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I have some of the best (in my humble opinion) Christmas Cookie recipes to make with kids and I am laying them all out in this post!
Including my all time, family favorite, chocolate covered cherry cookies.
This post is sponsored by Fred Meyer and QFC, however, all opinions are mine alone.
My Favorite Holiday Season Memories
What is the first childhood holiday season memory that pops up in your mind?
The first for me would be one year my butter obsessed grandma used an entire stick of butter to herself. Obviously, that quickly became the running family joke for all get-togethers afterward.
But my next would be watching my mom take over the entire kitchen and dining room over her holiday season cookie weekend. She would bake tons of cookies. I’m talking enough to cover an entire kitchen table and then some. From no bakes, to drop cookies, to new recipes, to my all-time favorite chocolate covered cherry cookies.
She genuinely loved it. Still does. But she had this cookie weekend every year because that was what we gifted our family members growing up. We were never really well off and instead of buying massive amounts of gifts for all of the extended family, she’d put together stunning plates of the best cookies you would ever eat.
Honestly, not a bad gift if you ask me.
I picked up on a lot of her recipes and make a few of them myself every year. Y’all know the twins have been obsessed with helping me in the kitchen so of course, I’m letting them in on the cookie making magic as well! I can only hope it brings the same warm memories of the holiday season like it did growing up for me.
Baking Cookies is the Ultimate Holiday Memory Maker
For me, anything that involves the kitchen is a big memory maker, especially with my kids. Baking new recipes together and seeing the big grins on their faces when they get to mix the dough themselves, or the little giggle when they accidentally drop half of the flour on the floor just cannot be beaten.
Best Christmas Cookie recipes to Make with Kids
I have 15 different Christmas cookie recipes to make with kids coming at you, five of which I have included a full how-to + video for!
But before we dive in, I have to boast about some of my favorite cookie making ingredients from Fred Meyer and QFC.
When it comes to whipping up the best cookies, Christmas cookies or not, it all comes down to the ingredients.
Quality ingredients = awesome cookies. Simple as that.
Not only do I look for quality ingredients for my Christmas baking, but I look for affordability as well, which is where Fred Meyer and QFC become the best of both worlds. They offer awesome selections from their own brands, Simple Truth and Private Selection, that are top quality but affordable.
I’ve raved about the Simple Truth line over and over because I love Fred Meyer and QFC’s “food first” mindset behind it. They are here to make sure they’re offering the best quality products and I have yet to be disappointed in any of their offerings.
I’m using Simple Truth Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips inside of a few of these recipes and the chocolate quality+taste cannot be beaten. Not only do they have a great chocolate taste, but they melt beautifully and bake even better.
Whether you’re diving headfirst into a weekend of holiday baking, or looking to put together some simple holiday dishes, Fred Meyer and QFC are the way to go.
Between their amazingly fresh produce selection and Simple Truth & Private Selection offerings, you’ll be set for a solid holiday (or anytime) season!
They’re constantly running new deals and promotions.
Click here to shop this weeks ad & click here to shop Simple Truth!
Let’s get to the baking!
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
All time family favorite Christmas Cookie recipe here!
Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
My chocolate-covered cherry cookies are the best melt in your mouth chocolate cookie you will ever try. We're talking phenomenal chocolate cookie dough base, halved cherries, all smothered in a cherry-chocolate fudge sauce. YUM!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cubed butter softened
- 1 cup White Sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Start by turning the oven on to 350 degrees and straining the cherries. Then halve the cherries. Keep the cherry juice.
- In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugar. Use hand mixer and beat until creamy. You can also opt for a stand mixer.
- Add the egg and vanilla to the butter/sugar mixture and beat until combined.
- Place a sifter over the large bowl with butter mixture and add remaining dry ingredients. Sift onto mixture. If you do not have a sifter, use another bowl to combine the dry ingredients and combine prior to adding to the butter mixture.
- If mixture is a bit too dry, add a tablespoon of the maraschino cherry juice to the mixture at a time until the dough is able to form into balls similar to sugar cookie dough.
- Using a ceramic baking sheet, or greased baking sheet, form dough into 1 inch balls and place evenly around sheet. I was able to baking 12 cookies at a time on a standard size cookie sheet.
- Press your thumb into each dough ball, creating a space for the halved cherries.
- Now on the stove in a medium sized sauce pan, add chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk and heat to medium low. Constantly stir the ingredients until a sauce forms. Don’t leave the mixture. It can burn quickly.
- Once a smooth sauce has formed and all chocolate chips have melted, remove pan from heat.
- Place cherry halves in the thumbprint of the chocolate cookies.
- Top with a spoonful of the fudge sauce.
- Bake for 10 minutes. The cookies might seem soft (similar to sugar cookies) after taking out of the oven, however, as they cool they will set.
No Bake Cookies
What we always called “Santa’s Favorite” cookies. Aka, dad’s favorite cookies, ha!
No Bake Cookies
Growing up, these were known as Santa's favorite cookies & I can see why! They're super simple & packed with chocolate peanut butter flavor. That's all you need!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups White Sugar
- 1/2 Cup brown sugar
- 1/2 Cup butter Cubed
- 1/2 Cup 2% Milk
- 4 TBS Dutch Cocoa Power
- 1/2 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 2 TSP vanilla
- 3 Cups Quick Oats
Instructions
- Heat a medium sauce pan at medium heat on the stove
- Add cubed butter, sugars, milk and cocoa power to the sauce pan
- Mix ingredients consistently as they begin to melt together
- Continue stirring mixture until it begins to boil (keep at medium heat!)
- Once boiling, cover sauce pan and let the mixture boil for a minute
- After the minute, remove sauce pan from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla
- Once smooth, add oats and mix until combined
- Next, let the mixture settle for five minutes
- After the five minutes, use two large spoons to scoop cookies onto parchment paper (about 2 tbs per cookie)
- Let the cookies set for about 30 minutes
- After the cookies are set, you can take off parchment paper and enjoy, or store in tupperware for later!
Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
Ya’ll, when I say these were the BEST gingerbread cookies I’ve ever made, I am not kidding.
This recipe was originally seen on fredmeyer.com
Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
These aren't your classic gingerbread cookies. These ones are rolled in powdered sugar before baking, and come out as the most perfectly puffed, soft, and chewy gingerbread cookies you will ever see!
Ingredients
- 2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 package (8 oz.) Kroger® Cream Cheese, softened
- 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 cup confectioners’ powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
Step 1
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.
Step 2
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, molasses, vanilla extract and salt. Mix until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and egg yolk. Beat until creamy.
Step 3
On low speed, gradually add in the flour mixture and mix until fully incorporated. Dough will be sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4-12 hours.
Step 4
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a nonstick silicone mat or parchment paper. Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl, then set aside.
Step 5
Form dough into generous 1.5” balls, using cookie scoop and roll into the powdered sugar to lightly coat. Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet at least 2” apart. Then roll each ball of dough in the powdered sugar once again.
Step 6
Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are puffed and crackly. It is important not to overbake, as the center of these cookies should be soft.
Step 7
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes, then carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack. Serve and store leftover cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
These were SO good alongside some actual peppermint hot chocolate!
This recipe was originally seen on fredmeyer.com
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies
These fun cookies are soft and chewy. They taste just like hot chocolate and are sure to be a huge hit with everyone of all ages.
Ingredients
- 1 1⁄2 cups Kroger® All-Purpose Enriched Flour
- 1⁄2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1⁄4 cup miniature chocolate chips
- 1⁄4 cup mallow bits
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick silicone baking mat.
Step 2
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cornstarch and salt.
Step 3
In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, eggs and peppermint extract. Stir in the brown sugar. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips and mallow bits.
Step 4
Drop the cookie dough by rounded spoonsful on the prepared baking sheet, then flatten slightly.
Step 5
Bake for 9-12 minutes. Allow to cool completely on the baking sheet.
Step 6
Serve and store leftovers in an airtight container.
Sugar Cookie Dip
Not a “cookie” per say, but she is being included any way! She makes for the best Christmas Cookie board dip.
This recipe was originally seen on fredmeyer.com
Christmas Sugar Cookie Dip
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without cookies! And what's something even more fun than cookies? Delicious Christmas Cookie Dough Dip that you can enjoy with cookies, fruits and other goodies.
Ingredients
- 1⁄2 cup Greek vanilla yogurt
- 5 tablespoons butter, softened
- 4 tablespoons mascarpone, softened
- 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1⁄2 cup powdered sugar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1⁄2 cup chopped mint chocolate chips, green and pink
- Gingerbread cookies, marshmallows, fruit and pretzels, for dipping
Instructions
Step 1
In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter, mascarpone and sugar, until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
Step 2
Add the flour, nutmeg and vanilla extract and beat for another minute.
Step 3
Mix in the yogurt on low speed, until just incorporated.
Step 4
With a wooden spoon, stir in the mint chocolates, reserving 2 tablespoons for topping.
Step 5
Serve immediately with cookies, fruit and other goodies. Refrigerate any leftovers.
10 More Christmas Cookie Ideas to Make with Kids
These recipe’s were originally seen on fredmeyer.com
Rice Krispies® Snowman
I love this idea! You could easily set the snowmen up with some candy and let the kids decorate their own snowmen for an afternoon activity.
Chocolate Coconut M&M’S® Macaroons
These macaroons would be super simple for the kids to help out with regardless of their age!
Chocolate Mint Thumbprints
Similar to my chocolate covered cherry cookies, the kids can totally help make the dough, roll into balls, stick a thumbprint, and top with the candy!
Easy Caramel Pretzel Candy
These ones look way harder than they are, I promise! Super simple steps for the kiddos to follow. When it comes to drizzling the chocolate, my tip would be to have a bowl of melted chocolate and let the kiddos dip a fork in, and then twirl the chocolate covered fork over the caramels.
Reindeer Crispy Treats
Okay, seriously. How cute are these?!
Sparkling Mint Kiss Cookies
I love that these are super easy & look absolutely DELICIOUS! I challenge you not to eat the whole batch!
Peppermint Fudge Topped Cookies
These are rated “medium” when it comes to difficulty- but I think they make for a great way to help your littles smear on some chocolate fudge icing and decorate with sprinkles and crushed candy canes!
Hidden Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
My toddlers love these kinds of recipes! All that creative playdoh mixing comes in handy, ha!
Coconut Christmas Tree Cookies
Yep! More recipes fit for decorating!
Chocolate Blossom Cookies with Sprinkles
My last recipe is an oldie but a goodie! Your kids will love helping with this one & honestly, there isn’t much room for error!
Now tell me, which recipe do you think you’ll be adding to your holiday baking list?
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