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Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies

Great ideas for Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies using purchased cookies, chocolate chips, and other ingredients.

Great ideas for Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies using purchased cookies, chocolate chips, and other ingredients. https://www.lanascooking.com/quick-easy-decorated-christmas-cookies/

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Ready or not, it’s coming! And it’s not far away. Parties are scheduled. Gift lists are made. Decorations are going up. Menus are being planned.

It makes me a little dizzy just thinking about everything that goes on during this time of year! In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, it’s nice to have shortcuts that you can rely on for the busiest days.

That’s why I’m happy to be a part of Whole Foods Market’s Buy Some, Make Some campaign for this holiday season. Because parties are such a big part of this time of year, and because the host and hostess want to join in the fun along with their guests, Whole Foods asked a group of bloggers to come with our best ideas for taking some of their products, adding finishing touches, and giving you back the time you would have spent in the kitchen.

I ask you, what Christmas party would be complete without beautifully decorated Christmas cookies? None, right? But the mixing, chilling, cutting, and baking take a lot of time. Why not just skip all that and get right to the fun part? The decorating!

How to Make Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies

Whole Foods products

I used Whole Foods Market’s 365 Shortbread Holiday Cookies to create a tray full of gorgeous tidbits. And I did it with hands-on time from start to finish in under 30 minutes.

While I was shopping for cookies, I also picked up some semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, some maple bourbon pecans (which almost didn’t make it home…yum!), and some chipotle chili flakes. Other things I used for my cookie decorating session were a few peppermint candy canes, and some red and gold sprinkles.

Crushing candy canes for Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies

Prep your Work Area and Assemble the Decorations

Before you start, line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. It cuts way down on clean up later! If you’re using peppermints for one of your decorations, put two or three in a plastic bag and give them a tap with something heavy like a meat mallet or a heavy bottomed glass. Don’t bash it too hard or you’ll have peppermint dust!

When you have all your decorations assembled, prepare the chocolate. Use one at a time so that neither hardens before you’re finished with the other.

Prepare the Chocolate

In a small microwaveable dish, place one cup of chocolate chips and one teaspoon of a flavorless cooking oil such as canola or grapeseed. Microwave for 30 second increments, stirring well after each, until the chocolate is almost completely melted.

Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir until all the chips are melted.

Dipping cookies in melted chocolate

Dip one cookie at a time into the melted chocolate allowing most of the excess to drain back into the bowl. Place the dipped cookie on the prepared baking sheet.

While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with your chosen decoration. Repeat – Repeat – Repeat.

Dipping cookies for Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies

For some of the cookies, I chose to submerge them completely into the chocolate. Simply use a fork to lift the cookie out of the chocolate and allow the excess to flow back into the bowl.

Those are the cookies that I topped with a maple bourbon pecan. And, by the way, the completely dipped cookies got the most rave reviews from the taste testers!

Repeat the entire process using white chocolate chips for half the cookies.

Piping stripes on Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies

To make the cookies with the stripes, place a tablespoon or two of the desired chocolate into the corner of a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to push the chocolate down into the corner. Snip off the tiniest possible point.

Use light pressure to gently push the chocolate out of the bag. Move in a back and forth motion across the top of the cookie.

Just a note about the chipotle chili flakes – chocolate and chili is a very popular combination these days and those cookies really flew off the plate. However, be sure to warn your guests that the chipotle flakes are quite potent! And I’d suggest using a very light hand when applying those to the finished cookies. Two or three on a cookie go a long way!

When you have finished decorating all your cookies, place the baking sheet with the finished cookies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to set up.

And there you go! In just a few minutes you have a gorgeous tray of cookies for your party, to take to a neighbor, or to wrap up in a pretty box for a friend.

🧾 More Recipes You’ll Like

Lana Stuart.

Questions? I’m happy to help!

If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Great ideas for Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies using purchased cookies, chocolate chips, and other ingredients. https://www.lanascooking.com/quick-easy-decorated-christmas-cookies/

Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies

Great ideas for Quick and Easy Decorated Christmas Cookies using purchased cookies, chocolate chips, and other ingredients.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Desserts
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Author: Lana Stuart

Ingredients

  • Purchased shortbread cookies
  • White chocolate chips
  • Milk chocolate chips
  • Canola oil
  • Candy canes
  • Chipotle chili flakes
  • Candied pecans

Instructions

  • Before you start, line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil to place your dipped onto.
  • If you’re using peppermints for one of your decorations, put two or three in a plastic bag and give them a tap with something heavy like a meat mallet or a heavy bottomed glass. Don’t bash it too hard or you’ll have peppermint dust.
  • Gather and/or prepare any other decorations you want to use such as edible glitter, sprinkles, etc.
  • When you have all your decorations assembled, prepare the chocolate. Use one type at a time so that neither hardens before you’re finished.
  • In a small microwaveable dish, place one cup of chocolate chips and one teaspoon of a flavorless cooking oil such as canola or grapeseed. Microwave for 30 second increments, stirring well after each, until the chocolate is almost completely melted. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir until all the chips are melted.
  • Dip the bottom or top of one cookie at a time into the melted chocolate allowing most of the excess to drain back into the bowl. Place the dipped cookie on the prepared baking sheet. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle with your chosen decoration. Repeat as needed.
  • For some of the cookies, I chose to submerge them completely into the chocolate. Simply use a fork to lift the cookie out of the chocolate and allow the excess to flow back into the bowl.
  • Repeat the entire process using the other chocolate chips for half the cookies.
  • To make the cookies with stripes, place a tablespoon or two of the desired chocolate into the corner of a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to push the chocolate down into the corner. Snip off the tiniest possible point. Use light pressure to gently push the chocolate out of the bag. Move in a back and forth motion across the top of the cookie.
  • Just a note if using the chipotle chili flakes – be sure to warn your guests or gift recipients that the chipotle flakes are quite potent! And I’d suggest using a very light hand when applying those to the finished cookies. Two or three on a cookie go a long way.
  • When you have finished decorating all your cookies, place the baking sheet with the finished cookies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to set up.

Notes

Equipment

Baking sheet
Aluminum foil
Fork
2 small bowls

Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.

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— Originally sponsored by Whole Foods Market

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12 Comments

  1. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says:

    Such a great idea when you’re short on time.

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Yes, Barbara! Of course I enjoy baking from scratch but I also love having this little trick to pull out when I’m really short of time.

  2. Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says:

    Such a smart girl you are! I love being able to throw in some really simple treats!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      These took so little time, Brenda. About 30 minutes start to finish for several dozen decorated cookies. That’s always a plus at the holidays for me!

  3. These look great, Lana. A nice easy way to make decorated cookies at Christmas!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Thank you so much, Carolyn. They were a lot of fun to do as well.

  4. Gorgeous cookies! I need to get on the cookie baking train for the holidays ASAP!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Me too, Sues. I’ve been sidelined with a miserable cold since before Thanksgiving. The baking is suffering :-)

  5. gloria patterson says:

    Love this idea! I never would have thought of doing this. Any body can take a tray of home made cookies to a party now..

    THANKS!!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      Exactly, Gloria! Even though you purchased the cookies, yours won’t look like anyone else’s. They’ll be totally unique!

  6. Carol Gerard says:

    Loos like a lot of fun too!

    1. Lana Stuart says:

      It was, Carol! It’s a perfect thing to let the kids help with, too.