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Photo:
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
There’s nothing like time spent in the kitchen with children to create holiday memories that will last a lifetime. But gearing up to bake Christmas cookies with kids is no easy feat. Depending on the age of your little one, you’ll want to make sure you’re attempting a recipe that will make more than just a mess. Luckily, some of our favorite
Christmas cookie recipes
are as kid-friendly as they come so you can enlist your little elves. From Kitchen Sink Cookies that incorporate some of your kids’ favorite snacks right into the dough to Cathedral Window Cookies with colorful mini marshmallows, these easy cookie recipes for kids are just as fun to bake as they are to eat.
01
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Chocolate Cool Whip Cookies
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cake mix and Cool Whip and the baking shortcuts we have to thank for this delightfully easy treat.
02
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White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
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Jennifer Causey
White chocolate chips and dried cranberries give these easy-to-make cookies not only a touch of festive colors but pops of flavor.
03
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Icebox Cookies
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Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
Icebox cookies are super simple. These classic cookies are a great base to let kids’ creativity go wild. Adding in chocolate, nuts, sprinkles, and other toppings is all part of the fun.
04
of 32
Turtle Cookies
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Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
These candy-inspired cookies are
almost
too cute to eat. Their playful shape is guaranteed to make them the kids’ favorite.
05
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Gingersnap Cookies
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Coming together in just 35 minutes, these cookies will deliver the taste of the holidays in every bite. Plus, the recipe makes just over 2 dozen cookies, so there’s plenty for the kids to gobble up as soon as they come out of the oven.
06
of 32
Smashed Sugar Cookies
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Jessica Furniss
Grab some green and red sprinkles, and get ready for some festive cookie decorating. These sugar cookies are as easy for little hands to help bake as they are to decorate.
07
of 32
Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
These cookies are no-bake and ready in just 25 minutes, so kids don’t have long to wait to take a bite of the sweet treat they helped prepare.
08
of 32
Fruitcake Cookies
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Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
While kids may not be fans of classic fruitcake, this recipe just may change their mind since they can enjoy the same flavors in cookie form.
09
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Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
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Caitlin Bensel
Recreate the memories of baking holiday kiss cookies with Grandma in your own kitchen with a brand new generation. The kids will love unwrapping and pushing chocolate kisses into each cookie.
10
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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
One batch of this classic cookie may not be enough. Luckily, they come together so quickly, you and the kids can easily bake two (or three).
11
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Sprinkle Stocking Cookies
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Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Perfect for the sprinkle lover in your life, these cookies have classic Christmas fun baked right in.
12
of 32
Frosted Sugar Cookie Snowflakes
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
Don’t be afraid of a little mess. Little hands may find buttercream easier to decorate with this season. Turn up the fun with vibrant colors and sprinkles too.
13
of 32
Brownie Cookies
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Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners
No need to make too big of a mess with the little ones in the kitchen. These kid-favorite treats start with a box of brownie mix, so half the work is already done for you.
14
of 32
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
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Micah A. Leal
Cake mix is the secret ingredient to making these colorful cookies simple and kid-friendly.
15
of 32
Santa’s Kitchen Sink Cookies
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Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Santa won’t mind if you steal a cookie or two from his Christmas Eve batch. Plus, the kids will love tossing pretzel pieces, chocolate chips, and marshmallows into this catch-all, sweet and salty cookie.
16
of 32
Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies
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Southern Living
Once you’ve mixed and shaped your batter, the real fun begins. Get the whole family involved in rolling your dough in green and red sprinkles for a festive loaf of dough ready for a simple slice and bake.
17
of 32
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Jennifer Causey
While the first (very important) step of browning the butter for these cookies is best handled by the adult in the group, your kitchen assistants will love helping with every other step along the way to a delicious batch of chocolate chip cookies.
18
of 32
Easy Sugar Cookies
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Carlina Teteris/Getty Images
These simple sugar cookies are ready for your favorite cookie cutters. Let the kids pick out their shape, and let the fun begin!
19
of 32
Cornflake Wreath Christmas Cookies
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Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
When a recipe calls for mini marshmallows, cornflakes, and green food coloring, you know it’s going to be a fun holiday afternoon.
20
of 32
Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies
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Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
The whole gang will have a blast assembling these colorful, buttercream-filled sandwich cookies. We bet we know some little hands who will volunteer to be on sprinkle duty.
21
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Pecan Snowball Cookies
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Micah A. Leal
The kids will love pressing the dough balls into spheres to make these classic snowball cookies, also known as Russian tea cakes.
22
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Butter Cookies
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Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis
This kid-friendly creation makes the dreamiest snack scenario–just add a glass of milk.
23
of 32
Cathedral Window Cookies
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Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy
While you manage the stovetop to melt the butter and chocolate together, the kids can handle the marshmallows.
24
of 32
Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies
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Victor Protasio
Like a brownie in cookie form, these flourless drop cookies are a blast for little bakers of any age.
25
of 32
Painted Shortbread Cookies
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Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Let out your little one’s inner artist with these painted cookies that will have holiday imaginations running wild. Just switch your color scheme, and you can bake these round, frosted treats for any occasion at any time of year.
26
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Spritz Cookies
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Micah A. Leal
Grab your cookie press and get moving on these classic holiday treats. Preparing the dough couldn’t be easier, and once it’s done you simply feed it through the press.
27
of 32
Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
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Joy Howard
Add unsweetened chocolate to a portion of the dough to create this delicious cookie.
28
of 32
Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies
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Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living
Conveniently gluten-free and dairy-free for any dietary needs in your playgroup, these easy peanut butter cookies only require four ingredients.
29
of 32
Reindeer Cookies
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Southern Living
These no-bake cookies are a festive and easy way to get kids into the holiday spirit.
30
of 32
Molasses Crinkles
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Hector Manuel Sanchez
Introduce the next generation to the Christmas classic you grew up with. They may be skeptical at first, but after one bite of cinnamon goodness, they’ll be sold.
31
of 32
5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies
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Photo: Hector Sanchez
Five ingredients are all you need to make this tried-and-true sugar cookie recipe. Take your pick of cookie cutters and toppings to make yours look as pristine as these, but it’s okay if they’re messy, too.
32
of 32
Brown Butter Snickerdoodles
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Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Take the classic sugar cookie recipe to the next level by adding brown butter and cinnamon sugar. You’ll be very impressed—even if you still love the original!