Christmas Sugar Cookies 🤍
These cookies are soft, buttery, and hold their shape perfectly for decorating. I make them every year and they NEVER fail — the kind of cookie that makes your whole house smell like Christmas magic. 💫
🎁 Ingredients:
For the cookies:
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional but SO good)
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
For the icing (simple glaze):
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla
• Optional: gel food coloring + sprinkles
🍪 Directions:
1. Cream butter + sugar until fluffy.
2. Mix in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet until dough forms.
5. Chill dough for 1 hour (key for clean cookie shapes!).
6. Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough to ¼ inch thick and cut into Christmas shapes.
7. Bake 8–10 minutes — edges should just start turning golden.
8. Let cool completely before decorating.
9. Whisk icing ingredients until smooth, drizzle or pipe, and add sprinkles!
Soft, buttery, and decorated with love, these Christmas sugar cookies are my go-to every single year. They’re the kind of cookie that disappears off the plate before the icing even sets 😂✨ Save this recipe for your holiday baking days + tag me if you make them! 💕🍪✨
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The Perfect Christmas Cookies are a staple during the holiday season, beloved for their tender texture and delightful taste that evoke the warmth and spirit of Christmas. One of the key secrets to achieving cookies that are soft yet sturdy enough for detailed decorating is chilling the dough for at least an hour before rolling it out. This step allows the dough to firm up, preventing spreading in the oven and preserving the cookie shapes. In addition to traditional vanilla extract, adding a hint of almond extract enhances the flavor profile, providing a subtle nutty aroma that complements the buttery base. When preparing the icing, using powdered sugar combined with just enough milk to reach the desired consistency ensures a smooth glaze perfect for drizzling or piping. Incorporating gel food coloring allows for vibrant and festive decorations without altering the texture. For perfect baking results, set your oven to 350°F and bake the cookies until the edges begin to turn golden — usually between 8 to 10 minutes. Overbaking can result in crispier cookies, so timing is essential to maintain softness. Letting the cookies cool completely before decoration is also crucial to prevent melting or running of the glaze. Sprinkles add an extra festive touch and a delightful crunch. These Christmas sugar cookies are not only a treat for the taste buds but also a fun and creative activity for families and friends. Decorating cookies together can become a cherished holiday tradition that brings loved ones closer while filling your home with the scent of Christmas magic. Save this recipe and try variations with different extracts or icing flavors to make your holiday baking even more special.
