Not everyone’s born with a rolling pin in one hand and a piping bag in the other, but that doesn’t mean you have to skip holiday baking altogether. Whether you’re a cookie pro or someone who thinks a preheated oven is an accomplishment, these recipes will save the day. They’re festive, easy, and guaranteed to make it look like you spent way more time in the kitchen than you actually did. From no-fail classics to crowd-pleasers with a holiday twist, there’s something for every level of “non-baker.”
Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Take your favorite chocolate chip cookies and add bright pops of cranberry for a festive touch. They’re soft, chewy, and ridiculously simple to make—perfect for anyone who wants great cookies without overthinking it.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Orange Macaroons
These macaroons combine orange and chocolate for a holiday flavor combo that feels fancy but is incredibly easy to pull off. With just a few steps, you’ll have cookies that look and taste like a pro made them.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Orange Macaroons
Gingerbread Cookies
Classic gingerbread cookies with a soft texture and rich flavor. Perfect for cutting into shapes and decorating, these cookies are a holiday staple that anyone can make—even if baking isn’t your thing.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cookies
Easy Thumbprint Cookies
These thumbprint cookies are simple to prepare and require minimal ingredients. They’re a great holiday cookie for anyone who wants maximum flavor without a complicated recipe.
Get the Recipe: Easy Thumbprint Cookies
Christmas Tree Cookies
These chocolate and walnut-packed cookies shaped like Christmas trees are as festive as it gets. Easy to bake and fun to decorate, they’re perfect for adding a bit of charm to your holiday spread or for dunking in a glass of milk.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Cookies
Christmas Oreo Pops
These three-ingredient Oreo pops are so easy to make that even non-bakers can nail them. Customizable with your favorite decorations, they’re perfect for parties, edible gifts, or just adding a festive touch to your holiday spread without the hassle of traditional baking.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Oreo Pops
Christmas Stollen Cookies
Bite-sized stollen cookies deliver all the classic dried fruit and citrus flavors of traditional German Christstollen in a simple, no-fuss recipe. They’re a great choice for gifting or bringing a touch of European holiday charm to your cookie tray.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Stollen Cookies
Thumbprint Cookies with Strawberry Icing
These thumbprint cookies with strawberry icing are tender, buttery, and full of flavor. The freeze-dried strawberry icing gives them a bright, festive look without being complicated, making them perfect for holiday parties or sharing with loved ones.
Get the Recipe: Thumbprint Cookies with Strawberry Icing
Chocolate Dipped Toffee Walnut Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Toffee Walnut Cookies bring a festive vibe without overcomplicating things. With rich chocolate and crunchy toffee, they’re a great treat for anyone who wants to enjoy holiday baking without spending hours in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Toffee Walnut Cookies
Mini Linzer Cookies
These mini Linzer cookies are a quick and easy take on a classic. With a versatile dough and simple assembly, they’re perfect for adding an elegant touch to your cookie spread without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Mini Linzer Cookies
Cranberry Shortbread Biscuits
This cranberry shortbread combines buttery texture with a festive pop of flavor. Using just a handful of simple ingredients, they’re quick to make and perfect for last-minute gifting or Christmas cookie exchanges.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Shortbread Biscuits
Gingersnaps with Almond Flour
These soft, sweet gingersnaps are made with almond flour for an easy-to-follow recipe that doesn’t require baking expertise. Mix, chill, and bake for a treat that’s perfect for anyone looking to keep holiday baking simple but satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Gingersnaps with Almond Flour
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut Butter Blossoms are a classic Christmas cookie topped with a Hershey Kiss, and they couldn’t be easier to make. No need for special skills—just a simple, crowd-pleasing cookie that’s always a hit at holiday gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Blossoms
Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
These sour cream sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting are great for baking with kids or decorating for the holidays. They’re simple to make, soft, and packed with festive charm, making them a perfect activity for the season.
Get the Recipe: Sour Cream Christmas Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Vanillekipferl
These crescent-shaped cookies from Germany and Austria are crumbly, buttery, and melt in your mouth. With a straightforward recipe, they’re a fantastic way to add some international flair to your holiday baking without overcomplicating things.
Get the Recipe: Vanillekipferl
Christmas Wreath Cookies
Christmas Wreath Cookies are festive, fun, and easy to make, making them perfect for baking with the family. They’re a great way to add a touch of charm to your dessert table without needing elaborate baking skills.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Wreath Cookies
Chai Spiced Oatmeal Cookies
These oatmeal cookies get a holiday upgrade with chai spices. They’re easy to whip up and bring a cozy flavor without any over-the-top effort, making them great for anyone who doesn’t bake regularly but still wants something impressive.
Get the Recipe: Chai Spiced Oatmeal Cookies
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Loaded with chocolate, pretzels, potato chips, and more, these cookies are the perfect way to use up whatever’s in your pantry. They’re soft, chewy, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser without needing any baking expertise.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Peppermint Kiss Sugar Cookies
Soft and chewy sugar cookies with a peppermint kiss on top are the holiday upgrade you didn’t know you needed. They’re quick to make, super festive, and the kind of treat that disappears fast from any cookie plate.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Kiss Sugar Cookies
Ginger Molasses Cookies
These ginger molasses cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with classic holiday spices. No complicated steps or long prep times here—just an easy recipe that delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Ginger Molasses Cookies
No Spread Sugar Cookies
No chill time, no spreading, and perfect for decorating—these sugar cookies make holiday baking a breeze. Whether you’re adding icing or keeping it simple, this recipe is perfect for anyone looking to cut down on stress.
Get the Recipe: No Spread Sugar Cookies
Grinch Cookies
These bright green Grinch cookies are a fun and festive way to add some whimsy to your holiday treats. The recipe is straightforward and perfect for getting kids involved—or for anyone looking for something easy and cheerful to bake.
Get the Recipe: Grinch Cookies
Embossed Rolling Pin Shortbread Cookie
Shortbread cookies that look fancy but are ridiculously easy to make. With the help of an embossed rolling pin, you get beautiful holiday patterns without any extra work, making them perfect for impressing guests with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Embossed Rolling Pin Shortbread Cookie
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
These cookies combine the classic PB&J flavors with the soft, chewy texture of a chocolate chip cookie. They’re a simple, nostalgic treat that’s easy to make and perfect for holiday snacking or gifting.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
Biscottini
Biscottini are mini biscotti that bring all the crunch and flavor in a bite-sized form. They’re baked twice for that perfect texture and are an easy way to add an Italian classic to your cookie tray without feeling like a baking marathon.
Get the Recipe: Biscottini
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
