Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit like baking cookies with my friends and family. Ever since I was little, my mom, sisters, and I would always bake hundreds of cookies every year to give out to our family, friends, neighbors, and favorite coffee shop workers. Now that I am in college, I still love to make tons of cookies every year to share with my friends. While it is a little more difficult to do in the middle of finals and with only a partially functioning kitchen, I have found some great recipes that are quick, easy, and delicious. Most of them come from pre-made dough so you don’t have to go out and buy a million ingredients as well. Enjoy!
1) Reindeer Cookies
These are so adorable and easy to make. Plus they would be fun to decorate with your roommates as a good study break during finals. This recipe uses gingerbread dough for a fun take on the well-loved gingerbread man, but I have also made this using peanut butter cookie dough and chocolate covered pretzels (amazing). Check out the recipe here:
http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/reindeer-cookies/63d29328-c4ba-4d8b-a3dc-29277aefea63
2) Gluten free sugar cookies
Just because you can’t eat gluten, doesn’t mean you’re left out of Christmas cookie baking! Check out this super easy recipe for gluten free cake mix sugar cookies. This is just a basic sugar cookie recipe so you can definitely spice it up with any kind of sprinkles or decorations or even fun cookie cutters. Plus they sell gluten free cake mix at City Co now, so no excuse not to make these! Check out the recipe here: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/gluten-free-cake-mix-sugar-cookies/f607fd69-55c5-48ef-98ab-207082fbb376
3) Peppermint Joe-Joe Truffles
If you’ve never had these amazing cookies from Trader Joe’s, you are seriously missing out let me tell you. This recipe is great for something a little different but still holiday like with its peppermint flavors. Plus there is no baking required for anyone who lives in a building without a full kitchen. Check out the recipe here: http://elizabethbryant.blogspot.com/2012/12/peppermint-joe-joe-truffles.html
4) Candy Cane Kiss Recipes
These are so easy and so yummy, if you love peppermint as much as I do. All you need is store-bought sugar cookie dough and peppermint candy kisses (you can use a different flavor if you prefer). Just follow the recipe on the back of the sugar cookie roll and then after removing them from the oven, cool for two or three minutes and press the kiss into the middle of the cookie.
5) Slice and Bake Cookies
And last but not least, everyone’s favorite holiday cookies, the Pillsbury slice and bake reindeer, snowmen, or Christmas trees. I have yet to find anything that beats the taste of fresh out of the oven slice and bake cookies. These are most definitely the epitome of Christmas baking!
Photo Sources
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PZxZ4yUk0iI/UNAPlimug3I/AAAAAAAACnQ/H8jCXVT48cI/s1600/DSC_2806-001.JPG
https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=8362&name=KISSES-Candy-Cane-Blossoms
http://s3.amazonaws.com/gmi-digital-library/fb81b291-b2ad-4ad4-b8f9-9c308850d629.jpg