Bring the magic of the holidays to your kitchen this year with our easy Christmas cookie recipes. These sweet treats take no more than 30 minutes of active time, making them perfect for hosting or a simple addition to your baking lineup. Recipes like our Ginger Molasses Cookies and our Oatmeal-Coconut Cookies with Cranberries & White Chocolate are sure to bring the spirit of the holiday season.
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Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookies
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
These cookies get a boost of protein from eggs, peanut butter and spelt flour—a type of wheat flour that’s higher in protein and fiber than all-purpose flour and a little less dense than classic whole-wheat flour. With cocoa powder and chocolate chips too, these cookies deliver the perfect balance of nuttiness and chocolate with a little extra boost of protein.
Lemon Drop Cookies
These soft lemon drop cookies feature both sweet and tangy flavors thanks to plenty of fresh lemon juice and a powdered sugar glaze. These easy cookies are perfect with tea and coffee and will make a great addition to your holiday cookie platter.
Spiced Pumpkin Cookies
The deep flavors of molasses, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg make these wholesome pumpkin cookies delicious without the addition of butter—and they lend themselves beautifully to the inclusion of whole-wheat flour. They are also the perfect texture for a sandwich cookie—fill them with a slightly sweetened cream cheese frosting.
Cashew-Cardamom Shortbread
Pooja Makhijani
These cardamom-spiced shortbread cookies were inspired by the Indian sweet kaju katli.
Ginger Molasses Cookies
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless
The spelt flour in these ginger molasses cookies offers a chewy texture and a nutty flavor that shines with the ginger in this easy holiday cookie recipe.
Cranberry-Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
Brittany Conerly
These chewy oatmeal cookies are packed with cranberries and coconut flakes. Make a batch for your next holiday party or get-together.
Flourless Chocolate Cookies
These flourless cookies get their volume from whipped egg whites (like a meringue) instead of grains, making them gluten-free and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A chocolate chip in each bite adds to the rich chocolate flavor.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Kids and adults alike will love this easy peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe, which—unlike most cookie recipes—doesn’t call for flour. These gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy and, with only five simple ingredients, they can easily be whipped up by young chefs and enjoyed as an after-school treat. They’re also perfect for a holiday party or for a cookie swap.
Vegan Meringue Cookies
Magical aquafaba—the liquid from canned chickpeas that often gets poured down the drain—mimics egg whites in these airy vegan meringue cookies. The other magical thing? These cookies require just three ingredients! Save the chickpeas themselves for hummus, stew or any one of our other recipes that call for canned chickpeas.
Oatmeal-Coconut Cookies with Cranberries & White Chocolate
Our classic oatmeal cookie recipe gets a flavor twist with coconut, white chocolate chips (which have a more delicate flavor than milk or dark chocolate) and tart dried cranberries. The result is a chewy, sweet treat that’s sure to leave you coming back for more.
Ginger & Spice Crackles
These soft and moist cookies are spiked with ginger, cinnamon and a hint of clove and they crackle on top when they bake. Rolling them in powdered sugar gives them a lightly sweet coating on the outside that looks like a dusting of fresh fallen snow.
Pfeffernüsse (German Spice Cookies)
William Dickey
Pfeffernüsse are small spiced German cookies commonly seen during the holiday season. Translating to “pepper nut,” the aromatic cookie gets its name from the pinch of pepper added to the dough—here, we use white and black pepper for a punch of flavor. The sweet orange glaze helps balance the pepperiness of the cookie’s spices. Serve with a cup of warm mulled wine.
No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies
Soft, chewy and no added sugar! Sweeten these classic oatmeal cookies with ripe bananas and raisins or dates. Plus, a touch of nut butter adds lots of flavor and holds the cookies together while keeping them vegan and gluten-free.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jason Donnelly
This chocolate chip cookie recipe features whole-wheat (or spelt) flour that adds a nutty flavor. The outsides of the cookies are crisp while the insides are tender and gooey. Enjoy warm or at room temperature with a cold glass of milk.
Apple-Oatmeal Cookies
Brie Passano
These healthy apple cookies made with oats, shredded apples and brown sugar make dessert time enjoyable for everybody.
Soft Sugar Cookies
These easy and classic cookies incorporate mild-tasting white whole-wheat flour for extra fiber and nutrients.
