If you only break out the stand mixer when the holidays roll around—you are in good company. Christmas baking is less about ornate, show-stopping desserts and more about tradition and adding some seasonal magic to your table.

That’s why we’re sharing our favorite foolproof cookie recipes that are great for the once-a-year baker. Several of these recipes are either no-bake, have a handful of ingredients, or take only a few steps to complete.

You can whip up a few batches of these cookies in no time—and you’ll have a plate full of delicious holiday cheer your guests will fight over. Enjoy!

Christmas Wreaths

Victoria Jempty/Allrecipes


These colorful wreaths are made with cornflakes and melted marshmallows tinted green with food dye and decorated with cinnamon candies. It’s one of the easiest no-bake desserts you can make, and so charming and eye-catching. These wreaths are sure to steal the show at your next festive gathering.

“I have been making these for decades,” said one Allrecipes members. “My youngest child is 39 and my oldest is 45 and they still ask if I am making them.”

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

It’s totally okay to, you know, just bake a good cookie. Let’s face it, these cookies are called the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies for a reason—over 15,000 people agree. Luckily, they’re pretty darn easy too. These cookies come together in 8 steps and 20 minutes of prep. After a quick bake, you’ll have the tastiest cookies on the block!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Victoria Jempty/Allrecipes


These easy Peanut Butter Blossoms make a great addition to any cookie plate or tray. The dough comes together in three steps, then balls get rolled in sugar, baked, then topped with chocolate kisses. Super simple, but super special!

“They were fantastic,” said one reviewer. “I made them for a cookie bake and they did not disappoint. My husband ate majority of them.”

Pretzel Turtles

Meredith Food Studio

These cookies have only three ingredients—talk about easy! It’s just a matter of placing one thing on top of another, popping them into a warm oven for a few minutes, then placing one more thing on top.

“It was very easy to make and it’s a great Christmas tradition,” said an Allrecipes user.

Melted Snowman Cookies

The great thing about these? They’ve got “melted” right in the title, so they look festive even if they look, well, melted! Plus, these are prime candidates for dressing up ready-made sugar cookies or refrigerated dough from the grocery store.

“These are so much fun to make, share and eat,” said one reviewer. “I made them for Christmas, New Years and Valentine’s festivities. Can’t wait to make them again this year!”

No Bake Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Allrecipes/Julia Hartbeck


This easy, no-bake recipe has over 2,000 5-star ratings. Plus, it uses mainly pantry staples you likely already have in your home! One reviewer even used a microwave to melt the chocolate, making it even easier. There’s no way to mess these up!

“My mom used to make this when we were kids,” shared an Allrecipes member. “Love how quick and easy it is!! Tastes great as well.”

Saltine Toffee Cookies

ALLRECIPES / DIANA CHISTRUGA


Five ingredients and seven steps makes one delicious sweet treat. These come together quickly, and will be eaten just as fast!

“This saltine cracker toffee is made by topping a layer of crackers with homemade toffee, melted chocolate, and chopped nuts for a wonderfully delicious treat,” said Allrecipes member Tracy, who shared this recipe with us. “We love to pack pieces of toffee into pretty tins and give them as gifts during the holidays.”

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Preethi Venkatram/Allrecipes


One bite—and you won’t believe these cookies have only three ingredients. You can even roll the cookies in extra sugar for some holiday sparkle. Try Nutella to switch up the flavor profile.

“[This recipe is] so easy to make, I even got my girls to help make them,” shared one reviwer. “Always nice to find a simple recipe to share with loved ones and make memories together.”

Cinnamon Palmiers

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios


Sure, they look like they came from a fancy French bakery, but all you have to do is spread cinnamon sugar on refrigerated puff pastry and roll up the two sides until they meet in the middle. Slice, bake, and ooh la la.

“Wow! I added these to my Christmas cookie platters this year, and they were a hit,” said an Allrecipes member. “I was worried that they may get soft when mixed in with the other cookies, but they didn’t. They were still crisp and delicious a couple days later. Super easy to make. Definitely a keeper!”

Reindeer Cookies

Laurie

So, you want a good cookie, and you’d like people to feel a little festive when they see them? Then these Reindeer Cookies are what you need. Quick and easy holiday cheer! Feel free to use your favorite sugar or peanut butter cookie dough (store bought works, too!) and add the pretzels and candies to make it look like a reindeer.

“Sweet but light-tasting, so adorable and easy to make,” raved one Allrecipes user.

Kitchen Sink Cookie Bars

Photographer: Robby Lozano / Food Styling: Tricia Manzanero / Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle


These kitchen sink cookie bars are like chewy blondies with all of your favorite snacks mixed in—potato chips, pretzels, M&Ms, and chocolate chips. They are salty, sweet, and oh, so good!

German Chocolate Cake Cookies

Jason Donnelly / Food Styling: Holly Dreesman / Prop Styling: Natalie Ghazali


This four-ingredient cookie is “soft, crinkly, and fudgy in the middle with added texture from nuts and coconut.” The coconut looks like falling snow, perfect for your cookie plates and boxes.

“I made double the amount of these cookies because as the second batch was in the oven the first lot had gone,” said one reviewer. “They’re absolutely delicious.”

Salted Caramel Ritz Cookies

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios


This four-ingredient no-bake cookie is sure to please. Sweet, salty, chocolatey, and caramely all in one bite.

“What’s not to like about chocolate and caramel?” asked one Allrecipes reviewer. “My family loved the the recipe. I used a teaspoon measuring spoon and a small spatula to add the dulce de leche to the crackers. It takes some time to make these crackers, but it is worth the effort.”

Christmas Rocky Road

Your guests will never guess this recipe comes together in the microwave! Feel free to swap in your favorite sweet treats here. Crushed peppermint bark would be an incredible add-in.

“My kids absolutely loved it,” raved one user. “Definitely a keeper recipe!”

Church Window Cookies

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios


Don’t let the intricate look of these cookies fool you—this no-bake dessert is as easy to make as it is to enjoy! It’s essentially gathering your four ingredients and heating some chocolate—which can be done in the microwave if you want to make it even easier.

“We made these when I was a kid, so I wanted to continue the tradition with my daughter,” said one Allrecipes member. “Her and her friend enjoyed making them, and needed very little help from me.”

Big Soft Ginger Cookies

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios


“One of the best cookies EVER,” raved one reviewer. “Made them for Christmas to bring to school. My friend held two cookies in each hand literally SHOVING them in his mouth. There was a mad rush to get them, and needless to say I brought none back home. My suggestion is to drop the dough directly into the sugar and then form the balls as the sugar coats the dough and allows you to roll it. Also, I used a tablespoon of orange juice instead of water to bring out the ginger flavor and it worked extremely well.”

Buckeye Balls

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios


Buckeye Balls are Midwestern tradition—and the perfect no-bake addition to your cookie tray.

“I’ve made these every Christmas for the past 10-12 years,” said one Allrecipes member. “If you don’t like really sweet then make something else, as these are supposed to be very sweet. This is my absolute favorite food and it’s perfect as is is! I like to store the ones I eat in the freezer as they last me a tiny bit longer that way.”

Peppermint Bark

ALLRECIPES / ANA CADENA


It just isn’t the holidays without Peppermint Bark! This peppermint bark recipe is made with milk chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint candies and peppermint flavoring for a sweet and minty treat that’s perfect for the holidays and care packages.

“I used Hershey kisses, crushed candy canes, and I tempered my chocolate,” explained one Allrecipes members. “It turned out great, rich and creamy, but not too sweet. I will definitely make this Christmas candy again.”

Russian Tea Cakes

Victoria Jempty/Allrecipes

“I make these every Christmas, dozens and dozens and it’s never enough,” raved one reviewer. “I prefer to roll the batter in wax paper and freeze. They come out perfect. When you put them in your mouth they poof into yummy deliciousness. Don’t forget the powdered sugar at the end. Some people think they aren’t sweet enough because they don’t use enough to dust the cookies. Cover them!”

Jam “Jewel” Cookies

Jen Causey/Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer and Jennifer Wendorf/Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless


Light up your kitchen during the holidays with this “jewel” of a cookie! The buttery shortbread is made in a mini muffin pan, and they’re filled with the fruit preserve of your choice. Best of all, these adorable little nuggets are made with just a handful of pantry basics—only seven, to be exact.



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