The holidays are here, and what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by baking up some festive treats with your little ones? Easy Christmas cookies for kids to make are the perfect activity to enjoy together, create lasting memories, and fill your kitchen with the sweet scent of holiday cheer. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, these cookie recipes are fun, simple, and ideal for kids to help with—no fancy skills required!
In this post, we’ve rounded up some of the easiest, most fun, and kid-friendly Christmas cookie recipes that are sure to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. So grab your aprons and get ready to bake!
1. Classic Sugar Cookies: Shape, Roll, and Decorate!
Nothing says Christmas like a batch of soft, buttery sugar cookies that can be shaped into stars, trees, or reindeer. This recipe is perfect for kids because it doesn’t require any tricky techniques—just a few ingredients, some cookie cutters, and plenty of colorful sprinkles and icing!
Ingredients:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
- In a separate bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, and extracts until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface, about ¼-inch thick.
- Let your kids choose their favorite cookie cutters and press them into the dough.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Cool and decorate with icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter!
Kids will love rolling out the dough and choosing different shapes. Plus, they’ll have a blast decorating their cookies however they like!
2. Candy Cane Kiss Cookies: Sweet, Minty, and Easy to Make
Candy Cane Kiss Cookies are not only delicious but also visually stunning! These cookies are a great way for kids to practice rolling dough into little balls and adding a festive Hershey’s Kiss on top.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 24 Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses (or regular Kisses, if preferred)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Beat the butter, powdered sugar, egg, vanilla, and peppermint extract together until smooth.
- Gradually add the flour and mix until well combined.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, then gently press a Hershey’s Kiss into the center of each cookie while they are still warm.
- Let the cookies cool before serving.
The best part? The kids can unwrap the candy and press it into the soft, warm cookie. It’s a simple and festive way to get them involved!
3. Christmas Tree Pretzel Treats: No Baking Required!
If you want a quick and easy no-bake treat that’s perfect for young kids, Christmas Tree Pretzel Treats are the way to go. This easy, creative recipe requires no oven time and is great for fine motor skills as kids dip, decorate, and arrange their edible trees!
Ingredients:
- Pretzel rods
- Green candy melts or white chocolate (melted)
- Sprinkles, mini M&Ms, or colorful candies
- Red icing (for star decoration)
Instructions:
- Melt the green candy melts or white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Dip the pretzel rods halfway into the melted chocolate, then lay them flat on wax paper to cool and harden.
- Once the chocolate has set, decorate the pretzel rods with sprinkles, mini candies, or candy stars to create a Christmas tree look.
- Use a small amount of red icing to make a star at the top.
These little trees are perfect for kids to make individually or in groups, and they can get as creative as they like with the toppings!
4. Santa Belly Cookies: A Jolly Twist on a Classic Cookie
These Santa Belly Cookies are simple to make and super cute. All you need is a basic round sugar cookie and a few decorating items to turn them into the perfect Santa-inspired treat!
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookie dough (or your favorite sugar cookie recipe)
- Red frosting
- White frosting or marshmallows
- Black decorating gel
Instructions:
- Bake your sugar cookies according to the recipe or use pre-made dough for convenience.
- Once the cookies are cooled, frost them with red icing to make Santa’s coat.
- Add white icing or a halved marshmallow to create the fur trim.
- Use black gel or a small candy for the belt buckle in the center.
These cookies are fun and easy for kids to decorate, and they’ll love the chance to make Santa’s jolly belly come to life!
5. Reindeer Cookies: A Fun, No-Bake Snack
These Reindeer Cookies are made using graham crackers, chocolate frosting, pretzels, and candy, making them super simple and kid-friendly to assemble. Kids will love creating their reindeer with edible eyes, noses, and antlers!
Ingredients:
- Graham crackers (broken in half)
- Chocolate frosting (for gluing)
- Pretzels (mini twists for antlers)
- Red candy (such as M&Ms or Red Hots for the nose)
- Candy eyes (or mini chocolate chips)
Instructions:
- Spread a layer of frosting on the top half of the graham cracker.
- Attach the pretzels to each side of the graham cracker to form the reindeer’s antlers.
- Use a red candy for the nose and two candy eyes to create the face.
- Add a dab of frosting to stick everything together.
These reindeer cookies don’t require any baking, which is great for younger kids who want to get in on the fun!
6. Snowman Cookies: Frosty and Fun!
Who doesn’t love a snowman? These Snowman Cookies are a fun way for kids to express their creativity and make a snowman using cookies, frosting, and candy decorations.
Ingredients:
- Sugar cookies (or store-bought cookies)
- White frosting
- Mini chocolate chips
- Orange candies (like Tic Tacs or orange M&Ms)
- Small candies (for buttons and scarves)
Instructions:
- Frost the cookies with white icing to create the snowman body.
- Add chocolate chips for eyes and buttons.
- Use a small orange candy for the snowman’s nose.
- For the scarf, use small pieces of licorice or red icing.
Kids will love decorating their snowmen, and you can even turn it into a mini decorating contest to see who creates the most unique snowman!
7. Gingerbread Men Cookies: A Classic with a Twist
No Christmas cookie collection is complete without gingerbread men! This kid-friendly recipe takes the traditional gingerbread to a whole new level with easy-to-follow steps and lots of room for creative decoration.
Ingredients:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, and baking soda.
- Beat together the butter, sugar, egg, molasses, and vanilla until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Roll out the dough and cut out gingerbread shapes.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes and let cool.
- Decorate with icing, mini candies, or raisins.
Let your kids get creative with the decorating, adding buttons, eyes, and scarves to their gingerbread creations!
Baking Memories This Christmas
Baking easy Christmas cookies for kids to make is one of the most heartwarming holiday traditions you can create. Not only do you get to enjoy delicious treats, but you also get to spend quality time with your little ones, watching them experiment with ingredients and letting their creativity shine.
These simple cookie recipes are perfect for kids of all ages, and they’ll love the chance to help in the kitchen. Whether you’re making Santa belly cookies, decorating sugar cookies, or creating adorable reindeer treats, each batch will bring joy to your home and your holiday celebrations.
So gather your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and make some magical memories this Christmas with these easy, festive cookie recipes. Happy baking!