12 Delicious and Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes Anyone Can Master

For many, visions of idyllic holidays star delectable Christmas cookies – neatly decorated sugar cookies, peanut butter kisses dusted with powdered sugar, chocolate crinkle cookies overflowing with sweetness.

However, while the treats shine under the tree, many avoid attempting the baking believing it requires Martha Stewart levels of time, skill and patience they lack.

Thankfully, with a few smart shortcuts, anyone can craft gorgeous glittering platters full of Christmas cookies impressing guests without spending days hunched over hot ovens. We compiled delicious Christmas cookie recipes maximizing cheer – not stress – in your kitchen this holiday season.

Tips for Effortless Christmas Cookie Baking

Keep steps straightforward applying these pointers streamlining sweet results:

• Buy Cookie Dough – Refrigerated tubes or ready-to-slice doughs help novices.
• Use Boxed Mixes – Betty Crocker & gingerbread kits are festive saviors.
• Take Decorating Shortcuts – Opt for sprinkles over intricate piping requiring skills.
• Get Creative with Containers – Mason jars to Christmas tins offer easy gifting solutions.
• Make Ahead & Freeze – Shape dough now; bake later so more time enjoying!

Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe

A gingerbread person or tree needn’t require art degrees with infinitely roll-able, reliable sugar cookie dough. Chill discs then quickly cut shapes replicating nostalgic favorites. Prep time stays minimal for sweetly familiar results loved by all ages.

Recipe Yield: 2 Dozen Cookies

• 2 3⁄4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1⁄2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Cup Butter, Softened
• 1 1⁄2 Cups Granulated White Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

While rolling and cutting outs anytime inspiration strikes, simply refreeze remaining dough discs for later ease.

Easy Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie Recipe

These cookies come together fast with a 5 ingredient peanut-buttery dough that’s egg-free and palm-friendly. Lightly criss-cross fork tines atop before baking then complement with Hershey chocolate kiss centers adding sweetness once cooled.

Recipe Yield: 2 Dozen Cookies

• 1 3⁄4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1⁄2 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Cup Smooth Peanut Butter

Adjust peanut butter and flour as needed ensuring dough sticks together without excess dryness crumbling during rolling. Freeze extra dough for later ease.

Easy Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Thumbprints easily turn any seasonal jam into photo-worthy cookie jewels. Simply roll small dough rounds, make indentions with thumbs then fill with jelly topping off with a drizzle glaze.

Recipe Yield: 2 Dozen Cookies

• 1 Cup Butter, Softened
• 1⁄2 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 1⁄4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1⁄4 Teaspoon Salt
• Jelly or Jam, Any Flavor
• Powdered Sugar

Easy Pinwheel Cookie Recipe

For showstopper presentation from hardly any work, pinwheel cookies intertwine dough discs together magically marbling patterns distinguished flavor profiles retained distinctly.

Recipe Yield: 1 Dozen Large Cookies

• 1 Cup Butter, Softened
• 1 Cup Granulated White Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 1⁄4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1⁄4 Teaspoon Salt
• Green and Red Food Coloring

Easy Snowball Cookies Recipe

Buttery pecan snowball cookies encased in powdered sugar delicately melt away stress. Chill dough then scoop rounded tablespoons baking into flawless spheres ready for coating.

Recipe Yield: 2 Dozen Cookies

• 1 Cup Butter, Softened
• 3.4 Ounces Cream Cheese, Softened
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
• 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1⁄4 Teaspoon Salt
• 3⁄4 Cup Chopped Pecans or Walnuts
• 1 Cup Powdered Sugar

Other Easy Christmas Cookie Ideas

Slice-and-Bake Refrigerator Cookie Dough – Customize log shapes with mix-in inclusions like chocolate chips or sprinkles slicing off ready-to-bake portions.

Premade Cookie Dough Shortcuts – Take the effort out completely with premade break-apart log doughs sold refrigerated in grocery stores.

Boxed Cookie Mix Recipes – Doctor up convenient gingerbread, sugar cookie, chocolate crinkle and more mixes with fun form ideas.

No-Bake Haystack or Puppy Chow Recipes – Candy-packed holders for chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar or crispy rice cereal.

Conclusion & Extra Easy Christmas Cookie Ideas

Hopefully these simplified recipes demonstrate crafting festive sweets shines brightly within reach this season, even for reluctant bakers. With a few savvy prep shortcuts reducing hassles plus embracing imperfection in decoration stages, anyone can spread holiday cheer on homemade cookie platters.

What other easy Christmas cookie recipes would you suggest to fellow newbie bakers? Please share your sweet shortcuts or beloved treats made enjoyably with minimal fuss!