Description
These classic Christmas sugar cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for decorating. Ideal for holiday baking, gifting, or cookie exchanges, this easy recipe delivers festive treats with crisp edges and a tender center.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional but festive)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- For Decorating (Optional):
- Royal icing or buttercream
- Food coloring
- Sprinkles or sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract; mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
- Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut out Christmas shapes using cookie cutters.
- Place on prepared baking sheets and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until edges are just lightly golden.
- Allow cookies to cool on the sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Once fully cooled, decorate with icing and sprinkles as desired.
Notes
Chill dough for 30 minutes before rolling if it’s too soft. For thicker, softer cookies, roll the dough to ⅜ inch instead of ¼. Almond extract adds classic holiday flavor but can be omitted. Cookies stay fresh for up to 1 week in an airtight container. Undecorated cookies freeze beautifully for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: christmas cookies recipes, holiday sugar cookies, easy christmas cookies, decorated christmas cookies, soft sugar cookies