There are many different types of Christmas cookies made around the holiday season, and there are certainly no rules as to what should or should not be made. Some of the most popular Christmas cookies are a type of simple sugar cookie, cut into holiday shapes with a cookie cutter, and sometimes decorated with frosting or sprinkles. Gingerbread cookies, mint cookies, meringues, and Russian tea cakes are some other popular holiday cookies, though many families prefer cookies that are everyday favorites too, such as chocolate chip, peanut butter, or shortbread thumbprint cookies that are often filled with jam or chocolate.
Cut-out cookies are a Christmas tradition in many families. There are many recipes to be found online for these sugar cookies, which may also be made with oatmeal. In these types of cookies, the dough is rolled flat, and then cookie cutters in different shapes are pressed into the dough to make the individual cookies. Stars, wreaths, snowmen, or Santas are all popular shapes for these Christmas cookies. They take just a few minutes to bake, and then may be decorated. Along with gingerbread cookies, these are a great project for the whole family to make.
Decorating Christmas cookies together can be fun, and it requires only a few ingredients such as different colors of icing and sprinkles. Kids can help to make and cut out the cookies, then decorate them as they see fit after they are baked. Russian tea cakes are also popular Christmas cookies because these are rolled in powdered sugar when they are complete and look like small snowballs; some people even call them "snowball cookies." Mint cookies are also popular holiday choices. Mint meringues, made with crushed peppermint, are common, as well as chocolate chip cookies that are made with mint chocolate chips.
Any types of cookies can be made during the holiday season, however. Peanut butter cookies can be made more festive with the addition of chocolate, for example, or some people choose to make peanut butter and chocolate bars rather than cookies. Christmas cookies made with jam, such as thumbprint cookies or "stained glass" cookies are also very popular as well, and fun to give as gifts. Sandwich cookies, in which two cookies are pressed together using a type of flavored cream or frosting, are another type that are simple to make, but which are enjoyed by many. Have fun trying different Christmas cookie recipes, since it will never be hard to find people to enjoy them if you have some extras!
