While cookie exchanges may be out this year, baking cookies as a family is undoubtedly in. At-home fun is the perfect way to enjoy time off with your kids, and we can think of no sweeter pastime than baking. Here are a few classic flavors to kick off your winter break. 

Molasses Cookies

Check out this time-honored holiday favorite from our December cover family, the Schildknechts. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1 teaspoon ginger

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 stick margarine

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 egg, beaten

• ¼ cup molasses

• Granulated sugar (for dusting)

Get all the details here. 

Ann Potter Baking Mixes 

Let your budding baker take the first step to baking independence with these mixes from Ann Potter Baking. Take your pick of flavors from classic vanilla shortbread, chocolate shortbread and holiday spice mix. Just add butter and an egg for perfect cookies every time. The finished product can be rolled and cut or served as drop cookies. Shop here. 

Sugar Cookie Cutouts

These are my absolute favorite cookies for rolling out and cutting. I use them for every holiday from Valentine’s Day and Halloween to Easter. Grab your Christmas cookie cutters and sprinkles for a creative baking session. 

Via bhg.com

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter, softened

  • 1 ¼ cups sugar

  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • 2 eggs

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

For the full recipe, click here. 

Peanut Butter Cookies 

Via bettycrocker.com

Growing up, my family made peanut butter cookies every year at Christmas time so now the flavors of peanut butter + chocolate are forever intertwined with holiday memories for me. Pressing candies into each cookie is a great job for your baking assistant. 

Ingredients: 

  • ½ cup granulated sugar

  • ½ cup packed brown sugar

  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter

  • ½ cup butter, softened 

  • 1 egg 

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda

  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

  • Additional granulated sugar

  • About 36 Hershey's Kisses Brand milk chocolates, unwrapped (we also use chocolate and peanut butter cups, so good!) 

For the full recipe, click here. 

Snickerdoodles

As delicious as their name is whimsical, snickerdoodles capture the season with a warm touch of cinnamon. I love this version because it requires zero chill time — which means you can have cookies just 30 minutes after your cookie craving hits. Kids will love helping roll dough in the cinnamon-sugar mix. 

Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

Ingredients: 

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour 

  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup (2 sticks or 230g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

  • 1 and 1/3 cup (267g) granulated sugar

  • 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Topping: 

  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the full recipe, click here.