Hey there! If you’re on the hunt for a truly delightful Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe that’ll fill your kitchen with cozy holiday vibes and taste like pure festive magic, you’ve come to the right place. I’m super excited to share this recipe that I’ve tweaked over the years to get those soft, buttery cookies with the perfect sprinkle crunch. Trust me, once you try this, it’ll become your go-to for every Christmas cookie exchange and family treat stash. Ready to bake some happiness?
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft, But Not Too Sweet: These cookies strike the perfect balance – tender and buttery with a gentle sweetness that everyone loves.
- Whipped Frosting Magic: The fluffy vanilla frosting adds a beautiful creamy layer that’s easy to decorate with festive sprinkles.
- Perfect for Decorating: The dough chills well and handles cutting or scooping without spreading too much, so your cookies keep their shape.
- Family-Friendly Fun: This recipe is a joy to bake with kids or friends – and trust me, decorating is half the fun here!
Ingredients & Why They Work
This Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe calls for simple, classic ingredients that blend beautifully to give you deliciously tender cookies with a festive touch from the sprinkles. Shopping tip: use high-quality vanilla extract and real butter – it makes a noticeable difference in flavor and texture.
- All-purpose flour: The base that gives structure; spoon and level for accuracy or weigh it to avoid dry cookies.
- Baking powder & baking soda: These tiny leaveners help the cookies rise just enough for a soft, fluffy bite without puffing up too much.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Christmas sprinkles (Jimmie style): Adds a fun crunch and festive pops of color inside the dough. I love using jimmies because they keep their shape better than nonpareils during baking.
- Unsalted butter: Room temp is key for creamy mixing and perfect crumb.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetness and slight crispness at the edges.
- Large eggs: Bind everything together and add moisture for those tender bites.
- Pure vanilla extract: The secret ingredient that amps up flavor beautifully.
- Powdered sugar (for frosting): Sifted to avoid lumps and ensure smooth, fluffy topping.
- Heavy cream: Gives the frosting a creamy, spreadable texture without being too dense.
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about this Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe is how versatile it can be. Whether you want to add a little zest, swap sprinkles for cinnamon sugar, or make a dairy-free version, it’s all possible. Play around with flavors or decorations—it’s your holiday treat, after all!
- Lemon Twist: I once added a teaspoon of lemon zest to the dough, and it gave a wonderfully fresh zing that everyone loved.
- Gluten-Free Option: Substitute with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, but chill the dough a little longer to keep it from spreading too much.
- Colorful Toppings: I’ve swapped sprinkles on top for crushed peppermint candies for a refreshing crunch.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe
Step 1: Sifting and Mixing the Dry Ingredients
I always sift the flour first with baking powder, baking soda, salt, and my festive jimmie sprinkles—this keeps everything light and ensures an even distribution of ingredients. Mixing these dry ingredients well is crucial so every cookie gets those fun sprinkles throughout.
Step 2: Creaming Butter and Sugar
Using a stand mixer, I beat the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar on high for about 2 minutes until it’s fluffy and pale. This air incorporation is what helps the cookies stay tender. Then, I add the vanilla and eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Step 3: Combining Dough and Resting
Slowly, I add the dry ingredients on low speed just until combined—you don’t want to overmix because that can toughen the cookies. After mixing, I let the dough rest for about 10 minutes; this helps the gluten relax, creating softer cookies.
Step 4: Scooping and Chilling the Dough
I line two cookie sheets with parchment paper, then scoop dough balls using a large cookie scoop for consistent size. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking is crucial—it prevents spreading and helps the cookies keep their shape during baking.
Step 5: Baking the Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F. I bake six cookies per sheet, making sure they have enough space. They bake for about 13-15 minutes until the edges turn a lovely light golden. Be careful not to overbake; the centers will still look soft, and they’ll firm up as they cool.
Step 6: Cooling and Preparing the Frosting
Once baked, I let the cookies rest on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, I sift powdered sugar for the frosting to keep it silky smooth.
Step 7: Whipped Frosting
I beat room-temperature butter on high for about 3 minutes until whipped, then slowly add in the sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, a pinch of salt, and heavy cream. I mix on high for another 2 minutes until fluffy and spreadable.
Step 8: Decorating
Using a small cookie scoop or an offset spatula, I generously frost the cooled cookies, then sprinkle extra festive sprinkles on top for that magical Christmas sparkle.
Pro Tips for Making Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Don’t Skip Chilling: Chilling the dough is a game-changer—it stops spreading and helps keep cookies thick and tender.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Butter and eggs at room temp blend better and create the right cookie texture.
- Sift Your Powdered Sugar: Lumps in powdered sugar can ruin your frosting’s silky texture, so a good sift is worth the tiny extra effort.
- Watch Baking Time Closely: Pull the cookies out once edges turn golden but centers still look soft—they firm up perfectly as they cool.
How to Serve Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe
Garnishes
I’m a big fan of toppling these cookies with a few extra Christmas jimmies or even tiny edible silver balls to give that extra holiday sparkle. Sometimes I add a light dusting of edible glitter or crushed peppermint candies for a refreshing crunch. These little touches elevate the look and taste right away.
Side Dishes
These sugar cookies pair beautifully with classic hot cocoa, a glass of cold milk (for dunking, of course!), or a warm mug of spiced cider. I’ve also served them alongside Christmas breakfast casseroles or fruit platters during holiday brunches, and they’re an instant crowd-pleaser.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special touch, I like arranging the cookies in a festive tin layered with parchment paper, tied with a burlap ribbon for gifting. Or, for parties, I create a colorful cookie platter using different sized snowflake and tree-shaped cookie cutters (same dough!) alongside this sugar cookie base. Any way you serve them, they’ll be the star in the cookie lineup.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, I store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature—usually between layers of parchment paper to keep them from sticking. They stay fresh and soft for up to 3 days, though in our house, they rarely last that long!
Freezing
I’ve frozen the cookie dough balls before baking—with a quick 30-minute chill before scooping, then pop them in a freezer-safe bag. When ready, bake them straight from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the bake time. The baked cookies themselves freeze well too—store layered with parchment paper in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheating
To freshen up leftover cookies (especially if they’ve been frozen), I pop them into a preheated oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes. This warms them gently without drying out, making them taste freshly baked. Just skip reheating cookies with frosting on top to avoid melty messiness—frost after warming!
FAQs
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Can I use a different type of sprinkles for this Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe?
Absolutely! While I prefer jimmie sprinkles because they hold up well during baking, you can use any sprinkles you like. Just keep in mind that some smaller or nonpareil sprinkles might melt or bleed color during baking, slightly changing the cookie’s appearance.
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How do I make these cookies softer or crispier?
For softer cookies, make sure not to overbake and consider adding a tiny bit more butter or a splash of cream. To get crispier edges, bake an extra minute or two but watch carefully to avoid burning. Chilling dough longer also helps with texture.
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Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?
Yes! The dough can be mixed and refrigerated for up to 2 days before baking, which actually improves flavor and texture. Just bring it back to a slightly firm but workable consistency before scooping and baking.
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Is there a dairy-free version of this Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe?
Definitely! Swap the butter for a dairy-free butter substitute and replace heavy cream with coconut cream or another non-dairy milk for the frosting. You may need to adjust consistency slightly, but the cookies will still come out delicious.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe holds a special spot in my holiday tradition. There’s something so comforting about baking these colorful, soft cookies while holiday tunes play in the background and your kitchen smells like vanilla and sugar. I hope you enjoy making and sharing this recipe as much as I do. Go ahead, grab your mixing bowl and make some magic—your family and friends will thank you!
Print
Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 18 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate the festive season with these delightful Christmas Sugar Cookies topped with colorful sprinkles and creamy whipped frosting. These classic sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly balanced with a sweet vanilla flavor, making them an ideal treat for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup Christmas sprinkles (Jimmie sprinkles recommended)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Whipped Frosting:
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- Extra sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, sift the all-purpose flour. Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, and Christmas sprinkles. Mix gently to combine all dry ingredients.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a mixer, beat the unsalted butter and white granulated sugar on high speed for 2 minutes until fluffy. Add vanilla extract and eggs, then beat on high for an additional 1 minute to incorporate.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix the dough.
- Rest Dough: Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes to enable gluten formation. Meanwhile, line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Using a large cookie scoop, portion the dough and place scoops on the prepared sheets. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Bake Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place six cookie dough balls per cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden brown.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: While cookies cool, sift the powdered sugar. Using a mixer, beat the unsalted butter on high for 3 minutes until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until smooth.
- Finish Frosting: Add vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and heavy cream to the frosting mixture. Beat on high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Frost Cookies: Use a small cookie scoop to place frosting on each cookie. Spread the frosting evenly with an offset icing spatula, then sprinkle extra Christmas sprinkles on top for decoration.
Notes
- Use the spoon and level method or a kitchen scale to measure flour accurately; compacted flour can make cookies dry.
- For high-altitude baking, increase flour by 2 tablespoons to maintain dough consistency.
- Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature for better mixing and texture.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and results in a thicker cookie.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats on baking sheets to avoid sticking and for easy cleanup.
