I don’t get to spend the holidays every year with the family. But when I do get to visit them during the holiday season, I love bringing them special homemade treats. Holiday cookies recipes like these Santa Cookies are so fun to make.

This is one of my favorite holiday treats I have made since my kids were little. It’s an easy holiday cookie recipe that delights everyone with its cute Santa face. These Santa Cookies are always a hit with family and guests.

Years ago, I got a Christmas holiday recipe cookbook. The minute I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it. I have only adapted it ever so slightly, and it’s been a go-to ever since, each year during the holiday season.

Holiday Cookies Recipes

Santa Claus Cookies

This recipe is circa 1988 from Betty Crocker’s Christmas Cookbook. I may share a few other favorites from the cookbook as I am baking this season, but I always start with the Santa Claus cookies. I have to say they freeze well, too. In case you like to make ahead batches of cookies.

images of the steps for how to make Santa cookies: rolling out the dough, flattening the dough, baking, frosting the cookie with icing, adding the sanding sugar for the hat, adding mini chocolate chips for the eyes, a red nose from a red hot candy, coconut for the beard, and a mini marshmallow on Santa's hatl

Ingredients for Santa Cookies

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. lemon peel, grated or a bit more 😉
1 egg
2 cups white all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Creamy Frosting
I just buy any white creamy frosting that’s not thin.
mini marshmallows
Red sugar sprinkles
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, or you can use currants
Red cinnamon candies for Santa’s nose.
Shredded coconut for Santa’s beard.
Pam

Directions for making the Santa Cookies Recipe

Mix granulated sugar, shortening, and milk.
Grate lemon peel and add to the mix. Add your egg, then mix.
In another bowl, measure the dry ingredients, then add them to the mixed sugar bowl. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Shape mixture into small dough 1-1/4 inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on a non-stick baking sheet.
Flatten each to about 2-1/4 inch. (To flatten, I use Pam sprayed on the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar)
Bake until edges are light brown, 8-10 minutes.
Makes about 1-1/2 Dozen

How To Decorate The Santa Cookies

Wait until the cookies are completely cooled.
Decorate their faces.
Coat the cookie with frosting.
I like to make the hats first and sprinkle off excess red sugar.
Then add a nose, eyes, and a mini marshmallow, and add a beard of coconut flakes.

Santa Claus Cookies Printable Recipe

Santa Claus Cookies Recipe

Super cute Santa Cookies that taste yummy and delight children and the young at heart.

Keyword holiday cookies, santa cookies, santa cookies recipe

Author Theresa @DearCreatives

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. lemon peel grated or a bit more 😉
1 egg
2 cups white all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Creamy Frosting I just buy any white creamy frosting that’s not thin
mini marshmallows
Red sugar sprinkles
mini semi sweet chocolate chips or you can use currants
Red cinnamon candies for Santa’s nose
shredded coconut
Pam

Instructions

Mix granulated sugar, shortening and milk. Grate lemon peel and add to mix. Add your egg, then mix. In another bowl measure dry ingredients then add to mixed sugar bowl. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Shape mixture into small dough 1-1/4 inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on a non stick baking sheet.
Flatten each to about 2-1/4 inch. (To flatten I use Pam sprayed on the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar)
Bake until edges are light brown 8-10 minutes.
Makes about 1-1/2 Dozen
When cooled ice cookies and decorate their faces. I like to make the hats first and sprinkle off excess red sugar. Then add nose, eyes and mini marshmallow and add beard.

Recipe Notes

Optionally you can add a Popsicle Stick inserted to the cookie balls half way up and finish cookies per directions.
Time varies by if you have little hands helping you decorate them or do it yourself. Either way these don’t take long.

Adapted from General Mills, Inc. Betty Crocker’s Christmas Cookbook 1988

holiday-cookies-recipes-Santa-cookies-dearcreatives-com

I did find the original Santa Cookies treat recipe online and included the link above in the printable recipe. Speaking of printables, you can find our Free Christmas printables here. Grab gift tags and other helpful resources for the Christmas season!