Merry Maker Christmas Sugar Cookies
Get into the holiday spirit with these delightful *Merry Maker Christmas Sugar Cookies*! Perfect for festive gatherings, these classic sugar cookies are buttery, tender, and bursting with vanilla flavor, with a hint of almond extract for a nutty twist. The dough is easy to roll and cut into charming holiday shapes, making it a fun activity for the whole family. Decorate them with a smooth, customizable icing made from powdered sugar and milk, and add pops of color with gel food coloring and festive sprinkles for a truly magical touch. Ready in under an hour, these cookies are ideal for cookie exchanges, gift-giving, or simply enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa. Brighten your holiday table and create cherished memories with these irresistible Christmas sugar cookies!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 Large egg
- 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)
- 0.25 teaspoons Vanilla extract (for icing)
- Gel food coloring (optional, for decoration)
- Sprinkles (optional, for decoration)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
Divide the dough into two portions, flatten each into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill.
Once chilled, roll out one dough disk at a time on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Use festive cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Transfer the cookie shapes to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Be careful not to overbake.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more powdered sugar (thicker) or milk (thinner), if necessary.
Divide the icing into separate bowls if using multiple colors and mix in gel food coloring as desired.
Use a spoon or piping bag to decorate the cookies with the icing. Sprinkle with festive decorations like sprinkles or edible glitter, if desired.
Allow the icing to set completely before serving or storing in an airtight container for up to one week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
4888 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 201.4 g | 258% | |
| Saturated Fat | 124.2 g | 621% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 705 mg | 235% | |
| Sodium | 1755 mg | 76% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 735.2 g | 267% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 9.8 g | 35% | |
| Total Sugars | 458.2 g | ||
| Protein | 46.5 g | 93% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.4 mcg | 7% | |
| Calcium | 169 mg | 13% | |
| Iron | 18.0 mg | 100% | |
| Potassium | 574 mg | 12% | |
*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.
