Elevating Break n’ Bake Cookies by Sommer

Every year as we get closer to the holidays, I start obsessing over cookie recipes. What cookies will we send as gifts to friends and family? What cookies will make the cut for our neighborhood cookie exchange? What cookies will we set out for Santa on Christmas Eve?

Oh, the pressure!

In the end, I usually come up with three or four new cookie varieties I’m satisfied with, and discover (again) that I really didn’t need to stress over it.

Why do I repeat this ridiculous cycle I call the Christmas Cookie Crisis? Because I’m a little bit crazy. At least around the holidays.

 
 

If you find yourself stressing over holiday baking, I’m here to tell you: there’s no shame in resorting to store-bought break n’ bake cookies.

In fact, here are some ways to spruce them up so no one will even know you cheated a little.

 
 

The Sugar Dunk

The easiest way to glam up break n’ bake cookies is to press the top of the cookie in sugar. If you are working with plain sugar cookie dough, use red, green, or gold sugar sprinkles. If you are using patterned holiday cookies, press the tops in plain granulated sugar to make the top of the cookie glittery!

Just press one side of the cookie dough in sugar. Place on baking sheets sugar-side-up. Then bake.

 
 

You can also cover the entire cookie dough disk with cinnamon sugar to create simple snickerdoodles!

 
 

Easy Patterns

Another trick to beautify break n’ bake cookies is to form the dough into a shape or cut a pattern in the top of each cookie before baking.

Here I simply snipped four slits in each cookie, then baked as directed. The cookies have a simple cross pattern once baked.

 
 

You can also roll and create shapes with the dough, as if you were using play dough, or stamp a pattern into the top.

Just remember store-bought dough is usually soft and creates flat cookies. If you want your shapes to hold their form a little better, freeze them before baking, so the outside crust forms before the dough has time to spread and flatten.

 
 

Sandwich Cookies

What’s better than one cookie? Two cookies glued together with frosting! Am I right?

 
 

To make sandwich cookies, simply bake the cookies as directed. Once cooled, spread frosting over the bottom side of half the cookies.

 
 

Press cookie tops over the frosting.

You can do this with any variety of break n’ bake cookies and any variety of frosting.

 
 

Chocolate-Dipped Cookies

Any cookie is taken up a few notches by the addition of creamy chocolate. Plus, chocolate-dipped cookies look elegant and enticing!

 
 

Melt chocolate in the microwave or on the stovetop. Then dip one side of each cookie in the melted chocolate. Lay the cookies on wax paper and allow the chocolate time to dry before wrapping.

 
 

Stuffed Cookies

Surprise! It’s not just a cookie—it’s a mint-chocolate-filled pocket of joy!

Stuff your cookies with York Peppermint Patties, Rolos, or any sort of small soft candies you can think of. This works especially well with chocolate candy varieties.

 
 

Press each break n’ bake cookie dough disk out flat on a floured surface. Place a piece of candy in the center.

 
 

Then wrap the sides of the dough around the candy and completely over the bottom. Make sure there are no gaps.

 
 

Press the top of the cookie in sugar if desired and bake as directed.

Just look at the inside!

 
 

See?

You can do this. Without anxiety.

And your kids will have fun doing it!