Today is all about Christmas treats with a side of cookies.
I’m so excited to join some of my favorite friends to share all our Christmas treat recipes. If you are stopping by from Aliya’s at Open Doors Open Hearts, it’s so nice to meet you.
Welcome to my Christmas kitchen.
Let me introduce you to one of my favorite baking secrets.
Slice and bake cookie dough.
Just between us? The cookie possibilities are endless. Yesterday I challenged myself to come up with five creative ideas using slice and bake cookie dough. It was just me and my kitchen and icing and toppings and my imagination.
I actually came up with eight (but three were epic failures including my attempt to wrap cookie dough around a twizzler which is a story for another time).
Here are the five that made the cookie cut. 
1. Ice skate cookies
Step 1: Place piece of cookie dough on baking sheet.
Step 2: Slice a second piece of cookie dough and place next to the first (as shown).
Step 3: Pinch two pieces of dough together to form a skate.
Step 4: Bake according to directions on your cookie package (mine was 11 minutes at 350 degrees)and let cool.
Step 5: Apply white icing to cookie and red icing for laces. Attach small candy canes to the base of the skate with icing.
2. Stamped Cookies
Step 1: Roll out the cookie dough.
Step 2: Stamp with cookie stamp. Make sure the dough is thick enough so your cookie stamp comes through clearly.
Step 3: Peel away excess dough and bake according to directions on your cookie package (mine was 11 minutes at 350 degrees)and let cool.
Step 4: Sprinkle with red and rub top lightly to show the pattern of stamp.
Note: I just bought these stamps at Target this Christmas season. You can see them here.
3. Snowman cookies
Step 1: Roll out the cookie dough.
Step 2: Cut out a circle with a cup (or use a round cookie cutter).
Step 3: Peel away excess dough and bake according to directions on your cookie package (mine was 11 minutes at 350 degrees)and let cool.
Step 4: Add white icing to the top of the cookie.
Step 5: Decorate with a snowman decorating kit like this one.
4. Gnome cookies
Step 1: Roll out the cookie dough.
Step 2: Cut out triangles in the dough.
Step 3: Add a small pinch of dough to the bottom of the triangle and bake according to directions on your cookie package (mine was 11 minutes at 350 degrees)and let cool.
Step 4: Add white icing to the top of the cookie.
Step 5: Decorate the hat and the nose.
5. Present cookies
Step 1: Roll out the cookie dough.
Step 2: Cut out squares.
Step 3: Bake according to directions on your cookie package (mine was 11 minutes at 350 degrees)and let cool.
Step 4: Add white icing to the top of the cookie.
Step 5: Peel off parts of a twizzler and add the bow and ribbon to the cookie. And now? Make sure and stop by Jen’s from Midwest Life and Style for the recipe for her almond shortbread cookies.
And check out these cookies from some of my favorite friends.
Christmas Treat Exchange
She Gave It A Go | A Blue Nest | The Tattered Pew| Cottage on Bunker Hill | Pasha is Home
KariAnne!! You would come up with 5 cookies!! You're amazing! PS I'm 100% doing your cookie stamp cookies! My girls think that cookie stamps are the best thing on the planet!!! Regular stamps are wonderful and cookies are wonderful, and putting them together is double the amazing-ness!!! But seriously, for this busy mom, this is so simple and manageable! I'm excited to do this with my girls!! Love you girl!!! XoXo
These are great KariAnne! I wouldn't have thought to do this. It makes this busy season a little easier to just be able to pull out a roll of cookie dough and still enjoy decorating them with the kiddos. I love the skate idea, so fun! Thanks for sharing your fun tips with us!
Oh, I love sugar cookies but never have time to bake them. This is perfect, I can whip up a batch of cookies in no time - thanks KariAnne!
KariAnne! I love that these are simple and fun! And the stamped idea is great! Although the gnome is quite cute too ;)! XOXO - Pasha
You got to love ready made dough for the win! I love your stamped cookies. I am doing 5 days of Christmas cookies over on my blog this week. So much fun! Hugs sweet friend, Tammy
What a great idea, KariAnne! We all need a little simple in this time of hecticness, yet I love how fun and festive all of your cookies look. The stamped ones are my favorite. So pretty! I'm pinning this to my holiday treat board so I can remember your ideas for next season.
I am doing this!! I have my mother's vintage cookie cutters!!! xoxo
Sweet, KariAnne! You are so creative, I just love to see what you come up with. I am in love with these ideas, and cannot wait to try them this Christmas season with my family. Grateful for you always! xoxo, Brendt
Looks like you and the girls are having a fabulous time! You go, girl!
KariAnne, the stamp cookies are so flippin' cute!!
So fun, KariAnne! I love that the kids can help decorate, too, and I don't have to spend all day in the kitchen. Pinned!
Yum- will have to try out!
As a busy working mom these make my heart happy because I can do these! Thank you for the inspiration!