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The holiday season is the perfect time to get into the kitchen, turn up the Christmas music, and bake cookies with your family.
For us, it’s all about creating delicious memories, and these three Christmas cookie recipes—Classic Sugar Cookies, Gingerbread Men, and Hot Chocolate Cookies—are a hit with my 4-year-old.
These are perfect if you’re baking for a festive party or starting your own family traditions.
The recipes are easy to follow and guaranteed to bring holiday cheer.
Classic Sugar Cookies
These timeless cookies are the foundation of many holiday traditions. The best part? Decorating them together with sprinkles and icing!
Classic Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating well to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters and place on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with icing, sprinkles, or other toppings as desired.
Tip: Use cookie cutters in holiday shapes like stars, trees, and snowflakes for extra festive fun!
Gingerbread Men
What’s Christmas without these spicy-sweet cookies? From mixing the dough to decorating the little gingerbread people, these cookies are pure joy to make.
Gingerbread Men
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth and well-blended. Add the molasses and egg, mixing until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a thick dough forms.
- Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into gingerbread men shapes using a cookie cutter and place on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are firm but not browned. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with royal icing or your favorite frosting and sprinkles once fully cooled.
Pro Tip: Add little candy buttons or edible glitter for extra character.
Hot Chocolate Cookies
These decadent cookies taste just like your favourite winter drink in baked form. Gooey marshmallows on top make them an irresistible treat for kids (and adults!).
Hot Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 packages hot cocoa mix or 1/2 cup
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Cream together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, hot cocoa mix, salt, and baking soda. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 9-11 minutes until the edges are set but the centers remain soft.
- Remove the baking sheets from the oven and immediately press a few mini marshmallows on top of each cookie. Return the cookies to the oven for 2-3 minutes, or until the marshmallows are puffy.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Serving Idea: Pair these cookies with a steaming cup of hot cocoa for the ultimate holiday treat.
Final Thoughts
Baking Christmas cookies with kids is more than just creating delicious desserts; it’s about building lifelong memories.
My little one loves being a “cookie helper,” from mixing the dough to adding sprinkles.
This year, let your home fill with the smell of freshly baked cookies and the sound of laughter.
Do you have a favourite holiday cookie recipe?
Share it in the comments below—I’d love to try it out!