Easy Kids Christmas Cookies Recipes

With ideas from easy kids Christmas cookies recipes, you can bake cookies for your kids or let your kids help you make them.

A very special "Thank You" to my baker, Jenna Reagan. (Pictured left)

She personally baked each of the Easy Kids Christmas Cookies recipes and let me know if they passed the "easy" test.



Candy Cane Cookies

Besides helping to measure the ingredients, kids can make the ropes out of the dough and then twist them into a candy cane shape.

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together the butter, shortening and both sugars. Beat in the milk, egg and extracts. Gradually add the flour and salt.

Divide the dough into two halves. Tint one half of the dough red with food coloring. Wrap both halves in plastic wrap and refrigerator for one hour.

Measure a heaping tablespoon of each color dough. Roll each color into a three inch rope. (Wet your hands to prevent the dough from sticking.) Gently press the ropes together and twist into the candy cane shape.

Place each cookie on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for five minutes and then rotate the baking sheet and bake for another five minutes. Cool for two minutes and transfer to a wire rack.


Easy Sugar Cookies

Kids can measure the ingredients and flatten the cookies with a prepared glass. The cookies come out crisp on the edges and soft in the middle!

  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Red and green decorating sugar

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil, vanilla and lemon peel until well blended. Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually beat into the egg mixture.

Drop by a rounded teaspoonful 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet. Flatten with a glass that has been dipped in flour. Sprinkle with decorative sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Cool for 1 - 2 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack.


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Christmas Sandwich Cookies

  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar Filling:
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Red and green food coloring

In a large bowl, combine the butter, whipping cream and flour. Cover and refrigerator for two hours.

Divide the dough into two portions. Return one half to the refrigerator to stay chilled. Pour sugar into a small shallow bowl. Roll the dough out on a floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a round cookie cutter or a glass. Place cut-out cookies into the bowl of sugar. Turn over to coat both sides.

Place cookies on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for seven to nine minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

For the filling, cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla. Tint with food coloring. Spread about a teaspoon full over one cookie and top with a second cookie.


Frosted Butter Cutouts

Sour Cream in the cookies and vanilla pudding mix in the frosting make this a very original, but very creamy Christmas cookie. Matter of fact, this cookie would be good all year round!

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3-1/2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting:

  • 1/4 cup cold milk
  • 3 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla
  • Your choice of food coloring

Cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, sour cream and vanilla. In a side bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt; then gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for one hour.

Sprinkle a work surface heavily with powdered sugar. Roll dough to 1/8-inch think. Cut with floured cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack.

For the frosting, combine milk and pudding mix until smooth; set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter. Beat in the pudding mixture. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat on high speed until light and fluffy. Separate into bowls for each desired colored and add food coloring.


Cherry Snowballs

Cookies:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon slat
  • 36 maraschino cherries, well drained
    Coating:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 - 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 cup flaked coconut

In a mixing bowl, cream butter with sugar, water and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Take a teaspoonful full of dough and form around a cherry in the shape of a ball.

Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 - 20 minutes or until the boom is lightly browned. Remove to a wire rack.

Combine powdered sugar with enough milk to make a smooth dipping consistency. Dip the cookies in the sugar mixture and then roll in the coconut.


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Christmas Grahams

  • 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 1-1/2 cups flour
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (1 pound) Christmas themed M&M's

In a mixing bowl, ream shortening and brown sugar. Beat in egg. Add vanilla and milk. Blend in peanut butter. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients and then add to creamed mixture. Stir in the M&M's.

Drop by teaspoonfuls 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool.


Very Cherry Refrigerator Cookies

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1-1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2-1/2 cups flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 cup red and green candied cherries

In a large bowl, blend the butter and sugar. Add the egg and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the candied cherries. Shape into four separate rolls and wrap in Saran Wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours or more.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut cookie dough into 1/4 inch slices. Place on baking sheet 2 inches apart and bake for 8 - 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 1 - 2 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack.


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Thumbprint Cookies

It doesn't matter the age of the kid for these cookies. It can be from 2 - 82, and they'll love this traditional Christmas favorite.

  • 1-1/2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Additional 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Remove all the wrappers from the chocolate kisses and set aside. (No snitching!)

Beat together the shortening and the peanut butter. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat well. Add egg, milk and vanilla and beat again.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat into the peanut butter mixture.

Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the granulated sugar. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes on a greased cookie sheet.

Remove from oven and immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. (Cookies will crack slightly.) Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack.


Frosted Snowmen

  • 1-1/2 cups softened butter
  • 2-1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 16-ounce can cream cheese frosting
  • Pretzel sticks
  • Red and blue decorating gel

Cream together the butter and the sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla. In a side bowl, combine the flour and baking powder and then add to the creamed mixture. Roll dough into 1", 1/2" and 1/4" balls.

For each snowman, please one of each sized ball 1/4 inch apart on a greased baking sheet. Break pretzel sticks in half and stick into the middle ball.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for one minute and then transfer to a wire cooling rack.

When cookies have cooled, frost and then decorate.


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Marcia Reagan is the creator of DaycareAnswers and lives in Central Minnesota with her husband and two children.  She's been an in-home daycare provider for over twenty years and loves to share her experience and passion for daycare with other providers.  


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