Get ready for the holidays with this easy and delicious Christmas sugar cookies recipe! These cookies are perfect for sharing with friends and family and make a great addition to any holiday party. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have these cookies ready to bake in no time!
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Why you’ll love this easy sugar cookie recipe
- If you love classic sugar cookies, then you’ll love our festive version!
- These cookies are so easy to make, and the kids love to help make them!
- You can make them ahead and even freeze them, so you have them to hand whenever you get a craving!
- All the ingredients are 100% vegetarian.
Ingredients you’ll need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below to make your cookies.
Making our Christmas cookies will help fill you with festive spirit and the whole family will love them!
How to make Christmas sugar cookies with step-by-step instructions
Making our Christmas sugar cookies recipe is easy if you follow our simple instructions.
A full printable recipe, along with the measurements in both US customary and metric, is available in the recipe card below.
Preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C.
For the sugar cookies
In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder until fully combined, then set aside.
Using either a stand mixer or handheld electric mixer, combine unsalted butter and granulated sugar until creamy.
Then, add vanilla extract and egg and beat until fully combined.
Now, gradually add the dry flour mixture until the dough is fully combined and smooth,
Next, dust your work surface with flour, remove the sugar cookie dough from the mixing bowl, and cut the dough in half; then, using your hands, shape them into two discs.
Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough into 1/8 inch for a crispy cookie and ¼ inch for a thicker cookie, and sprinkle flour so the cookie dough doesn’t stick.
Use your preferred cookie cutters to cut out shapes and, using a spatula, transfer them onto a prepared baking sheet or cookie sheet.
Bake the cookies until they are a pale golden color, and the edges are turning lightly golden, approximately 10 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure they cook evenly.
When cooked, remove the baked cookies from the oven and leave them to cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the sugar frosting
In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar), corn syrup, 2 tablespoons of milk, and vanilla extract, and stir until fully combined.
If your frosting looks too thick, then add additional milk; just add it one tablespoon at a time and stir it in; you want your icing thick but still pipeable.
If you are using food coloring or gel food coloring, then split the frosting into separate bowls and add the colors.
Transfer your frosting into a piping bag with a piping tip and pipe the frosting onto the sugar cookies as desired.
Allow the frosting to be fully set before eating or stacking them.
Enjoy your Christmas sugar cookies, and merry Christmas!
Recipe notes and expert tips
- Salted butter
If you only have salted butter, then reduce the salt in the cookie dough to ¼ teaspoon. - Line it
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat. - Storage
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, and freeze them for up to three months.
How to serve Christmas sugar cookies
Serve your soft sugar cookies with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee.
Take them along to a cookie exchange or Christmas party (these funfetti cookies would be great also), or place them in a gift bag and gift them to family and friends.
How do I store sugar cookies?
Our holiday sugar cookies will store for up to a week when kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
You can also freeze them for up to three months.
You can either freeze the cooked cookies or you freeze sugar cookie dough balls; simply wrap them in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag.
More easy cookie recipes for you to try at home
If you love our Christmas sugar cookies, then you may like these easy recipes.
- Double chocolate chip cookies – insanely tasty!
- Air fried crinkle chocolate cookies – so easy to make!
- Chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies – a firm family favorite!
- White chocolate and macadamia but cookies – soft, chewy, and oh, so delicious!
- Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies – make double the amount; they’re really good!
‘Tis the season to bake Christmas sugar cookies!
Ingredients
For the sugar cookies
- 3 cups Flour
- ¾ tsp Salt
- ¾ tsp Baking powder
- 1 cup Unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1½ tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 large Egg
For the sugar cookie frosting
- 3 cups Confectioners sugar
- 2 tbsp Corn syrup for a glossy finish
- 3 tbsp Whole milk
- ½ tsp Vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring optional
- Sprinkles and candies for decorating optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C and line it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
For the sugar cookies
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder until fully combined, and set aside3 cups Flour, ¾ tsp Salt, ¾ tsp Baking powder
- Using either a stand mixer or an electric handheld mixer, combine butter and sugar until creamy. Then add vanilla extract and egg and beat until fully combined1 cup Unsalted butter, 1 cup Granulated sugar, 1½ tsp Vanilla extract, 1 large Egg, ½ tsp Vanilla extract
- Now, gradually add the dry ingredients until the dough is fully combined and smooth
- Next, dust your work surface with flour, remove the dough from the mixing bowl, cut the dough in half and, using your hands, shape them into two discs
- Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough into ⅛ inch thickness for a crispy cookie or ¼ inch for a thicker cookie. Sprinkle with flour to ensure the dough doesn't stick
- Use your preferred cookie cutter shapes and using a spatula or knife, transfer them to a prepared baking sheet
- Bake until pale golden and the edges are turning light golden, approximately 10 minutes, turning halfway through, remove the cookies from the oven and cool on the baking sheets
For the sugar frosting
- In a medium bowl, combine confectioners sugar, corn syrup, 2 tablespoons of milk, and vanilla extract and stir until fully combined. If your frosting is too thick then add additional milk, one teaspoon at a time; you want your icing thick but pipeable3 cups Confectioners sugar, 2 tbsp Corn syrup, 3 tbsp Whole milk, 1½ tsp Vanilla extract
- If you are using food colorings, split the frosting into the desired amount of bowls and add the coloringsGel food coloring
- Transfer your frosting to a piping bag with a piping tip and pipe the frosting onto the cookies as desired. Allow the frosting to fully set before eating or stacking. Enjoy your holiday cookies!Sprinkles and candies for decorating
Notes
If you only have salted butter then reduce the salt in the cookie dough to ¼ teaspoon Line it
Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat Storage
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week and freeze them for up to three months
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
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Kim says
These turned out amazing and were gone in no time. The frosting was much easier to make than I expected and it tasted so good! I’ll be making these again for the holidays.
Mandy from Splash of Taste says
We’re so pleased they turned out great and it’s good to get a practice run in before the holiday season!
Jennifer says
So easy and delish! I made a batch but made them fall cookies and now I’m looking forward to making Christmas cookies with the kids!
Mandy from Splash of Taste says
So pleased you liked them and it’s a great idea to have a practice run!
Alex Bala says
These are fantastic! I am excited to have them at our holiday party!
Mandy from Splash of Taste says
Hope your guests love them!
Sachi says
I was always afraid to try making sugar cookies for Christmas, but your recipe was easy to follow and they turned out great! Bookmarking this recipe for next Christmas!
Mandy from Splash of Taste says
That’s great to hear!
Devy says
Right right…my boys love me more for making these cookies. I was surprised how the cookies stayed crumbly and did not go soft after I put the icing on. Definitely a keeper. Thank you.
Mandy from Splash of Taste says
Glad your boys loved them!
Sherry says
I love your Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe. With your step by step instructions, I made your cookie recipe and it was super easy to make.
Mandy from Splash of Taste says
Really pleased you found them so easy to make!