Make Your Christmas Cookies Stand Out With These Simple Decorating Ideas

This has been a difficult and sometimes complicated year for many of us, and the holidays are likely to be just as complicated as the rest of the year — if not more. While we might not all be hosting the same big get-togethers that we have in years past, we can still share a little holiday cheer with family, friends, and loved ones near and far. And one way to do that is to make, decorate, and then share Christmas cookies. Making a beautiful little treat can be a way of sharing a bit of love with someone near or far—and the baking itself will fill the house with warmth and cheer, and give the family a reason to gather together, baking and decorating.

To help you decorate the cutest holiday cookies, we've rounded up the best ideas whether they're in the form of Christmas tree decorations, an ugly Christmas sweater, or just a cute Christmas sugar cookie decorated with red and green icing. And we know your kids will want in on the action too, which is why we've included decorating ideas to get the kids' Christmas table busy, as well as techniques that are on the easier side so little ones won't get stressed (or make your kitchen too messy).

So, this year, break out the bowls, get out the cookie cutters, and stock up on icing and sprinkles. Then gather the family and spend a few hours decorating cookies. We promise you it'll be time that you don't regret spending.

This is it: your never-fail basic sugar cookie recipe. Use it to make all your favorite ornaments, or try one of the innovative recipes below.

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This easy-to-make dough can be turned into three different cookies, depending on what you're in the mood for. The chocolate ones are perfect for Santa.

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All you need to create these elegant snowflake cookies are different-sized cookie cutters and a light dusting of powdered sugar.

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These edible string lights are tied together with an extra-long piece of licorice.

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These pretty ginger-infused cookies are simple to make, and can be arranged into an absolutely stunning dessert-table centerpiece.

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Displayed in a clear-topped checkerboard box, bite-size shortbread cookies—dipped in fruity glazes, chopped nuts, and citrus zest—pass for tiny works of art. Bonus: The sturdy container can later hold other petite treasures like jewelry or sewing notions.

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This smart take on traditional Christmas tree cookies uses colored dough and the negative shapes to make delicious Linzer-style cookie sandwiches. Smucker's jelly or preserves are a good choice.

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Here's a fun way to address a gift — and it's edible! To create these sweet name tags, follow our recipe for sugar cookie dough, below. Then just form the cookies with a tag-shaped cutter, and use a small straw to punch a hole in the pointed end of each treat before baking.

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Bavarian cookies called springerle are known for their distinctive flavor. The dough is rolled onto a floured surface, imprinted with clean, floured rubber stamps, dried overnight, and then baked.

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Simplify your holiday baking this season: With just one dough recipe, you can create dozens of distinctive cookies. During the holidays, an edible gift is always appreciated—and never returned!

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Use a glass with a decorative bottom to press patterns into ready-made sugar cookie dough.

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These buttery delights are cute as, well, you know. Gather a stack together by threading ribbon through the buttonholes, and present the cookies in a perfectly sized papier-mâché box with a snowflake stenciled on the lid.

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Adorn your sweet snowmen with their own scarves, hats, and carrot noses by using the easy piping instructions included in the recipe.

Get the recipe at Sally's Baking Addiction.

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Your friends and family will be blown away that you made these elegant shortbread cookies yourself. Believe it or not, they're very easy to create!

Get the recipe at The Café Sucre Farine.

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Use different varieties of sprinkles to decorate these soft, chewy sugar cookie trees and stars—that just happen to be gluten-free too!

Get the recipe at Ambitious Kitchen.

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While the Santa decorations on these cookies are adorable, we also love all the Christmas spices working together in every bite, including cardamon, ginger, and even black pepper.

Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

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You can use this classy looking half-dipped technique on any cookie, but we think these extra chocolatey peppermint cookies are a great choice.

Get the recipe at Baker by Nature.

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To make these adorable wreaths, the recipe gives instructions for sugared rosemary, which sounds so delicious paired with the other spices in this cookie.

Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

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"Peppermint fluff" sounds like something we can get behind, especially when it's dolloped on top of a gooey, chocolatey cookie.

Get the recipe at Inside BruCrew Life.

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Create these icy snowflakes with a simple marbling technique that just requires some food coloring, a bowl, and a toothpick!

Get the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.

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Sure, these cookies may look just like the Lofthouse ones, but the homemade dough and rich frosting make them so much better.

Get the recipe at Pinch of Yum.

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These chocolate-dipped Oreos are easy enough to decorate that even young kids can do it!

Get the recipe at SugarHero.

Mimic the twinkling lights hanging from your tree with a batch of these colorful Christmas cookies.

Get the recipe at Dessert for Two.

Because sometimes all you need in sugar cookies is a huge helping of M&Ms.

Get the recipe at Cooking with Karli.

You could spend hours of your holiday weekend making creme brûlée—or you could save time and turn the dessert into cookies instead.

Get the recipe at Delish.

If your kids are itching to help in the kitchen, let them get their hands dirty filling these tree-themed cookie cups.

Get the recipe at Two Sisters Crafting.

These sugar cookie trees are perfect for folks who like their dessert to be more frosting than cookie.

Get the recipe at Delish.

Don't worry if you're not an expert decorator—this blogger gives icing tips and tricks so your cookies can look just as cute as these.

Get the recipe at Sweetopia.

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No two snowflakes are exactly alike—decorate this royal-iced recipe with different designs.

Get the recipe at Cooking Classy.

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Set out a variety of frostings and sprinkles and let your kids get creative with the decorating.

Get the recipe at The Bearfoot Baker.

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Skip the store-bought variety and whip up these homemade goodies instead.

Get the recipe at Half Baked Harvest.

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These delicately decorated snowflakes will wow everyone at your holiday cookie exchange.

Get the recipe at Hint of Vanilla.

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This recipe gets double the eggnog flavor in both the batter and the cream cheese frosting.

Get the recipe at Creme de la Crumb.

Frosty never looked so adorable—or delicious!

Get the recipe at Glorious Treats.

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These cookies can be ready in no time, as you don't have to refrigerate the dough first.

Get the recipe at Life, Love and Sugar.

This chewy dessert tastes scrumptious plain, or topped with a vanilla cream cheese frosting.

Get the recipe at Crunchy Creamy Sweet.

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Not a fan of gingerbread flavor but can't resist the cuteness of gingerbread men? This recipe is the one for you!

Get the recipe at The Honey Blonde.

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Enlist your little ones to help dip and decorate these cookies.

Get the recipe at Yummiest Food.

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Your family will go nuts for this buttery recipe.

Get the recipe at Sweetopia.

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Transfer these cookies from the oven straight to a cooling rack so they don't over-bake.

Get the recipe at Wholefully.

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A super-simple recipe, a no-roll dough, and lots of sprinkles—what's not to love about this treat?

Get the recipe at The Salty Marshmallow.

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These melt-in-your-mouth creations call for sour cream, which lends an ultra-velvety texture.

Get the recipe at Just So Tasty.

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Kids will go crazy for these colorful cookies.

Get the recipe at Baked by Rachel.

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Whip up these sugared and spiced treats right after you're done making your annual gingerbread house.

Get the recipe at Creme de la Crumb.

"Bulbs" made of mini M&Ms make this recipe an automatic kid favorite.

Get the recipe at Fireflies and Mud Pies.

Cream cheese frosting and festive sprinkles make these red velvet cookies perfect for the holiday season.

Get the recipe at Cooking Classy.

Have a soft spot for store-bought cookies? You'll love being able to make them at home.

Get the recipe at Wholefully.

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You only need four ingredients for these easy, no-bake truffles.

Get the recipe at If You Give A Blonde A Kitchen.

Chewy peppermint sugar cookies dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candy. We can't think of a more refreshing way to end your Christmas meal!

Get the recipe at Cooking Classy.

Jazz up your sugar cookies with some pumpkin pie spice in the batter and the glaze.

Get the recipe at Lauren's Latest.

Bake up these cute cookies and decorate with icing and M&Ms for treats that your little ones (and Rudolph) will love.

Get the recipe at One Little Project.

Every chocolate lover knows that anything is better with Nutella—and sugar cookies are no exception.

Get the recipe at Homemade Hooplah.

Sweet, rich maple syrup and nutty brown butter combine in these soft and chewy sugar cookies. And a maple drizzle is the perfect touch.

Get the recipe at Tutti Dolci.

What makes this cookie spectacular is the cinnamon roll cream cheese frosting—there's nothing like it.

Get the recipe at Chef in Training.

These chocolatey treats will have you feeling merry. When decorating, channel your creativity and get festive!

Get the recipe at Sweetopia.

It's never too cold for the taste of a fall favorite. These caramel apple sugar cookies are worth every bite—they're flavored with apple butter and have caramel baked right in the center.

Get the recipe at Wine and Glue.

Santa won't be able to resist grabbing a few more of these delicious cookies.

Get the recipe at Love Grows Wild.

Topped with brown sugar frosting and pecans, these sugar cookies make for one decadent treat.

Get the recipe at The Recipe Rebel.

We've found it: The absolute cutest edible centerpiece for your Christmas dinner table.

Get the recipe at Baker Bettie.

These festive sugar cookies are sure to be a holiday hit with your friends and family.

Get the recipe at Glorious Treats.

Inject a bit of humor into your holiday baking routine with these melting snowmen cookies.

Get the recipe at My Frugal Adventures.

Peppermint is to Christmas what pumpkin is to fall—they just belong together.

Get the recipe at Cooking Classy.

Fact: These are the prettiest (and tastiest) snowflakes we've ever seen.

Get the recipe at Annie Eats.

What's better than building a snowman? Eating one in cookie form, of course.

Get the recipe at Created By Diane.