Every December, I get this random wave of energy where I want to make a few treats to give out or munch on, but I’m not trying to spend all night in the kitchen.

I don’t like to bake anything complicated, so I always reach for quick Christmas cookies that don’t make a giant mess.

I like being able to mix a few things and pop a tray in.

It’s also nice having a little stash to box up for friends or grab when I want something sweet.

If that’s your speed too, these quick and easy Christmas cookies fit perfectly into the kind of holiday season that’s busy but still cozy.

1. Sugar Cookies

These are the classic soft cookies you can decorate or leave plain.

They always turn out simple and sweet without much effort.

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Steps

1. Mix the butter and sugar until smooth, then add the egg and vanilla.
2. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt until a soft dough forms.
3. Roll or scoop the dough into balls and place on a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes and let cool before decorating.

2. Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread is buttery, soft, and so easy to pull together when you want something classic.

You only need a few ingredients and the cookies always come out melt-in-your-mouth good.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Steps

1. Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy.
2. Add the vanilla and salt, then mix in the flour until the dough forms.
3. Press or roll the dough into small rounds or bars on a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 325°F for 12 to 15 minutes until the edges look lightly golden.

3. Gingerbread Cookies

These cookies bring all the warm holiday spices without being hard to make.

They’re perfect for cutting into shapes or just rolling into simple rounds.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon cloves
• ½ teaspoon salt

Steps

1. Mix the butter and brown sugar, then add the egg and molasses.
2. Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices until the dough comes together.
3. Roll out the dough and cut shapes or form small balls.
4. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes depending on thickness.

4. Molasses Cookies

Soft, chewy, and full of warm flavor, these are great when you want something simple but cozy.

They spread nicely and make the whole place smell amazing.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ¼ cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Steps

1. Cream the butter and sugar, then mix in the egg and molasses.
2. Add the dry ingredients and stir until the dough forms.
3. Roll into balls and coat lightly in sugar.
4. Bake at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes until soft and crackly.

5. Holiday M&M Cookies

These are simple chocolate chip cookies with colorful holiday M&Ms mixed in.

They’re fun, quick, and always a hit with kids or coworkers.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg + 1 yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup Christmas M&Ms

Steps

1. Beat the butter and sugars until creamy, then add the egg, yolk, and vanilla.
2. Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Fold in the M&Ms and scoop onto a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.

6. Thumbprint Cookies

Soft and buttery with a little jam center, these are super simple but always look cute. Y

ou can use any jam you have on hand.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Jam of choice

Steps

1. Beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
2. Add the flour and salt and mix until the dough forms.
3. Roll into balls, press a thumbprint into each, and fill with jam.
4. Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes.

7. Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies

These are soft oatmeal cookies with a little brightness from orange zest and dried cranberries.

They’re simple but feel a little special without extra effort.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups rolled oats
• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Zest of one orange
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Steps

1. Cream the butter and sugars, then add the egg, vanilla, and orange zest.
2. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.
3. Fold in the cranberries and scoop onto a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.

8. Snickerdoodles

These cinnamon sugar cookies are soft, cozy, and super easy.

They’re great for anyone who likes simple flavors without extra work.

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar (for coating)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon (for coating)

Steps

1. Cream the butter and sugar, then add the eggs.
2. Mix in the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt.
3. Roll the dough into balls and coat in cinnamon sugar.
4. Bake at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes.

9. Peanut Butter Cookies

These are the easy classic ones with the little fork marks on top.

They’re soft, simple, and great with a glass of milk.

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Steps

1. Mix everything in one bowl until smooth.
2. Roll into balls and press a crisscross pattern with a fork.
3. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.

10. Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies

These are your basic chocolate chip cookies but with holiday sprinkles or red and green chips.

They feel festive without any extra work.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• ¼ cup holiday sprinkles

Steps

1. Mix the butter and sugars, then add eggs and vanilla.
2. Add the dry ingredients and stir until the dough forms.
3. Fold in chocolate chips and sprinkles.
4. Bake at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes.

11. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These come out with that soft, fudgy center and the crackled powdered sugar look.

They’re easy to mix and don’t need any fancy decorating.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• ½ cup oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Powdered sugar (for rolling)

Steps

1. Mix the cocoa, sugar, and oil, then add the eggs.
2. Stir in the flour, salt, and baking powder.
3. Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes, then roll in powdered sugar.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.

12. Vanilla Sprinkle Cookies

These are soft, sweet vanilla cookies with colorful sprinkles mixed in.

They’re super easy and always look cheerful.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup sprinkles

Steps

1. Cream the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla.
2. Add the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
3. Fold in the sprinkles and scoop onto a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.

13. Soft Iced Sugar Cookies

These are fluffy, almost cake-like cookies topped with simple icing.

They’re great when you want something soft and sweet without a lot of work.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar (icing)
• 1–2 tablespoons milk (icing)

Steps

1. Mix the butter and sugar, then add the eggs and vanilla.
2. Stir in the dry ingredients until the dough forms.
3. Scoop onto a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes.
4. Mix powdered sugar with milk, then drizzle or spread on cooled cookies.

14. White Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are soft, buttery cookies with sweet white chocolate chips.

They feel festive with a handful of sprinkles or dried cranberries mixed in.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg + 1 yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

Steps

1. Beat the butter and sugars, then add the egg, yolk, and vanilla.
2. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Fold in the white chocolate chips.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.

15. Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

These chocolate cookies have a little crushed candy cane mixed in.

They’re easy, minty, and perfect for holiday treat boxes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup crushed candy canes

Steps

1. Cream the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla.
2. Add the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. Fold in crushed candy canes.
4. Bake at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes.

16. Almond Cookies

These cookies are lightly sweet with a mellow almond flavor.

They’re simple and taste great with a cup of coffee or cocoa.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Steps

1. Mix the butter and sugar, then add the egg and almond extract.
2. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Roll into balls and flatten slightly.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.

17. Lemon Butter Cookies

These cookies are bright, soft, and lightly lemony.

They’re great when you want something a little fresh but still simple.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• Zest of one lemon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon salt

Steps

1. Cream the butter and sugar, then add the egg, lemon zest, and vanilla.
2. Add the flour and salt and mix until it comes together.
3. Scoop onto a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 350°F for 9 to 11 minutes.

18. Cinnamon Sugar Butter Cookies

These are buttery cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar for a warm, simple flavor.

They’re super easy and bake fast.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar (coating)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon (coating)

Steps

1. Mix the butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
2. Add flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Roll balls of dough in cinnamon sugar.
4. Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.

19. Hot Cocoa Cookies

These cookies taste like a warm mug of hot chocolate with melted marshmallows on top.

They’re simple but feel extra cozy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 ¾ cups flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Mini marshmallows (for topping)

Steps

1. Mix the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla.
2. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Scoop onto a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 350°F for 8 minutes, add a few marshmallows on top, then bake 2 more minutes.

20. Toffee Bit Cookies

These cookies are buttery and chewy with little toffee bits throughout.

They’re easy to mix and bake fast.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups flour
• 1 cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg + 1 yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup toffee bits

Steps

1. Cream the butter and sugars, then add the egg, yolk, and vanilla.
2. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Fold in the toffee bits.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.

Sweet and Simple Cookies for a Busy Christmas

When the holiday chaos kicks in, it’s honestly such a relief having cookie recipes that don’t take forever.

These are the ones you can whip up after work, bring to a party, or pack into a cute little box for a friend without going into full meltdown mode.

It feels good to make something sweet without stressing over it, and these cookies totally keep things easy!

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Looking for more yummy Christmas ideas? I've got you!

• Christmas Main Course Ideas (That Aren't Turkey!)
• Christmas Crockpot Recipes for a Party
• Quick and Easy Christmas Cookies