There’s nothing more festive than baking sugar cookies at Christmas. Whether you’re decorating them for a holiday cookie exchange, packaging them as gifts, or simply enjoying them with a cozy cup of hot cocoa, these soft, buttery sugar cookies are a classic for a reason. This recipe creates cookies that hold their shape beautifully, bake evenly, and offer just the right balance of tenderness and sweetness. With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, your kitchen will soon smell like Christmas magic.

Prep & Cook Time:

Prep: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Chill Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 24
Yield: About 24 cookies (depending on cutter size)

Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract (or 1 tsp vanilla + ½ tsp almond extract for a classic Christmas bakery flavor)
  • 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the Icing (Optional but Perfect for Christmas Decorating)

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon light corn syrup (adds shine and helps icing set)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Gel food coloring, as desired

Directions

  1. Cream the Butter and Sugar
    In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light, creamy, and fluffy—about 2 to 3 minutes. This step ensures soft cookies with great texture.
  2. Add Egg and Vanilla
    Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. If you’re using almond extract, add it here. Almond extract gives a classic Christmas bakery-style flavor but is optional.
  3. Combine the Dry Ingredients
    In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture until a smooth dough forms.
  4. Chill the Dough
    Divide the dough into two flat discs, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour. Chilling is essential—it prevents spreading and helps the cookies hold their shapes.
  5. Roll and Cut
    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the chilled dough onto a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use festive Christmas cookie cutters—trees, stars, bells, gingerbread men, snowflakes—to cut your shapes.
  6. Bake the Cookies
    Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just set but not browned. Light coloring keeps the cookies soft.
  7. Cool Completely
    Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool fully before icing. Decorating warm cookies will cause the icing to melt and run.
  8. Make the Icing
    In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and corn syrup until smooth. Add more milk for thinner frosting (for flooding) or more powdered sugar for thicker outlining icing. Tint with gel food coloring for holiday themes.
  9. Decorate as Desired
    Outline cookies with thick icing, then “flood” with thinned icing for a smooth finish. Add sprinkles, sanding sugar, or edible glitter while icing is still wet.

Tip: Let decorated cookies dry uncovered for 8–12 hours before stacking or packaging.

Nutrition Facts (per serving) — Estimated Values

  • Calories: 155
  • Total Fat: 7g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 25mg
  • Sodium: 75mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 21g
  • Sugars: 12g
  • Protein: 1g

Conclusion

These Christmas Sugar Cookies are the perfect combination of buttery softness and sweet holiday charm. Whether you keep them simple with a dusting of sugar or decorate them with festive royal icing patterns, this recipe gives you a reliable canvas for all your Christmas creativity. Enjoy baking them with family, gifting them to friends, or sharing them at your next holiday gathering—these cookies are guaranteed to make the season a little sweeter.

RecipesHoliday RecipesChristmas Recipes