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36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

These no-fuss treats are a breeze to bake up.
36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

Photo, Erik Putz.

There's still plenty of time to bake if you choose the right recipes. Here are 36 easy holiday cookies that don't take a lot of time—but will easily impress family and friends. (Or, pick from 200+ holiday cookie recipes right here.)

Holiday Brownie Cookies

Fudgy on the inside, crisp on the outside, and dipped into (yes more) chocolate, these cookies are holiday perfection. Get our holiday brownie cookie recipe here.

Easy Holiday Cookies: holiday chocolate brownie cookiesPhoto, Erik Putz.

Pistachio Thumbprints

These buttery shortbread-like bites from 2005 are the ideal make-ahead cookie, and they travel beautifully. Prepare and bake the dough, then fill with colourful jam or lemon curd just before serving. Get our pistachio thumbprints recipe here. 

Five pistachio thumbprint cookies arranged on a golding serving mat.Produced by Chantal Braganza and Sun Ngo, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Nicole Billark.

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Scottish Shortbread for Christmas

This classic buttery cookie recipe was published in the magazine’s first-ever Christmas issue in 1928. We’ve dialled down the flour and added more citrus peel for a lightly sweet and crisp treat. Butter and candied orange are the two key flavours in this recipe; try to find the best quality of both. Get our Scotish shortbread for Christmas recipe here. 

Scottish shortbread for Christmas served on a pink plate, with one wedge out of eight removedProduced by Chantal Braganza and Sun Ngo, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Nicole Billark.

Honey Peanut Balls

The original 1957 version of these make-ahead bonbons were billed as a convenience treat. Sprinkling a bit of childhood-favourite sugary cereal overtop adds a bit of crunch, colour and fun. Get our honey peanut balls recipe here. 

Honey peanut balls, rolled in colourful crushed cereal bits, on a lime green surfaceProduced by Chantal Braganza and Sun Ngo, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Nicole Billark.

Snowball Cookies

15 minutes of prep, plus 8 minutes in the oven and you have these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. Pop some chocolate in the middle for extra decadence! Get our Snowball Cookies recipe.

snowball cookies powdered with sugar on a cooling rack on a white table, snowball cookies recipe(Photo: iStock)

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Eggnog Snickerdoodle

Try this classic sweet and spicy cookies with a festive, eggnog twist! Get our eggnog snickerdoodle recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Erik Putz.

Whisk and Sugar’s Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

"One of my best memories growing up was making holiday cookies with my family—now I get to pass that tradition to my own kids. These soft and fudgy vegan chocolate crinkle cookies are a classic holiday cookie that’s perfect for any party or cookie exchange. They’re sure to please even the pickiest cookie or chocolate lover." —Courtney Van Horne, owner, Charlottetown (now closed, sadly). Get Whisk and Sugar's Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe.

Whisk and Sugar Vegan Chocolate Crinkle CookiesProduced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

Duchess Bake Shop’s Cardamom Orange Sablés Bretons

"These traditional French butter cookies are a snap to make. They positively melt in your mouth and make a great addition to any holiday cookie lineup. The cardamom-and- orange combination is perfect for the holidays, but if you aren’t a fan, you could simply omit those flavourings and add a bit more vanilla."—Giselle Courteau, co-owner, Edmonton. Get our Duchess Bake Shop's Cardamom Orange Sablés Bretons recipe.

Duchess Bake Shop's Cardamom Orange Sablés BretonsProduced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

This easy recipe is a last-minute saviour. It lets you deliver chewy, chocolatey treats without having to bake sheet after sheet of cookies. Get our chocolate chip cookie bars recipe.

new holiday cookie recipes: chocolate chip cookie barsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Ginger Crackle cookies

Chewy in the middle, with a sugar-crusted crackle on the outside, these cookie are made to go with a tall glass of milk. Get our ginger crackle cookies recipe.

soft ginger cookies with crackles on silver platePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Lemon-Glazed Butter Snaps

Crisp and buttery lemon cookies for the win. Get our lemon-glazed butter snaps recipe.

Two lemon-glazed butter cookies on a white background.Photo, Liam Morgan.

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Classic Shortbread Cookies

Buttery and crisp, these cookies will never go out of style. Get our classic shortbread cookies recipe.

Christmas cookies: Classic shortbread cookiesPhoto, Sian Richards.

Almond Crescent Cookies

Make them in crescents or in balls—either way these tender-crisp almond cookies will be a hit. Get our almond crescent cookie recipe.

almond cookies crescent holiday cookiesPhoto, Liam Morgan.

Sugar Cookie

Choose your cookie cutters, and get baking! This classic recipe is easy to make, and perfect for decorating with royal icing. Get our classic sugar cookie recipe.

How to make sugar cookies

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Chocolate Icebox Cookies

Filled with dulce de leche cookie butter, these cookies are outrageously good. Get our chocolate icebox cookie recipe.

Chocolate icebox cookies holiday cookiesPhoto, Liam Morgan.

Lemon Drop Icebox Cookie

Thumbprint sugar cookies are a little denser with a soft chew, making them ideal for a creamy lemon-curd filling. Get our lemon drop icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Candy Cane Icebox Cookie

Bought too many candy canes? We love using them in everything from cookies to fudge, biscotti and hot chocolate. Get our candy cane icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

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Sugar-Crusted Chocolate Slice Cookies

A simple and elegant way to dress up your cookies when you’re short on time. Just roll your dough over coarse sugar before slicing your cookies to bake. Get our sugar-crusted chocolate slice cookie recipe.

A sugar-crusted chocolate slice cookie on a white background.

Wicked Chocolate Icebox Cookies

You can’t go wrong with a little more chocolate at this time of year. Get our wicked chocolate icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Chocolate Orange Icebox Cookies

One of the season’s best flavour combinations. Get our chocolate orange icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

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S’mores Icebox Cookies

Who says s’mores are only for the summertime? Get our s’mores icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

Coffee Dulce De leche Icebox Cookie

Save some extras for yourself… these caramel cookies are known to fly off the dessert table. Get our coffee dulce de leche icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Nutella Kiss Icebox Cookie

These easy vanilla cookies get a dollop of everyone’s favourite hazelnut spread in the middle for a deliciously easy finish. Get our Nutella kiss icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

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Vanilla Icebox Sugar Cookies

Decorate them, eat them plain—they’re a classic either way. Watch how to make sugar cookies, then, get our vanilla icebox sugar cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Birthday Cake Icebox Cookies

These sprinkle-filled cookies aren’t just for the holidays—they can help you celebrate any day of the year. Get our birthday cake icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Mint Chocolate Chip Icebox Cookie

This standout ice cream flavour works even better in cookie form. Get our mint chocolate chip icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

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Chai Gingerbread Cookies

A standard holiday recipe you can make easily—with a little twist. Get our chai gingerbread cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

Pistachio And Cranberry Icebox Cookies

If you like your cookies a little nutty, these are the ones for you. Plus, the chewy red cranberries and green pistachios make them extra-festive. Get our pistachio and cranberry icebox cookie recipe.

pistachio and cranberry icebox cookiePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Crisp Icebox Cookies

Add the swirl to the dough, and once they’re cooked, no need to decorate! Get our crisp icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

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Citrus Punch Icebox Cookies

Give your sugar cookies a little zesty twist with in-season citrus. It’s a refreshing and sweet treat. Get our citrus punch icebox cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

French Butter Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies are one of the easiest holiday cookies! From this version to 19 more, there’s one you can make this weekend. Get our French butter cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

Almond Cherry Fruitcake Cookie

These cookies make the most of those colourful glacé cherries and the dried fruits we love during the holiday season. Get our almond cherry fruitcake cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

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Sesame cookie

A nutty twist on the classic sugar cookie (all it takes is a few extra ingredients). Get our sesame cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

PB&J Thumbprint Cookies

Who can resist PB&J? Get our peanut butter and jam thumprint cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday CookiesPB&J thumbprint cookies

Cranberry Fruitcake Cookie

No time to make fruitcake this year? In a nod to the season’s most divisive dessert, here’s a cookie version to try. Get our cranberry fruitcake cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

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Caramel And Chocolate-Filled Shortbread Cookies

Surprises inside (it’s a Caramilk square!). Get our caramel and chocolate-filled shortbread cookie recipe.

36 Quick And Easy Last-Minute Holiday Cookies

Assorted cookies on a pink background with the words in white "Find more Christmas cookie recipes

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