It’s the ultimate holiday cookie! These festive Christmas Sugar Cookies are fluffy, decadent, and oh-so-buttery.
Full of moist flavor and perfect for gifting, your family is going to treasure these soft and easy sugar cookies!
These are not your fussy cutout sugar cookies! These are delicious classic sugar cookies, effortlessly decorated for the holidays. These are best rolled in balls and pressed.
They have too much butter to flour ratio to maintain shape as a cut-out…which is what makes them so amazing and flavorful.
This is another great cookie to add for your annual Christmas cookie baking day! It’s the perfect addition to Christmas Wreath Cookies, Cornflake Cookies and disappearing Marshmallow Cookies.
They’re fun, festive and make a great Christmas activity! Host a cookie decorating party with icings, sprinkles and candies and let the fun begin!
Table of Contents
About These Cookies
- Easy
- Foolproof
- Customizable
- Made with Staple Ingredients
Tools You Need
- Mixing Bowl
- Cookie Sheets
- Parchment Paper (optional for easy cleanup)
- Cookie Dough Scoop (optional for consistent cookie size)
- Glass (to press cookies)
What You Need to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Unsalted Butter – If using salted butter, omit the salt in this recipe. You can learn the difference between salted and unsalted butter here.
- Sugar – White granulated sugar gives these a little crunch and is another distinction from cutout sugar cookies.
- Vanilla Extract – Adds amazing flavor and fragrance. You can use almond extract if you prefer.
- Eggs
- All Purpose Flour – Sifted for the lightest, fluffiest cookies. Learn more about Baking Measurements here.
- Salt
- Baking Soda – The leavening agent for this recipe.
- Cream of Tartar – Adds a slight tang and acts as a secondary leavening agent.
Optional
- Sprinkles
- Sanding Sugars
- Icing
- Writing Icing
- Candies
Overview | How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies
The full printable recipe is below
- Prep – Preheat oven and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine Dry Ingredients.
- Cream Butter and Sugar.
- Add Vanilla and Eggs.
- Combine – Gradually fold dry mixture into wet mixture.
- Scoop or roll into 1 1/4” balls (medium cookie scoop). Drop onto cookie sheet. Press a glass onto each cookie to flatten.
- Bake.
- Decorate! Use your favorite candies and icings.
Tips
- Use parchment for easy cleanup.
- Use a cookie scoop for consistent cookie size.
Dip a glass in your favorite sugars and sprinkles and press onto cookies or spread buttercream icing and add your favorite sprinkles and decorations.
It’s best to press them on lightly with a glass just before baking.
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 4½ cups all purpose flour, sifted
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar to combine. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add vanilla and eggs. Mix until just combined.
- Gradually fold dry mixture into wet mixture.
- Scoop or roll into 1 1/4” balls (medium cookie scoop). Drop onto cookie sheet. Optional: press a glass into sugar and press each cookie.
- Bake 8 minutes. Allow cookies to cool before frosting.
Frosting
- Beat butter until light and smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar.
- Add milk until smooth.
- Spread frosting onto cookies and add your favorite sprinkles, sugars and candies or use writing icing.
Video
Notes
Tips
- Use parchment for easy cleanup.
- Use a cookie scoop for consistent cookie size.
- Store for up to three days in an airtight container at room temperature.
Pearl Rodgers says
Hi Julie
I’m looking for the perfect sugar cookie & this seems to be the one. Can’t wait to try it. Is this a cakey sugar cookie?
Thanks for sharing.
Pearl
julieblanner says
It is! Enjoy!
Tammy says
This is fabulous. Can’t wait to see more posts! 🙂
julieblanner says
Thank you, Tammy! Happy Baking!
Carol says
Julie,
I am excited about this cookie site you have made. I will probably have to wait until after Christmas to be trying out the recipes. I will have to show this to my daughter, she will be excited for the edible cookie dough and confetti cookies.
Thank you
Carol
julieblanner says
Thank you, Carol! I absolutely love baking and this is a place I can delve into that ever more! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!