There’s something undeniably magical about sitting around the kitchen, rolling out dough, and cutting festive shapes. This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe brings that cozy feeling to life with buttery, tender cookies that hold their shape perfectly—ready to be decorated and shared with loved ones.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I get so much joy out of this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe—not just because the cookies taste incredible, but because the process is like a little holiday tradition. It’s straightforward enough for baking with kids, yet yields bakery-worthy results that impress every time.
- Perfect texture: These cookies are buttery and tender but hold their shape nicely, making decorating a breeze.
- Simple ingredients: You likely have everything in the pantry already, so no last-minute store runs.
- Fast prep and bake time: Ready from mixing to cooling in about 30 minutes—great for busy holiday days.
- Customizable design: Use your favorite cutters and icings to make them uniquely yours every year.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe keeps it classic, with each ingredient playing a crucial role in flavor and texture. Properly measuring flour and using softened butter really takes these from “meh” to mesmerizing holiday treats.
- Unsalted butter: Softened at room temperature to cream easily with sugar, giving that tender base and rich flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create the cookie’s crisp edges without overpowering.
- Egg: Binds everything together, contributing to the cookie’s soft chewiness.
- Vanilla extract: A classic aroma that complements the sweetness, making the cookies smell like Christmas itself.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure; make sure to measure correctly—too much flour can make cookies tough.
- Baking powder: Helps the cookie rise just enough to stay tender without puffing up too much.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhance all the flavors.
Make It Your Way
I love how flexible this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is. Whether you want to go classic or spin it with festive flavors and glazes, it welcomes your creativity.
- Variation: Once, I added a teaspoon of lemon zest for a bright twist, and it was surprisingly delightful, adding a fresh note under all that sweetness.
- Dietary tweaks: You can swap unsalted butter for vegan butter and eggs for a flax egg to make these vegan-friendly—just expect a slightly different texture.
- Spice it up: Add cinnamon or peppermint extract to the dough for holiday-themed flavors.
- Decorate liberally: Use royal icing, sprinkles, or edible glitter. I like mixing it up with my kids and seeing their creativity shine.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare your ingredients and oven
Start by softening your butter at room temperature; it makes a huge difference in how well it cream with sugar. Preheat your oven to 350°F and position a rack in the center—it ensures even baking. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl and set it aside—this keeps those dry ingredients ready for the next step.
Step 2: Cream butter and sugar
Using a stand or handheld mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is key to that tender texture, so don’t rush it—about 3-4 minutes usually does the trick. Then, mix in your vanilla extract and egg until everything is combined smoothly.
Step 3: Incorporate the dry ingredients
Adding flour all at once can be messy, so add it in three parts, mixing just until incorporated each time. Be careful not to overmix here—stop as soon as you see no streaks of flour to keep the dough soft.
Step 4: Roll, cut, and bake
Divide your dough into two equal pieces to make handling easier. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion to about ¼-inch thickness. This thickness helps the cookies hold shape but stay tender. Choose your favorite cookie cutters and press out shapes. Arrange them on a parchment- or silicone-lined baking sheet, giving space between each. Bake for about 10 minutes—watch for the edges just starting to turn golden.
Step 5: Cool and decorate
Let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes—this helps them firm up and prevents breakage when moving. Then transfer to a wire rack until completely cool before decorating. Whether you dip them in royal icing, sprinkle with colored sugar, or leave them plain, they’re delicious either way.
Top Tip
From countless cookie-baking sessions, I’ve realized a few tricks that make all the difference in this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe—these tips will give you a stress-free, delicious result every single time.
- Butter temperature matters: Soft butter blends better with sugar for that light and tender crumb—too cold, and the dough won’t mix well; too melted, and your cookies will spread too thin.
- Measure your flour correctly: I always spoon the flour into my measuring cup and level it off instead of scooping directly—it prevents packing and keeps cookies soft.
- Chill the dough for thicker cookies: If you like a chunkier cookie, chilling your dough for 30 minutes before rolling tightens the dough and controls spread.
- Don’t overbake: Pull cookies out when edges just begin to color—remember they keep baking on the sheet, and overbaking means dry, hard cookies.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
My go-to garnishes are royal icing in bright holiday colors and a sprinkle of festive sugar crystals or edible glitter. Sometimes, I add mini multicolor sprinkles right after icing to add texture and sparkle. These simple touches turn cookies into little holiday masterpieces.
Side Dishes
Pairing these sugar cookies with warm drinks like hot cocoa, spiced cider, or even a simple cup of tea makes for an unbeatable holiday treat spread. I also love setting them alongside a cheese board with dried fruits and nuts for a festive gathering.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special occasion, I like arranging these cookies on tiered cake stands or wrapping small stacks tied with ribbons as charming edible gifts. Another fun idea is to decorate cookie kits with uncooked dough and small packets of icing for friends or kids to personalize themselves.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft. Adding a slice of bread inside the container is a classic trick that helps maintain moisture if you plan to enjoy them over several days.
Freezing
One of my favorite time-savers is freezing cut-out cookie dough before baking. I freeze the cut shapes in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a zip-top bag. This way, I can bake fresh cookies anytime during the season, no extra prep needed.
Reheating
If you want to refresh cookies after storage, a quick 5-10 second zap in the microwave or a few minutes in a low oven (around 300°F) helps revive that soft, fresh-baked feel without drying them out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, you can use salted butter, but I recommend reducing or omitting the added salt in the recipe to keep the flavor balanced and not too salty.
Make sure your butter is softened but not melted, chill the dough if it feels too soft, and avoid overworking the dough when mixing to prevent excess spreading in the oven.
Royal icing is my favorite for decorating because it dries hard and smooth, allowing you to stack decorated cookies and create detailed designs that last.
Absolutely! You can make the dough up to two days ahead and keep it tightly wrapped in the fridge, or freeze it for up to a month. Just thaw before rolling and cutting.
Final Thoughts
Baking this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe always fills my kitchen with warmth and joy—and it’s a wonderful way to slow down and connect with friends and family during the holiday rush. Give it a try and make it your tradition; I promise you’ll be coming back to this recipe year after year.
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. These cookies are easy to make and cut into your favorite festive shapes, ideal for sharing and celebrating the season.
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 aluminum-free baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 °F and position a rack in the center of the oven to ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a stand mixer or handheld mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, which usually takes a few minutes.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture, beating well until fully combined.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture in three parts to the wet ingredients, mixing after each addition until the dough is fully incorporated.
- Divide and 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 Cookie Shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut the dough into your favorite festive shapes, perfect for Christmas.
- Bake Cookies: Arrange the cookie shapes on a parchment paper or silicone mat-lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden.
- Cool Before Decorating: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, decorate with your favorite cookie icing.
Notes
- Use aluminum-free baking powder to avoid any metallic taste in the cookies.
- Ensure butter is softened but not melted for the best texture.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes if the dough is too sticky to roll out easily.
- For perfectly shaped cookies, flour the rolling surface and the cutter lightly.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
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