Make holiday memories with the kids with these super easy Christmas cookies for kids. These recipes are my favorite holiday cookies to bake with the kids—and to eat right along with them!

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Baking with kids is one of my very favorite holiday traditions and I love doing one each weekend as we head towards the holidays. This list includes my go-to easy cookies for kids—whether you want to make them together or you want to just make a batch to share with the kids.

TIP: Each of these is designed to be very straight-forward to make and they all contain a little less sugar than the traditional cookies. And they are fun to make together!

(For even more holiday fun, try my Christmas Pizza or Christmas Muffins!)

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healthy sugar cookies

Easy Sugar Cookies

This dough is so easy to work with and doesn’t need any electric mixers—just clean hands.

Easy Sugar Cookies (Healthy and Delish!)
This makes a small batch of lightly sweet cookies. Double it to make more. If at any point the dough seems too sticky, pop it into the fridge for 5-10 minutes to firm up a bit. Or dust your parchment paper and cookie cutters with flour.
Easy Sugar Cookies (Healthy and Delish!)
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easy-gingerbread-cookies-on-white-plate

Easy Gingerbread Cookies

Little gingerbread men are fun to make, decorate, and eat. This is always one of the first holiday cookies we make each year.

Easy Gingerbread Cookies
Flavorful, whole-wheat gingerbread cookies with just a hint of natural sweetness are a perfect holiday treat to make with the kids. Double the batch to make more.
Easy Gingerbread Cookies
healthy gingerbread cookies on round plate
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This easy to work with dough is one of our favorite holiday activities (right up there with Salt Dough!).

Easy Christmas Cookies for Kids (Fun Cut-Outs!)
You can use any cookie cutters you like to make these Christmas Cookies for kids—the timing Is for 2-3 inch ones so scale up or down if yours are bigger or smaller. And feel free to make half of the dough at a time (and stash the other Into the fridge for a future day).
Easy Christmas Cookies for Kids (Fun Cut-Outs!)
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Monster cookies on cookie sheet after baking.

Monster Cookies

With the best of all cookie flavors, these easy Monster Cookies are a hit with the kids!

Favorite Monster Cookies
These classic Monster Cookies are the flavor and texture you expect, with a little less sweetness—so all of the other flavors shine right through!
Favorite Monster Cookies
Monster cookies on cookie sheet after baking.
Jam cookies on cooling rack.

Jam Cookies

With any flavor of jam between two just-sweet-enough sugar cookies, these are sure to be yummy all year long.

Favorite Jam Cookies
With an easy-to-work-with sugar cookie base and a layer of jam in the middle, these Jam Cookies are a classic cookie to share with the kids. This version has a foolproof dough and is just sweet enough. These cookies are perfect for the holidays—or any day!
Favorite Jam Cookies
Jam cookies on cooling rack.
Olive oil cookies on pink plate with glasses of milk.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

With olive oil in place of butter, these cookies are super easy to mix up. And are crisp and chewy!

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Made with a base of olive oil instead of butter, and whole wheat flour for extra flavor, these dairy-free Chocolate Chip Cookies are lower in sugar than most and just as delicious. Make and share with the whole family.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Olive oil cookies on baking pan after cooking.
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Sprinkle Cookies

Use any color of sprinkles to fit the occasion in these easy and fun cookies for kids.

Favorite Sprinkle Cookies
These vanilla cookies have crisp edges, an easy method, and less than half the sugar as similar cookies. They are so delicious. You can use your hands or a food processor, and note that you'll form the cookies, then chill them in the fridge while the oven preheats.
Favorite Sprinkle Cookies
stack of sprinkle cookies on counter
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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

A little fluffy, a little chewy, these are a classic oatmeal cookie to share.

Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Try these Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies the next time you're looking for a classic cookie that's a little less sweet and still SO good. They're soft-baked, and so yummy.
Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
healthy oatmeal raisin cookies on wire rack.
pumpkin-cookies-on-white-plate

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

This cookie is so airy and light—and has a perfect mix of flavors.

Healthy Pumpkin Cookies (with Chocolate Chips)
Light, tender, and bursting with cozy flavor, these Healthy Pumpkin Cookies are a yummy snack or dessert. (These fluffy cookies are not super sweet, so you can add 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar to the batter if desired. We like them just fine as is with the chocolate chips for sweetness!)
Healthy Pumpkin Cookies (with Chocolate Chips)
pumpkin cookies on plate
chocolate-sugar-cookies-on-wire-rack

Easy Chocolate Sugar Cookies

A little cocoa powder in the batter goes a long way in these delicious (and lightly sweet) cut-out cookies.

Easy Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Like a cross between an animal cracker and a sugar cookie, these less sweet cookies are easy to make with the kids. The amount of cookies you can make from one batch will depend on how large your cookie cutters are.
Easy Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Chocolate sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles.
stack-of-healthy-loaded-chocolate-chip-cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

It’s always a good day for a loaded chocolate chip cookie!

Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These classic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies have lower sugar but all the flavor and texture you crave. Choose your add-ins based on the kinds your family enjoys most.
Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
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icing-apple-cookies-on-wire-rack

Favorite Apple Cookies

Put some fresh apple to good use in these fruit-filled cookies.

Favorite Apple Cookies (with Oatmeal and Raisins)
These hearty apple cookies are plenty sweet, yet low in added sugars. You can also serve them as breakfast cookies (you may just want to leave the icing off!)
Favorite Apple Cookies (with Oatmeal and Raisins)
apple-cookies-with-icing-on-wire-rack
no-bake-peanut-butter-balls-on-white-plate

No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls

Add these to a cookie tray or make them to share with the family—they’re easy and delicious.

Favorite No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
With just a few healthy ingredients, you can mix up these No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls in minutes to share with the kids. They pack in protein and whole grains, and are a dessert or snack that stores well for days.
Favorite No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
no bake peanut butter balls
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No-Bake Apricot Balls

Just 5 ingredients and about 15 minutes are all you need to make these delicious cookie bites.

Easy No-Bake Apricot Balls
These healthy holiday cookies require only 10 minutes and 5 simple ingredients. And they store well so they're a great option to make ahead!
Easy No-Bake Apricot Balls
apricot-balls-in-white-paper-cups
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Graham Cracker Peanut Butter Balls

Think the flavor of S’mores in a fridge-stable format and you have these no-bake bites!

Graham Crackers Peanut Butter Balls
These should chill for 30 minutes before serving to allow the oats to soften up a bit. (You can eat them immediately, they’ll just be a little chewy.)
Graham Crackers Peanut Butter Balls
graham-cracker-bites-in-white-paper-cups
Amy and girls
Photo by Andy Lyons for All Recipes

Best Tips for Baking with Kids

If you make these recipes with your kids, here are some resources to help.

  • Invest in a Kids Apron to help them stay clean (and feel like a pro!) in the kitchen.
  • Remember these easy tips for sane baking with kids and you can do as little or as much together as works for you and your kids.
  • A learning tower can help keep the kids safely at counter height.
  • Some basic kids cooking tools can help make those little hands get right to work.
  • My Food Play cookbook for kids is a great option if you want no-cook recipes to make together.

You May Also Like

I’d love to hear if you have a favorite Christmas cookie for kids that you make each year. Please share below and let me know how you like these recipes too!

This post was first published November 2020.

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