‘Tis the season for festive baking! If you’re looking to whip up some holiday magic in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered with a delightful collection of easy and soft Christmas cookie recipes.
The magic of Christmas isn’t complete without the warm, inviting aroma of freshly baked cookies wafting from the kitchen. Christmas cookies make a delicious and thoughtful homemade gift and baking is a fun way to keep the kids out of mischief through the holidays.
But truth is, I just love baking (and eating) cookies (or biscuits, as I’ve grown up calling them…) Particularly melt-in-your-mouth soft cookies…delish!
These easy soft Christmas cookie recipes will bring joy and warmth to your home with minimal fuss whether you’re a seasoned baker or stepping into the kitchen for the first time.
From classic sugar cookies to festive peppermint desserts, there are plenty of easy soft cookie recipes for everyone to enjoy this holiday season. Get ready to fill your cookie jar with joy during the most cheerful time of year!
What is the secret to soft cookies?
There is more than one secret to soft cookies – it’s actually a combination of factors and tricks that make cookies soft rather than firm, crispy ones:
- Corn starch added to the cookie dough
- Brown sugar rather than white sugar, due to it’s higher molasses and moisture content
- An extra egg yolk can also add moisture due to the high fat content
- Baking powder rather than baking soda
- Chilling the dough minimizes the spread of the dough when baking (excess spread can lead to a thin cookie which crisps up)
Storage is also important. Once baked and cooled on a wire rack, store in an airtight container or wrap in plastic wrap to keep your cookies soft.
If you follow any of these easy soft Christmas cookie recipes instructions carefully, you should have no problem in baking a delicately soft and delicious cookie!
Easy Soft Christmas Cookie Recipes That Require Chill Time
Chilling the dough is a fairly standard part of a soft cookie recipe. The chilling helps to stop the cookie dough spreading too much on baking, meaning the cookie stays thick and soft. Large, thin cookies are more likely to become crisp and hard.
These easy soft Christmas cookie recipes include chilling time (minimum of 20-30 minutes) in the instructions – meaning a little more planning and patience!
Soft Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Packed with a generous amount of chocolate chunks, delicate chocolate shavings, peppermint extract, and crushed candy canes, these peppermint chocolate chip cookies are a festive holiday twist on the traditional chocolate chip cookie.
Check out the full Soft Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe here.
Easy Soft Italian Lemon Ricotta Cookies
These super soft lemon ricotta cookies have a hint of citrus, a sweet frosting glaze, and a healthy helping of sprinkles.
Often called Italian Christmas cookies or Easter Christmas cookies, these soft Christmas biscuits are a year-round favorite! The creamy ricotta and zesty lemon create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth experience that will have everyone reaching for seconds.
Find the full Italian Lemon Ricotta Cookies recipe here.
Hershey’s Kiss Sugar Cookies
Hershey’s Kiss cookies are a holiday favorite, often made with peanut butter. This particular recipe from The Short Order Cook uses classic sugar cookie ingredients (so no peanut butter) topped with a delicious Herhey’s Kiss.
Check the full Hershey’s Kiss Sugar Cookies recipe here.
Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies
Using real butter and molasses, these old-fashioned molasses cookies have a soft and chewy texture with crisp edges. The lovely cracked effect comes from rolling the dough in white sugar and the warm spices make these soft cookies the perfect holiday treat.
Find the Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies recipe here.
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
These chewy, buttery cookies are filled with melty chocolate chips and crushed candy canes for that fun peppermint crunch and festive color. They’re super easy to make and always a hit at cookie exchanges or holiday parties!
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe here
Soft Christmas Cutout Cookies
Love decorating Christmas cookies? These soft cutout sugar cookies hold their shape well and are perfect for frosting and decorating.
So if you’re looking for a fun activity to do with the kids this Chrismas, give this soft Christmas cookie recipe a go. With endless cookie-cutter options, they can really let their creativity shine! Display on your favorite Christmas cookie tray – that’s if they make it that far…
Full Christmas Cutout Cookies recipe here.
Taylor Swift Soft Chai Cookies
This easy chai cookie recipe was shared by the one and only Taylor Swift. Chai cookies are a delicate balance of chai spice, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. And they, of course, go perfectly with a hot cup of tea or cold glass of milk.
Check the full Taylor Swift Soft Chai Cookies recipe here.
Easy Grinch Christmas Cookies
These festive cookies will make anyone’s heart grow three sizes bigger! This easy soft cookie recipe uses a box of vanilla cake mix, green food coloring, red M&Ms, and white chocolate chips. Fun and so simple to make, these bring a whimsical touch to your holiday celebrations in the best way.
Find the Grinch Christmas Cookies recipe here.
Super Soft Gingerbread Cookies with Honey
These soft Christmas cookies are a modern take on traditional spiced cookies, made with honey rather than molasses. This particular recipe is inspired by the popular German gingerbread cookies, “lebkuchen”, packed with warm spices and topped with a sugar glaze.
For the full Gingerbread Cookies with Honey recipe click here.
Soft Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
Nothing looks more Christmassy than these bright green and red pinwheel cookies. They’re soft, delicious, and super fun to make! With their eye-catching swirl and festive colors, these cookies are sure to be a hit with the kids or at any Christmas party.
Full Christmas Pinwheel Cookies recipe here.
Soft Sugar Cookies
Sometimes an easy sugar cookie recipe is all you need! These soft biscuits are thick and tender with a sweet, crunchy crust due to the sugar dusting. Perfect for any occasion, but especially delightful for Christmas, these soft, easy sugar cookies are a timeless treat.
Check the full Soft Sugar Cookies here.
Dark Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Also affectionately known as “Snow on the Mountain cookies” amongst other names, these chocolate crinkle cookies are a holiday favorite. They’re an easy, soft Christmas biscuit perfect for the festivities.
For the full Dark Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe click here.
Chocolate Snowball Cookies
We made these deliciously soft Christmas cookies last year and they didn’t last long! They have a squidgy decadent chocolate interior with mini chocolate chips so are the perfect treat for chocolate lovers.
Check out our Snowball Cookie Recipe here.
For more festive Christmas food inspo, try these easy recipes:
- Delicious Christmas Cannoli’s
- Holiday Oreo Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint Shake
- Candy Cane Cocoa Recipe
- 19 Christmas Punch Recipes For Kids
Easy Soft Christmas Cookie Recipes – NO CHILLING Required
These soft Christmas cookie recipes don’t need to be chilled first – so if you’re in a hurry to get baking and then eating, these are the ones to pick!
Lofthouse-style Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
Remember those simple frosted sugar cookies that have graced grocery store shelves since the 90s? These are a healthier, allergy-friendly version that you can make at home! Perfect for any party or holiday, Christmas included, these easy biscuits are soft, sweet, and topped with a generous layer of frosting (or icing depending on where you’re from!).
Find all the details for these Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies here.
Soft Reindeer Cookies
These reindeer cookies are not only adorable but incredibly simple to make – no mixer or chilling necessary! To a soft chocolate cookie, add pretzel antlers and mini M&Ms for the eyes and nose.
Little ones will love making and then eating these cute and easy soft Christmas cookies.
Full Reindeer Cookie recipe here.
Easy Christmas Crinkle Cookies With Cake Mix (4 Ingredients)
These 4-ingredient Christmas crinkle cookies are soft inside with that fun crackly bite on the outside. The bright red and green make them such a cute, festive treat for the holidays!
Crinkle Cookies With Cake Mix recipe here
Easy Candy Cane Christmas Cookies
These soft and buttery Christmas sugar cookies are made extra festive with crushed candy cane bits. With their minty crunch and buttery base, these delicious melt-in-your-mouth two-bite holiday cookies won’t last long!
Check out the full Candy Cane Christmas Cookies recipe here.
Soft Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Here’s another divine melt-in-your-mouth soft and easy cookie recipe to try this Christmas. These delicate lemon crinkle cookies have a hint of lemon in every bite – their bright, citrusy flavor adds a refreshing twist to the usual holiday cookie fare.
Check the full Lemon Crinkle Cookies recipes here.
Soft & Chewy Christmas Eggnog Cookies
It doesn’t get much more seasonal than eggnog! These soft and fluffy cookies are full of the delicious flavors of eggnog, with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon.
Find the full Christmas Eggnog Cookies recipe here.
Whipped Shortbread Cookies
These pillowy shortbread biscuits only take four simple ingredients. Topped with sprinkles (use Christmas sprinkles for a more festive look) and maraschino cherry halves (if desired), the magic is in the whipping for these cookies! They’re light, airy, and simply delightful.
Full Whipped Shortbread Cookies recipe here.
Brownie Peppermint Cookies
These super easy chocolate peppermint cookies have a soft and fudgy center. After baking, drizzle with melted white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy.
Check the full Brownie Peppermint Cookies recipe here.
Hot Chocolate Christmas Cookies
These easy soft cookies are like a combination of delicious hot cocoa and s’mores. They’re hot brownie cookies swirled with a nice dose of marshmallow fluff, making them a fantastic treat for the winter. Enjoy them while cozied up next to the fire!
Find the full Hot Chocolate Christmas Cookies recipe here.
Soft Maraschino Cherry Cookies
The bright red of the maraschino cherries makes these colorful cookies perfect for a Christmas party while venturing away from traditional festive flavors. The recipe makes a soft and gooey cherry chocolate chip cookie that everyone will love!
Check full Maraschino Cherry Cookies recipe here.
For more baked sweet treats and desserts, check these out:
- Mini Apple Hand Pies
- 2 Banana Choc Chip Banana Bread
- Healthy No-Egg Banana Pancakes
- Sourdough Bread Blueberry French Toast Muffins
- Strawberry Cake Balls
- Caramel Apple Dumplings
- Easy Frozen Banana Bread
Maple Syrup Chocolate Chip Cookies
Made with real maple syrup, chocolate chips, and sliced almonds, these easy cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with plenty of maple and chocolate flavor. The maple flavor makes these a winner for winter time!
Full Maple Syrup Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe here.
Soft Mint Christmas Cookies
These easy soft Christmas cookies are made with mint M&Ms and are sure to hit the spot when you’re craving a festive holiday treat. The green color and minty flavor make a fun holiday treat or why not try them at a cookie exchange. Mint M&Ms are a seasonal item so make sure to snag them when you see them!
Check the full Soft Mint Christmas Cookies recipe here.
Which Are Your Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes?
Whether you’re looking for the perfect sugar cookie recipe or
