Skip to main content

christmas sugar cookies recipe.

🎄 Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe (Soft, Buttery & Perfect for Decorating)

These Christmas sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for decorating. A festive, easy-to-make holiday cookie recipe that’s great for parties, gifting, or baking with kids!

Introduction:

Nothing says holiday joy like baking and decorating a batch of classic Christmas sugar cookies! This easy, foolproof recipe creates soft, buttery cookies that hold their shape — perfect for cut-outs and decorating with royal icing or sprinkles.

Ideal for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, family baking days, or edible gifts, these cookies are festive, fun, and delicious every time.

⭐ Why You’ll Love These Christmas Sugar Cookies

  • 🍪 Soft, buttery texture with golden edges
  • 🎄 Perfect for cutting, shaping, and decorating
  • 🧁 Holds its shape — no spreading
  • ❄️ Freezer-friendly for make-ahead baking
  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for baking with kids

🛒 Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookie Dough:

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract (optional, for festive flavor)
  • 2 ¾ cups (330g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

For Decorating (optional):

  • Royal icing or sugar glaze
  • Holiday sprinkles
  • Colored sanding sugar

👩‍🍳 How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies

✅ Step 1: Cream Butter & Sugar

In a large bowl, beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).

✅ Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients

Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until combined.

✅ Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add to wet mixture until a soft dough forms.

✅ Step 4: Chill Dough

Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, and wrap in plastic. Chill for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

✅ Step 5: Roll & Cut

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough on a floured surface to ¼ inch thick. Cut into holiday shapes using cookie cutters.

✅ Step 6: Bake

Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are just lightly golden.

✅ Step 7: Cool & Decorate

Cool cookies completely on a wire rack before decorating with icing and sprinkles.

🎨 Decorating Tips

  • Use royal icing for clean, detailed designs
  • For easier decorating, use piping bags with small round tips
  • Let icing dry completely before stacking or storing
  • Mix up your shapes: stars, trees, snowflakes, stockings!

🧊 Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

  • Room Temp: Store decorated cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week
  • Freezer (Baked): Freeze cookies (undecorated) for up to 3 months
  • Freezer (Dough): Freeze cookie dough discs for up to 2 months — thaw overnight in the fridge before rolling

✅ Pro Tips for Perfect Holiday Sugar Cookies

  • Chill dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading
  • Roll dough evenly for uniform baking
  • Don’t overbake — cookies should be pale with lightly golden bottoms
  • Decorate only when cookies are fully cooled

🔍 FAQ – Christmas Sugar Cookies

Q: Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Chill the dough well for easier handling.

Q: What’s the best icing for decorating?
Royal icing is best for detailed designs. A simple sugar glaze works well for quick decorating.

Q: Can I skip almond extract?
Yes, but it adds a lovely festive flavor. You can also substitute with lemon or orange zest.

⭐ Similar Recipes to Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

1. Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Warm spices, festive shapes, and perfect for decorating—one of the best related holiday cookie recipes.

2. Shortbread Christmas Cookies

Rich, buttery cookies that pair well with icing or sprinkles.
Highly searched during the holiday season.

3. Snickerdoodle Cookies

Soft, cinnamon-coated cookies with a holiday feel.
Great internal link target from sugar cookie posts.

4. Peppermint Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Minty, fudgy, snowy-looking cookies—perfect for Christmas cookie trays.

5. Frosted Cut-Out Cookies

Similar decorating style to sugar cookies but with a slightly softer texture.
A popular alternative for readers wanting festive cookies.

📌 Save & Share This Recipe

Baking for the holidays? Save this Christmas sugar cookies recipe to your Pinterest holiday board, or tag your decorated cookies on Instagram with #FestiveSugarCookies 🎄🍪✨

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

chicken katsu donburi recipe.

  🍱 Chicken Katsu Donburi Recipe (Katsudon Bowl) Crispy chicken cutlet simmered with egg and savory sauce over rice! Try this authentic Japanese Chicken Katsu Donburi recipe — easy and full of flavor. ⏱️ Prep & Cook Time Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Serves: 2–3 🧂 Ingredients For Chicken Katsu: 2 boneless chicken breasts ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 egg , beaten 1 cup panko breadcrumbs Salt and pepper , to taste Oil for frying For the Donburi Sauce: 1 small onion , thinly sliced ½ cup dashi broth (or chicken broth) 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp mirin 1 tbsp sugar 2 eggs , lightly beaten For Serving: 2–3 cups steamed white rice Green onions or nori strips , for garnish 👩‍🍳 Instructions Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Katsu Pound chicken breasts evenly with a mallet or rolling pin. Season with salt and pepper. Dredge each piece in flour, then dip into beaten egg, and coat with panko breadcrumbs. Heat oi...
Post a Comment
Read more

gelato recipe

  🍨 Authentic Italian Gelato Recipe – Creamy & Easy to Make Gelato is Italy’s most famous frozen dessert, loved worldwide for its silky texture, rich flavors, and lower fat content compared to ice cream . If you’ve been searching for a homemade gelato recipe that’s easy, authentic, and delicious – this is the perfect one. In this post, you’ll learn how to make gelato at home , step by step, with pro tips and flavor variations. ⭐ Why You’ll Love This Gelato Recipe Creamier and denser than regular ice cream Uses simple, fresh ingredients Endless flavor options (chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, strawberry, and more) Perfect summer dessert for the whole family 📝 Ingredients (Base Gelato Recipe) 2 cups (500ml) whole milk 1 cup (250ml) heavy cream 4 large egg yolks ⅔ cup (130g) sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract (or 1 vanilla bean for authentic flavor) 👉 For flavor variations: Chocolate Gelato → add ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder Pistachio Gelato → blend ½ cup pist...
Post a Comment
Read more

muhammara recipe.

  Muhammara Recipe – Smoky Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Dip Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Servings: 4–6 Muhammara is a rich and flavorful Middle Eastern dip made from roasted red peppers, walnuts, garlic, and olive oil. Originating from Aleppo, Syria , this dip is known for its sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy taste . It pairs perfectly with warm , crackers, or fresh vegetables. Ingredients 3 large red bell peppers 1 cup walnuts (lightly toasted) 2 tbsp breadcrumbs 2 cloves garlic 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp paprika ½ tsp chili flakes (optional) 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses Salt to taste Instructions Step 1: Roast the Peppers Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F). Place whole red peppers on a baking tray. Roast for 20–25 minutes until charred and soft. Remove and cover to steam, then peel off skins. Step 2: Blend the Ingredients Add roasted peppers, walnuts, garlic, breadcrumbs, olive oil, lemon ju...
Post a Comment
Read more