We all have memories of our favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

Whether chocolate covered, fruit filled or icing topped, holiday baking recipes have to include a few fantastic cookie recipes to satisfy the sweet tooth in all of us.

I love easy cookie recipes. Most of us don't have enough time to accomplish all we hope to, so quick and easy recipes, especially at this busy time of year, make it a bit easier on the cook. That's always a good thing.

This is a selection of delicious but very easy Christmas cookie recipes that are a perfect fit for the festive season.

Any of these treats would be a wonderful contribution to a Christmas cookie exchange too, where a group of friends each makes a bulk amount of one or two cookie recipes, then trades, so all have a variety of cookies to serve throughout the holiday season.

Create holiday memories for your family with this batch of sweet and delicious easy Christmas cookie recipes.

Christmas Surprise Cookies

3/4 cup of shortening

3/4 cup of light brown sugar

1 egg

1 3/4 cups flour

1 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup shredded coconut

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Any flavor jam or jelly

Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

Cream the shortening and the sugar together. Add the egg and mix it all together well. Sift the dry ingredients together and add them to the wet mix. Add vanilla and mix. Drop the dough by teaspoons-full onto an ungreased cookie sheet. With your finger or a spoon, make an indentation in the center of the cookie ball and fill with jam or jelly. Sprinkle coconut over all and bake at for 10-12 minutes.

Fruited Shortbread Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

1 - 9 ounce jar mincemeat

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup butter, softened

1 egg

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Combine the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg. Stir in the vanilla and the mincemeat. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mix. Mix together well. (The batter will be stiff.) Roll into 1 1/4" balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly brown.

Tip:

You can ice these cookies with a glaze mixture if you would like. Mix confectioner's sugar with a few drops of milk and vanilla until it reaches a runny but thick consistency. Drizzle over the Christmas cookies while they are still warm.

Almond Christmas Balls

1 cup of soft butter

1/4 cup of confectioner's sugar

2 cups of sifted flour

1 cup of ground almonds

1 teaspoon of almond extract

Candied or maraschino cherries

Granulated sugar (for rolling cookies after baking)

Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the flour, ground almonds and almond extract and mix until it forms a dough. Roll a teaspoon of the dough into a ball, press down in the middle and place a cherry in the center. Cover the cherry completely with the dough. Bake the cookie balls on a greased cookie sheet for 30 minutes at 325ºF. Roll in granulated sugar before cooling.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Each of these holiday recipes can be stored in an airtight container for at least a week.