The holidays are a time for joy, family, and of course, delicious treats. But you don’t need to be a professional baker to create impressive and festive sweets. Our guide to easy holiday cookie recipes is designed for everyone, from complete beginners to seasoned home cooks looking for quick and delightful options. These three foolproof recipes will fill your home with the warm, comforting aroma of holiday baking without any of the stress.
We are focusing on recipes that use simple ingredients and straightforward instructions to guarantee success. Whether you’re baking for a party, a cookie exchange, or just a cozy night in, these easy holiday cookie recipes are sure to become new family favorites.
Why These Are the Easiest Holiday Cookie Recipes
We’ve handpicked these specific recipes because they check all the boxes for holiday baking success. They are simple, delicious, and incredibly festive, making them the perfect trio for your baking adventures.
Minimal, Everyday Ingredients
There are no hard-to-find ingredients here. Each recipe relies on pantry staples like flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, which you likely already have on hand. This means less time shopping and more time baking.
Straightforward Instructions
From mixing the dough to the final decoration, the steps are clear, concise, and easy to follow. We’ve eliminated complicated techniques to ensure a smooth and enjoyable baking process from start to finish. For another wonderfully simple treat, try these festive snowman Oreo balls.
Perfect for All Skill Levels
These recipes are fantastic for getting the whole family involved, especially kids. The simple steps make them an ideal introduction to baking, allowing everyone to share in the fun of creating something special.
Our Top 3 Easy Holiday Cookie Recipes
To give you the best variety, we’ve included three different types of cookies: a rich and fudgy drop cookie, a classic cutout cookie perfect for decorating, and a fun no-bake treat that requires no oven time at all!
Recipe 1: Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These cookies are a holiday classic for a reason. They have a rich, brownie-like texture on the inside and a beautiful, crackled powdered sugar coating on the outside. They look stunning on any cookie platter and are deceptively simple to make.
Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup powdered sugar, for rolling
Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and vegetable oil until combined.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
Cover the bowl and chill the dough for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl. Scoop the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and roll them generously in the powdered sugar to coat completely.
Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are soft. The cookies will crackle as they bake.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
If you love crinkle cookies, you should also check out these amazing gingerbread crinkle cookies for another holiday flavor.
Recipe 2: Classic No-Fail Sugar Cookies
A true holiday essential, these sugar cookies hold their shape perfectly, making them the ideal canvas for all your decorating dreams. This recipe is buttery, flavorful, and incredibly reliable.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but recommended)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg and the vanilla and almond extracts until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined.
Divide the dough in half, wrap each half in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out shapes with your favorite cookie cutters.
Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
Let cool completely before decorating with your favorite icing and sprinkles. For another take on this classic, see our favorite Christmas sugar cookie recipe.
The beautiful crinkle effect on these chocolate cookies is surprisingly easy to achieve!
Recipe 3: No-Bake Snowman Oreo Balls
Need a festive treat in a hurry? These adorable Snowman Oreo Balls are the perfect no-bake solution. They are rich, creamy, and a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults.
Ingredients
36 Oreo cookies
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
16 ounces white chocolate melting wafers or almond bark
Mini chocolate chips, for the eyes and buttons
Orange sprinkles or icing, for the nose
Instructions
Place the Oreo cookies in a food processor and pulse until they form fine crumbs.
In a large bowl, combine the Oreo crumbs and the softened cream cheese. Mix until well combined.
Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for about 15 minutes to firm up.
Melt the white chocolate wafers according to the package directions.
Dip each Oreo ball into the melted white chocolate, ensuring it’s fully coated. Let any excess chocolate drip off.
Return the coated balls to the baking sheet. Before the chocolate sets, decorate with mini chocolate chips for the eyes and buttons and an orange sprinkle for the nose.
Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Tips for Perfect Holiday Cookies Every Time
Follow these simple tips to ensure your easy holiday cookie recipes turn out perfectly.
Don’t Overmix the Dough
When you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix only until they are just combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies.
Chill Your Dough
For cutout cookies like our sugar cookies, chilling the dough is essential. It prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring they hold their shape beautifully.
Our no-fail sugar cookie recipe is the perfect canvas for your creative decorations.
Use a Cookie Scoop
For drop cookies like the chocolate crinkles, a cookie scoop ensures that all your cookies are uniform in size. This helps them bake evenly and look professional.
How to Store Holiday Cookies
To keep your cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Soft cookies and crisp cookies should be stored in separate containers to maintain their respective textures. Most cookies will stay fresh for up to a week. For longer storage, you can freeze the baked cookies or the dough for up to 3 months.
To keep your cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. It’s best to store crisp and soft cookies separately to maintain their textures. Most cookies will stay fresh for up to one week.
Absolutely! Most cookie doughs, especially for sugar cookies and crinkle cookies, can be made ahead of time. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
The best cookies for an exchange are sturdy ones that travel well and have a good shelf life. All three recipes in this article—Fudgy Chocolate Crinkles, Classic Sugar Cookies, and Snowman Oreo Balls—are excellent choices as they are delicious and hold up well.
The most important step is to chill the dough thoroughly for at least one hour before rolling and cutting. Also, make sure your butter isn’t too soft when you start. Placing the cut-out cookies on a cool baking sheet also helps them maintain their shape.
The No-Bake Snowman Oreo Balls are fantastic for kids. There’s no oven involved, and they can have fun rolling the balls and decorating the snowmen. Decorating the sugar cookies is also a classic and fun activity for children.
Enjoy Your Holiday Baking!
We hope these easy holiday cookie recipes bring a little extra sweetness and fun to your festive season. They prove that you don’t need complicated steps to create delicious, memorable treats. Happy baking, and don’t forget to share your beautiful creations with us on Pinterest!
Get into the holiday spirit with these three foolproof and festive cookie recipes!
These Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are a holiday classic! With a rich, brownie-like center and a crackled powdered sugar coating, they are as delicious as they are beautiful.
In a large bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and vegetable oil until combined.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
Cover the bowl and chill the dough for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl. Scoop the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and roll them generously in the powdered sugar to coat completely.
Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are soft. The cookies will crackle as they bake.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Calories: 95kcalProtein: 1gFat: 4gFiber: 1g
Notes
Chilling the dough is a crucial step for this recipe; do not skip it, as it prevents the cookies from spreading too much and helps create the signature crinkle effect. For an extra festive touch, you can add a pinch of cinnamon or a drop of peppermint extract to the dough.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
