Christmas cookies are one of the most delicious parts of the holiday season. Whether you enjoy making them or simply eating them, Christmas is not the same without a treat here and there.
Minnesota Orchestra presents the FFTC Holiday Guide
Minnesota Orchestra concerts aren't just for grown-ups.
We've got performances that spark curiosity, wiggles, and wide-eyed wonder.
Enjoy a family-friendly film with the score played live-to-picture or a classical concert.
Younger children can enjoy family and sensory-friendly concerts with a parent or caregiver.
With discounted kids' tickets and free admission through Hall Pass, it's easy to bring the whole crew.
Get more details by clicking on the image above.
 Christmas cookie baking can be a monumental task when we are left to our own devices or when we are working with little fingers who want to do it all. We’ve found a way for you to make this endeavor fun for your whole family and bonus, you won’t be messing up your own kitchen!
Find Christmas cookie classes and workshops
Find Cookies with Santa
Find gingerbread-making and decorating events
Christmas Cookie Classes, Workshops and Events
Find classes and spaces where you and your kids can use someone else’s kitchen to create holiday treats. Or, if you’d like to bake in the comfort of home, try this easy sugar cookie recipe or holiday ginger cookies. Santa will appreciate your efforts!
Cookie Decorating at 2nd Street Depot
2nd Street Depot, 320 2nd St E, Hastings, MN 55033
Part of Hastings Holiday Hoopla, stop by 2nd Street Depot to decorate cookies.
Holiday Cookie Decorating at Minneapolis Parks
Scroll down to see what events are being offered at Minneapolis parks.
Parent/Child Holiday Cookie Bake
Way Cook Cooking School, 16544 W 78th St, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Parent-child class for kids ages 7-15 with an adult. Cut out shapes from the premade cookie dough, bake & decorate.Â
Parent/PreK Holiday Cookie Decorating
Way Cook Cooking School, 16544 W 78th St, Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Parent-child class for kids ages 3-6 with an adult. Cut out shapes from the premade cookie dough, bake & decorate.Â
Cookie Decorating
Blaine City Hall, 10801 Town Square Dr NE, Blaine, MN 55449
Parent/child cookie decorating. Participants will be provided with cookies and all the decorative toppings. Bring a container to take home your cookies, but leave the mess behind. Ages 10 and under with adult. Three Sessions beginning at 5pm; All Ages. Pre-Registration Required. $15-$20/child.
Cookies With Santa
Dec 7, 2025: Cookies and Crafts with Santa
Eagle Valley Golf Course, Woodbury, MN 55125
Talk with Santa and take a photo, make a fun holiday craft, help decorate cookies. Bring your own camera and a smile for Santa. Ages 2+ with an adult. $15/child. Pre-registration required.
Dec 13, 2025: Festival of Trees Open House
White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 4th St, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, USA
Warm up with Santa, cookies and cocoa during this annual event. Bring your own camera. All Ages. FREE. Drop-In..
Where to Build & See Gingerbread Houses
Nov 21, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026: Gingerbread Wonderland
Norway House, 913 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Norway House’s annual signature holiday tradition Gingerbread Wonderland returns to the Gallery at Norway House for its 6th anniversary. The public is encouraged to create their own gingerbread houses and enter them in the exhibit. More details & tickets here. $5-$10.
December 6, 2025: Vote for your Favorite Gingerbread House at St. Nikolaustag
Bruentrup Heritage Farm, 2170 County Road D E, Maplewood, MN, 55109
Vote for your favorite gingerbread house in the East Metro Gingerbread Contest during the St. Nikolaustag Celebration. Free to view.Â
Easy Holiday Cookie Recipes
A perfect seasonal flavor for the cookie exchange or fun to decorate with kids.
- ¾ cup softened butter
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp ground ginger (if you enjoy a little more spice use a full tablespoon ground ginger)
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- Combine flour, two teaspoons ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt and set aside.
- In another large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy then mix in the molasses and egg.
- Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Mix all ingredients well.
- Cover and refrigerate the cookie dough for about 4 hours or overnight for best results.
- Heat oven to 350. Flour your surface lightly, then roll out dough with a rolling pin to desired thickness. Cut with your choice of cookie cutters and place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake until edges are firm, but be careful not to overbake (approx. 8-10 minutes).
- Remove cookies from baking sheets and cool on wire racks before decorating!
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Where We Buy Our Toppings
Want something extra special? Hit up Lynn’s Cake and Candy Supplies in Fridley for darling edible decorations made with royal icing, sprinkles, dusts and edible glitter! Just hide it when you are done or you’ll find it has all been used on peanut butter sandwiches when you come back to use it. Gianna introduced us to this fun store and it has become a staple for special-occasion baking.
Another great place to find fun decorations is CandyLand Candy Store. They often have fun candies – like LEGO-shaped candies, a variety of gummie shapes and candy buttons
Gingerbread House Pattern from the Norway House
If you are looking for a pattern for a house, the Norway House offers this one. They are also a great place to find Gingerbread House Ideas. Every year they offer Gingerbread Wonderland – an exhibit of community-made gingerbread houses – some are elaborate others are made by families or even kids.
Find this printable Gingerbread Kit Template on the Norway House website
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*We’ve made some of our own tweaks to this recipe and are happy with the way it turned out, but if you want to go back to the original, find it on Mel’s Kitchen Café. We highly recommend following her on YouTube for more kid-friendly recipes.
Find the original recipe this one was based on at Mel’s Kitchen Café.
Ingredients
- 1 cup or 2 sticks (16 tablespoon butter, softened to cool room temperature)
- 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Additional granulated sugar or sprinkles
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease parchment paper and line cookie sheet. If you prefer a silicone mat, go ahead and use that instead.
- Cream butter and sugar really well together in a mixing bowl. You can use a large spoon, a whisk a handheld or a stand mixer to do this. Whatever works best for you..
- Add eggs and vanilla. Mix and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt separately and combine well after each addition.
- Place sugar and sprinkles in shallow bowls or plates
- Roll sugar cookie dough into the size of superballs. Roll in the sugar and sprinkles. Then place on cookie sheets.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes.
- Let cool on wire racks.
Substitutes and Additions:
- Butter can be replaced with margarine.
- We swap out vanilla extract for various flavors of extract
- Almond slivers and/or chocolate chips can be added to the top of cut cookies before baking.
- One of my favorite sugar cookies growing up added citrus flavors (and matching food color). We would split the dough into four sections, flavor three with lemon, lime and orange zest. We would make tube shapes out of those three sections and wrap each with a third of the plain section. When sliced into circles, they looked like fruit slices and tasted delicious. You could really just add a bit of zest and food color to these drop cookies for easy fruit-flavored cookies.
Your turn. How do you like to personalize your sugar cookies? Leave a comment and we’ll share your ideas with the community.
Buy Your Yuletide Treats
- Cookie Cart, Minneapolis – A non-profit bakery with a mission to give teens lasting and meaningful work, life and leadership skills. Daily flavors include and assortment of cookies, like chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, toffee, gingersnap, peanut butter blossoms, and pumpkin spice.
- Union Depot Holiday Bake Sale – Find all your favorite holiday flavors from 30 local bakeries and vendors in one space