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 about the smell of fresh-baked cookies and the sparkle of red and green sanding sugar that makes the holidays feel truly magical. This Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is my go-to for creating that perfect balance of buttery softness and festive crunch, guaranteed to bring smiles around the kitchen table.

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 baked countless sugar cookies over the years, but this recipe always stands out because it’s effortlessly delicious and so customizable. Plus, it freezes beautifully — which might just save your Christmas Eve!

Perfect Texture: The combo of cream cheese and butter makes the dough incredibly soft and tender.
Simplicity Meets Flavor: Just a hint of almond and vanilla extract gives these classic cookies a subtle festive twist.
Easy to Decorate: The dough holds shape well, so your seasonal designs look crisp and charming.
Keeps Fresh: These cookies stay soft for days and can be frozen to enjoy later without losing their magic.

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

The magic of this Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is all in the ingredients working together — creating a tender, buttery dough that’s easy to handle but still melts in your mouth. Here’s what makes each ingredient special:

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 moisture, while the salt enhances all the flavors.
Cream Cheese: Gives the cookies a soft, almost melt-in-your-mouth texture you don’t get with butter alone.
Sugar: Sweetens just enough and helps create that delicate crunch on the edges.
Eggs: Bind everything together and add to the tender crumb.
Vanilla Extract: Classic flavor booster that’s essential to any sugar cookie.
Almond Extract: Just a hint spices things up in a warm, festive way.
All-Purpose Flour: The base that keeps your cookies soft yet sturdy enough to hold shapes.
Cornstarch: Makes the texture extra tender and light — I always sneak this into my sugar cookies for that little something special.
Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise just enough without puffing up too much.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor depth.
Red & Green Sanding Sugar: Because what’s Christmas without a colorful sparkle on top?

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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 the best things about this Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak—it’s like a blank canvas for your holiday creativity. I love adding a little extra almond extract for a stronger nutty note, but it’s just as delicious plain or sprinkled with colored sugars.

Variation: Sometimes I swap out the red and green sanding sugar for cinnamon sugar for a cozy twist.
Dietary Modification: You can experiment with gluten-free flour blends if you have guests with sensitivities, though the texture might shift a bit.
Seasonal Change: Try adding a bit of orange zest or a dash of ground ginger to play up Christmas flavors.

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

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese

Start by softening your butter and cream cheese fully—that’s key to avoid lumps and get that super smooth texture. In a large bowl, beat together the butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract using a hand mixer. This takes about 4 to 5 minutes until the mix starts looking light and fluffy. Trust me, this makes a big difference in the final cookie softness.

Step 2: Mix in Dry Ingredients Gently

Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the bowl’s sides so nothing’s hiding. Next, add your flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Turn your mixer to low - you want to combine everything just until the dough forms a soft ball. Overmixing here can make your cookies tough, so patience is golden.

Step 3: Chill the Dough

Cover your dough with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for a solid 2 hours. I always try to do this step ahead when I can — the dough firms up nicely and makes rolling and shaping much easier, plus it helps the cookies keep their shape in the oven.

Step 4: Shape, Decorate, and Bake

Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll your dough into 1-inch balls, placing them with some space between—at least an inch. I love using a cookie scoop for even sizes that bake perfectly. Press a crisscross pattern gently into the top of each ball with a fork, then sprinkle with your red or green sanding sugar for that festive sparkle.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes and, here’s a trick I learned the hard way, don’t let them brown! They should look just a little undercooked when you take them out. Let the cookies cool on the pan for about 5 minutes so they set up, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve found that little tricks can really elevate your Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe from good to unforgettable. Here’s what works for me:

Room Temperature Ingredients: Always soften butter and cream cheese fully—cold lumps make for uneven dough and won’t blend well.
Don’t Overbake: These cookies continue cooking on the sheet after you remove them, so pull them out when slightly underdone to keep them soft.
Even Cookie Sizes: Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookies, so they bake evenly and look super pretty lined up.
Chill for Shape: The dough chills help the cookies hold their classic look and prevents spreading too much.

How to Serve Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Christmas sugar cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick to the classic red and green sanding sugar because it gives festive sparkle without overpowering the cookie. Sometimes I’ll add small edible silver pearls for a little extra sparkle — the kids love decorating those!

Side Dishes

These cookies go beautifully with a cozy cup of hot cocoa or a warm mug of spiced cider. For a holiday party, pair them with a cheese board or fruit platter to balance out all that sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

I love wrapping stacks of these cookies in clear cellophane tied with a festive ribbon for gifting. They also look adorable arranged on a holiday-themed plate or tiered tray at parties, making them both delicious and decorative.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature; they stay soft and fresh for about 5 to 7 days. I’ve found storing them with a slice of bread helps maintain moisture if you want to stretch their life a bit longer.

Freezing

This recipe freezes wonderfully! You can freeze both the dough and the baked cookies. Just wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge before baking. For baked cookies, keep them in a freezer-safe container or bag.

Reheating

If you like your cookies warm, I heat them in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds—just long enough to soften them without making them soggy. Fresh out of the oven taste, any day!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use unsalted butter instead of salted?

Absolutely! If you use unsalted butter, just add a pinch more salt so the flavors balance out perfectly.

Why do we chill the cookie dough?

Chilling the dough helps it firm up, making it easier to handle and preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking, so you get that perfect shape.

Can I decorate these cookies with icing?

Yes, feel free to add royal icing or buttercream once they’ve cooled completely for a fun decorating project—perfect for making these cookies festive and personalized.

How do I keep my cookies soft?

Make sure not to overbake and store cookies in an airtight container. Adding a slice of bread to the container can also help keep them moist.

Final Thoughts

This Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe has been a holiday staple in my kitchen for years, a little tradition I look forward to baking and sharing. It’s simple enough to toss together quickly, yet comforting and festive enough to feel special. I’m confident you’ll enjoy these soft, buttery cookies bedecked in red and green just as much as I do — they’re truly the taste of the season wrapped up in every bite.