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The 10 Best Holiday Cookies to Bake with Kids

Kelli Foster
Kelli FosterSenior Contributing Food Editor
Kelli is a Senior Contributing Food Editor for Kitchn. She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks, Plant-Based Buddha Bowls, The Probiotic Kitchen, Buddha Bowls, and Everyday Freekeh Meals. She lives in New Jersey.
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published Dec 7, 2020
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(Image credit: Faith Durand)

As a kid, there were few things more exciting this time of year than the annual tradition of baking holiday cookies with my family. From pressing my fingers into dough to make thumbprint cookies and adding the chocolate kiss to the peanut butter blossoms, to decorating sugar cookies and even pouring the chocolate chips into the bowl, there was always a way for me to get involved.

If you’ll be getting your little ones in the kitchen for some holiday baking, this lineup of cookie favorites is a great place to get started.

1. The Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Gather your holiday cookie cutter and stir up some icing or prep some colored candy melts, because baking and decorating sugar cookies is a guaranteed hit with kids of all ages.

(Image credit: Leela Cyd)

2. Spiced Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

Little hands can help roll these soft peanut butter cookies in sugar and unwrap the chocolate kisses and place them at the center of the baked cookies.

(Image credit: Laren Volo)

3. How To Make Gingerbread Cookies

The very best part of making these spiced cookies is stamping the dough with the cookie cutter and then decorating them with a simple icing and gumdrops.

(Image credit: Emma Christensen)

4. Candy Cane Cookies

Candy cane cookies always feel like a glimpse into my childhood. Just as fun as nibbling on these minty cookies was rolling the dough into rope and twisting them together.

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

5. Graham Cracker Thumbprints

Thumbprint cookies are always a great choice for baking with kids. This version starts with a duo of crushed graham crackers and flour, and bakes up plump and tender.

(Image credit: Kelli Foster)

6. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Let little hands help you roll these cookies in sugar. Just be sure to have a wet paper towel handy since things can get messy.

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

7. How To Make Spritz Cookies

Even if your kids aren’t old enough to help with the cookies press, they’ll certainly enjoy decorating with sprinkles.

(Image credit: Emma Christensen)

8. How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies from Scratch

When in doubt, go for the classics. Just be sure there are plenty of chocolate chips to nibble on while you’re baking.

(Image credit: Samantha Bolton)

9. The World’s Easiest Cookies

These four-ingredient (gluten-free and vegan) cookies come together in a single bowl, with just a little bit of elbow grease for stirring.

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

10. How To Make Shortbread Cookies

You’ll love that this shortbread dough comes together with just a handful of ingredients blitzed in the food processor. Let the kids have fun rolling the dough and shaping it with cookie cutters.

(Image credit: Elizabeth Graeber)

This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: The 10 Best Holiday Cookies to Bake with Kids