The holiday season is upon us, which means it’s time to get into the festive spirit and start baking delicious Christmas cookies! But why settle for plain and boring cookies when you can turn them into edible works of art? Decorating Christmas cookies is not only a fun and enjoyable activity for both kids and adults, but it also allows you to showcase your creativity and spread holiday cheer. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned baker, we’ve rounded up 30 fun and easy Christmas cookie decor ideas that will surely impress your family and friends.
1. Classic Christmas Shapes
Start off with classic Christmas shapes like stars, trees, stockings, and gingerbread men. Use colorful icing and sprinkles to bring them to life. These iconic symbols of the holiday season will definitely put a smile on everyone’s face.
2. Santa Claus Cookies
Create jolly Santa Claus cookies by using red and white icing to make his hat and beard. Add chocolate chips for the eyes and a small piece of red candy for the nose. These adorable cookies will be a hit at any Christmas party.
3. Snowman Treats
Get creative with snowman-themed cookies by stacking different-sized round cookies on top of each other.
Use white icing to create the snowman’s body and then add colorful decorations like mini chocolate chips, licorice, and candy buttons for the face and buttons.
4. Peppermint Swirl Cookies
Add a festive touch to your cookies by incorporating a peppermint swirl design. Roll out two different colors of dough and then twist them together before cutting out your desired shapes. These cookies are not only beautiful but also deliciously minty!.
5. Ugly Sweater Cookies
Embrace the ugly sweater trend by decorating your cookies with colorful icing in various designs. Use your imagination to create garish patterns, reindeer, snowflakes, or even miniature gingerbread men wearing sweaters.
6. Reindeer Cookies
Transform basic round cookies into adorable reindeers by using pretzels for antlers and chocolate chips for eyes. Use red icing to make a small dot for the nose, and you’ll have yourself a delicious and cute treat.
7. Gingerbread House Cookies
If you don’t have the time or patience to build a full-size gingerbread house, try making gingerbread house cookies instead.
Cut out rectangular cookies and decorate them with colorful icing, candy canes, and assorted sprinkles to resemble a cozy little house.
8. Christmas Wreath Cookies
Add a touch of elegance to your cookie platter with these beautiful wreath-shaped cookies. Use green icing to create the wreath and then decorate it with red holly berries made from small candies or piping gel.
9. Snowflake Cookies
No two snowflakes are alike, which makes them the perfect inspiration for your Christmas cookies. Use a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter and decorate the cookies with white or blue icing to create intricate snowflake designs.
10. Candy Cane Cookies
These classic treats are not only delicious but also visually appealing. Roll out two different-colored doughs and twist them together to form the iconic candy cane shape.
Sprinkle with crushed peppermint or add red and white icing stripes for an extra festive touch.
11. Christmas Tree Cookies
Make fun and edible Christmas tree cookies by cutting out triangle-shaped cookies and decorating them with vibrant green icing. Add colorful sprinkles and a yellow star at the top to complete the festive look.
12. Melted Snowman Cookies
Create adorable melted snowman cookies by icing round cookies with white frosting. Add mini chocolate chips for the eyes, an orange candy-coated chocolate for the nose, and use black icing to draw a smiley mouth.
Finish off with a marshmallow or icing for the melted snowball effect.
13. Nutcracker Cookies
Pay homage to the beloved holiday tradition of nutcrackers by making nutcracker-shaped cookies. Decorate them with colorful icing, sprinkles, and edible gold paint for a touch of opulence.
14. Hot Cocoa Mug Cookies
Who doesn’t love a warm cup of hot cocoa during the holidays? Recreate the cozy feeling by shaping cookies into mug shapes and decorating them with brown icing to resemble hot cocoa. Add mini marshmallows or white sprinkles on top for the foam.
15. Mistletoe Cookies
Spread the holiday love by making mistletoe-shaped cookies. Use green icing for the leaves and red icing to create the berries. These cookies make perfect gifts for friends and loved ones.
16. Penguin Cookies
Turn your cookies into adorable penguins by icing them with black and white frosting. Use orange icing to make their beaks and feet, and add candy eyes for a whimsical touch.
17. North Pole Sign Cookies
Create sign-shaped cookies and use white icing to write “North Pole” or other holiday-related phrases. Add colorful sprinkles to make the signs more festive. These cookies are great for adding some whimsy to your cookie platter.
18. Angel Cookies
Channel the angelic spirit of Christmas by making angel-shaped cookies. Decorate them with white icing to create their flowing gowns and golden icing for their wings. These heavenly treats are sure to impress.
19. Polar Bear Cookies
Use round cookies as the base for these adorable polar bear treats. Cover them with white icing and add black icing for their facial features. You can even use mini marshmallows for their ears.
20. Snow Globe Cookies
Create edible snow globes by covering your cookies with clear sugar glaze. Decorate the glaze with colorful icing to resemble a winter wonderland scene complete with trees, snowflakes, and even tiny edible figures.
21. Christmas Light Cookies
Bring the joy and brightness of Christmas lights to your cookies. Use colorful icing to draw squiggly lines on your cookies and add small, colorful candies as the lights. These cookies are as visually stunning as they are tasty.
22. Starry Night Cookies
Decorate your cookies to resemble a starry night sky with dark blue icing. Add edible silver stars and white dots to create a dazzling effect. These cookies are perfect for celebrating the magic of a winter night.
23. Christmas Bell Cookies
Bells are a classic symbol of the holiday season. Use bell-shaped cookie cutters and decorate the cookies with gold or silver icing. You can even add small jingle bells to the cookies for an extra festive touch.
24. Christmas Bauble Cookies
Recreate the beauty of Christmas tree ornaments with bauble-shaped cookies. Decorate them with colorful icing and edible pearls or small candies to mimic the shine and sparkle of real ornaments.
25. Reindeer Tracks Cookies
Make it look like Santa’s reindeer paid a visit to your cookies by using brown icing to create hoof prints. Add a red candy nose and small candy eyes for an adorable finishing touch.
26. Holly Leaf Cookies
Use holly leaf-shaped cookie cutters and green icing to create cookies that resemble the vibrant leaves of the holly plant. Add red holly berries made from small candies or icing to complete the festive design.
27. Candle Cookies
Get ready to light up your cookie platter with candle-shaped cookies. Decorate the cookies with colorful icing and add a yellow icing flame on top. These cookies will add a cozy warmth to your holiday spread.
28. Christmas Sweater Pattern Cookies
Create intricate sweater patterns on your cookies using different colors of icing. Take inspiration from traditional holiday sweater designs or go for more whimsical patterns like snowflakes, reindeer, or mittens.
29. Gingerbread Men Decorations
Take your gingerbread men to the next level by using icing and candies to dress them up. Give your gingerbread men tiny icing sweaters, pants, or even hats. Let your creativity run wild!.
30. Christmas Emoji Cookies
Add a modern twist to your Christmas cookies by icing them with festive emojis like Santa Claus, reindeer, snowmen, or Christmas trees. These fun and quirky cookies are sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face.