The holiday season is the perfect time to gather in the kitchen with family and bake delightful cookies that fill your home with warmth and joy. Here are some simple and festive cookie recipes that everyone can enjoy making together:

Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

These classic cookies combine the rich flavor of peanut butter with a sweet chocolate kiss on top. They're easy to make and fun for kids to help by placing the chocolate kisses.

What You Need:

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• Chocolate kisses

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Mix peanut butter, sugar, and egg until smooth.
3. Roll dough into balls, place on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
4. Press a chocolate kiss into each cookie immediately after baking. Cool and enjoy!

Decorated Sugar Cookies

Soft and buttery, these sugar cookies are perfect for cutting into festive shapes and decorating with colorful icing and sprinkles. It's a great way to let everyone's creativity shine.

What You Need:

• 2 ¾ cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Icing and sprinkles for decorating

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Mix butter and sugar until fluffy, then add egg and vanilla. Gradually stir in flour.
3. Roll out dough, cut into shapes, and bake for 8–10 minutes.
4. Once cooled, decorate with icing and sprinkles.

Gingerbread Men

Spiced with ginger and molasses, gingerbread men are a holiday staple. Use cookie cutters to create fun shapes and decorate with icing for delightful treats.

What You Need:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp cloves
• ½ cup molasses
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup butter (softened)

Instructions:

1. Mix dry ingredients, then cream butter, sugar, and molasses in another bowl. Combine both mixtures.
2. Chill dough for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Roll out dough, cut into gingerbread shapes, and bake for 8–10 minutes.
4. Decorate with icing and candies once cooled.

Jam Thumbprint Cookies

These cookies have a thumbprint indentation filled with your favorite jam. They're simple to make and add a pop of color to your cookie tray.

What You Need:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup butter (softened)
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Your favorite jam

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mix butter, sugar, and vanilla until creamy, then stir in flour.
3. Roll dough into balls, press a thumb into each to create a well, and fill with jam.
4. Bake for 12–15 minutes and let cool.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Fudgy and rolled in powdered sugar, these cookies develop a crackled appearance as they bake, making them as delightful to look at as they are to eat.

What You Need:

• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Mix cocoa, sugar, and oil. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in flour and baking powder. Chill dough for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. Roll dough into balls, coat in powdered sugar, and bake for 10–12 minutes.
4. Let cool and enjoy the crackly goodness!

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Each recipe is simple, festive, and perfect for creating lasting family memories. From decorating sugar cookies to pressing jam into thumbprints, there’s a role for everyone in the kitchen. So, tie on those aprons, turn up the holiday music, and get baking!