21 amazing Christmas cookies that aren’t cut-outs. Holiday baking options that are easy to make with no rolling and cutting required!
Cut-out cookies are a holiday classic: beautifully decorated, festive, and picture-perfect. They’re everywhere this time of year, and while they look spectacular, they can also be time-consuming and fiddly. If you enjoy baking but prefer simpler, faster treats, you’re not alone — cut-outs aren’t always my go-to either.
Many families still bake a small batch of decorated sugar cookies for kids to ice and decorate, and that tradition is lovely. But when I want quick, crowd-pleasing cookies that don’t require rolling or cutting, I reach for recipes that are rolled into balls, dropped onto baking sheets, or baked in muffin tins. They’re easier, faster, and just as delicious.
Below you’ll find 21 fantastic Christmas cookies that skip the cut-out step but deliver on flavor and holiday cheer. These recipes are ideal when you need to bake for a crowd, make gifts, or simply want a stress-free baking session. Each option is simple to prepare and perfect for filling cookie tins, trays, or gift boxes.
21 Christmas Cookies That Aren’t Cut-outs
Whipped Shortbread
Light, sweet whipped shortbread cookies topped with a cherry — quick to make and perfectly festive for a holiday cookie tray.
Swig Sugar Cookies
Lacey Cookies
Homemade Thin Mints
Crisp slice-and-bake chocolate mint cookies coated in chocolate — a simple, classic holiday treat.
Chocolate Swig Sugar Cookies
Soft baked chocolate sugar cookies that are easy to make and irresistibly good — a crowd favorite.
Almond Snowball Cookies
Delicate almond-flavored snowball cookies — easy to make and perfect for a festive cookie assortment.
Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lemon Sugar Cookie Cups
Soft and Chewy Ginger Cookies
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft, chewy cookies with refreshing mint and chocolate — a seasonal favorite that’s simple to make.
Lemon Sugar Cookies
Ultra-soft lemon sugar cookies with light frosting — bright, simple, and ideal for holiday gatherings.
Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie
A fun giant chocolate chip cookie — great for gifting or serving as a show-stopping holiday treat.
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
Crisp biscotti studded with cranberries and pistachios — excellent with coffee or tea during holiday mornings.
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
Chewy cookies that combine chocolate chips, oats, and peanut butter — comforting and quick to prepare.
Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
Almond Joy Thumbprint Cookies
Chocolate cookies coated in coconut with an almond pressed on top — a tasty thumbprint variation that’s perfect for the season.
Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies
Chocolate and peppermint doughs swirled into pinwheels — a festive slice-and-bake cookie with classic holiday flavor.
Triple Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Chewy triple-chocolate cookies with macadamia nuts — indulgent and sure to disappear quickly from the cookie plate.
Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers
Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
Rich chocolate cookies rolled in pecans, topped with salted caramel, and drizzled with chocolate — a decadent holiday bite.
Raspberry Lemon Cookies
Ultra-soft raspberry lemon cookies — bright, chewy, and easy to make. A refreshing addition to any holiday cookie collection.