Christmas Sugar Cookies

The aroma of buttery, sweet Christmas Sugar Cookies baking in the oven instantly transforms any home into a holiday wonderland. These classic treats strike the perfect balance between tender centers and slightly crisp edges, decorated with festive royal icing that hardens to a beautiful sheen. Christmas Sugar Cookies have been a treasured holiday tradition for generations, bringing families together for mixing, rolling, cutting, and decorating. You’ll learn how to create picture-perfect Christmas Sugar Cookies with a foolproof dough that holds its shape when baked and decorating techniques that will impress everyone at your holiday gathering.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Christmas Sugar Cookies stand out from ordinary cookie recipes for several compelling reasons. First, the dough requires no chilling before rolling, saving you valuable time during the busy holiday season. The texture achieves the ideal balance between soft and sturdy—tender enough to bite through easily, yet firm enough to hold intricate shapes and support decorative icing without breaking.

The vanilla-forward flavor provides the perfect canvas for whatever decorating style you choose, whether simple sprinkles or elaborate royal icing designs. These holiday sugar cookies maintain their freshness for days, making them perfect for cookie exchanges, gifting, or preparing in advance of celebrations.

Perhaps most importantly, this recipe has been tested countless times to eliminate common frustrations like spreading cookies or tough dough. The straightforward instructions make this an excellent project for bakers of all skill levels, including children who want to participate in holiday baking traditions. The joy of creating and sharing these festive Christmas cookies creates memories that last far beyond the holiday season.

Ingredients

For the Christmas Sugar Cookies:
• 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

For the Royal Icing:
• 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 2 tablespoons meringue powder
• 5-6 tablespoons warm water
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (clear vanilla for pure white icing)
• Food coloring (gel colors work best)

The unsalted butter provides a rich base for these holiday sugar cookies, while the combination of vanilla and optional almond extract creates that distinctive festive flavor. Meringue powder in the icing ensures it will set properly without requiring raw egg whites.

Pro Tips

Measure flour correctly: The most common mistake when making Christmas Sugar Cookies is using too much flour. Either weigh your flour with a kitchen scale or use the spoon-and-level method—never scoop directly with the measuring cup. Too much flour results in dry, tough cookies that crack when rolled.

Roll between parchment: Instead of flouring your work surface heavily (which can dry out the dough), roll the cookie dough between two sheets of parchment paper. This prevents sticking without incorporating excess flour and makes transferring cut cookies to the baking sheet much easier.

Watch for subtle browning: These cookies should not brown significantly. Look for just the slightest color change around the edges—about 30 seconds after you think they might need another minute. They’ll continue firming up as they cool on the baking sheet. This ensures the perfect soft-yet-sturdy texture that makes Christmas cookie decorating a pleasure rather than a frustration.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the dough
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.

Step 2: Form the cookie dough
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined. If the dough seems too soft, you can add 1 tablespoon more flour. The dough should be thick and not sticky. If it’s still sticky, add up to 1-2 more tablespoons of flour.

Step 3: Roll and cut cookies
Divide the dough into two equal parts. Place parchment paper on your work surface, put one portion of dough on it, place another piece of parchment on top, and roll to about ¼-inch thickness. Repeat with the second portion. Using Christmas-themed cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes. Re-roll any remaining dough and continue cutting until all dough is used.

Step 4: Bake
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange cookies on baking sheets about 3 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until barely golden around the edges. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Step 5: Prepare royal icing
In a large bowl, combine the powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add the warm water and vanilla extract, then beat with a mixer on medium-high speed for 4-5 minutes until stiff peaks form. If the icing is too thick, add more water a teaspoon at a time; if too thin, add more powdered sugar.

Step 6: Decorate
Divide the icing into separate bowls and add gel food coloring as desired. For outlining, the icing should be thicker (like toothpaste); for flooding (filling in), add a few drops of water to thin it slightly. Transfer icing to piping bags with small tips or squeeze bottles. Outline cookies first, then flood the centers. Add sprinkles or additional decorations while icing is still wet. Allow the icing to harden completely, at least 4-6 hours or overnight.

Variations

Chocolate Christmas Sugar Cookies: Replace ¼ cup of flour with unsweetened cocoa powder for chocolate sugar cookies that provide a beautiful contrast when decorated with white royal icing. The chocolate version pairs wonderfully with peppermint extract instead of almond for a festive flavor combination.

Citrus Holiday Sugar Cookies: Add 1 tablespoon of orange or lemon zest to the cookie dough for a bright, fresh twist on traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies. The citrus notes complement the vanilla beautifully and add complexity to the flavor profile without overwhelming the classic taste.

Gluten-Free Option: Substitute a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. Add ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum if your blend doesn’t already contain it. The texture will be slightly different but still delicious, allowing everyone to enjoy these holiday treats regardless of dietary restrictions.

Storage and Serving

Store unfrosted Christmas Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Once decorated with royal icing, allow the icing to harden completely (4-6 hours or overnight), then place cookies in a single layer in an airtight container, using parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Properly stored decorated cookies remain fresh for 5-7 days.

For longer storage, freeze undecorated cookies in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before decorating.

Serve these festive treats as part of a holiday cookie platter alongside hot chocolate or mulled cider. They make beautiful place settings when personalized with guests’ names in royal icing. For a special touch, package a few decorated Christmas Sugar Cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon as homemade gifts or party favors that showcase your baking artistry.

FAQs

Why did my cookies spread and lose their shape?
Cookies spread when the butter is too warm or there’s not enough flour. Make sure your butter is softened but still cool to the touch. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate the cut-out cookies for 10 minutes before baking.

Can I make the dough in advance?
Absolutely! The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Let it come to room temperature before rolling, or it may crack.

How do I know when the royal icing has the right consistency?
For outlining, the icing should hold a stiff peak. For flooding, it should settle back into itself within 10-15 seconds when you run a knife through it.

Can I freeze decorated Christmas sugar cookies?
While possible, the royal icing may become spotty after thawing. It’s better to freeze undecorated cookies and decorate after thawing.

My royal icing never hardened. What went wrong?
This usually happens when there’s too much liquid or humidity in the environment. Try adding more powdered sugar and ensure cookies dry in a cool, dry place.

Conclusion

These Christmas Sugar Cookies are holiday magic at their finest — buttery, tender treats that hold their shape beautifully while providing the perfect canvas for your creative decorating. They’re the kind of cookies that transform an ordinary December day into a special memory as families gather around the kitchen table, icing bags in hand, creating edible art together. Whether you’re continuing a generations-old tradition or starting a new one, these cookies deliver reliable results with that perfect balance of sweetness and vanilla that everyone associates with the most wonderful time of the year.

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