Name: Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 2 h 21 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 stick salted butter softened; 2 ounces cream cheese softened; 1½ cups sugar; 2 large eggs; 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon almond extract; 2½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt; Red & Green Sanding Sugar

There’s something so nostalgic and cozy about a good sugar cookie during the holidays—a soft, buttery bite dusted with festive sparkles. This Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is exactly that kind of treat, offering a tender texture and that perfect hint of almond that feels like Christmas in every bite.

A white plate holds about fifteen soft round cookies stacked in a loose pile, each cookie a pale golden color with a slightly cracked surface. Each cookie is decorated on top with coarse sugar sprinkles in two colors: bright red and bright green, scattered mostly in the center and fading outwards. Each cookie has a shallow grid pattern pressed into its top, made by pressing with a fork, giving it a textured look. Crumbs and a few sprinkles scatter lightly around the plate edge. The background is a white marbled surface and blurred holiday items add soft colors behind the plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I've made this Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe nearly every holiday season because it hits all the right notes—soft, buttery, lightly sweet, and perfect for decorating or just enjoying plain. Plus, it’s straightforward enough for a cozy baking day with friends or family.

Butter and cream cheese combo: This makes the cookies incredibly tender and gives them a lovely rich flavor.
Chilling the dough: It’s a game changer for handling and wafer-thin edges that hold their shape perfectly.
Simple ingredients: No weird extras here—just pantry staples you probably already have around.
Festive red and green sanding sugar: Adds sparkle and that charming holiday vibe without fuss.

A white plate with a stack of light golden round cookies in the center. Each cookie has a textured pattern of fork marks on top, covered with colored sugar sprinkles, some in green and others in red. The top cookie leans slightly to show its side, revealing soft texture and thickness. Around the stack, more cookies are placed flat on the plate, with red and green sugar sprinkles scattered lightly on the white marbled surface below. The background is softly blurred, focusing attention on the cookies. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe plays a part in giving you that tender texture and delightful flavor you’re dreaming about. Here’s a quick peek at what they do and why they’re essential.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of softened pale yellow salted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of smooth white cream cheese, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with granulated white sugar, two large brown eggs with clean uncracked shells, a small white ceramic bowl containing clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl with light amber almond extract, a neat pile of fine off-white all-purpose flour, a small mound of bright white cornstarch, a small white ceramic bowl holding fine beige baking soda powder, a small white ceramic bowl with fine white salt, and two small white ceramic bowls—one filled with sparkling red sanding sugar and the other with sparkling green sanding sugar—placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Salted butter: Adds richness and flavor; make sure it’s softened for easier mixing.
Cream cheese: Keeps cookies soft and adds a subtle tang that balances sweetness beautifully.
Sugar: Sweetens the cookie and helps create a delicate crisp edge when baked just right.
Eggs: Provide structure and moisture—don't skip or substitute without caution.
Vanilla extract: Classic flavor enhancer that deepens sweetness and warmth.
Almond extract: Just a splash here lifts the flavor and uniquely signals holiday baking.
All-purpose flour: The base of your dough; sift if you want a lighter, airier bite.
Cornstarch: A secret weapon for tenderness and a delicate crumb.
Baking soda: Gives cookies a gentle lift without puffing them up too much.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all those buttery flavors.
Red & Green Sanding Sugar: The festive finishing touch that makes these cookies sparkle.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. Whether you prefer different extracts or enjoy playing with fun decorations, it’s a recipe that welcomes your creativity.

Variation: I sometimes swap almond extract for a teaspoon of peppermint extract for a wintery twist—it gives the cookies a refreshing zing that pairs beautifully with the classic vanilla.
Dietary Tip: For a dairy-free spin, try substituting vegan butter and a non-dairy cream cheese; just be sure to chill the dough extra well for firmness.
Decorating: Beyond sanding sugar, royal icing or colored frosting can turn these into holiday masterpieces if you’re in a festive mood.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese Until Fluffy

Start by adding softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract to a large mixing bowl. I love using a hand mixer here—it takes about 4-5 minutes to beat everything until it’s light and fluffy. This aeration is key for soft, tender cookies. Don’t rush it; this step builds the base for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Step 2: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients Gently

Next, scrape down the bowl sides with a rubber spatula to get every bit of that creamed mixture. Add your flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt all at once. Start your mixer on low to combine until a soft dough forms—you want just enough mixing to bring it together, no more. Overmixing can make cookies tough.

Step 3: Chill the Dough for Perfect Handling

Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest in the fridge for 2 hours. This chilling step is crucial—it firms up the dough, making it easier to scoop and helping the cookies hold their classic shapes without spreading too much during baking.

Step 4: Shape, Decorate, and Bake

Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a cookie scoop or your hands to roll dough into balls and place them about an inch apart. Press a crisscross pattern lightly into each cookie with a fork, then sprinkle the tops generously with red or green sanding sugar. Bake for 9-11 minutes. My trick? Pull them out just before edges brown so they stay soft—remember, they’ll firm up as they cool.

Step 5: Cool Completely and Enjoy

Let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes—this helps them set without breaking apart—and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. This extra step ensures the texture is just right when you bite in.

Top Tip

Having baked these cookies countless times, I’ve learned a few tricks that really make a difference in your results and ease of preparation.

Soften Your Butter & Cream Cheese Well: I always set mine out 2 hours before I start baking to avoid lumps and ensure smooth mixing.
Don’t Skip the Chill: Letting the dough rest in the fridge for 2 hours makes scooping a breeze and keeps the shape intact during baking.
Use a Cookie Scoop: This helps keep your cookies uniform in size so they bake evenly—plus, it’s faster!
Watch Your Baking Time: Timing is everything here; underbaking slightly prevents dryness and keeps cookies soft and chewy.

How to Serve Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Christmas Sugar Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I’m a big fan of the traditional sanding sugar dusting—it’s simple, sparkly, and adds just a tiny crunch. Sometimes, for a bit more pizzazz, I’ll use edible glitter or even tiny pearl sprinkles for a snowy effect. If icing, keep it thin so you don’t overpower the cookie’s delicate flavor.

Side Dishes

Nothing goes better with these cookies than a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa or a peppermint latte. If you’re hosting, a platter with a selection of nuts and dried fruits provides a lovely contrast in textures alongside the soft cookies.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I love bundling these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons—a simple but charming gift idea. Or arrange them on a tiered serving tray mixed with candy canes and miniature ornaments for an eye-catching centerpiece.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll stay fresh for about 5-7 days. I usually layer them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. If you have more than a week’s worth, freezing is a brilliant option.

Freezing

Wrap cooled cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They keep beautifully for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature for an hour or so—they taste just like freshly baked.

Reheating

If you prefer warm cookies, pop one in the microwave for 5-10 seconds. I find this restores the soft texture without drying them out—a little warmth goes a long way to bring back that freshly baked feeling.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter in Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe?

Yes! This recipe calls specifically for salted butter because it adds a nice balance to the sweetness and enhances the flavor. Just make sure not to add extra salt beyond what's listed.

How important is chilling the dough?

Chilling the dough for at least 2 hours is very important because it firms up the fat, making the dough easier to handle and preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. It also helps the flavors develop fully.

Can I substitute cream cheese with something else?

Cream cheese adds tenderness and subtle tang to these cookies, so while you can try using more butter instead, the texture and flavor might be less rich. For dairy-free alternatives, vegan cream cheese works well if you’re careful about chilling the dough.

How do I keep Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies soft after baking?

The key is to avoid overbaking—pull the cookies out when edges aren’t browned and centers look slightly underdone. Let them cool on the baking sheet to set up, then store in an airtight container at room temperature. Reheating briefly in the microwave also helps soften them.

Final Thoughts

This Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my holiday traditions—it’s the kind of recipe that brings everyone to the kitchen, fills your home with warmth, and tastes like festive comfort in every bite. I hope you enjoy baking and sharing these as much as I do, making your holiday moments a little sweeter and a lot more memorable.