Make four different types of cookies all from one easy dough with these Holiday Cookies 4 Ways! These are the perfect cookies when you want several different types of treats without making four different batches. Sweet and crunchy, these holiday cookies are great for gift trays, parties and gatherings, or just for yourself.
Don’t limit yourself to Christmas or Hanukkah to make these delicious cookies. These are great for birthday parities, Thanksgiving, Easter, the Fourth of July or any other holiday that you need some quick and simple treats.
I have been making this basic cookie recipe for many years and they are definitely one of my all time favorites. They are so easy to decorate and make into a fun holiday treat!
Simple to Make
These cookies are so fantastic and a simple way to make and try a variety of holiday goodies. Starting with a basic refrigerator cookie dough these cookies are very easy and fun to make. After chilling the dough, divide it into four sections and decorate each differently.
If you have young kids this is also a great recipe to get them involved with. Never mind the mess. Everyone (adults too!) will have fun shaping, decorating and eating their festive treats!
Get Creative
If you have your own ideas for decorating or shaping these cookies, go for it. Substitutions are easy in this recipe. Allergic to nuts? Simply leave them out. Not fond of cinnamon, use a bit of nutmeg instead, yum! Be creative here. The sky is the limit.
Quite honestly I cannot decide which of these delicious cookies I like the most. They are all so good. The chocolate kiss cookies all disappeared first and then the jam thumbprints, just as I expected. However, we all really loved the cinnamon coated cookies. And you just can’t go wrong with sprinkles, they are so colorful and joyful!
Directions
To make these cookies just mix your butter and sugar throughly. Add your egg and vanilla then cream together.
Measure the flour then sprinkle the baking soda and salt on top. If you are using salted butter (sweet cream butter) then leave out the salt. Blend the dough together.
Place your dough onto wax paper and form into a roll about 2 ½ inches in diameter. (If you don’t have wax paper you could use plastic wrap instead.) Chill for at least 1 hour or until firm.
Preheat oven to 400°. Line or grease 2 cookie sheets. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces.
For the cinnamon sugar cookies cut one section of dough into about 8 slices. Press both sides of dough slices into a mixture of ½ Tb. sugar and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Place on the cookie sheet about an inch apart.
For the sprinkle cookies cut another section of dough into about 8 slices. Place on cookie sheet, shake sprinkles on top and gently press in.
For the jam thumbprint cookies roll a section of dough out until it is about 1 inch in diameter then cut into about 8 pieces. Form each piece into a ball and roll in 2 ½ Tb. chopped nuts. Place on the cookie sheet and press your thumb down in the center to make a small well.
For the chocolate kiss cookies roll the last section of dough out until it is 1 inch in diameter then cut into about 8 pieces. Form each piece into a ball and place on the cookie sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes. The jam thumbprint and chocolate kiss cookies may need an additional 2 - 3 minutes of cooking because they are thicker.
Remove from oven. Immediately place a 1 unwrapped chocolate kiss in each kiss cookie. Allow the cookies to cool. Before serving, top each jam thumbprint cookie with about ¾ tsp. of your favorite jam.
Recipe
Holiday Cookies 4 Ways
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Butter softened
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp. Vanilla
- 1 ¾ Cup Flour
- ½ tsp. Baking Soda
- ¼ tsp. Salt
For decorating
- ½ Tb Sugar
- ¼ tsp. Cinnamon
- 2 ½ Tb. Chopped nuts
- 2 Tb. Jam
- 8 Chocolate Kisses
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Mix butter and sugar throughly. Add egg and vanilla then cream together.
- Measure the flour then sprinkle the baking soda and salt on top. Blend the dough all together.
- Place dough onto wax paper and form into a roll about 2 ½ inches in diameter. (If you don’t have wax paper you could use plastic wrap instead.) Chill for at least 1 hour or until firm.
- Preheat oven to 400°. Line or grease 2 cookie sheets. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces.
- For the cinnamon sugar cookies cut one section of dough into about 8 slices. Press both sides of dough slices into mixture of ½ Tb. sugar and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon. Place on the cookie sheet about an inch apart.
- For the sprinkle cookies cut another section of dough into about 8 slices. Place on cookie sheet, shake sprinkles on top then gently press in.
- For the jam thumbprint cookies roll a section of dough out until it is about 1 inch in diameter then cut into about 8 pieces. Form each piece into a ball and roll in 2 ½ Tb. chopped nuts. Place on the cookie sheet and press your thumb down in the center to make a small well.
- For the chocolate kiss cookies roll the last section of dough out until it is about 1 inch in diameter then cut into about 8 pieces. Form each piece into a ball and place on the cookie sheet.
- Make sure cookies are about an inch apart on the pans. Bake for 8-10 minutes. The jam thumbprint and chocolate kiss cookies may need an additional 2 - 3 minutes of cooking because they are thicker.
- Remove from oven. Immediately place a 1 unwrapped chocolate kiss in each kiss cookie. Allow cookies to cool. Before serving, top each jam thumbprint cookie with about ¾ tsp. of your favorite jam.
Notes
Store cookies in an airtight container and they are will last for about a week. They also freeze well. You can also make the dough ahead of time and freeze that as well too. When you are ready to use it just defrost on the counter for 30-60 minutes or in the refrigerator overnight.
You also might like my homemade biscotti or potato chip cookie recipes!
Love this recipe? Please leave comments and ratings!
Maria
This cookie recipe is fantastic! I made these for a few of my neighbors and they were so good. This is such a great idea instead of making a whole bunch of different batches of cookies. I will definitely make them again.