12 Easy Four Ingredient Christmas Cookie Recipes

Holiday baking sounds magical until you realize how many ingredients, steps, and bowls most recipes need. That’s when four-ingredient cookies save your sanity. You get the joy of homemade treats without spending the whole evening juggling timers and dishes. These recipes keep things simple so you can enjoy the smell of fresh cookies while still having time for decorating, gift wrapping, or relaxing with a warm drink. The flavors feel festive, the process feels doable, and the results look impressive enough to share without stress.

1. Peanut Butter Blossoms

You can make these familiar holiday favorites without a long ingredients list or complicated steps, and they still come out soft, chewy, and full of peanut flavor. You mix peanut butter, sugar, and an egg into a quick dough that comes together in minutes, then bake until the tops crack slightly. Press a chocolate candy into each warm cookie, and you have a classic Christmas treat that looks festive without any special decorating skills. It is the kind of recipe you can finish even on a busy weeknight.

2. Shortbread Cookies

This simple shortbread proves that butter, sugar, flour, and a pinch of salt are all you need for a soft, rich cookie with a delicate crumb. You cream the butter and sugar until smooth, fold in the flour, and shape the dough into logs or press it into a pan. The cookies bake into pale golden rounds that feel elegant without effort, and you can dip them in melted chocolate or sprinkle with sugar if you want something a little fancier. They keep well and make great gifts without adding extra work.

3. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These cookies look like they took hours, but the process is fast and forgiving. With cake mix, oil, eggs, and powdered sugar, you can whip up a dough that chills quickly and rolls easily. The sugar coating cracks as the cookies bake, creating that signature crinkle pattern that always grabs attention on a holiday dessert table. The inside stays soft and fudgy, and they deliver a strong chocolate flavor with almost no measuring or fuss. They are perfect when you want something festive but have limited time.

4. Sugar Cookie Bars

If you want the flavor of classic sugar cookies without the rolling and cutting, these bars save you a lot of effort. You mix butter, sugar, flour, and vanilla into a soft dough, press it into a pan, and bake until the edges turn lightly golden. Once cooled, you can spread a simple frosting or keep them plain for a cleaner finish. The bars slice neatly, travel well, and deliver that familiar holiday sweetness with far less work, making them ideal for parties or last-minute gatherings.

5. Almond Snowball Cookies

These soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies come together with butter, powdered sugar, flour, and finely ground almonds. You shape the dough into small rounds, bake until they set, and roll them in more powdered sugar while still warm, which gives them their snowy look. The almond flavor adds a cozy richness that feels right for the season, and the recipe stays simple enough for beginners. They store beautifully in tins and hold their shape, so you can make them ahead without losing texture.

6. Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

This recipe works when you want something chocolatey without melting anything or prepping multiple bowls. You stir together flour, sugar, and softened butter to make a quick dough, roll it into small balls, and press a thumbprint into each one before baking. When they come out warm, spoon a little Nutella into the center and let it settle as the cookies cool. They end up tender, rich, and glossy in the middle, and they feel special even though you barely had to measure a thing.

7. Coconut Macaroons

These cookies rely on just shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt to create a chewy, golden treat with almost no prep. You mix everything in one bowl, scoop the dough into mounds, and bake until the edges brown slightly. The texture stays soft inside with a crisp exterior, and they feel rich without needing butter or flour. You can drizzle melted chocolate on top if you want to dress them up, but they already look pretty stacked on a holiday dessert plate.

8. Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

When you want something that tastes bakery-level but needs very little time, these cookies deliver. You blend butter, flour, chocolate chips, and crushed toffee candies into a simple dough that bakes into soft, chewy rounds with caramelized edges. The toffee melts slightly and creates pockets of sweet crunch that balance nicely with the chocolate. The recipe comes together quickly, freezes well, and works whether you need a full batch for gifting or a small pan of cookies for a quiet night in.

9. Lemon Meltaway Cookies

These light cookies come together with butter, flour, powdered sugar, and fresh lemon zest, giving them a bright flavor that cuts through the richness of many holiday desserts. The dough mixes easily and bakes into small, delicate rounds that almost dissolve when you take a bite. You can dust them with extra powdered sugar after cooling for a snowy look without any decorating effort. They pack well in tins and offer a change of pace from the chocolate-heavy treats that fill most cookie trays.

10. Oatmeal Raisin Clusters

You can make these soft and chewy clusters with oats, raisins, sweetened condensed milk, and cinnamon. Everything stirs together in one bowl, and the mixture bakes into warm, golden mounds that hold their shape without flour or eggs. The oats give them a hearty texture, while the raisins add natural sweetness that works nicely for holiday baking without feeling too heavy. They cool quickly, store well, and feel wholesome enough that you can serve them alongside richer cookies without the plate seeming overwhelming.

11. Mint Chocolate Cookie Bites

These tiny treats satisfy your holiday mint cravings without complicated steps. You combine chocolate sandwich cookies, cream cheese, and a little mint extract, then roll the mixture into small balls and chill until firm. A quick dip in melted chocolate finishes them off with a smooth, minty shell that sets fast. The result tastes like a mix of candies and cookies, and the size makes them great for party trays or gifting. They require minimal cleanup and come together in less time than traditional baking.

12. Salted Caramel Pretzel Cookies

These cookies bring a sweet and salty balance using pretzels, caramel candies, butter, and flour. You crush the pretzels, fold them into a simple dough, and press a caramel piece into the top before baking. As the cookies cook, the caramel softens and melts slightly into the pretzel base, creating a chewy center that contrasts with the crunchy edges. They look impressive without piping or icing and disappear quickly at gatherings. The recipe is forgiving, kid-friendly, and perfect for casual holiday baking nights.