Almost everybody loves to eat cookies at Christmas but maybe also dread participating in the holiday baking. With all the advanced recipes you can find, one might feel discouraged, thinking that your baking skills aren’t up to the task of all these fanciful creations you can find. But making Christmas cookies doesn’t have to be that hard. There are quite a few easy Christmas cookie recipes that are just as delicious as the more complex ones.
Believe it or not, you’re ready to start baking Christmas cookies and probably already have many of the ingredients you need in your pantry. Flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are all likely already in your cupboard, so you’re well on your way to making some delicious holiday treats! All you need to do is find an excellent recipe for the holiday cookies you wish for and get baking!
But it is easy to overcomplicate things. So try some of these super simple recipes to make sure you don’t start this holiday season by tearing your hair out in frustration. Actually, there are some studies that verify that “Christmas spirit” is a very real thing!
Towards the end there are also some additional tips on how to succeed with some of the steps that may seem a bit tricky at first.
Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies
It’s a classic Christmas tradition – making and decorating sugar cookies! This beloved holiday treat is a favorite of families everywhere, as it’s a fun and tasty way to celebrate the season. Making Christmas sugar cookies is a great activity for families, allowing parents and children to come together to create something unique. From rolling out the dough to cutting out creative shapes to spruce up with colorful frosting, kids and adults alike can delight in the creativity and joy of creating their own cookies. Plus, it’s a great way to bond with each other while baking up some delicious treats!
To make traditional Christmas sugar cookies, you will need the following ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
To make the cookies, follow these steps:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190°C).
- Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy to make the cookie dough. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Chilling the dough before baking is unnecessary, but doing so can help prevent the cookies from spreading too much while in the oven. If you choose to chill the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out and baking the cookies. This will help the dough to retain its shape and produce cookies with a more defined shape.
- Roll the dough out onto a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes or until they are lightly golden around the edges. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cookies are cool, you can decorate them with frosting and sprinkles if desired. Enjoy your traditional Christmas sugar cookies!
A Basic Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
For me, the gingerbread cookie is probably the ultimate Christmas cookie! It’s a classic, sweet, and spicy treat that can be enjoyed year-round but is especially popular during the holiday season. Gingerbread cookies come in various shapes and sizes, and the dough can be spiced up with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Some people like to adorn their gingerbread cookies with colorful icing, while others prefer to keep them plain. No matter how you bake them, gingerbread cookies are sure to be a hit during your Christmas celebrations!
There are several different versions of how to make them; some involve boiling a mixture containing the spices, but here is an easy recipe for gingerbread cookies:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 large egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- Cream the butter and brown sugar until smooth in a large mixing bowl. Add the molasses and egg, and mix well.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are firm and the tops are slightly cracked. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dress up the cookies with icing or other toppings, if desired.
Additional tips for success:
Make sure to chill the dough before rolling and cutting it. This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much while baking.
Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out evenly, and use a sharp knife or cookie cutters to cut out the shapes. If the dough sticks to the rolling pin or the cutter, lightly dust them with flour.
Place the cookies on the baking sheet carefully, leaving enough space between them. This will prevent the cookies from spreading into each other while baking.
Bake the cookies until they are firm to the touch and lightly golden on the edges. Overbaking the cookies will make them hard and dry, so keeping an eye on them while in the oven is essential.
Let the cookies cool completely before icing or decorating them. This will help the icing set properly and prevent it from running off the cookies.
If you’re having trouble getting the icing to stick to the cookies, try using a small amount of water to dampen the surface before applying it. This will help it to adhere better.
Following these tips should make it easier to succeed in making gingerbread cookies.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut Butter Blossoms are classic cookies that are easy to make and only require a few ingredients. The cookies are soft and chewy with a Hershey’s Kiss in the center. All you need is sugar cookie dough, peanut butter, sugar, and Hershey’s Kisses to make these delicious treats.
Here’s a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
About 30 Hershey’s kisses or other chocolate candy
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix the peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until well combined. - Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined. The dough should be thick and slightly sticky.
- Roll the dough into balls about the size of a tablespoon and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure to leave enough space between the balls as they will spread while baking.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes or until they are lightly golden on the edges.
- While the cookies are still warm, press a chocolate candy into the center of each cookie. The candy should be slightly melted, and the cookie should crack around the edges.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before serving.
Five Beginner Tips for Decorating Christmas Cookies
The above recipes are easy for making delicious cookies, and you can absolutely stop here and enjoy them as they are. However, suppose you want to be a bit more festive. In that case, both gingerbread and sugar cookies are excellent platforms for some cookie decorating.
One way to quickly accomplish this task is to use store-bought icing and sprinkles (no one needs to know 😉). Place the store-bought version in a piping or plastic sandwich bag and snip off the end to create a small opening. Then, pipe the icing onto the cookies in whatever design you like.
You can also use sprinkles, candies, or other decorations to add color and pizzazz to your cookies. Alternatively, you could use a simple icing made from powdered sugar and water to create a more traditional look. Mix the powdered sugar with a small amount of water to create a thick, spreadable paste. Then, use a knife or spatula to spread out over the cookies in a smooth, even layer.
You can add food coloring to the icing to create different colors or leave it plain white for a more classic look. Whatever method you choose, the key is to keep it simple and have fun!
Regardless of how you go about it, here are a few tips to get good results:
- Start with a simple design or pattern, such as stripes or dots. This will help you get comfortable using icing and decorating tools before trying more complex designs.
- Use a small, thin-tipped bag or a plastic squeeze bottle to pipe the icing onto the cookies. This will give you more control over the shape and thickness.
- Use a toothpick or a sharp knife to help create more detailed designs or clean up any mistakes.
- Let the icing set completely before adding any additional details or colors. This will help prevent the colors from bleeding into each other and create a more polished, professional-looking finish.
- Experiment with different colors and textures to create unique and exciting designs. You can use food coloring to tint the icing or add sprinkles, sugar crystals, or other decorative toppings to give the cookies more visual appeal.
Keeping Them Fresh
Christmas cookies will typically stay fresh for several days to a week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Gingerbread will, generally speaking, hold up a lot longer than this (in fact, it is historically famous for that reason!) However, the exact shelf life of your cookies will depend on the specific recipe and ingredients used. For example, cookies made with butter and eggs will generally have a shorter shelf life than cookies made with shortening or oil.
Additionally, cookies that are heavily decorated with icing or sprinkles may not stay fresh for as long as plain cookies. To maximize the shelf life of your Christmas cookies, be sure to store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
You can also freeze your cookies to extend their shelf life. Place the cookies in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to several months. When ready to enjoy the cookies, simply thaw them at room temperature and enjoy!
I hope you have enjoyed these three different Christmas cookie recipes and that you find them simple and easy to use. I went with some of the most traditional once, as that is what I prefer, but if you are looking for a great but easy chocolate chip recipe, here is a great alternative. Try each of these recipes and make sure to have fun with them. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party or just for yourself, these cookies will surely impress.
Author bio:
Emily is an experienced writer who specializes in creating informative and entertaining how-to content. She has written for numerous publications on a variety of topics such as travel, lifestyle, arts and entertainment, food and drinks. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys exploring the outdoors and spending time with friends and family. She also loves hitting the dancefloor and trying out new recipes.