
For some of us, “winter baking season” conjures an image of ourselves at peace, sipping cocoa and staring out a window as the snow falls. Perhaps a well-behaved child frolics at the counter as cookies bake in the oven.
For others, the phrase conjures a pile of sticky sprinkles, jam spread into far reaches of the counters, chocolate-covered hands and sugar-dosed toddlers.
So this holiday season or new year, we propose a small gift to yourself: Keep it simple. Let the décor of the cookie be baked right in. We’re talkin’ ready in 35 minutes. That’s the real holiday spirit.

Last-minute party obligation? These babies take 35 minutes, including prep time, and require only pantry staples and a bottle of sprinkles. They’re adorable, taste like funfetti cake, and will be the talk of the event for almost no work on your part. Talk about a holiday miracle.
2. Gluten-Free Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies

No need for fancy “windowpane” cookie treatments. Although those are fun, they also can take ages. These hazelnut flour raspberry “thumbprint” cookies are easy enough that a kid can help, and tasty enough that no one will miss the wheat flour. (They’re gluten-free!)
3. Dipped and Crisp Peanut Butter Cookies

Sure, you could peanut butter cookie, but what if you could chocolate peanut butter cookie instead? Joy the Baker is the mastermind behind these chocolatey, peanutty, crispy, textured dreamboats. Sweet and salty at once, they’re another impressive standby ready in 35 minutes.
4. Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Cookies

Think of the flavors you crave at 3pm on a busy weekday, and imagine them all in one cookie. Boom: Chocolate caramel pretzel cookies. What the what? They’re chocolate-chocolate chip, as if you needed another selling point. A tiny pretzel pressed on top is the sort of “decorating” we can do even at our most harried.

No dashing to the store for special ingredients for these bad boys: Black-and-white checkerboard cookies use six pantry staples. That’s it. And they’re a snap to make. Chocolate and vanilla are just the sort of standby flavors you need as a respite from the sprinkles, candies, and jams of the season.
6. Crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies With Cherries and Pistachios

Cherries and chocolate are a timelessly good combo, made even better by green flecks of buttery pistachios. The mix-ins provide the décor in these completely addictive numbers. You could bring them to a holiday party, but they’re just as good any other time of year.