Sometimes our schedules dictate what treats we’re baking.
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Christmas means cookies.
But we don’t always have the time to make batches upon batches of complicated sugar masterpieces.
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That’s where these delicious yet easy holiday cookie recipes come inthey give you Christmas cheer with little effort.
(And we are all for it).
Check out these easyChristmas cookiesyou’ll be making all season long.
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Plus, gooey marshmallows and a dusting of cocoa on top make them perfectly party-worthy.
Drizzled with white chocolate, these spiced, buttery cookies are perfect for the cookie swap!
The recipe makes 52 cookies, so you’ll have plenty to share.
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Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Slip a few of these into the cookie tins for chocolate lovers.
Thumbprint Cookies
Buttery crumbly, and ultra-festive, these jammed topped cookies are perfect for Santa.
Brown Butter Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles highlight the spice of the season: cinnamon.
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You won’t be able to resist a taste after smelling these cinnamon-sugar cookies baking.
The trick to making these cookies is browning the butter.
It can be our little secret.
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Pops of white chocolate make this cake-inspired cookie one of our all-time favorites.
And in a sea of sugar cookies and thumbprints, these cookies will stand out.
Customize the look with your favorite holiday sprinkles.
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Give this family recipe a try, and it just might become part of your holiday traditions too.
Store-bought chocolate wafers make this dessert look fancy, even though the recipe does not require any baking.
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
These cookies are a Christmas classic with gooey white chocolate and dried cranberries.
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Test Kitchen Tip: Use white chocolate chunks instead of chips; chunks hold their shape better when baked.
These peanut butter and chocolate cookies are a dynamic duo made with pantry staples.
Plus, one recipe makes three dozen.
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With only seven ingredients, you’ve got the option to make a cheerful recipe at any time.
Substitute the red hot candy for any “ornaments” you prefer.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Molly Bolton
Always a hit, no matter the season.
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These brown butter cookies are hard to resist.
Browning the butter before combining ingredients makes the difference in this chewy, gooey cookie.
This recipe makes four dozen, so you’ll have plenty to share.
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Easy Spritz Cookies
You have to break the baking rules to get a proper spritz cookie.
Use an ungreased baking sheet, and do not use parchment paper.
The dough must stick to the baking sheet when extruded from the cookie press.
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Plan enough time to allow the cookie dough to chill for an hour before baking.
Refrigerating after adding the filling will firm up the cookies.
Make the dough the night before and allow enough time to chillat least two hours.
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Switch up the recipe using dried cherries instead of cranberries or lemon zest instead of orange.
Grandma’s Chocolate Drop Cookies
These cake-like cookies are a chocolate lover’s dream.
To drop the cookies evenly, try using a tablespoon or cookie scoop.
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Feel free to substitute your favorite chocolate chips into this recipe.
It’s thedecorator’s choice.
We suggest dipping them in sanding sugar for a time-saver.
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Vary the snowflake sizes for an exciting presentation.
You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry.
Toast some extra pecans to have on hand for all your holiday baking.
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Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living
Four ingredients?
We’ll be baking these simple treats for every cookie swap this season.
Chocolate, toasted pecans, and vanilla extract make theseflourless cookiesirresistibly sweet.
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Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before moving them.
Other than that, you’ll get these ready to bake in 15 minutes.
Reindeer Cookies
These no-bake cookies are cute-as-can-be and a breeze to assemble.
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Store-bought peanut butter cookies form the base for this reindeer-inspired treat, topped with your favorite candies.
Make your own frosting or buy some pre-made.
Almond Snowballs
The secret to the perfect nutty flavor of these cookies is toasting the almonds.
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Just remember to completely cool the cookies before adding the glaze.
Chill the dough for an hour or overnight, whichever is more convenient.
Molasses Crinkles
This old-fashioned favorite is easy peasy: mix, chill, and bake.
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The recipe uses brown sugar instead of white to enhance the deep flavor of the molasses.
These crinkles also feature the classic holiday spices of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
And if you don’t want to use cranberries or almonds, substitute any dried fruit or chopped nuts.
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Cranberry Noel Cookies
These sweet little shortbread cookies pair tart cranberries with nutty pecans.
The buttery dough gets rolled into logs and then sliced for baking.
Coconut-lovers can coat the logs in shredded coconut for an extra touch of sweetness.
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Bourbon Balls
Delight bourbon lovers at your holiday party with the simplest recipe around.
Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll in powdered sugar.
These treats take 15 minutes to make and feature just four ingredients.
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If you have some extra time, get creative by adding butterscotch chips or a drizzle of melted chocolate.
Make the cookie dough and chill for up to eight hours before baking.
Keep extra sprinkles on hand for any necessary touch-ups.
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