Who doesn’t want to be the star of the holiday cookie exchange?!
Whether you’re a beginner in the kitchen or your baking skills give Martha Stewart a run for her money, these 20 foolproof holiday cookie recipes are sure to top your list of favorite holiday traditions.
Each recipe is easy and Pinterest-worthy — which is obviously the best of both worlds:
1. No-Bake Stained Glass Cookies
Via Frugal Farm Wife
This family favorite is usually gone before the cookie tray hits the table.
The best part? You only need chocolate chips, butter, colored marshmallows and a fridge.
Check out the recipe.
2. Scottish Shortbread
Via @jeci_cc
In my very Scottish family, we all know you need three ingredients to make a great Scottish shortbread: butter, flour and sugar.
It’s as easy as mixing, baking it in a pan, and cutting the shortbread up after the pan has cooled.
Get the recipe here.
3. Hershey Kiss Cookies
Via @da_designs305
Mix peanut butter, sugar and an egg, then roll the dough into 1″ balls.
Once the balls are done baking, just press a Hershey Kiss into the middle. Donezo.
Get the recipe here.
4. Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Via @siwiggiddi
What do you get when you cross a pretzel, a Rolo and a pecan with 3-5 minutes of baking time?
A Rolo pretzel turtle! Otherwise known as an easy little bite of heaven. Here’s the recipe.
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5. Italian Christmas Cookies
Everything is more fancy when it has “Italian” in the name, right?
This recipe involves a few more ingredients, but once you’ve mixed everything, it’s as easy as rolling dough balls and plopping frosting on top!
6. Spritz Cookies
Want to make dozens of delicious little cookies in a matter of minutes?
Get yourself a cookie press (Wilton sells this one for under $15 on Amazon) and follow this recipe to spritz your heart out.
7. No-Bake Christmas Sugar Cookie Truffles
What’s the main ingredient? Store-bought sugar cookies!
But you’ll end up crushing the cookies up to make these decadent Christmas truffles — so it’s technically not cheating!
Try the full recipe here.
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8. Mini Candy Bar Pretzel Bites
Via The Gunny Sack
Buy mini candy bars on clearance after Halloween and stick them in the freezer until you’re ready to bake.
Then add waffle-shaped pretzels and dipping chocolate.
Within minutes, you’ll have a stash of these mini candy bar pretzel bites to fill up a Mason jar for a lucky friend!
9. Santa-topped Oreo Cookies
These professional-looking cookies can be made with Santa-shaped candy toppers you can buy at the store or order off Amazon.
Just dip Oreos in melted white chocolate or white candy melts, top each cookie with a Santa-shaped candy topper, and add your own sprinkles.
Get the full tutorial here.
10. Chocolate Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
These cookies are made with a chocolate cake mix but no one will ever know!
Just add your own red and green M&M’s to give your batch a Christmas flare.
Get the full recipe here.
11. Foolproof Microwave Fudge
Photo via American Heritage Cooking
All you need is butter, sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, peppermint extract and crushed peppermint candies.
Throw the butter, milk, chips and extract in the microwave, pour the mixture into an 8×8 pan and top the fudge with candies after it cools.
Get the full recipe from Chelsea’s Messy Apron here.
12. Reindeer Bites
Grab those leftover Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups from Halloween, peanut butter, pretzels, red M&M’s and black candies or a tube of black frosting.
You’ll have adorable Reindeer Bites in under 20 minutes.
Get the full recipe here.
13. Powder Puffs
Via Averie Cooks
You only need refrigerated pie crust dough, Hershey Kisses and powdered sugar to make the cutest little Powder Puffs we’ve ever seen.
Get the easy recipe here.
14. Mint Oreo Truffles
These no-bake truffles are made with mint Oreos, cream cheese, chocolate chips and green candy melts.
The mint flavor comes from the mint-flavored Oreos!
Get the recipe here.
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15. Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms
Via Pillsbury
The baking masters at Pillsbury came up with this 5-ingredient recipe for Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms.
Grab refrigerated sugar cookie dough, peppermint Hershey Kisses, sugar, chocolate and flour.
Get the full recipe here.
16. 3-Ingredient Palmiers
With puff pastry, kosher salt and sugar, you can make gourmet-looking Palmiers in 25 minutes.
Get the recipe here.
17. Peppermint Patties
If you love York Peppermint Patties, you’ll die over this creamy homemade version you can make using butter, corn syrup, peppermint extract, dipping chocolate and powdered sugar.
Get the 5-ingredient recipe here.
18. Puppy Chow Ritz Cracker Cookies
If you love Puppy Chow, you must try this cookie made with Ritz crackers, peanut butter, powdered sugar, chocolate chips and vanilla.
Get the recipe here.
19. Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
Via Joy’s Life
Using cake mix, canola oil, eggs and food coloring, you can make these simple, yet delightful Cake Mix Christmas Cookies.
Get the tutorial here.
20. White Chocolate Peppermint Hearts
These White Chocolate Peppermint Hearts only have 3 ingredients: mini candy canes, white chocolate and holiday sprinkles.
Get the quick recipe here.
