37 Quick And Easy Holiday Cookie Recipes
Holiday chocolate brownie cookies. (Photo, Erik Putz)
There's still plenty of time to bake if you choose the right recipes. Here are easy holiday cookies that don't take a lot of time—but will easily impress family and friends. (Or, pick from 200+ holiday cookie recipes right here.)
Holiday Brownie Cookies
Fudgy on the inside, crisp on the outside, and dipped into (yes more) chocolate, these cookies are holiday perfection. Get our holiday brownie cookie recipe.
No Roll Sugar Cookies
No more cookie cutters, finicky doughs or long chill times: These sugar cookies require hardly any effort, but you wouldn’t know by looking at them! Get our no-roll sugar cookies recipe.
Pistachio Thumbprints
These buttery shortbread-like bites from 2005 are the ideal make-ahead cookie, and they travel beautifully. Prepare and bake the dough, then fill with colourful jam or lemon curd just before serving. Get our pistachio thumbprints recipe.
Scottish Shortbread for Christmas
This classic buttery cookie recipe was published in the magazine’s first-ever Christmas issue in 1928. We’ve dialled down the flour and added more citrus peel for a lightly sweet and crisp treat. Butter and candied orange are the two key flavours in this recipe; try to find the best quality of both. Get our Scottish shortbread for Christmas recipe.
Honey Peanut Balls
The original 1957 version of these make-ahead bonbons were billed as a convenience treat. Sprinkling a bit of childhood-favourite sugary cereal overtop adds a bit of crunch, colour and fun. Get our honey peanut balls recipe.
Snowball Cookies
15 minutes of prep, plus 8 minutes in the oven and you have these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. Pop some chocolate in the middle for extra decadence! Get our snowball cookies recipe.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
This easy recipe is a last-minute saviour. It lets you deliver chewy, chocolatey treats without having to bake sheet after sheet of cookies. Get our chocolate chip cookie bars recipe.
Easy Sugar Cookies
Choose your cookie cutters, and get baking! This classic recipe is easy to make, and perfect for decorating with royal icing. Get our classic easy sugar cookie recipe.
Eggnog Snickerdoodle
Try this classic sweet and spicy cookies with a festive, eggnog twist! Get our eggnog snickerdoodle recipe.
Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
"One of my best memories growing up was making holiday cookies with my family—now I get to pass that tradition to my own kids. These soft and fudgy vegan chocolate crinkle cookies are a classic holiday cookie that’s perfect for any party or cookie exchange. They’re sure to please even the pickiest cookie or chocolate lover." —Courtney Van Horne, owner, Charlottetown (now closed, sadly). Get Whisk and Sugar's Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe.
Ginger Crackle Cookies
Chewy in the middle, with a sugar-crusted crackle on the outside, these cookie are made to go with a tall glass of milk. Get our ginger crackle cookies recipe.
Classic Shortbread Cookies
Buttery and crisp, these cookies will never go out of style. Get our classic shortbread cookies recipe.
Almond Crescent Cookies
Make them in crescents or in balls—either way these tender-crisp almond cookies will be a hit. Get our almond crescent cookies recipe.
Candy Cane Icebox Cookie
Bought too many candy canes? We love using them in everything from cookies to fudge, biscotti and hot chocolate. Get our candy cane icebox cookie recipe.
Haystack Cookies
This recipe uses crunchy chow mein noodles, creamy peanut butter and butterscotch chips for easy, no-bake haystack cookies the whole family will love. Get our haystack cookies recipe.
Sugar-Crusted Chocolate Slice Cookies
A simple and elegant way to dress up your cookies when you’re short on time. Just roll your dough over coarse sugar before slicing your cookies to bake. Get our sugar-crusted chocolate slice cookie recipe.
Wicked Chocolate Icebox Sugar Cookies
You can’t go wrong with a little more chocolate at this time of year—especially when it gets a kick from cayenne and cinnamon. Get our wicked chocolate icebox sugar cookies recipe.
Chocolate Orange Icebox Sugar Cookies
One of the season’s best flavour combinations. Get our chocolate orange icebox sugar cookie recipe.
Cinnamon-Sugar Shortbread Balls
Dress up a classic with a simple blend of sugar and spice. Get our cinnamon-sugar shortbread balls recipe.
Coffee Dulce De leche Icebox Cookie
Save some extras for yourself… these caramel cookies are known to fly off the dessert table. Get our coffee dulce de leche icebox cookie recipe.
Nutella Kiss Thumbprint Icebox Cookie
These easy vanilla cookies get a dollop of everyone’s favourite hazelnut spread in the middle for a deliciously easy finish. Get our Nutella kiss thumbprint icebox cookie recipe.
Vanilla Icebox Sugar Cookies
Decorate them, eat them plain—they’re a classic either way. Get our vanilla icebox sugar cookie recipe.
Birthday Cake Icebox Cookies
These sprinkle-filled cookies aren’t just for the holidays—they can help you celebrate any day of the year. Get our birthday cake icebox cookie recipe.
Pistachio-Lemon Rugelach
Roll flaky storebought pastry around a quick-mix pistachio-sugar-lemon filling for these easy, irresistible rugelach. Get our pistachio-lemon rugelach recipe.
Mint Chocolate Chip Icebox Sugar Cookie
This standout ice cream flavour works even better in cookie form. Get our mint chocolate chip icebox sugar cookie recipe.
Chai Gingerbread Cookies
A standard holiday recipe you can make easily—with a little twist. Get our chai gingerbread cookie recipe.
Pistachio And Cranberry Icebox Cookies
If you like your cookies a little nutty, these are the ones for you. Plus, the chewy red cranberries and green pistachios make them extra-festive. Get our pistachio and cranberry icebox cookie recipe.
Crisp Icebox Cookies
This icebox cookie recipe is infinitely customizable—below you'll find six variations on the classic recipe, including smoky almond, candied orange and chocolate. Get our crisp icebox cookie recipe.
Citrus Punch Icebox Sugar Cookies
Give your sugar cookies a little zesty twist with in-season citrus. It’s a refreshing and sweet treat. Get our citrus punch icebox cookie recipe.
French Butter Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread cookies are one of the easiest holiday cookies! From this version to all our other shortbread recipes, there’s one you can make this weekend. Get our French butter cookie recipe.
Almond Cherry Fruitcake Cookie
These cookies make the most of those colourful glacé cherries and the dried fruits we love during the holiday season. Get our almond cherry fruitcake cookie recipe.
PB&J Thumbprint Cookies
Who can resist PB&J? Get our peanut butter and jam thumprint cookie recipe.
Cranberry Fruitcake Cookie
No time to make fruitcake this year? In a nod to the season’s most divisive dessert, here’s a cookie version to try. Get our cranberry fruitcake cookie recipe.
Black-Sesame Cookies
These easy cookies have a nutty, rich flavour and a distinctive look that pops on any platter. Get our black-sesame cookie recipe.
Caramel And Chocolate-Filled Shortbread Cookies
The cookie with a surprise inside (it’s a Caramilk square!). Get our caramel and chocolate-filled shortbread cookie recipe.
Black Forest Icebox Cookies
Put that jar of maraschino cherries to good use. Get our Black Forest icebox cookies recipe.
Pecan Fruitcake Cookies
This recipe captures all the layered tastes of a classic fruitcake—in a fraction of the time. Get our pecan fruitcake cookies recipe.
Buttery Hazelnut Lace Cookies
These wafer-thin and crispy hazelnut lace cookies are brightened by a burst of citrus zest. Get our buttery hazelnut lace cookies recipe.
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