Easy & Festive Holiday Cookies
Get ready to deck your trays with dozens of easy-to-make and beautifully festive cookies! Whether you’re prepping for a cookie exchange or holiday gift plate, this handpicked collection is both adorable and effortless.
Why These Cookie Recipes Stand Out
- No fuss, full charm: Many start with cake mix, minimal ingredients, or simple steps.
- Kid-approved: Lots of decorating fun and easy techniques make these great for family baking time. Simply Recipes+15Southern Living+15Mom On Timeout+15Southern Living
- Perfect for prep: Most freeze beautifully or can be made ahead—great for busy holiday baking. Southern LivingAllrecipes
- Timeless classics & modern twists: From sugar-cutouts to peppermint crinkles, there’s something for every taste.
Top Cookie Picks (With Quick Highlights)
| # | Cookie | Why It’s a Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowman Cookies | Cute, cake-mix based, and kid-decorated. |
| 2 | Easy Sugar Cookies | Holds shape, perfect for frosting and cutouts. |
| 3 | Peanut Butter Blossoms | Iconic cookie from 1957—soft peanut butter base topped with a chocolate kiss. Allrecipes+15en.wikipedia.org+15Dreamstime+15bhg.com+6Pinterest+6Southern Living+6 |
| 4 | Spritz Cookies | Butter-rich and shaped with festive cookie presses. |
| 5 | Coconut Almond Macaroons | Chewy, gluten-free-friendly, with chocolate drizzle. |
| 6 | Christmas Wreath Cookies | Beautiful green shapes that instantly brighten trays. |
| 7 | Maple Snickerdoodles | A cinnamon classic with maple sweetness twist. |
| 8 | Andes Mint Crinkles | Fudgy chocolate cookies with a refreshing minty kick. |
| 9 | Pan Banging Sugar Cookies | Chewy centers and crispy edges in festive sprinkles. |
| 10 | Brownie Snowflake Sugar Cookies | Chocolatey, crunchy, and snowflake-themed! |
This is just a sampling our full post features 30 delightful recipes from bakers across the web!
Pro Tips for Stress-Free Cookie Baking
- Freeze smart: Stack cookies with parchment between layers and freeze in airtight containers. Defrost in the fridge overnight before serving. Southern LivingAllrecipes
- Double—or triple—it: Southern Living highlights footprint-friendly recipes that scale—like Thumbprints, Kiss Cookies, and stocking sprinkles. Southern Living
- Involve little bakers: Recipes like cake-mix cookies and sprinkle-dusted treats are perfect for kids to help with and enjoy together. Southern Living+1
- Chill the dough: Achieve cookies that bake evenly with perfect texture by chilling dough before baking. lacucinaitaliana.com+5Simply Recipes+5Taste of Home+5.

Easy & Festive Holiday Cookies
A handpicked collection of easy-to-make and beautifully festive cookies, perfect for cookie exchanges and holiday gift trays.
Ingredients
Method
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil until well combined.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Baking
- Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into balls.
- Place on a lined baking sheet and flatten slightly.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
- Allow to cool before decorating with sprinkles or drizzling with chocolate.
Nutrition
Notes
For best results, freeze cookies with parchment paper between layers and defrost overnight in the fridge before serving. Involve little bakers in easy-to-decorate cookies for fun family baking time.





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