Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
If you’re looking for a delightful way to bring warm holiday cheer into your kitchen, this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is an absolute must-try. These cookies strike the perfect balance between buttery richness and a tender crumb that practically melts in your mouth. They’re simple enough for a festive baking session with kids or friends, yet charming and elegant enough to impress anyone at your holiday gathering. With soft, sweet dough that holds whichever fun shapes and sprinkles you choose, these Christmas sugar cookies become a canvas for your seasonal creativity, making every bite a celebration of the holidays.

Ingredients You’ll Need
Keeping the ingredients straightforward is key to creating these classic Christmas sugar cookies. Each item plays a special role—providing texture, flavor, or that perfect golden color that signals yum is just ahead.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened: Essential for rich, tender cookies with the perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- 1 cup granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps the cookies achieve a lovely golden hue.
- 1 large egg: Binds the dough together while adding moisture and structure.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract: Brings fragrant warmth that enhances the overall flavor.
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional): Adds a subtle festive nuttiness, perfect if you want to jazz up the traditional taste.
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour: The backbone of the dough, providing that classic sugar cookie crumb.
- 1/4 tsp salt: Balances sweetness and elevates all other flavors.
- 1/2 tsp baking powder: Gives a slight lift, ensuring the cookies aren’t too dense.
- Sprinkles or colored sugar for decorating: The fun finishing touch that makes these cookies festive and joyful.
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. This simple prep step ensures your cookies won’t stick and bake evenly, setting you up for success right from the beginning.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process introduces air into the dough, which helps create that tender texture. Then, add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if you’re using it. Beat everything until well combined—your dough is really starting to come alive here!
Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add this dry mix to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a dough forms. Avoid overmixing at this stage because that can make your cookies tough instead of soft and tender.
Step 4: Roll and Cut the Dough
Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough to about a quarter-inch thickness. This is the perfect thickness for cookies that are crisp on the edges but soft inside. Grab your favorite holiday cookie cutters and press out festive shapes—the classic stars, trees, or snowmen all work beautifully. Place each carefully on the baking sheet, ready for their holiday debut.
Step 5: Decorate and Bake
Sprinkle the cookie shapes with your chosen colored sugar or sprinkles before baking if you like a little extra sparkle baked right in. Alternatively, you can leave them plain now and add icing decoration after baking to show off your artistic skills. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, keeping an eye on them—the edges should just start turning golden without browning too much.
Step 6: Cool and Add Final Decorations
Allow the cookies to cool a bit on the baking sheet so they firm up before transferring them onto a wire rack. Once cooled, this is the time for any additional icing decoration or toppings you want to add. This final personal touch makes the cookies truly yours and ready to impress.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Garnishes
While colorful sugar or sprinkles are classic, you can elevate your Christmas sugar cookies with a thin glaze of royal icing or colorful buttercream to highlight details on shapes. A light dusting of edible glitter can also add shimmer, making each cookie sparkle under holiday lights.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with warm drinks like hot cocoa, mulled cider, or even a spiced chai latte. Offering these cozy drinks alongside your cookies creates a delightful sensory experience that’s perfect for gathering around a fireplace or at a festive party.
Creative Ways to Present
Presentation can make these treats stand out! Try stacking the cookies in a mason jar tied with a festive ribbon, arranging them on a themed platter with pine sprigs and cranberries, or placing them in decorative tins for gifting. They also make charming edible Christmas tree ornaments when tied with a thin ribbon through a small hole.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your freshly baked Christmas sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they should stay deliciously fresh for up to a week. If you have decorated them with icing, make sure the icing has fully hardened before storing to avoid any smudging.
Freezing
If you want to get a head start on your holiday baking, these cookies freeze beautifully. Freeze the unbaked dough in a tightly sealed bag or container for up to 3 months. Alternatively, you can freeze fully baked and decorated cookies, separated with parchment paper, to preserve their look and taste.
Reheating
Gently warm your cookies in a low oven (around 300°F) for a few minutes to refresh their soft texture and bring back that fresh-baked aroma. Avoid microwaving decorated cookies, as the icing might melt or become sticky.
FAQs
Can I substitute almond extract if I don’t have it?
Absolutely! The almond extract is optional and can be skipped, or you can substitute it with another flavor extract like peppermint or maple depending on your holiday vibe.
How thick should I roll out the dough?
About a quarter of an inch is perfect. Rolling too thin can make cookies crispier and more fragile, while too thick might lead to underbaking or doughy centers.
Can I use cookie cutters of any shape?
Yes! From traditional Christmas designs to fun shapes like stars and hearts, feel free to get creative—they all bake perfectly well with this dough.
How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much?
Make sure your butter is softened but not melted and chill your dough briefly if it feels too soft. This helps the cookies hold their shape better during baking.
What’s the best way to decorate these cookies for kids?
Using colored sugar or sprinkles before baking is fantastic for little hands. You can also use simple icing in various colors, and let the kids have fun with edible markers and candies once the cookies have cooled.
Final Thoughts
You really can’t go wrong with this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe—it’s the kind of holiday baking that fills your home with warmth and fills hearts with joy. Whether you’re making them with family, gifting them to friends, or simply savoring a quiet moment with a cup of tea, these cookies capture the spirit of the season perfectly. So roll up your sleeves, get out those cookie cutters, and make this recipe your new festive favorite!
Print
Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
These classic Christmas cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for the holiday season. With a simple dough flavored with vanilla and almond extracts, they can be cut into festive shapes and decorated with colorful sprinkles or icing for a joyful treat everyone will love.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
Decoration
- Sprinkles or colored sugar for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Then add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, and continue beating until all ingredients are well combined.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until a smooth dough forms.
- Roll and Cut the Dough: Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use your favorite holiday-themed cookie cutters to create shapes, then place the cut cookies evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
- Decorate: Before baking, sprinkle the cookies with colored sugar or festive sprinkles to add color and texture. Alternatively, you can leave them plain to decorate later with icing.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn a light golden color. This ensures the cookies remain soft inside while having a slight crisp on the edges.
- Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes after baking, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, decorate further with icing if desired for a personalized touch.
Notes
- For best results, make sure butter is softened but not melted before creaming with sugar.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes if it becomes too soft to handle when rolling out.
- The almond extract is optional but adds a lovely nutty flavor complementing vanilla.
- You can store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Decorate with royal icing or colored frosting for festive designs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American