The Elves’ Favorite Cookie Recipes

elfster cookie cutters on cookie sheet

We elves love nothing more than sugary sweets to fuel our days at the workshop.  A candy cane here, a sip of maple syrup there… And when it comes to cookies, well, let’s just say that we know a thing or two. Below are some of our favorite Santa-approved cookie recipes that would be perfect for a cookie exchange this holiday season.

Elf-Baked (and Santa-Approved!) Cookie Recipes

Ellie the Elf | Banana Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies

Everyone knows that elves eat cookies for breakfast! These cookies are what fuel our busiest days at the workshop!

Banana Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies

Quick, easy, and healthy (don’t tell Santa)
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie exchange, cookies
Servings: 12 cookies
Author: Ellie the Elf

Ingredients

  • 2 very ripe bananas
  • 1 cup quick cooking oats
  • 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon optional
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
  • In a medium size bowl, mash bananas to a fairly smooth consistency (a few small chunks is ok).
  • Add oats, cinnamon and vanilla to the bowl and mix well. Then mix in the chocolate chips. If the mixture seems really wet, add a few tablespoons of oats to thicken it up.
  • Using a tablespoon, scoop the dough and place on baking sheet. Then use your fingers to flatten out the dough a bit to create your cookie. You should get 12-16 cookies.
  • Place the baking sheet into the oven, on the center rack, and bake for 15 – 20 minutes. Keep an eye on it! Remove from the oven, and let cool a few minutes before eating.
  • Have the best morning ever!

Punky the Elf | Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Need them to be festive? Use colored sugar. Add a kiss for a peanut butter blossom, add chocolate chips do change it up. I’ve even dropped the dough into a pan of brownies for a super sweet treat.

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

I like to call this the 1:1:1 recipe! Naturally gluten and grain free cookies that are really versatile.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie exchange, cookies, gluten free
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Punky the Elf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup sugar Can be white or brown- the elves like 1/2 cup of each
  • 1 large egg
  • sugar or colored sugar optional
  • chocolate kisses optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the racks in the upper and lower third of the oven.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the peanut butter, sugar, and egg until well combined. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the mixture about 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
  • For standard PB cookies:
    Flatten the mounds with the tines of a fork, dipped in sugar, making a crosshatch pattern on the cookies.
  • Make ‘em Festive!
    Roll the tablespoon of cookie dough in green or red sugar or sprinkles, then flatten with a fork.

Make it a peanut butter blossom:

  • Roll the tablespoon of cookie dough in sugar of choice.
  • Don’t flatten with fork.
  • Follow baking instructions.
  • Put a chocolate kiss on top as soon as they come out of the oven.

Bake

  • Bake until golden around the edges, about 10 minutes, switching the position of the sheets halfway through baking. Transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Lesley the Techie Elf | Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

“Pumpkin and chocolate is not the combination immediately thought of…this is the perfect moist, almost cake-like, cookie!”

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best blend of pumpkin pie and chocolate you can imagine.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie exchange, cookies
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Lesley the Techie Elf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp milk
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

  • Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg in a mixing bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt.
  • Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in.
  • Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
  • Add vanilla, chocolate chips, and nuts.
  • Drop by spoonful on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350°F (175C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm. Cool on a rack.

Elizabeth the Buckeye Elf | White Cake Cookies

“I won first place in a cookie contest (yay!) with this recipe!”

White Cake Cookies

Easiest elf cookies ever! Only three ingredients!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie exchange, cookies
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Elizabeth the Buckeye Elf

Ingredients

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Combine the cake mix, oil, and eggs in a large bowl. Stir together until combined.
  • Using a medium spoon, scoop the dough onto the prepared baking mat.
  • Bake for 9 - 11 minutes, or until the bookies are set. You don't want them to brown.
  • Allow to cool on the pan for a couple minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.

Notes

They will be super soft and delicious! Perfect with buttercream icing!

Peppermint the Elf | Yummy Meringue Cookies

“This is one of my favorite holiday cookies that my mom would make growing up…they were like eating a cloud because they just melt in your mouth. They are unlike any other cookie that I have had, but they are always a crowd- pleaser at any event!”

Peppermint's Yummy Meringue Cookies!

Bet you can't eat just one!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie exchange, cookies
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Peppermint the Elf

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites
  • ½ cup sugar
  • sprinkle salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips or peppermint chips for a minty surprise!

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F
  • Use a mixer to beat egg whites until they are just stiff. Add sugar & salt gradually and continue beating. Add vanilla. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop onto parchment paper covered cookie sheets. Bake at 325°F for 18 - 20 minutes.

Shelly the Sweet Elf | The BEST Sugar Cookies

“If you have kids with a nut allergy, swap out the almond extract for orange extract instead.”

The BEST Sugar Cookies

A timeless classic, but the best timeless classic you've ever tasted!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time38 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie exchange, cookies
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Shelly the Sweet Elf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Cream butter and sugar in your mixer until smooth, at least 3 minutes.
  • Beat in vanilla and almond extracts and egg.
  • In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and salt with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. The dough will be stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer turn out the dough onto a countertop surface, flour surface as needed. Finish kneading the dough by hand.
  • DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into 2-3 workable batches, using your favorite rolling pin, roll out to about ¼ inch thick on a floured surface, grab your favorite cookie cutters, and cut.
  • Bake at 350°F for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.

Chantalle the Hot Cocoa Elf | Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies

“I’ve always taken recipes I find that sound good and ‘enhanced’ them. The cranberries and orange zest are the upgrades for this recipe.”

Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies

Vanishing Oatmeal White & Dark Chocolate Chip Orange Cranberry Cookies
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie exchange, cookies
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Chantalle the Hot Cocoa Elf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 cups oats uncooked
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 tbsp orange zest

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Cream butter in a mixer. Beat in both brown and granulated sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.
  • Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a separate bowl and add slowly to butter, sugar, and egg mixture. Mix well.
  • Stir in oats, white and dark chocolate chips, cranberries, and orange zest; mixing well after each addition.
  • Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F. Cool on a cooling rack.

Cheerful Charlie Elf | Chunky Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

“Baked just right, these cookies are decadent! A soft buttery, milk chocolate interior with the crunch of walnuts and a surprise sweetness from the raisins. I like to think the raisins make them healthier so you can eat more of them :grin:

Chunky Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

An elf classic that is the pinnacle of cookie perfection, guaranteed to disappear in a jiffy!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time11 minutes
Resting Time2 minutes
Total Time21 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie exchange, cookies
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Cheerful Charlie Elf

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 ¼ cups brown sugar packed
  • 1 cup butter or margarine softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Chip Morsels (11.5 oz)
  • 1 cup chopped nuts recommend walnuts
  • 1 cup raisins

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F
  • Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
  • Beat sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in egg. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels, nuts, and raisins.
  • Drop by heaping tablespoon onto an un-greased baking sheet. Flatten slightly. Cook 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand 2 minutes, remove to a wire rack to cool.

Create your own cookie exchange with Elfster

Elfster makes it easy to create a cookie swap whether you’ve never done one before or if it’s a long-standing family tradition. Simply sign up and exchange cookies instead of gifts. It’s a sweet way to celebrate the holidays!

Looking for more baking inspo from the cookie experts?

Check out our Baking Gift Guide to shop for great finds for your kitchen and the perfect cookie baking gifts.

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About Meghan L 214 Articles
Meghan L has been elfing it since she joined the team in 2009. She enjoys coordinating exchanges, talking to organizers, and all things Christmas. Join her for an eggnog latte anytime at Elfster.com