There’s something timeless and comforting about the perfect sugar cookie, especially around the holidays. This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe delivers that nostalgic, buttery crunch with just the right amount of sweetness, making it a festive treat everyone will enjoy. Let me show you how easy and rewarding it is to bake these classic favorites.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Honestly, I can’t get enough of these Christmas sugar cookies because they’re so versatile and foolproof. Whether you’re baking with kids, gifting friends, or just craving a cozy snack, these cookies hit the mark every time.
- Simple Ingredients: You likely already have everything in your pantry, so no last-minute store runs needed.
- Perfect Texture: The cookies are tender with crisp edges, so they hold their shape beautifully for decorating.
- Easy to Make: The step-by-step instructions keep things stress-free, even if you’re new to baking.
- Customizable: Decorate with icing, sprinkles, or enjoy them plain — they taste amazing either way.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe plays a key role in delivering that classic sugary flavor and perfect cookie texture. Let’s break down why these staples come together so effortlessly.
- Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt level and provides rich flavor and tender crumb.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough while giving a slight crunchy texture to edges.
- Egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture, helping the cookie hold together well.
- Vanilla Extract: A simple addition that deepens flavor and warms the cookie’s profile.
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation for structure — measuring exactly is crucial for the right texture.
- Baking Powder: A gentle leavening agent that ensures the cookies rise slightly without becoming cakey.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances sweetness.
Make It Your Way
I love to mix things up depending on who I’m baking for, and you can totally do the same with this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe. It’s like a blank canvas waiting for your personal touch.
- Variation: One year, I swapped vanilla for almond extract and added a pinch of cinnamon—those cookies vanished in minutes, trust me!
- Dietary Tweaks: If you’re avoiding dairy, try a buttery non-dairy spread and a flax egg for a vegan twist.
- Decorating: Use royal icing, colored sugar, or even dip half the cookie in melted chocolate for extra flair.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep Like a Pro
First off, preheat your oven to 350°F and place your rack in the center. This ensures even baking. While the oven warms, whisk together your flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Setting this aside keeps things organized and helps prevent over-mixing later.
Step 2: Cream Butter & Sugar
Using either a stand mixer or a hand-held one, beat the softened butter with the sugar until the mixture looks light and fluffy. This step is key for that tender crumb and slight crisp edges. Then, add your egg and vanilla extract, mixing until just combined.
Step 3: Bring It Together With Flour
Add your flour mixture gradually, in three parts, mixing after each addition until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to over mix, or you’ll risk tough cookies. The dough will feel soft but not sticky.
Step 4: Roll Out & Shape
Divide your dough in half to keep it manageable. On a lightly floured surface, roll it out to about ¼-inch thickness. This thickness bakes perfectly tender without losing the shape of your festive cookie cutters. Use your favorite holiday shapes, and press firmly but gently.
Step 5: Bake & Cool
Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or just until the edges begin to turn a light golden. Timing matters here—overbaked cookies become dry. Let them rest on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. After that, it’s decorating time!
Top Tip
From my many holiday baking adventures, a few little tips have made all the difference in getting these cookies just right every time.
- Room Temperature Butter: Softened—but not melted—butter creams better, giving a wonderful texture.
- Flour Measurement: Spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it with a knife instead of scooping directly, to avoid dense dough.
- Chill Dough for Decorations: If you want perfect edges for decorating, chill your cut dough in the fridge for 15 minutes before baking.
- Don’t Overbake: Cookies continue to bake on the hot tray after pulling from the oven, so pull them as soon as edges turn golden.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping these sugar cookies with classic royal icing because it hardens nicely for detailed designs—especially fun when making snowflakes or Christmas trees! Colored sugar crystals or mini chocolate chips are quick, kid-friendly alternatives that still look festive.
Side Dishes
Pair your sugar cookies with a cozy cup of hot cocoa or spiced apple cider for the full holiday vibe. They also make a fabulous informal dessert alongside your Christmas dinner or cookie platter.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I like assembling cookie boxes or tins decorated with ribbons and a sprig of pine. Another fun idea is stacking cookies with wax paper in between to create edible “trees” for tablescapes. Don’t forget to let others customize their own with assorted icings and sprinkles!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover cookies fresh in an airtight container at room temperature, layered between parchment paper to prevent sticking. They stay soft yet slightly crisp for up to a week—perfect for enjoying leftovers.
Freezing
Try freezing baked cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to freezer bags once solid. This way, you can pop out exactly what you need later—it’s saved me many times during crazy holiday weeks.
Reheating
To refresh slightly stale cookies, pop them in the oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes. They’ll regain a bit of that fresh-baked warmth and texture without drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Swap the all-purpose flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Just be mindful that some blends absorb more moisture, so you might want to add a teaspoon or two of milk or an extra egg white to keep the dough soft.
Make sure your butter is softened but not melted, and don’t skip chilling the dough if you can. Also, be precise when measuring your flour as too little can cause spreading. Baking on parchment paper helps cookies bake evenly without sticking.
Yes! You can bake the cookies and decorate them once they’re completely cooled. Royal icing dries hard, so the decorated cookies can be stored for several days in an airtight container, making them perfect for gifting or preparing early for holiday parties.
Store decorated cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature. If you need to stack, separate layers with parchment paper to protect your decorations. Avoid refrigerating as it can cause icing to sweat or get sticky.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe has been my go-to for years because it strikes that perfect balance between simplicity and holiday cheer. Baking these cookies brings back warm memories and fills the house with that sweet, buttery aroma I associate with Christmas magic. I’m confident you’ll enjoy making and sharing them just as much as I do — it’s like passing along a little festive love from my kitchen to yours.
Print
Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 40 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Classic Christmas sugar cookies that are soft, buttery, and perfect for holiday decorating. This recipe yields 40 festive cookies with a tender texture and a subtly sweet flavor, ideal for cookie cutters and icing decoration.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, measured correctly
- 1 tablespoon baking powder, aluminum free
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 °F and position a rack in the center for even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a stand-up or handheld mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until creamy and well combined.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the vanilla extract and the egg, beating until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
- Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the flour mixture in three parts to the butter mixture, mixing after each addition until fully combined and forming the dough.
- Roll and Cut Dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion to about ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
- Bake Cookies: Arrange the cutouts on a parchment or silicone baking sheet. Bake at 350 °F for 10 minutes or until the cookie edges just begin to turn golden.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing and a tender texture.
- Use aluminum-free baking powder to avoid any metallic taste in your cookies.
- Roll dough evenly to ensure cookies bake uniformly.
- Chill the dough briefly if it becomes too soft to handle, making rolling and cutting shapes easier.
- Decorate cooled cookies with icing or sprinkles to personalize your holiday treats.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 55 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Leave a Reply