There’s something magical about the smell of fresh-baked sugar cookies filling the kitchen during the holidays. This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is my go-to for creating festive, buttery cookies that everyone loves. They’re perfect for decorating, gifting, or just sneaking a sweet treat while sipping hot cocoa.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and charm. The dough comes together quickly, and the cookies bake to tender, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Plus, they’re incredibly versatile for decorating with your favorite festive colors and shapes.
- Easy to Roll and Cut: The dough is just the right consistency—not too sticky or crumbly—making cookie cutters a breeze to work with.
- Perfect Texture: These cookies have a soft yet sturdy bite, so they hold up beautifully under icing or sprinkles.
- Great for Decorating: Because they don’t spread much during baking, your shapes stay crisp and clean for decorating.
- Family Favorite: I’ve made these year after year, and my whole family looks forward to this tradition (and the sneaky taste-tests!).
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe plays a crucial role in creating that tender and sweet holiday classic you’re aiming for. Here’s a quick rundown of why these ingredients come together so well—and a few tips I’ve picked up along the way.
- Unsalted butter: It provides rich flavor and that melt-in-your-mouth texture; using unsalted lets you control the salt level perfectly.
- Granulated sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness and helps create that subtle crisp edge.
- Egg: Acts as a binder and brings moisture, making your cookies tender but sturdy.
- Vanilla extract: The secret weapon for boosting flavor with its warm, comforting aroma—don’t skip it!
- All-purpose flour: Gives structure without making the cookies too dense; make sure to measure it correctly by spooning and leveling.
- Baking powder: A light leavening agent that helps the cookies rise ever so slightly without puffing up.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
Make It Your Way
One of the best parts about this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make your own. I love mixing things up depending on my mood or what I have on hand—feel free to personalize these cookies and make them truly yours.
- Flavor variations: I sometimes add a teaspoon of almond extract instead of vanilla for a subtle, nutty twist that friends always ask about.
- Diet-friendly tweaks: For a dairy-free option, swapping butter with a plant-based alternative works wonderfully; just make sure it’s solid and not melted.
- Adding zest: A little lemon or orange zest in the dough gives a fresh citrus pop that brightens the holiday flavors.
- Shape it up: Beyond classic stars and trees, try fun shapes like gingerbread men, candy canes, or even personalized designs with small alphabet cutters.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Whisk Dry Ingredients Together
Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. This helps distribute the leavening evenly so your cookies rise just right. Making sure your flour is properly measured (spooned into your cup and leveled off) is key here—too much flour can dry out the dough.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
Using a stand mixer or handheld beaters, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy—this usually takes about 3 minutes. This step is crucial because it creates the perfect texture, trapping air for tender cookies.
Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until everything is well combined. The egg adds moisture and richness, while the vanilla infuses your cookies with that unmistakable warm aroma.
Step 4: Gradually Add Dry Ingredients
Add the whisked flour mixture in three parts, mixing slowly after each addition. This keeps the dough from becoming tough and helps it stay soft and pliable. Once combined, divide the dough in two and form discs to chill briefly if you have time—chilling makes rolling easier else proceed directly.
Step 5: Roll Out and Cut Shapes
Lightly flour your work surface and roll each dough portion to about ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create your favorite festive shapes. I always keep a small bowl of flour nearby to dip cutters in to prevent sticking.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Arrange the cookies on a parchment-lined or silicone baking mat–lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents breaking and keeps their shape intact.
Top Tip
I’ve made this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe dozens of times, and a few tricks really help me get consistent, beautiful cookies every time. Here are my best tips so you can skip the trial and error.
- Butter at Room Temperature: Make sure your butter is soft but not melted—it should give slightly when pressed. This makes creaming with sugar smoother and helps the dough come together well.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix just enough to blend. Overmixing develops gluten and can make cookies tough instead of tender.
- Roll Evenly: Aim for an even ¼-inch thickness when rolling out the dough. This helps cookies bake uniformly and hold their shape during baking.
- Watch Baking Time: Keep an eye on the cookies after 8 minutes. They cook fast, and pulling them out just as the edges turn golden keeps them soft in the center.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
My favorite finishing touch is a simple royal icing tinted with bright reds, greens, and whites for that classic Christmas look. Adding festive sprinkles while the icing is wet gives a fun sparkle. Sometimes I use edible glitter for an extra special pop when serving guests.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair especially well with a hot cup of mulled cider or peppermint hot chocolate—both are holiday staples in my home. For parties, I like to serve them alongside a cheese platter or mini sandwiches for a sweet and savory mix.
Creative Ways to Present
For gift-giving, I arrange the cookies in decorative tins layered with wax paper and tie the lid with a festive ribbon. At holiday parties, I love using a tiered stand to showcase different shapes and colors—it instantly makes the cookie table feel extra special.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover Christmas sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to keep the decorated tops from sticking together and protect the icing.
Freezing
If I want to bake ahead, I often freeze the raw dough discs wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then in a freezer bag. When ready, I thaw in the fridge overnight before rolling and cutting. You can also freeze baked cookies in layers separated by parchment for up to 3 months—it’s a lifesaver for last-minute celebrations.
Reheating
To freshen up cookies that have lost a bit of their softness, I pop them in a preheated 300°F oven for 3–4 minutes. This lightly warms them without melting the icing, making them taste just like fresh-baked.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Butter offers the best flavor and texture for these Christmas sugar cookies, but if you need to substitute, use solid vegetable shortening for a similar texture or margarine for a softer cookie. Keep in mind the flavor may not be as rich.
Make sure your dough is chilled before rolling if your kitchen is warm. Avoid using too much butter or sugar and don’t overmix after adding flour. Rolling the cookies to an even ¼-inch thickness helps maintain shape during baking.
Absolutely! These cookies hold up beautifully under royal icing. Make sure they are completely cooled before decorating for the best results. You can also experiment with buttercream or glaze, but royal icing tends to give the crisp, vibrant look that’s perfect for Christmas.
When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh for about 5 to 7 days. For longer storage, freezing is the best option to maintain their flavor and texture.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is like a warm hug from the oven—a simple, joyful way to spread holiday cheer. Whether you’re baking with family or making them as gifts, I promise you’ll find the process just as rewarding as the cookies themselves. So roll up your sleeves, turn on your favorite holiday tunes, and enjoy creating memories (and magic) one cookie at a time.
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
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies that are perfect for holiday baking. These soft, buttery cookies are easy to make and ideal for cutting into festive shapes and decorating with your favorite icing.
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 with a rack in the center position.
- 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 mixer or handheld mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the large egg and vanilla extract until fully combined with the butter and sugar mixture.
- Combine with Flour: Gradually add the dry flour mixture in three parts to the wet ingredients, mixing after each addition until the dough is fully incorporated.
- Roll Out Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion out to about ¼-inch thickness.
- Cut Shapes: Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the rolled dough.
- Bake Cookies: Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Place the cut-out cookies on the sheets and bake at 350 °F for 10 minutes, or until the edges 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.
- Decorate: Once cooled, decorate the cookies with your preferred cookie icing or decorations.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming with sugar.
- Use aluminum-free baking powder to avoid any metallic taste in the cookies.
- Rolling dough to ¼-inch thickness ensures the cookies bake evenly and hold their shape.
- Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating to prevent the icing from melting.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh up to one week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
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