30 Best Christmas Cookie Decorating Ideas for the Cutest Treat
You'll definitely earn a spot on Santa's nice list.
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Decorating Christmas cookies is one of the best holiday traditions of the whole season. It's a task that you can take on with your kids and one that results in tasty Christmas cookies. Not to mention, you can use these ideas to make the ultimate Christmas cookie box. If you're not the most experienced baker, you might be wondering just how to decorate Christmas cookies. The key is to keep things simple and fun. "Don't take yourself too seriously," Ree Drummond says, "just have fun with it." Choose from cookies decorated with icing, peppermint, or Christmas-themed sprinkles. Then, put on your Christmas apron and start decorating!
These Christmas cookie decorating ideas include cut-out sugar cookies, spritz cookies, holiday stars, and lots of jolly gingerbread to serve on your spread of Christmas desserts. There's even a batch of unique cookies decorated like little cowboy boots! The finished products will be perfect for serving at your Christmas cookie exchange and they can even double as an adorable Christmas food gift. The options are endless once you get the hang of it, so no matter your skill level, you'll be able to wow your friends, family, and of course, the big buy. Don't forget to leave out that Christmas cookie plate for Santa. You'll be his favorite house on the block!
Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches
Can't decide between gingerbread and linzer cookies? Make them both in this delicious hybrid. That way, you can change up the look of the cookies just by switching out the cookie cutters. Add a dusting of powdered sugar for an extra festive touch.
Get the Gingerbread Cookie Sandwiches recipe.
Eggnog Cut-Out Cookies
Another great way to skip the complicated piping and still get stunning cut-out cookies is to dip them in swirled icing. They look impressive, and taste just as good!
Get the Eggnog Cut-Out Cookies recipe.
Italian Peach Cookies
Hello, stunners! Not only do these peach cookies fool the eye, but they burst with the flavor of fruit, too. They're easier than they look to make, thanks to a little food coloring and granulated sugar.
Get the Italian Peach Cookies recipe.
Pizzelle
Another easy decorating trick from the Italians? Let a gadget do all the work. These gorgeous cookies get their ornate snowflake appearance from a pizzelle maker. And for a more American spin, add some sprinkles in the batter for good measure.
Get the Pizzelle recipe.
Pinwheel Cookies
These swirled cookies are beautiful in their own right, but add red, green, and gold sprinkles around the edges and they become a delightful Christmas treat.
Get the Pinwheel Cookies recipe.
Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
It's amazing what a little sprinkle of coarse sugar will do! It adds just the right amount of sparkle to these festive cookies. Granted the real star of the show isn't the sugar or the shape―it's the cream cheese filling!
Candy Cane Cookies
Instead of simply giving your cookies peppermint flavor, this recipe shows you how to shape your cookies into candy canes themselves! It's easier than you might think.
Get the Candy Cane Cookies recipe.
Mexican Wedding Cookies
A dusting of powdered sugar makes these simple, nutty cookies look like a winter wonderland. They're perfect with a cup of hot cocoa on a snowy December day.
Get the Mexican Wedding Cookies recipe.
Spicy Molasses Cookies
This old-fashioned molasses cookie recipe has not one but three ways to decorate! You can drizzle with white chocolate stripes, dunk in white chocolate for more sweetness, or simply roll the cookies in gold, sparkling sugar before baking.
Get Ree's Spicy Molasses Cookies recipe.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Hershey's Kisses are a traditional way to make these classic peanut butter blossoms. But we took things to the next level by rolling the cookie dough in colorful sanding sugar, too.
Get the Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe.
Ree's Favorite Christmas Cookies
Grab your Christmas cookie cutters to make these festive treats that are one of Ree's favorites. She admits they're comforting and nostalgic and so much fun to make.
Get Ree's Favorite Christmas Cookies recipe.
Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
This shortcut cookie recipe starts with a box of devil's food cake mix. A few additional ingredients help form the dough, then the cookies are rolled in red and green sprinkles before baking.
Get the Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies recipe.
Spritz Cookies
These pretty little cookies come in different Christmas-themed shapes, but it's the various decorations that really make them shine. Choose from melted white and semi-sweet chocolate, sparkling sugar, shredded coconut, and colorful sprinkles.
Get the Spritz Cookies recipe.
Sugar Cookie Stars
Star light, star bright! Let your creativity shine with these star-shaped sugar cookies. Use a piping bag to make polka dots, swirls, or stripes, then cover them with sanding sugar for a shimmering star.
Get Ree's Sugar Cookie Stars recipe.
Gingerbread Cookies
We love a good, chewy gingerbread cookie on its own, but top it with a diamond-shaped slice of crystallized ginger and it'll really make the cookie shine.
Get Ree's Gingerbread Cookies recipe.
Linzer Cookies
Here's a fun twist on classic Linzer cookies: use different shaped cookie cutters for the small cut-outs in the center of these cookies. Stars, flowers, or even hearts would be nice.
Get the Linzer Cookies recipe.
Chocolate-Peppermint Slice-and-Bake Cookies
Easy decorating tip: Give any cookie a dip in melted chocolate and it's bound to be a show-stopper. This one goes one step further by sprinkling the chocolate with crushed peppermint candies.
Get Ree's Chocolate-Peppermint Slice-and-Bake Cookies recipe.
Red Cherry Thumbprint Cookies
Candied cherries and red sanding sugar make these thumbprint cookies extra festive. If you want to add some green to the mix, simple use green sanding sugar instead.
Get Ree's Red Cherry Thumbprint Cookies recipe.
Hot Chocolate Cookies
We have one word for you: marshmallows! It's the perfect topping for these hot chocolate flavored cookies.
Get Ree's Hot Chocolate Cookies recipe.
Gingerbread Cowboy Boot Cookies
A cookie fit for a cowboy! These are a fun twist on classic gingerbread people, using boot-shaped cookie cutters instead. They're decorated with white royal icing and glittery sanding sugar for a little cowboy glam.
Get Ree's Gingerbread Cowboy Boot Cookies recipe.
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