15 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients

The holiday season is all about sharing joy, and nothing says Christmas like the smell of freshly baked cookies. If you’re short on time or ingredients, these easy Christmas cookie recipes with few ingredients will bring festive cheer without the stress. Each recipe uses simple pantry staples yet delivers delicious, crowd-pleasing results.

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients

1. Classic Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter (softened)
  
• ½ cup sugar
  
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
   
3. Combine the flour and stir until a smooth, soft dough comes together..
   
4. Roll out and cut into festive shapes.
   
5. Bake for 10–12 minutes until lightly golden.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Crisp, buttery, and perfect for decorating.

2. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ingredients:

• 1 cup peanut butter
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 1 egg
  
• Chocolate kisses
  

Instructions:

1. Mix peanut butter, sugar, and egg in a bowl.
   
2. Roll dough into small balls.
   
3. Place on a lined baking sheet.
   
4. Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
   
5. Press a chocolate kiss on each cookie while warm.
   

Why You’ll Love It: A 3-ingredient favorite with a rich, chewy texture.

3. Snowball Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
  
• 2 cups flour
  
• ½ cup powdered sugar (plus more for coating)
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
   
2. Mix butter, sugar, and flour into dough.
   
3. Shape into small balls.
   
4. Bake for 15 minutes until firm but not brown.
   
5. Roll in powdered sugar while still warm.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Soft, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

4. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
  
• 2 eggs
  
• ½ cup vegetable oil
  
• Powdered sugar
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Mix cake mix, eggs, and oil until dough forms.
   
3. Roll into balls and coat in powdered sugar.
   
4. Place on a lined baking tray.
   
5. Bake for 10–12 minutes until crackled.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Fudgy centers and a festive look.

5. Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
  
• ½ cup sugar
  
• 2 cups flour
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
   
2. Cream butter and sugar together.
   
3. Stir in flour until crumbly dough forms.
   
4. Press into pan or shape by hand.
   
5. Bake for 20–25 minutes until lightly golden.
   

Why You’ll Love It: A timeless buttery cookie for every Christmas.

6. Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shredded coconut
  
• ⅔ cup sweetened condensed milk
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
   
2. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
   
3. Scoop small portions onto a baking tray.
   
4. Bake for 15–18 minutes until golden brown.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Chewy, coconut-rich, and gluten-free.

7. Sugar Cookies Without Butter

Ingredients:

• ½ cup vegetable oil
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 1 egg
  
• 2 cups flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Mix oil, sugar, and egg in a bowl.
   
3. Add flour and baking powder gradually.
   
4. Shape into balls and flatten slightly.
   
5. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Soft, sweet, and easy to make with pantry staples.

8. 3-Ingredient Nutella Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Nutella
  
• 1 cup flour
  
• 1 egg
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Mix all ingredients until smooth dough forms.
   
3. Roll into small balls and flatten slightly.
   
4. Bake for 8–10 minutes.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Chocolatey, chewy, and irresistible.

9. Oatmeal Banana Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe bananas
  
• 1 cup oats
  
• ¼ cup chocolate chips (optional)
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Mash bananas in a bowl.
   
3. Add oats and chocolate chips.
   
4. Stir until well combined.
   
5. Drop spoonfuls on tray and bake for 10–12 minutes.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Healthy, naturally sweet, and flourless.

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients

10. Candy Cane Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
  
• ½ cup sugar
  
• 2½ cups flour
  
• ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
  
• Red food coloring
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Mix butter, sugar, flour, and extract into dough.
   
3. Divide in half; color one half red.
   
4. Roll both colors into ropes and twist together.
   
5. Bake for 8–10 minutes.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Festive peppermint cookies that look like candy canes.

11. Ginger Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:

• ½ cup butter
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• ¼ cup molasses
  
• 2 cups flour
  
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Cream butter and sugar.
   
3. Add molasses and mix.
   
4. Stir in flour and ginger until dough forms.
   
5. Roll in sugar and bake 10 minutes.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Soft, spicy, and full of holiday warmth.

12. 3-Ingredient Shortbread Bites

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
  
• 1 cup butter
  
• ½ cup sugar
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
   
2. Mix ingredients until dough forms.
   
3. Roll out and cut into small squares.
   
4. Bake for 15–18 minutes.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Simple, bite-sized, and buttery.

13. No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats
  
• ½ cup peanut butter
  
• ½ cup melted chocolate
  

Instructions:

1. Mix oats, peanut butter, and chocolate in a bowl.
   
2. Scoop spoonfuls onto parchment paper.
   
3. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Quick, chewy, and oven-free.

14. Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
  
• ½ cup sugar
  
• 2 cups flour
  
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Mix butter and sugar.
   
3. Add flour and cinnamon.
   
4. Shape into balls and flatten slightly.
   
5. Bake for 10–12 minutes.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Sweet and aromatic with warm holiday spice.

15. White Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup crushed pretzels
  
• ½ cup white chocolate chips
  
• ½ cup butter
  
• 1 cup flour
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   
2. Mix butter and flour until crumbly.
   
3. Add crushed pretzels and chocolate chips.
   
4. Shape and bake for 12–15 minutes.
   
5. Dip in melted white chocolate once cooled.
   

Why You’ll Love It: Sweet, salty, and perfectly festive.

Why These Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients Work

These easy Christmas cookie recipes with few ingredients are perfect for busy holiday schedules. They use pantry staples, require minimal preparation, and still deliver delicious, festive cookies everyone will love. Whether you’re baking with kids or making a last-minute batch for guests, these recipes simplify holiday baking without compromising on taste.

Tips for Making Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients

• Use room temperature butter: It helps cookies hold their shape and mix evenly.
  
• Add festive touches: Sprinkle red and green sugar, drizzle melted chocolate, or add crushed candy canes.
  
• Store properly: Keep cookies in airtight containers to maintain freshness.
  

If you love festive treats, check out our Candy Cane Cookie Recipe — a colorful, peppermint-swirled favorite that’s perfect for the holidays.

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients Conclusion

These easy Christmas cookie recipes with few ingredients prove that you don’t need a long grocery list to spread holiday cheer. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create delicious cookies perfect for sharing, gifting, or enjoying with hot cocoa.

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to make a 5 ingredient cookie?
Mix basic ingredients like butter, sugar, flour, eggs, and chocolate chips (or your favorite flavor) to create an easy, delicious cookie dough. Shape and bake until golden for a quick treat.

2. What is the most popular cookie at Christmas?
The most popular Christmas cookie is the classic sugar cookie, often cut into festive shapes and decorated with icing and sprinkles.

3. What is the least common Christmas cookie?
Cookies like fruitcake cookies or spiced anise cookies are among the least common, but they still have a nostalgic charm for traditional bakers.

4. What are the 7 basic ingredients in all cookies?
Most cookies use a combination of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda (or powder), salt, and flavoring such as vanilla or cocoa.

5. How to make cookie dough with 3 ingredients?
Combine 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 egg. Mix well, roll into balls, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.

6. What to bake with 5 ingredients?
You can bake a variety of simple treats, including shortbread, peanut butter cookies, brownies, or banana bread, using just five pantry staples.

7. What is the golden rule in baking cookies?
Always measure ingredients accurately and avoid overmixing the dough. This ensures soft, chewy, and evenly baked cookies every time.

8. What are the 10 most popular homemade cookies?
The top favorites include chocolate chip, sugar, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, shortbread, snickerdoodle, gingerbread, thumbprint, molasses, and double chocolate cookies.

9. What is the least favorite Christmas cookie?
Many people say fruitcake-style cookies or overly spiced cookies are the least loved, though taste preferences vary from person to person.

10. How can I make Christmas cookies with few ingredients?
You can make festive cookies using just a handful of pantry staples like butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. Our collection of easy Christmas cookie recipes with few ingredients shows you step-by-step instructions for simple, delicious treats.