Christmas Cookies In a Box | 1 Dough, 4 Recipes

Looking for a great homemade gift this Christmas for this holiday season? I’ve got you covered, friend! Christmas cookies in a box are a simple and sweet way to spread joy and smiles.

Whether for friends, family, or coworkers, a mix of festive cookies will definitely make them super happy. Been there, done that! I love receiving them and giving them.

In this post, I'll share my favorite cookie recipes and easy tips on how to pack them up nicely for the perfect holiday gift box!

Let me introduce you to the "No Stress Cookie Box" because the last thing you need during the holidays is more stress, right? I’ve made things super easy by creating a box full of delicious different types of cookies, all from just one dough (yes ONE). Plus, who doesn't love receiving homemade treats?

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This No-Stress Cookie Box For Christmas
• Ingredients
• Start With The Easy Cookies (Featuring Basic Icing)
• Please Any Crowd With These Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
• Peppermint Cookies For Christmas? Just Perfection.
• The "Fancy" Ones: Orange Curd Cookies.
• Step By Step Instructions For the Dough
• Last But Not Least: How To Box Cookies For Christmas
• Christmas Cookies In A Box | 4 Recipes

Why You'll Love This No-Stress Cookie Box For Christmas

Let’s be honest: during the holidays, we don’t have that much time and trust me, this will be the perfect gift, the perfect cookie box! 

You know, that’s exactly why you’ll love them actually. No stress involved. Like I said, I’ve made things super easy by creating a box full of different cookies, all from just one dough.

Every cookie in this box uses the same base recipe, and I’ve simply switched up the shapes and flavors. Genius, right? (Ok, a little self-praise here, hehe). The result? A variety of cookies with minimal effort, it’s a bit of baking magic:)

My personal favorite recipe here? The cocoa peppermint cookies with candy canes sprinkles as a decoration, they're a must-try if you love chocolate and mint!

Ingredients

Before we dive into the fun part - spoiler: baking & all the combination of different cookies you can get with this one recipe - let’s talk ingredients.

To keep things simple, I’ve used basic, easy-to-find ingredients for this cookie dough. You probably have most of them in your pantry already. Here’s a breakdown:

•  All-Purpose Flour: You all know for sure that this is a versatile flour that gives your dough the right balance of structure and softness. It’s ideal for cookies and in this case I wouldn't recommend any substitution (cannot guarantee the result). 

• Powdered Sugar: Unlike granulated sugar, powdered sugar gives the dough a smoother texture, helping the cookies melt in your mouth while still having a nice, tender crumb. Icing sugar is my go to when it comes to cookies.

• Unsalted Butter: Butter is key to rich, flavorful cookies. Using unsalted butter ensures you get that buttery goodness without any added salt affecting the flavor balance. We are going to add salt separately. Also, no need for it to be at room temperature.

• Egg Yolks: The egg yolks add richness and help bind the dough together, giving the cookies a tender, soft texture. They also add a subtle golden color to the finished product.

• Salt. A small amount of salt balances the sweetness and brings out the buttery richness of the dough. Never omit it.

P.S. I would recommend to add vanilla extract too.

Each of these ingredients works together to create a simple yet perfect dough that you can transform into....simply the best cookies! 

Start With The Easy Cookies (Featuring Basic Icing)

As I mentioned earlier a few times, all these festive holiday cookies share the same dough base. This recipe was inspired by my mom's strawberry pie dough that I posted already on the blog years ago. 

For these cookies, I left out the baking powder and vanilla to keep the shapes nice and crisp. I tested them with baking powder too but they spread during baking.

Are you a "beginner"? Looking to whip up some simple but cute for the best holiday cookie box? This first recipe is perfect for you (and honestly, for everyone!). Just use your favorite cookie cutters to get different shapes (I bought mine on Etsy, here's the shop, not an affiliate), mix water and icing sugar for a quick icing, and decorate. That’s it, you’re done!

If you have a bit more time, give royal icing a try. It’s made with egg whites and sugar, and adds a beautiful glossy touch!

Please Any Crowd With These Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Who doesn’t love raspberries? I could eat tons of them, and the same goes for raspberry jam. That’s why these raspberry thumbprint cookies needs to be in the perfect cookie box.

They bring back memories of the jam-filled cookies my mom used to make when I was younger, or the ones you’d find in those classic store-bought metal cookie tins.

Originally, I was planning to make linzer cookies, but I didn’t have the right cutters on hand. So I opted for thumbprint cookies instead, and honestly, they turned out even better than expected! The combination of buttery dough and tangy raspberry jam is just irresistible!!! 

These cookies are always a hit, trust me, they’re a crowd-pleaser (my mom absolutely loved them!)

Peppermint Cookies For Christmas? Just Perfection.

Seriously, if "perfection" was a cookie, it would be a choco-peppermint one. These are hands down my absolute favorite from this box. They’re festive, rich and have that perfect holiday "vibe"

All I did was add unsweetened cocoa powder and a touch of peppermint extract (I used Nielsen-Massey, a favorite of mine). Be careful with the extract though: adding too much can throw off the dough’s consistency and flavor, so a little bit only is better.

And the cherry on top? These get dipped in melted white chocolate (you can also use dark or milk chocolate) and sprinkled with crushed candy canes.

The combo of creamy chocolate and cool peppermint is just irresistible if you ask me. Delish! These cookies are not only incredible in flavor but they’re also beautiful and sure to stand out in any box of homemade cookies.

The "Fancy" Ones: Orange Curd Cookies.

Talking about the best christmas cookies in a box, wish a Joyeux Noël with these elegant orange curd cookies! These are a step up from your basic Christmas cookies.

The orange curd recipe is from my friend Laura at Tutti-Dolci, and I first tried it years ago when I made Linzer cookies, it was love at first bite and you'll love it too.

So if you're looking to surprise your family and friends with something a bit more special, I highly recommend giving these a try.

The tangy, sweet orange curd filling adds a burst of flavor and feels super fancy, perfect for the holiday season. Just keep in mind that because they’re filled with curd, they won’t last as long as the other cookies, so they’re best enjoyed fresh!

Step By Step Instructions For the Dough

Now that we have our ingredients ready, it's time to dive into the fun part: making the dough and baking. The other reason why these will become your favorite cookies is because they are super simple to prepare.

Just follow these simple steps, and you'll have the perfect dough base for all your cookies. The beauty of this recipe is also how versatile it is: just a few tweaks to each dough portion, and you’ll have different flavors ready to go.

1. Mix the Dough: Add the flour, powdered sugar, butter, egg yolks, and salt to a food processor. Blitz until you have a crumbly mixture. The texture should resemble wet sand. Alternatively use a stand mixer and use the large bowl.
2. Divide the Dough: Remove the mixture from the food processor, put it onto a floured work surface, and divide it into four equal parts, each weighing 130 grams.
3. Flavor the Dough:

For the cocoa peppermint cookies, add cocoa powder and peppermint extract to one portion and gently knead the dough until it’s smooth. Be careful not to overwork it: remember, heat is the enemy of this dough!

 For the orange zest cookies, add orange zest to another portion and knead it just enough to combine (again, not for a lot of time!).

4. Chill: Place all four portions of the dough in the fridge and let them chill for 1 hour. This helps firm up the dough, makes it easier to work with and ensures your cookies hold their shape while baking.

In the meantime, prepare the Orange Curd (find it in the recipe card)

5. Ready to bake! Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F), roll out the dough (one portion at a time) to about ½ cm thickness on a floured work surface or between 2 sheets of parchment paper.

Cut into shapes, place on a lined baking tray, and chill while you prepare the rest of the cookies. Please find all instructions on how to prepare the different types of cookies in the recipe card. Bake for 18-20 minutes.

Last But Not Least: How To Box Cookies For Christmas

Now, we definitely don’t want to skip the most important step, right? I absolutely love making homemade gifts for friends and family, like I mentioned already, and cookies are the best gifts...even to send by mail!

So, here are my best tips on how to box cookies for Christmas if you want to send them (this is what I personally do):

1. Let Cool Completely: Make sure the cookies are fully cooled before packaging!!!

2. Wrap with Care: Gently wrap each stack of cookies in parchment paper.

3. Use Cellophane Bags: Place the wrapped cookies in cute cellophane bags (or holiday ziplock storage bags are a cute idea).

4. Choose a Sturdy Box: Pick cute paper boxes and line them with bubble wrap to keep the cookies secure during shipping.

5. Pack the Cookies: Place the cookies inside (and add a nice holiday card!:)) and seal the box tightly.

6. Double Box for Safety: Another of those key tips. Put the cookie box into a larger cardboard box, lining it with extra bubble wrap for added protection. The size of the box of course depends on how many cookies you are sending.

7. Seal with Tape: Secure the box with plenty of tape (and more tape!).

8. Mark as Fragile: Don’t forget to write “FRAGILE” on top, sometimes the post office can be a bit careless.

Let me know if you end up shipping them and how it goes! Did you make someone’s day with your homemade treats? I bet so!

That's it for now! Now go grab a cute Christmas box set (or some cardboard boxes + a pretty ribbon!), put on some Christmas music, throw on your apron, and have fun baking! Christmas cookie delivery coming your way!

Merry Christmas, everyone. Enjoy one of the best parts of the holiday season (BAKING!)

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Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see it! Tag @roberta.dallalba on Instagram and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review below!

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