared silicone baking sheet, and refrigerate until the cookies have completely set.
Storage tip: Depending on your climate, these cookies can be stored at room temperature. Here in Texas during Christmas, we keep ours in the fridge!
Total time: 20 minutes
Baking tips: Use your favorite chocolate chips! My kids prefer dark chocolate, but my Dad likes to use milk chocolate. Same goes for your peanuts. We love salted peanuts, but they taste just as good with unsalted peanuts.
Gluten Free Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
Soft, chewy, and spiced just right! If you’re looking for gluten-free holiday desserts, check out this recipe by Danielle Walker. You can pop these Christmas cookies in a jar once they’ve cooled — or add whipped cream or vanilla buttercream to make a cookie sandwich.
Total time: 22 minutes
Snowballs
Snowball cookies, Russian tea cakes, and Mexican wedding cookies are all different names for the same classic, buttery, nutty treat… aka one of my favorite cookies growing up and they never disappoint. I love them as they aren’t overly sweet and the pecans give them the perfect crunch.
Total time: 23 minutes
Chocolate Kiss Cookies
I love these cookies because you can switch up the sprinkles to make them work for any holiday. Plus they’re very easy to make! Your kids will love helping with this cookie recipe, especially when it comes to rolling the cookie dough balls into the sprinkles and placing a Hershey’s kiss in the center.
Total time: 25 minutes
Lace Cookies
These thin, crispy cookies have a lovely lace design that will add an elegant touch to your plate of holiday desserts. Plus, they’re very versatile and easy to make! This recipe also includes suggestions to make them more festive, like adding crushed peppermint, orange zest, or cinnamon.
Total time: 28 minutes
Candy Cane Blossoms
Candy cane kisses are a fun holiday treat — especially when they’re added to Christmas cookies! The red and green sanding sugar makes these cookies extra festive, too. If you’re looking for Christmas baking ideas that are a little more unique, these are the cookies to make.
Total time: 30 minutes
Chocolate Crackle Cookies
These are such classic Christmas sweets! I love the contrast of a soft, fudgy inside and a crisp, crackly outside. There are also some great tips in this recipe, like rolling the cookie dough in granulated sugar first, then rolling it in powdered sugar to get that perfect snow-like finish.
Total time: 30 minutes
Snickerdoodles
An extra dip in cinnamon sugar makes these cookies extra delicious! This recipe includes lots of helpful tips, including how to make sure your snickerdoodles are thick, soft, and chewy. If you want to make them a little more festive for Christmas, you can always use green and red dusting sugar.
Total time: 30 minutes
Peppermint Snowball Cookies
Snowball cookies are so fun to make for the holidays! Traditionally this cookie is made with pecans, but this recipe includes peppermint, making them especially perfect for Christmas. All you have to do is mix a few simple ingredients, roll the dough into a ball, and bake. Once cool, roll them in powdered sugar and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
Total time: 40 minutes
Grinch Cookies
Here’s a slightly different addition to your holiday desserts. If your kids love watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas, you have to make these Grinch cookies! This recipe is a classic thumbprint cookie rolled in green sugar and topped with a green candy melt and red heart sprinkle.
Total time: 40 minutes
Chocolate Christmas Tree Pretzel Sticks
This sweet and savory snack is so cute and fun to make. It’s also a good recipe for kids to practice their piping skills — or tree decorating skills! When the treats are done, add them to your tray of Christmas goodies or use them as festive cupcake toppers.
Total time: 46 minutes
Peppermint Bark
These classic Christmas sweets are easy to make — all you need are three ingredients and a microwave! Kids will enjoy helping with the steps, too, like pouring the chocolate, crushing the peppermint candy, and snapping the bark into pieces. Make a big batch and gift it to family, neighbors, and friends.
Total time: 1 hour & 15 minutes (plus 1-2 hours of chill time)
Linzer Cookies
Soft, buttery, and filled with jam, Linzer cookies are a traditional sandwich cookie from Austria. While you can enjoy them any time of year, they’re usually thought of as holiday desserts. Plus they look so pretty on your plate of Christmas sweets!
Total time: 1 hour & 25 minutes (plus 3 hours of chill time)
Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies
I love sugar cookies for Christmas, but they can take some effort! So if you’re looking for similar (but easy) Christmas treats, try this recipe instead. Soft, chewy, and loaded with sprinkles, this recipe uses only eight ingredients and makes 20 cookies.
Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes (includes 2 hours of chill time)
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
These Christmas cookies look like they came from a party at the North Pole! There is a bit of prep work to create the pinwheel swirl, but they’re surprisingly easy overall to make. And they add such a fun, festive touch to your plate of holiday desserts.
Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes (includes 2 hours of chill time)
Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies for Christmas are a must! Sweetened with molasses and brown sugar, these cookies have a soft center and a crispy outside. Make sure to plan ahead as these cookies need three hours of chill time. Then roll out the dough and use your cookie cutters — or press them into a cookie mold.
Total time: 4 hours & 45 minutes (includes 3 hours of chill time)
Potato Chip Clusters
If you love sweet and savory snacks, try making these no-bake holiday treats. You only need three simple ingredients — white baking chocolate, ridged potato chips, and pecans. You can also add sprinkles to make them seasonally festive. Or check out the recipe for different variations!
Total time: 15 minutes
Brownie Treats
While these aren't technically cookies, they're such a hit with kids during our Christmas baking days that I had to include them!
Ingredients:
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Boxed brownie mix
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Cookie icing
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Christmas sprinkles
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Mini candy canes
Instructions:
Make brownie mix according to directions on the box mix. Or make your favorite batch of brownies from scratch. Let the brownies cool completely after baking.
Slice the brownies into triangles.
Pipe green cookie icing or frosting onto each brownie triangle to make them look like a tree. Add Christmas sprinkles to each one.
Break a small piece off of the mini candy cane and stick that into the bottom part of your triangle for the tree trunk.
Pipe red icing or frosting onto the middle of each brownie triangle. Pipe white icing at the top and bottom of the brownie triangle for the fur lining.
Decorating tips: You can decorate the brownies yourself or let your kids do it!
Baking Tools & Accessories
Here are some kitchen favorites that make baking Christmas cookies and other holiday desserts a breeze!
KitchenAid Stand Mixer: This kitchen tool isn’t required, but it does make baking cookies a lot easier. I highly recommend it if you do a lot of baking throughout the year and want quicker, more consistent results.
Hand Mixer: While many of these Christmas sweets call for a stand mixer, you can easily use a hand mixer instead.
Silicone Baking Mats: These reusable mats mean you don’t need to use any oil, cooking sprays, or parchment paper on your baking sheets. Plus they’re dishwasher-safe!
Half Sheet Baking Pan: I love Nordic Ware! This pan is built to last and designed to prevent warping. Plus you can use it for more than just cookies.
Cooling Rack: These cooling racks allow your cookies to stop baking so they’re more evenly cooked. You can also use them over baking and roasting sheets directly in the oven.
Glass Measuring Cup: This measuring cup is dishwasher, freezer, microwave, and preheated oven safe. It also comes in handy for melting butter, mixing pancake batter, and more.
Measuring Cups: This stainless steel set is built to last with strong handles that don’t easily bend or break. Plus, it has a flat design that prevents spills.
Measuring Spoons: I love the look of these spoons! Plus they are conveniently double-headed — with a rounded side for liquids and an oval side for dry ingredients and narrow jars.
Shop the Christmas baking supplies
Food Scale: This food scale makes it easy to measure ingredients more accurately, which is very important when baking. There’s also a handy pull-out screen for when you’re using an oversized bowl.
Mixing Bowls: This set includes five mixing bowls for a very affordable price. Plus it comes with lids and grater attachments.
Cookie Cutters: We love using cookie cutters to make Christmas sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and more.
Cookie Scoop: This kitchen tool makes it so much easier to scoop and portion out the right size of cookie dough. You can also use it to fill muffin liners, shape meatballs, and more.
Icing or Piping Bags: These come in handy if you are icing cookies or cakes. You can also use it to melt candy in the microwave and fill candy molds.
Whisk: OXO is a high quality brand, and this whisk is well-made and comfy to hold.
Spatula: These silicone spatulas are sturdy, flexible, and safe for pans. Use them to stir, scrape, and fold!
Christmas Cookie Baking Q&A
Can I make Christmas cookies ahead of time?
Yes! Many of these cookies freeze well. Dough for sugar cookies, gingerbread, and snickerdoodles can be made ahead and frozen. No-bake cookies like spragels and bark are perfect for last-minute baking days.
Can I make these cookies nut-free for school/allergies?
Absolutely! Skip the Peanut Butter Blossoms and Spragels, or substitute sunflower seed butter. Most other recipes are naturally nut-free. I also include a recipe for a gluten-free gingerbread cookie, which my family loves!
What if I don't have a stand mixer?
A hand mixer works great for all of these recipes! You might just need an extra minute or two of mixing time. It's a great opportunity to put your kids to work!
Which cookies are the easiest for kids to help with?
For younger kids, choose recipes with fewer steps and a shorter prep time. You can also make it even simpler by measuring ingredients or making the cookie dough ahead of time. Remember, it’s ok if you only make one kind of cookie!
How should I store Christmas cookies?
Most baked cookies keep well in airtight containers for 3–5 days at room temperature. No-bake cookies and chocolate-heavy cookies are best stored in the fridge, especially in warmer climates.
Which cookies are best for gifting?
Cookies like peppermint bark, spragels, snowballs, and potato chip clusters package well and hold up nicely for gifting.
More Christmas Fun
I’ve loved sharing my family’s Christmas traditions with you this past month. If you have your own holiday traditions, activities, and ideas to share, please comment below!
For more ideas, check out these posts:
When the holidays are over, the tree is taken down, and your decorations are put away, make sure to check out my post for getting organized in the new year. It’s packed with tons of great tips! But for now, enjoy all the holiday fun while it’s here. Merry Christmas!
