Christmas Cookies
Celebrate the holiday season with these delightful Christmas Cookies, a classic recipe that’s perfect for festive gatherings or as edible gifts! Made with a buttery, slightly sweet dough and a touch of vanilla—and an optional hint of almond for extra depth—these cookies are cut into cheerful shapes using your favorite holiday-themed cutters. After a quick bake, they’re brought to life with vibrant homemade icing, food coloring, and an array of sprinkles for a personalized, festive touch. With just 30 minutes of prep time, these soft and tender cookies are not only easy to make but also a fun family activity to get everyone into the holiday spirit. Whether you’re crafting snowflakes, trees, or candy canes, these Christmas sugar cookies are bound to become a beloved holiday tradition! Perfect for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, or cozy nights at home, this recipe yields 24 cookies that are as beautiful as they are delicious.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoons Almond extract (optional)
- 3 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoons Salt
- 2 cups Powdered sugar (for icing)
- 2 tablespoons Milk (for icing)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract (for icing)
- 2 drops per color Food coloring
- 0.5 cup Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using a hand or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) to the bowl. Beat until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
Divide the dough into two portions, flatten each into a disc, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days).
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and carefully transfer the shapes to the prepared baking sheets.
Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the cookies are cooling, prepare the icing by whisking together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth. Divide the icing into separate bowls if using multiple colors, and add food coloring as desired.
Once the cookies are completely cooled, decorate them with the icing, sprinkles, and other decorations of your choice.
Allow the icing to set fully before serving or storing the cookies in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
222 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 8.6 g | 11% | |
| Saturated Fat | 5.1 g | 26% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 37 mg | 12% | |
| Sodium | 72 mg | 3% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 34.2 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.4 g | 2% | |
| Total Sugars | 22.3 g | ||
| Protein | 2.2 g | 4% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 9 mg | 1% | |
| Iron | 0.7 mg | 4% | |
| Potassium | 24 mg | 1% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
