Christmas Cookies for Kids

October 30, 2009
From yummy cookie flavors to fun decorating ideas, here are the best kid-friendly cookies.
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Wreath Cookies

Photo: Oxmoor House
Wreath Cookies Recipe
Take a snack your kids love, like shredded wheat cereal, and transform it into a cookie dream come true. Melted vanilla candy holds the crispy wheat together. Let the little helpers in the kitchen adorn the wreaths with any on-hand candies that you have.
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Iced Sugar Cookies

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Sarah Smart
Iced Sugar Cookies Recipe
Decorate with dragée (sometimes called sugar pearls), gold or silver dust, and coarse or sparkling sugar, and tint the frosting with food color paste.

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Peanut Butter Crunch Cookies

Photo: Sang An
Peanut Butter Crunch Cookies Recipe
Add extra crunch to your peanut butter cookies by including chopped peanuts and a secret ingredient: crispy rice cereal. They're salty, sweet, crunchy, soft, and oh-so delicious.
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Gingerbread People Cookies

BECKY LUIGART-STAYNER
Gingerbread People Cookies Recipe
Get creative in the kitchen with the help of a little homemade icing. Let the kids make a cookie version of themselves or a favorite family member. Make extras so you can save a few for decoration and still enjoy a tummy full of cookie.

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Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Photo: William Dickey; Styling: Rose Nguyen
Chocolate Sugar Cookies Recipe
Spend a fun afternoon decorating cookies. Start at a craft or kitchen supply store and let kids select a favorite cookie cutter. Think outside the holiday box. You may just invent the first holiday butterfly angel.

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Silver Bells Cookies

Photo: Formula Z/S
Silver Bells Cookies Recipe
Want to know a secret? Once decorated, store-bought cookie dough can look completely homemade. If you're short on time, bake the cookies according to package directions, then top with glistening silver candies.
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Gingerbread Sailors and Mermaids

Photo: Jim Franco; Styling: Rebecca Donnelly
Gingerbread Sailors and Mermaids Recipe
Decorate with icing, sprinkles, and dragées for a sweet and spicy coastal treat!

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Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Peppermint Pinwheel Cookies Recipe
Don't let your eyes fool you – these "candies" are anything but. Roll red and white dough into a colorful spiral then top with delicious peppermint frosting. Package the treats and send with the kids to school for a holiday gift for friends or favorite teachers.

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Christmas Cookie Puzzles

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Christmas Cookie Puzzles Recipe
Choose cutters with simple shapes; they're easier to handle and less likely to break. If you want to make small puzzles, cut dough into 4-inch squares, and use a single cookie cutter to punch out the center of each square while still hot from the oven.
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Snowflake Shortbread

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Snowflake Shortbread Recipe

Top with sparkling sugar so these shortbread cookies glisten like snowflakes.

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Cookie Press Sandwiches

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Cookie Press Sandwiches Recipe
Pick your favorite filling for this classic sandwich cookie: We tested with peppermint, orange, and lemon extracts and used food coloring to match each flavor.

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Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies Recipe
Sugar cookies are the perfect backdrop for delicious flavors. Try any of the varieties that come with this recipe: Chocolate Kiss, Peanut Butter Cup, Lemon, or Lemon Thumbprint. Whichever you choose, you're guaranteed rave reviews.
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