5 Christmas Cookie Recipes That Make You Want to Bake with Your Kids
By Katie Trudeau
Christmas is right around the corner, and if you’re like me, you’re still way behind schedule for Christmas cookie production.
The good news is that there is still time to catch up on those cookies. Three dozen cookies for your next holiday party?! No problem.
Here’s the even better news: these five recipes are so easy your kids can join in on the fun. Most of these recipes are no-bake, but all of them are super tasty!
Minty Sandwich Cookies
If you like sweet and salty, this is your go-to recipe. Plus, this recipe calls for store-bought frosting, which means this is one batch of cookies you can whip up in no time.
What you need:
- 1 16-ounce jar of vanilla frosting (if you have more time, you can make your own buttercream frosting by whipping unsalted butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until you get your desired consistency)
- ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract
- 3-5 drops organic, food-based green food dye
- 72 crackers (I used Late July, but Ritz will work too)
- 1 pound of dark chocolate candy coating (the kind of chocolate used for making candy)
What to do:
- Place your frosting in a glass mixing bowl
- Add the food coloring and the peppermint extract
- Stir well
- Spread a layer of peppermint frosting over the top of 36 crackers
- Take the remaining 36 crackers and top the frosted cracker (You should have 36 sandwiches at this point)
- Melt the candy chocolate in the microwave; stir every 30 seconds
- Dip each sandwich into the chocolate (it should look like a fudge covered Oreo at this point)
- Place each cookie on parchment paper
- While the chocolate is still wet, let your child pour sprinkles over the cookies
- Let the chocolate set
- Enjoy!
Tip: Store in a storage container in the fridge. Let warm up to room temperature before serving.
No Bake Christmas Wreaths
Who doesn’t love a Rice Krispy treat? Rice Krispy treats are easy to make -- and fun for kids to make! This recipe takes a spin on the classic recipe and dresses it up for the holidays.
What you need:
- 40 large marshmallows
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- Organic, plant-based green food dye
- 6 cups cereal -- either Cornflakes or Rice Krispies will work
- 4 tablespoons of red candy such as M&M’s
What to do:
- Place the butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe glass bowl
- Microwave (uncovered) until the marshmallows expand and the butter melts (depending on your microwave, this could take 45-60 seconds, but keep an eye on the marshmallows so they don’t overflow)
- Stir the food dye into the marshmallow/butter mixture
- Stir in your cereal of choice
- Take a handful of “batter” and create a ring-shape wreath
- Place each wreath on the wax paper
- Press the red candy on to the wreath to decorate it
- Let set
Tip: The marshmallow/cereal mixture will cool quickly. If working with kids, create an assembly line. For example, you can form the wreaths while the kids add the candy pieces.
Twisted Candy Cane Cookies
Candy canes are a Christmas staple, and these cookies are designed to look just like the classic holiday candy.
To be honest, this isn’t the fastest recipe on this list. I’m including it because these are so cute, and kids will love to make the dough “snakes”/”ropes” to shape the candy canes. If you are working with your kids, you could do the prep work ahead of time and bring the kids into the kitchen when it’s time to shape the candy canes.
If you don’t have 3-4 hours to chill the dough, skip this recipe and try one of the no-bake options on this list.
What you need:
- 6 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 2 cups of salted butter, softened (not melted)
- 2 cups of cane sugar
- 1 cup of half and half
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons of peppermint extract
- Organic, plant-based red food dye
- Red decorating sugar
What to do:
- Measure all of your ingredients (There are a lot of ingredients here, and if you pre-measure before your kids come in to help you, the process will go much smoother)
- Add all of the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl
- In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar together. Add the half and half, the eggs, the vanilla extract, and the peppermint extract.
- Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture.
- Divide the dough into half. In one bowl, add red food dye. In the second bowl, add NO food dye. You should now have two dough balls: one red and one white.
- Cover each bowl with plastic wrap and place each dough ball into the fridge for four hours.
- To make each candy cane cookie, take a piece of the white dough and roll out a rope shape. Repeat the same process with the red dough. Twist the two dough strands to make a candy cane shape. (This will no doubt be the most fun part for the kids.)
- Bake on a parchment-lined cookie tray at 375F for 11-15 minutes.
- Optional: If using the red decorating sugar, sprinkle the sugar on the cookies before you cook them.
No-Bake Christmas-y Oreo Truffles
No-bake Oreo truffles are one of my favorite party cookies, but with a few simple additions, you can transform your standard Oreo truffle into a festive truffle fit for Santa.
Not only are these insanely delicious, but there’s no baking required, which means this is a recipe you want to use when you’re short on time!
What you need:
- 2 packages (32 ounces) OREO Cookies ( I use the regular ones)
- 2 packages (16 ounces) cream cheese (room temperature)
- 2 package (24 ounces) Green candy melts
- Christmas sprinkles
What to do:
- Place your cookies in a food processor (If your food processor is small, just make ½ recipe at a time)
- Add the cream cheese to the food processor
- Use a scooper and make truffle-size balls
- Place the truffles in a freezer-safe dish and freeze for 30 minutes
- While the truffles are in the freezer, melt the green chocolate candy in the microwave or double boiler
- Dip each truffle in the green chocolate
- Decorate with sprinkles, crushed Oreos, or drizzled melted white chocolate
- Let the candy set
- Enjoy!
Easy Sugar Cookies
Ready to try your hand at homemade sugar cookies?
What you need:
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 cups flour
- Sprinkles, non-pareils, and colored decorating sugar
What to do:
- Preheat your oven to 375F
- Use an electric hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar.
- Add the eggs. Mix well. Add the vanilla extract.
- Add the baking powder and flour. Mix well.
- Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop out about two tablespoons of dough and form a loose ball shape. (That’s right, no rolling out cookie dough here!)
- Use a fork to gently press down the cookie. This will leave the visible lines just like on peanut butter cookies.
- Let your kids decorate the cookies with the sprinkles and decorating sugar.
- Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes.
What about you?
What’s your favorite Christmas cookie to make with your kids?
______________________________________________________________________________________
Kathryn is a self-proclaimed book nerd who has a passion for natural parenting and writing. As a homeschooling mother of two, Kathryn understands the dynamics of a busy family life. She is the founder of the Cor Domum movement, a mission that guides families through life so that they can parent with joy. Read more at www.katietrudeau.com
Interested in writing a guest blog for Sleeping Baby? Send your topic idea to social@sleepingbaby.com.
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Sleeping Baby makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, current-ness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.