These easy Christmas sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for holiday baking. Made with simple pantry ingredients, these cookies are easy to roll, cut into festive shapes, and decorate with colorful Christmas icing.
Whether you’re making snowflakes, Christmas trees, stars, gingerbread-style shapes, or classic round cookies, this recipe is simple enough for beginners and fun enough to make with the whole family.
The cookies have lightly crisp edges with a soft, tender center and a delicious buttery vanilla flavor.
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Easy beginner-friendly recipe
- Soft and buttery
- Perfect for Christmas cookie decorating
- Simple ingredients
- Great for holiday parties
- Fun family baking activity
- Make-ahead friendly
- Freezer-friendly
- Perfect for cookie exchanges
- Beautiful Christmas dessert
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Easy Christmas Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup, optional
- Red, green, and white food coloring
Optional Decorations
- Christmas sprinkles
- Colored sanding sugar
- Mini candy pearls
- Edible glitter
- Crushed peppermint candy
How to Make Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies
1. Soften the Butter
Allow the butter to soften at room temperature.
It should be soft enough to press easily with your finger but not melted.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar
Add softened butter and granulated sugar to a large mixing bowl.
Beat until light and creamy.
This usually takes about 2–3 minutes with an electric mixer.
3. Add the Egg
Add the egg and vanilla extract.
Add almond extract if using.
Beat until everything is fully incorporated.
4. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.
Mix just until a soft dough forms.
Avoid overmixing.
6. Chill the Dough
Divide the dough into two portions.
Flatten each portion into a disk and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Chilling makes the dough easier to roll and helps the cookies maintain their shape.
7. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
8. Roll the Dough
Lightly flour your work surface.
Roll the chilled dough to approximately 1/4-inch thickness.
Try to keep the thickness consistent so the cookies bake evenly.
9. Cut the Cookies
Use Christmas cookie cutters to cut the dough.
Popular shapes include:
- Christmas trees
- Stars
- Snowflakes
- Candy canes
- Stockings
- Bells
- Snowmen
Transfer the cookies carefully to the prepared baking sheets.
10. Re-Chill if Needed
If the dough becomes very soft while you’re working with it, place the cut cookies in the refrigerator for about 10–15 minutes.
This helps preserve their shape during baking.
11. Bake
Bake the cookies for approximately 8–11 minutes.
The edges should look set while the centers remain relatively light.
Avoid overbaking if you want soft cookies.
12. Cool
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes.
Transfer them to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before decorating.
How to Make Easy Christmas Icing
1. Combine the Ingredients
Add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and optional corn syrup to a bowl.
2. Whisk Until Smooth
Whisk until the icing is smooth and free of lumps.
3. Adjust the Consistency
Add a tiny amount of milk if the icing is too thick.
Add more powdered sugar if it’s too thin.
For decorating, the icing should be thick enough to stay on the cookie but smooth enough to spread or pipe.
4. Add Food Coloring
Divide the icing between small bowls.
Add red, green, and white food coloring.
Mix until the desired colors are reached.
5. Decorate the Cookies
Use piping bags, squeeze bottles, or small spoons to decorate the cooled cookies.
Add sprinkles or sanding sugar while the icing is still wet.
6. Let the Icing Set
Place the decorated cookies on a flat surface.
Allow the icing to dry completely before stacking or storing.
How Do I Keep Sugar Cookies Soft?
Avoid overbaking.
The cookies should look set around the edges but remain relatively pale in the center.
Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container.
Adding a small piece of bread to the container can also help maintain softness.
Why Do My Sugar Cookies Spread?
Cookies can spread when the butter is too warm or the dough hasn’t been chilled enough.
Make sure the dough is properly chilled before rolling and baking.
If the cut cookies become soft while you’re decorating the baking sheet, chill them again before baking.
Can I Make the Dough Ahead of Time?
Yes.
The dough can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated.
Keep it tightly wrapped to prevent it from drying out.
Can I Freeze Sugar Cookie Dough?
Yes.
Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag or container.
Freeze for up to a few months for best quality.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling.
Can I Freeze Baked Sugar Cookies?
Yes.
Allow the cookies to cool completely.
Freeze them in an airtight freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers.
Decorating after thawing usually gives the best appearance.
Can I Use Royal Icing?
Absolutely.
Royal icing is an excellent choice when you want detailed Christmas cookie decorations.
It dries harder than the simple icing in this recipe, making it especially useful for stacking decorated cookies.
Can I Use Store-Bought Frosting?
Yes.
For a quick shortcut, use your favorite vanilla frosting.
The texture will be softer than royal icing.
What Cookie Cutters Work Best?
Use cutters with fairly simple shapes.
Very narrow or intricate shapes can be more difficult to transfer from the work surface to the baking sheet.
Easy Christmas Sugar Cookie Variations
Vanilla Christmas Sugar Cookies
Skip the almond extract for a classic vanilla flavor.
Almond Sugar Cookies
Increase the almond extract slightly for a traditional bakery-style flavor.
Lemon Sugar Cookies
Add fresh lemon zest to the dough.
Orange Sugar Cookies
Add orange zest for a bright holiday flavor.
Peppermint Sugar Cookies
Add a small amount of peppermint extract and decorate with crushed peppermint candy.
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Replace a portion of the flour with unsweetened cocoa powder.
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Add ground cinnamon to the dough for a warm holiday flavor.
Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
Fold festive sprinkles into the dough before chilling.
Can I Make These Cookies Without a Mixer?
Yes.
Use softened butter and a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula.
Cream the butter and sugar thoroughly before adding the remaining ingredients.
Can I Make These Gluten-Free?
Yes.
Use a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend designed for baking.
Results can vary between flour brands.
Can I Make These Dairy-Free?
Yes.
Replace butter with a suitable dairy-free baking butter.
Make sure the replacement has a similar consistency to regular butter.
How Long Do Christmas Sugar Cookies Last?
Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
For the best texture and flavor, enjoy them within approximately 5–7 days.
How Should I Store Decorated Cookies?
Allow the icing to dry completely.
Place parchment paper between layers and store the cookies in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Can I Make These for a Christmas Cookie Exchange?
Absolutely.
This recipe is ideal for cookie exchanges because the dough can be prepared ahead of time and the finished cookies are easy to decorate and package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these sugar cookies soft or crispy?
They have lightly crisp edges and a soft, tender center when baked correctly.
Do I have to chill the dough?
Chilling is strongly recommended because it makes the dough easier to roll and helps prevent spreading.
Can I use salted butter?
Yes. Reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe.
Why are my cookies hard?
They may have been overbaked or the dough may have been overmixed.
Can I decorate warm cookies?
No. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.
How long does icing take to dry?
Simple icing can take several hours to fully set depending on its thickness and humidity.
Can children decorate these cookies?
Yes. These cookies are especially fun for family Christmas baking.
Can I make different colors of icing?
Absolutely. Red, green, white, gold, and blue all work beautifully for Christmas designs.
Can I add sprinkles?
Yes. Add sprinkles while the icing is still wet so they stick.
Can I make these cookies without almond extract?
Yes. Simply omit it and use vanilla extract.
Recipe Card
Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 8–11 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: About 24–30 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup, optional
- Red, green, and white food coloring
Instructions
- Cream softened butter and sugar until light and creamy.
- Beat in egg, vanilla, and optional almond extract.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt separately.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
- Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Divide dough into two disks.
- Wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Roll dough to approximately 1/4-inch thickness.
- Cut into Christmas shapes.
- Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Chill cut cookies again if the dough becomes soft.
- Bake for 8–11 minutes.
- Cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet.
- Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
- Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and optional corn syrup.
- Divide and color the icing.
- Decorate completely cooled cookies.
- Add sprinkles while icing is wet.
- Allow icing to set before storing.