Ree Drummond Just Shared the Recipe for Her All-Time Favorite Christmas Cookies
Updated: Dec. 14, 2021
Ree Drummond bakes a lot of treats at her Oklahoma ranch—but there's one Christmas cookie recipe she loves most.
Ree Drummond loves the holidays. Between her family’s Christmas traditions and her signature holiday dishes, she sure knows how to make her ranch holly-jolly. But it’s never officially the holidays until she’s made a batch of her favorite Christmas cookies.
The Pioneer Woman loves a classic sugar cookie with frosting, perfect for the holidays—and practically any other season. When Ree shared her Christmas cookie recipe, she said these cookies look great with a classic egg yolk glaze on top. You could also use your favorite frosting and/or sprinkles. (Don’t miss out on our favorite Christmas sprinkles!)
However you choose to decorate them, these Pioneer Woman Christmas cookies are sure to bring the holiday spirit to your kitchen.
Need some more cookie inspo? Here are our top 10 Christmas cookie recipes.
How to Make Ree Drummond’s Go-To Christmas Cookies
You’ll need a long list of ingredients—but recipe is fairly straightforward.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon grated orange or lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 4 teaspoons milk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling out dough
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Here’s what you’ll need for Ree’s simple glaze:
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon water
- 2 to 3 drops food coloring
And her homemade icing:
- One 2-pound bag powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons egg whites
Directions
Step 1: Cream shortening and other ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, start by creaming together shortening, vanilla extract, sugar and orange peel (or lemon zest). Drop in one egg, beat until the mixture is fluffy, then add your milk and thoroughly combine.
Step 2: Add your dry ingredients and chill
Sift your flour, baking powder and salt into the same bowl, and mix until just combined. Go ahead and divide your dough in half, place it between two sheets of wax paper and then store it in your fridge for an hour. You can also stick it in the freezer for 20 minutes if you’re short on time. But never skip chilling your sugar cookie dough!
Step 3: Prep glaze
While the dough is chilling, you’ll have some time to whip together a quick egg yolk glaze. In a small bowl, mix up your egg yolk, water and food coloring.
Step 4: Cut out your cookies and bake
After it’s spent some time chilling, remove your dough from the fridge (or freezer) and roll it out on a floured surface. Use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to cut out the cookie shapes, and place them on a lightly greased baking sheet. Dip a baking brush into your glaze bowl, and lightly brush the egg yolk glaze over the tops of your cookies. Pop the baking sheet in the oven and cook for 6 minutes at 375°F.
Yes, only 6 minutes—be sure not to let the cookies brown at all!
Step 5: Prep icing and decorate
If you want to make homemade icing, mix together your powdered sugar, milk and egg whites. When the cookies are done baking and have fully cooled on a wire rack, decorate them however you’d like with a piping bag and your from-scratch icing.
Here’s What I Thought
No wonder Ree loves this recipe. It’s so easy! And it’s proof that Christmas cookies don’t have to be so complicated (although some recipes can be pretty impressive).
This recipe is incredibly simple to throw together, and with such a short baking time, you’ll have cookies ready and frosted for a Christmas cookie swap later that day.
Peppermint Meltaways
This recipe for peppermint meltaways is very pretty and festive-looking on a cookie platter. I often cover a plate of these peppermint cookies with red or green plastic wrap and a bright holiday bow in one corner. And yes, they really do melt in your mouth! —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
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This recipe evolved from several different recipes that I combined into one. I've never received so many compliments on my baking!—Denise Hufford, Midland, Michigan Snowy Mountain Cookies
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This super-crunchy, not-too-sweet cookie is a fun update on the classic snowball. I used cashews, macadamia nuts and pecans, but you can mix and match other nuts to your liking. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey Cathedral Cookies
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Decorated Christmas Cutout Cookies
Rich and buttery Christmas cutout cookies like these never last long at a party. They're one of my favorite homemade Christmas cookies. I use seasonal cutters to celebrate the holidays tastefully. —Lynn Burgess, Rolla, Missouri Holiday Meringue Miniatures
My kids love these light melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and we have fun making them. These were always on our Christmas cookie plate when I was a kid, and now the tradition continues. —Susan Marshall, Colorado Springs, Colorado Nuts-About-You Cookie Sticks
These cookies make a fancy meal finale that couldn’t be quicker to whip up. Start with purchased Pirouette cookies, dip in a rich creamy chocolate and peanut-butter coating, and dust with nuts or sprinkles. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Cream Cheese Cookie Cups
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I received the recipe for these soft ginger cookies from a dear friend who has since passed away. A comforting classic like this always satisfies. —Karyn Rogers, Hemet, California 
Slice & Bake Coconut Shortbread Cookies
Light and buttery, these delicate shortbread cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good. The coconut flavor makes them extra special. —Roberta Otto, Duluth, Minnesota Coconut Cranberry Yummies
When my husband came home from the grocery store with six bags of fresh cranberries, I launched a full-scale effort to creatively use them all. Bursting with tart and sweet flavors, these cranberry coconut cookies are my favorite result from that experiment. —Amy Alberts, Appleton, Wisconsin 
Old-Fashioned Gingersnaps
I discovered this recipe many years ago, and it's been a favorite among our family and friends ever since. Gingersnaps are timeless—a classic holiday cookie that's welcome year-round. —Francis Stoops, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania 
Scottish Shortbread
My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba 
Joe Froggers
Large, soft and chewy, these cookies are made to munch. This classic recipe has a warm blend of spices that seems stronger the second day. Your family will definitely ask you to make them again!, soft and chewy, these are a great snack. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 
Holiday Cornflake Cookies
I can't seem to make enough of these cornflake wreaths around the holidays. The cookies firm up quickly, so you'll need to place the Red Hots right away. —Kathleen Hedger, Fairview Heights, Illinois 
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Here's proof that peanut butter and chocolate just belong together. These peanut butter blossom cookies are an easy family favorite and never fails to make my children smile. —Tammie Merrill, Wake Forest, North Carolina 
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When I baked this moist, fudgy chocolate crinkle cookie recipe for the first time, my three preschool children went wild over them! But I like them because they're lower in fat and easy to mix and bake. —Maria Groff, Ephrata, Pennsylvania 
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My oldest son is a huge fan of these thumbprints, so I make sure they're on my baking list every Christmas. Lemon zest and poppy seeds help give this crisp cookie fantastic flavor. —Kelly Pember, Wheeler, Wisconsin 
Chocolate Peppermint Spritz Cookies
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Jumbo Brownie Cookies
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These golden cakelike cookies are my favorite, especially around the holidays. They disappear quickly from my dessert trays. The subtle pumpkin and cinnamon flavors pair nicely with chocolate chips. —Tami Burroughs, Salem, Oregon
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I make this cookie every Christmas with my family. It’s a fun twist on a classic peanut butter blossom because of the cinnamon in the batter and the caramel kiss on top. We love the cinnamon-caramel combination, but you could switch out the kiss with a different festive flavor. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York 
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These lemon slice cookies are a refreshing variation of my grandmother's sugar cookies. Lemon pudding mix and icing add a subtle tartness that tingles your taste buds. —Melissa Turkington, Camano Island, Washington 
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These no-fuss candied fruit cookies are both nutty and fruity, so they're always a hit at holiday time. —Florence Monson, Denver, Colorado 
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I bake these cookies for family gatherings because my crowd likes cookies thin and chewy with a crispy exterior. The toffee bits make a happy surprise.—Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois 
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We make sugar cookies and fill them with a tangy raspberry cream cheese. They taste best after they've been refrigerated for at least 45 minutes.—Heidi Farnworth, Riverton, Utah Popcorn Cookies
It's so much fun to surprise people with the crushed popcorn in these yummy cookies. They're definitely a distinctive cookie on the holiday tray.—Leigh Anne Preston, Palmyra, Indiana Cream Cheese Spritz
A hint of orange and cinnamon highlights these Christmastime classics. I like to add colorful sprinkles before baking them. The recipe is from a booklet that came with a cookie press in the 1950s...and I still have the press! —Sarah Bedia, Lake Jackson, Texas 
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It is amazing how much flavor is in these simple 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies without brown sugar. I make them very often because I always have the ingredients on hand. —Maggie Schimmel, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 
Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Dotted with cranberries, orange zest and vanilla chips, these cookies are so colorful and fun to eat. They look lovely on a dessert tray and would be a great addition to your Christmas cookie lineup.
—Pat Habiger, Spearville, Kansas Butterscotch Toffee Cookies
With its big butterscotch and chocolate flavor, my cookie stands out. I like to enjoy it with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. It’s my fallback recipe when I’m short on time and need something delicious fast. —Allie Blinder, Norcross, Georgia Pumpkin Spice Cookies
These big, soft spice cookies created by our staff have a sweet frosting that makes them an extra-special treat. Enjoy! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 
Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies
Every time I make these wonderful cookies, the spicy aroma takes me back to my childhood. I helped Mom make them and delivered them to neighbors. —Kara Cook, Elk Ridge, Utah
Up Next: Also check out these places to buy Christmas cookies online.
