EASY CHRISTMAS COOKIES TO MAKE WITH KIDS

One of our favorite holiday traditions as a family is whipping up delicious holiday cookies. My oldest loves cutting out cookies and decorating them with every color of icing. It can get a bit messy at his age, but it is so worth it to see his excitement. I know I will hold onto moments like these for the rest of my life, and I hope he remembers how special and magical it feels to be home making things together for the holidays. I am so excited to share our family favorites, and these are specially chosen as the best Christmas cookies to make with kids. Why are these the best for kids? They are deliciously easy, few ingredients, and fun to shape and decorate.

We start our holiday baking pretty early, usually the week before Thanksgiving so we can spread-out the fun (and sugar high) over a couple of weeks. Below is my list of incredibly easy cookies that are great for kids to help with, and of course fun to decorate in any way they wish. 

CLASSIC WHIPPED SHORTBREAD. 

Not only are these a Christmas classic, but they are only four ingredients. It doesn’t get easier than this. With this basic recipe you can make such a huge variety of cookies and the dough can be frozen and baked at a later time to its easy to prep these ahead of time. This is a recipe similar to what we’ve used for a couple years.

GINGERBREAD. 

Many people buy gingerbread kits ready to go at the store, and while they are certainly easier to construct, after a few attempts from scratch a gingerbread house isn’t as hard as you would think. Personally, the many failed attempts I’ve had over the years have created some pretty great memories to look back on that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I do buy a kit every once in a while as a back-up plan, but I hope my kids learn the beauty in failure and can find a creative way to reimagine their goals when things don’t go to plan. Here is a new one we tried last year and will definitely be making again. I am ALWAYS looking for a good gingerbread recipe that both tastes good and constructs well, so please share if you have a tried and true one to add to my collection!

PECAN SNOWBALLS/ PECAN SANDIES. 

I have been enjoying these cookies for as long as I can remember. My grandma used to make these every Christmas without fail and tasting these cookies brings back memories each time I take a bite.  For a while I assumed everyone knew what these were, but truth is they may not be as common as they were when I was a kid. If you’ve never tasted these cookies, trust me, it is worth the short 45 minutes to whip them up. While these may not be as fun for the kids to decorate, they can still mash them into any shape they like and they will bake and taste just as great! Here is my family recipe. 

OREO TRUFFLE BALLS. 

I put this one on the list because my son loves, loves, loves to mash the Oreos with a big spoon or a rolling pin. They are also only three ingredients so they are super easy to whip up for class parties, bake sales, cookie exchanges, or just enjoying around the Christmas tree. Here is the simple recipe we love. Once the chocolate has set, kids can decorate with icing or sprinkles of choice. These are a great additions to any cookie gift box!

THUMBPRINT COOKIES.

Almost the same recipe as the whipped shortbread above, these have only 5 ingredients (plus the topping) and are easy to adjust to tastes. The best part about baking these cookies is that kids get to make the hole in the cookie with their thumb, and for a kid, that’s a pretty great experience. My grandma made these all the time when I was little and she always filled them with vanilla frosting, but a more grownup and conventional filling would be jam. I love that the flavor of these cookies can be made to fit nearly any taste by changing up the fillings. Here is a simple recipe that is close to what I used as a kid, and the one we use often!  

THE ULTIMATE CLASSIC: SUGAR COOKIES. 

I couldn’t make this list without adding the ultimate Christmas cookie. While we’ve used many recipes over the years each slightly different than the rest, all are pretty easy and very delicious. My older son loves using the cookie cutters to “make his shapes” and then decorating them with every color he can mix up. I usually give these cookies to the grandparents and my son colors a nice note with his handprint and a scribble to make it a super special gift. These aren’t usually the cookies we bring to the neighbors or take out for guests, but they are probably some of the most special cookies we make all year. I try to take photos to savor the memories long after the cookies are eaten. 

HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIES. 

This cookie recipe is one we’ve used a few times. It has the longest ingredient list of any cookies on this post, but they are still easy to whip up. These are a more recent addition to our holiday cookies, but they are delicious, chocolatey, and perfect to enjoy with a good holiday movie and a glass of cold milk. Here is the recipe we’ve tried and love.

BONUS: FAVORITES FOR MOM & DAD.

WHITE CHOCOLATE, CRANBERRY, AND MACADAMIA NUT. 

While many kids would probably like these cookies too, they are more for the adults in our house (and we are more than happy not sharing these with anyone!).

CHRISTMAS BISCOTTI. 

The perfect Christmas morning treat to enjoy with a very large cup of your favorite coffee. Here are four delicious options I can’t stop eatting.

I hope you love these delicious and easy Christmas cookies to make with kids, and I would love to see pictures of your creations! Don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog and follow us on Pinterest to never miss a post.