Best Christmas Cookie Recipes
Sugar Cookies, Snowball Cookies, Seven Layer Cookies and More
Easy and fun to make, these Christmas cookie recipes are traditional favorites.
Christmas cookies are a big part of most families' holiday traditions. The most popular recipes also are fairly uncomplicated and enjoyable to make. A little extra know-how can make cookie baking even easier.
Sugar Cookies
- 6 cups flour
- 3 tsp. baking powder
- 2 cups butter
- 2 cups sugar-
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. salt
Recipe can be cut in half. Preheat oven to 350F. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Mix together dry ingredients. Gently add a little at a time to the butter mixture until dough comes together. Chill for 1 hour. Roll to desired thickness. Cut into favorite shapes. Bake on ungreased baking sheet for 8-10 minutes, until lightly brown on edges.
Snowball Cookies
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- extra powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Combine salt and flour and slowly add to creamed mixture, blend completely. Add nuts. Chill for 1 hour. Shape into 1-inch balls and bake 8-10 minutes, do not brown. When cool, roll in powdered sugar.
Seven Layer Bars (or Six)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup butterscotch flavored chips
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut (optional)
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350° Line a 13x9-inch baking pan with a sheet of foil, Melt the butter in the baking pan in the oven. Next, sprinkle crumbs in pan on top of butter. Pour the condensed milk on top of crumbs. Add the remaining ingredients in order listed. Using a fork, press down firmly. Bake for 25 minutes, until lightly browned. When cool, cut into bars. Can be stored, covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Thumbprint Cookies
- 2/3 cup room temperature butter
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs separated
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (any)
- 1/3 cup jam (any flavor)
Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a large bowl. Beat in egg yolks, vanilla extract and salt. Stir in flour. Roll dough into 1-inch balls. In separate small bowl, beat egg whites. Dip rolled dough in egg whites, then roll in nuts. Place 1 inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheets or on parchment paper. Press down center of each with thumb. Bake for 16 -18 minutes until golden brown. After several minutes, move to wire rack to cool completely. Before serving, fill thumbprints with jam. (Can be filled before baking too). Store in refrigerator.
Chewy Peanut Butter Blossoms
Hershey's has several fun variations of this recipe
- About 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
- 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
- 3/4 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
- 2 cups all-purpose biscuit baking mix
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 375°F. Remove wrappers from chocolate pieces. Beat sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter in large bowl until smooth. Add baking mix and vanilla; blend well. Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until very lightly browned (do not overbake). Remove from oven; immediately press chocolate piece in center of each ball. Cool on wire rack. Cool completely. Store in tightly covered container. About 48 cookies.
Snickerdoodles
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
In large bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar and 3/4 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs. In medium bowl, combine flour, oats, 1 tsp. cinnamon, soda and salt. Add to sugar mixture. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheet. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on cookies. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool slightly on baking sheet, remove to wire rack to finish.
