164 cut out cookie recipes

Heart-shaped sugar cookies made the old-fashioned way with lard, sour milk, and a hint of nutmeg. Tender, slightly flaky cut-outs ready for royal icing or sprinkles. A Valentine's Day classic.

Sour cream Christmas cut-out cookies with a tender, slightly tangy dough, finished with a buttery coffee frosting. Makes 6 dozen cookies. Chill dough overnight for clean edges when cutting shapes.

Rolled oatmeal cookies with whole wheat flour, dried fruit, and buttermilk. Thin, crispy cut-out cookies made with oil instead of butter, no eggs required.

This cut-out cookie from Bev Bosveld of Waupun is dressed up with chewy oats and crushed peppermint for a pleasing result.

Pumpkin-shaped peanut butter cookies decorated with orange juice frosting for Halloween. Easy cut-out cookies kids love decorating with candy corn faces.

Orange shortbread hearts dipped in bittersweet chocolate. Buttery, citrus-scented cut-out cookies with a glossy chocolate half-dip for Valentine's Day or any occasion.

Gingerbread cut-out cookies with molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, plus a homemade egg white decorating frosting. A classic holiday cookie for decorating with kids.

Honey cut-out cookies with lemon extract, rolled thin and baked until lightly golden. A sturdy dough that holds its shape for holiday decorating with powdered sugar glaze.

Buttery shortbread-style cut-out cookies topped with a simple vanilla powdered sugar frosting. Makes 4 dozen soft, melt-in-your-mouth holiday cookies with just 5 dough ingredients.

Gingerbread cookies in a gingerbread bowl: edible holiday centerpiece of spiced gingerbread shaped into a fluted bowl and filled with matching cut-out cookies. A holiday gift-giving showstopper.

Peanut butter bears: cinnamon-spiced peanut butter cut-out cookies shaped like teddy bears with detailed dough faces. A holiday baking project that's as fun as the cookies are good.

Tender cocoa cut-out cookies made with cream cheese and almond extract, drizzled with a homemade cocoa glaze and topped with almonds. Dough chills overnight for clean, easy cutting. Makes 4 dozen.

Granny's spice cookies are buttery rolled cookies warmed with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, brightened by orange zest and a touch of corn syrup. A classic holiday cut-out cookie ready for ribbons and sprinkles.

Buttery rolled sugar cookies with lemon zest and vanilla, made with cake flour for a melt-in-your-mouth tender crumb. A classic cut-out cookie recipe that's ideal for decorating and holiday baking.

Old-fashioned molasses cookies with candied citron, chopped nuts, cloves, and cinnamon. Rolled thin, cut out, and baked crisp. A heritage holiday cookie.

Classic cut-out Christmas cookies with almond and vanilla extract, rolled thin and topped with colored powdered sugar frosting. A holiday cookie-decorating tradition.