18 Of Our Easiest No-Chill Christmas Cookie Recipes for Last-Minute Baking

From classic Peanut Butter Blossoms to decadent Red Velvet Cookies, these easy Christmas cookie recipes go straight from the bowl to the oven.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published December 23, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
stack of 3-ingredient brownie cookies

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Santa is coming to town, and with all the holiday commotion, you’ve left cookie baking until the last minute. The chilling time often required for certain cookie recipes can be a setback, making them unsuitable when you’re baking at the eleventh hour. The solution? Look for recipes that can go straight from bowl to oven, cutting out the time-consuming refrigeration step. Think drop cookies and quick roll cookies, like classic Peanut Butter Blossoms, decadent Red Velvet Cookies, and cute-as-a-button Apricot Gems. The best part is once you’re done there’ll be enough time for you to chill (see what I did there?). So read on to discover which last-minute cookie you’ll be making!

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  • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

    Hershey's Peanut Butter Blossoms in a Plate and in the Background, More ona Cooling Rack

    Simply Recipes / Aaron Hutcherson

    “When it comes to the peanut butter, feel free to use your favorite. I'm a smooth and creamy guy, but chunky peanut butter is fine, too.I even tested this recipe with an all-natural spread and the cookies turned out great—just be sure to mix the peanut butter thoroughly before adding it to the batter to get rid of any separation.” —Aaron Hutcherson, Recipe Developer

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies on a Baking Pan

    Simply Recipes / Emma Christensen

    This recipe does call to chill the dough for the best outcome, but it's not a deal breaker to skip that step. “If you're in a rush, it's fine to bake them right away, but they will spread out more and have a thinner, more delicate structure.” —Emma Christensen, former General Manager

  • Apricot Gem Cookies Recipe

    Maureen Abood's Apricot Gems cookies on a cooling rack

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Baker

    “The thumbprint action happens after the cookie par-bakes, so beware that it’s a hot cookie. I still use my thumb, or the bottom of a little measuring spoon. Also, don’t overfill the thumbprint cavity. You want the jam to stay put rather than run over the edge of the cookie!” —Maureen Abood, Recipe Developer

  • Brownie Cookies Recipe (3 Ingredients, 20 Minutes)

    stack of 3-ingredient brownie cookies

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “Any standard brownie mix will work for this recipe, but not all brownie mixes are created equal. All of my fellow brownie lovers know that Ghiradelli makes some of the best brownie mixes out there. I like to use any of their mixes that say ‘includes chocolate chips’ on the front, such as the Double Chocolate, Triple Chocolate, and Ultimate Chocolate varieties.That being said, any typical brownie mix will do. The more chocolatey the better, and bonus points if they come with chocolate chips.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

    Continue to 5 of 18 below

  • The Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

    Overhead view of Oatmeal Raisin Cookies cooling on a rack.
    Ciara Kehoe

    “While both rolled oats and quick oats work well in this recipe, they do produce different results. Quick oats produce thicker, taller cookies, and there's no need to chill the dough before baking.” —from the Editors of Simply Recipes

  • 5-Ingredient Pudding Mix Cookies

    Plate of 5-Ingredient Pudding Mix Cookies (With 4 Variations)

    Simply Recipes / Sara Bir

    “These cookies require only 5 ingredients and about 20 minutes from start to finish, which means they're perfect for busy bakers or last-minute cravings.” —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor

  • Oatmeal Banana Cookies

    Oatmeal Banana Cookies Cooling on a Wire Rack

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    “My go-to choice of add-ins for these banana oatmeal cookies have to be walnuts and chocolate chips, as those are my favorite for baking banana bread. However, you may swap out whatever add-ins you like. The key is to keep in mind what flavors you prefer in your banana bread and add those same flavors to the cookie. As long as you stick to one cup of add-ins in total, you are in safe territory.” —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer

  • Joulutortut Recipe (Finnish Christmas Stars, 4 Ingredients)

    Tray of Finnish joulutortut pastries shaped like stars with a jam filling

    Simply Recipes / Kristina Vänni

    “These prune-filled, star-shaped pastries are one of the most ubiquitous treats during the holiday season, and Finns like myself just can’t get enough of them. They also happen to be incredibly easy to make using only four simple main ingredients.” —Kristina Vänni

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  • 3-Ingredient Macaroons

    Overhead view of a cooling rack of twenty four macaroon cookies on a wooden table background

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    “Portioning the dough onto the baking sheet is easiest with a 1½-tablespoon cookie scoop, but you can use a couple of spoons to shape the dough or just roll it into balls with your hands. Whichever method you choose, there’s no need to be delicate with it. The more densely packed your macaroons are, the less likely they are to fall apart.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Ranger Cookies

    Rows of freshly baked ranger cookies with nuts chocolate chips and dried fruit as visible ingredients

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    “Coconut takes less than 5 minutes to toast in the oven, so keep a very close eye on it, stirring halfway through. Remove it as soon as the flakes are light brown, since they will continue to toast out of the oven on the hot pan.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

    Stack pf Peanut Butter Cup Cookies on a Plate

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “Use room temperature butter and egg. Room temperature ingredients incorporate more easily. If the butter is cold, it will require more mixing to smooth out the mixture, which can incorporate too much air and yield a drier cookie.” —Kayla Hoang, Recipe Developer

  • Red Velvet Cookies

    Red Velvet Cookies with White Chocolate Chips
    Irvin Lin

    “These cookies are pretty much foolproof in both the making and baking. The dough comes together quickly and easily, and I like to save some white chips to place on the cookie after I bake them. This gives them a professional, picture-worthy look.” —Irvin Lin, Recipe Developer

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  • Butterscotch Cookies

    Butterscotch Cookies piled high on plate
    Elise Bauer

    “Before baking these cookies are rolled in brown sugar and then get a little bit of salt sprinkled on top to punctuate the sweetness. It gives them that extra special something.” —Gavin McCord, Recipe Developer

  • Chocolate-Dipped Peanut Butter Ritz Crackers (3 Ingredients)

    Stack of chocolatecoated cookies on a red plate sprinkled with a topping

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    “Before baking these cookies are rolled in brown sugar and then get a little bit of salt sprinkled on top to punctuate the sweetness. It gives them that extra special something.” —Gavin McCord, Recipe Developer

  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Bark

    Chocolate chip cookie bark on a baking tray

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Ward / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall

    “Use a piping bag: For portioning the peanut butter on the Ritz crackers, it’s easiest to transfer the peanut butter to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with a corner cut out.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • German Butter Cookies (Butter-Gebäck)

    Decorative cookies hanging from a circular frame alongside candles and small star lights in a festive arrangement

    Simply Recipes / Maya Smend

    “We like to add a generous sprinkle of flaky salt to balance out the sweetness, but it’s certainly optional. You could add colorful sprinkles, chopped nuts, or Health Bar crumbles. Just be sure to add your topping while the chocolate is still melted so that everything adheres.” —Laurel Randolph, Recipe Developer

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  • Monster Cookies

    Close-up: monster cookies on a cooling rack with a bowl of M&M's, and on the counter next to the rack, a monster cookie, a bowl of chocolate chips, some rogue M&M's on the counter, and a baby blue kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    “This recipe includes an optional glaze, but you can top with oven-safe sprinkles or sugar crystals, or dip them in melted chocolate after cooling instead.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Butter Pecan Cookies

    Elise Bauer

    “It can be tricky to get all of the mix-ins to incorporate into the dough. The good news is these are gluten-free, so you don’t have to worry so much about over-working the dough. Just keep mixing and poke any straggling chocolate and candies into the dough balls before baking.” —Kalisa Marie Levette, Recipe Developer

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