There’s something truly magical about the smell of fresh-baked cookies filling the kitchen during the holidays. This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is a sweetheart classic that brings the joy of the season right to your countertop with buttery, tender cookies that are perfect for decorating and sharing.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’m genuinely excited to share this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe because it nails that perfect balance: a soft, buttery base cookie that holds its shape well for decorating but doesn’t feel too dense or dry. Baking these has become an annual tradition in my household, and I think you’ll see why it’s a staple for festive cheer.
- Perfect Texture: These cookies are tender with just the right amount of chew, thanks to a simple but foolproof dough.
- Easy to Customize: Whether you want classic cutouts or want to get creative, this dough takes any decoration beautifully.
- Reliable Results: You can trust this recipe to come out just right—consistent baking times and straightforward steps make it stress-free.
- Great for Gifting: Make a batch ahead, decorate with love, and package these cookies for friends and family—they always bring smiles.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe plays a key role in creating that iconic taste and texture. You may recognize them as pantry staples, but understanding why they work together helps you get it just right every time.
- Unsalted Butter: Provides richness and a tender crumb; room temperature butter mixes more evenly than cold.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and slight crispness around cookie edges.
- Egg: Binds the dough and adds moisture—important for softness.
- Vanilla Extract: Elevates the flavor with warm aromatic notes.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base structure; be sure to measure properly by spooning flour into your cup to avoid dense cookies.
- Baking Powder (aluminum free): This little lift agent helps cookies rise just enough to keep a soft texture without puffing up too much.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances sweetness.
Make It Your Way
I love how adaptable this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is. Over the years, I’ve played with different extracts and toppings to make it feel fresh every holiday season. You should definitely experiment with what makes you happy—this recipe welcomes creativity!
- Variation: One year, I swapped vanilla for almond extract and it added such a lovely nutty twist—it’s worth a try if you want something different.
- Dietary modification: Want gluten-free? Try substituting a gluten-free flour blend but keep an eye on texture—you may need to refrigerate the dough longer.
- Decoration idea: Mini chocolate chips or colored sugar crystals right before baking add fun textures and colors without fuss.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Mix the Dry Ingredients
Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. This ensures your leavening and seasoning are evenly distributed throughout the dough. I like to set this aside because it helps keep my baking station organized and makes adding dry ingredients smooth later on.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
Using a stand mixer or handheld beaters, cream the softened butter with sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy—about 3-5 minutes. This step traps air, which contributes to that tender bite you want in sugar cookies. Don’t rush it; this makes a surprising difference.
Step 3: Incorporate the Egg and Vanilla
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mix, beating just until combined. Overmixing here can lead to tougher cookies, so a gentle touch works best.
Step 4: Add Flour Mixture Gradually
Stir in the flour mixture in three parts, mixing on low speed or folding by hand each addition. This gradual approach prevents too much flour flying everywhere and ensures you don’t overwork the dough, keeping cookies tender.
Step 5: Roll and Cut the Dough
Divide your dough in half and roll each portion out on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use your favorite festive cookie cutters and press firmly to get clean shapes. I like to pop the scraps back together and re-roll gently to avoid over-toughening.
Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection
Place your cutouts on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. The key is to watch the edges—they should just start turning a delicate golden color. Pull them out before they brown too much to keep that tender chew.
Step 7: Cool and Decorate
Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes—they firm up nicely here—which makes transferring to a wire rack easier without breaking. Once fully cool, go wild with your icing, sprinkles, or whatever festive touch you prefer!
Top Tip
Baking cookies isn’t just about following a recipe—it’s about tuning into the dough and knowing your oven. After helping dozens of friends and family nail these cookies, I’ve learned some little tricks that consistently get the best results.
- Room Temperature Butter: Cold butter won’t cream properly, and melted butter can make the cookies too flat; I always make sure mine’s softened but not oily.
- Even Rolling Thickness: Use rolling pin guides or stack two wooden spoons beside your dough—this keeps cookies baking evenly so no one cookie is overdone.
- Don't Overbake: Cookies continue cooking slightly after coming out of the oven; pulling them out as edges turn golden keeps them tender inside.
- Use Parchment or Silicone Mats: Helps avoid sticking and promotes even browning, which makes your life much easier during cleanup too!
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I’m a sucker for classic royal icing with vibrant food coloring—there’s something nostalgic about those smooth, shiny finishes. But crushed peppermint, colored sugar sprinkles, and edible glitter add festive sparkle and easy flair without much effort.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with warm drinks—think rich hot cocoa topped with whipped cream or a spiced latte. I also enjoy serving them alongside a fruity winter punch when hosting holiday gatherings.
Creative Ways to Present
One time, I wrapped a set of decorated cookies in clear cellophane, tied with a velvet ribbon and sprigs of fresh rosemary—it looked like a gift straight from a winter wonderland. Arranging cookies on tiered trays with little lights also brings an impressive holiday table display.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover sugar cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Stored this way at room temperature, they stay fresh and soft for up to a week—perfect for nibbling over several days.
Freezing
Freezing works beautifully for this recipe. I like to freeze cookie dough balls or already cut dough wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil. When I’m ready, just thaw in the fridge overnight and bake fresh—super convenient if you want a head start on holiday prep.
Reheating
If you have leftover baked cookies that have softened a bit in storage, a quick 5-minute zap in a 300°F oven brings back that slight crisp edge and fresh-baked warmth—making them taste like they just came out of the oven again.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, you can use salted butter if that's what you have on hand. Just reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe to avoid your cookies being too salty. Using unsalted butter gives you better control over the salt content.
Make sure to chill your dough before rolling and cutting if your kitchen is warm. Also, avoid using too much butter or overmixing the dough, which can cause spreading. Lastly, baking on parchment paper or a silicone mat helps cookies hold shape.
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. When ready, thaw in the fridge before rolling and cutting.
Royal icing is a classic choice for these cookies because it dries hard and smooth, perfect for detailed designs. You can also use colored sugar, sprinkles, or simple glaze icing with powdered sugar and milk for easier decoration.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is more than just a festive treat. For me, it’s a way to slow down, gather loved ones, and create memories around the oven. I hope you find as much joy in baking and sharing these cookies as I have over the years—because nothing tastes quite like the holidays than a homemade sugar cookie made with a little love.
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 soft, buttery, and perfect for holiday decorating. Easy to make with simple ingredients and a buttery flavor, these cookies bake to a golden edge and hold their shape well for festive cutters and colorful 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 aluminum-free baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350 °F and position the oven rack in the center to ensure even baking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, aluminum-free baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in the vanilla extract and egg until fully combined with the butter-sugar mixture.
- Incorporate flour: Add the flour mixture in three parts to the wet ingredients, mixing thoroughly between additions until the dough is fully combined.
- Roll and cut dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion out to ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut your favorite shapes from the dough.
- Bake cookies: Place the cut cookies onto a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 °F for 10 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden brown.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, ready for decorating.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened but not melted for best texture.
- Use aluminum-free baking powder to avoid any metallic aftertaste.
- Roll dough evenly to ¼-inch thickness to ensure consistent baking.
- If dough becomes too soft to handle, chill it briefly in the refrigerator before rolling.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- Decorate with royal icing or your favorite cookie icing once cookies are completely cooled.
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: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
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