Christmas Sugar Cookies are a festive treat that capture the essence of the holiday season. These cookies are soft, chewy, and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting. Plus, they are adorned with colorful Christmas sprinkles that bring cheer to any gathering. Making these cookies at home lets you share the joy and warmth of holiday baking with family and friends.
how to make Christmas Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
- 270 g (2¼ cups) all-purpose flour
- 4 g (1 tsp) baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 170 g (1½ sticks / ¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened (68-72°F)
- 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp almond extract (optional)
- 54 g (⅓ cup) Christmas jimmies sprinkles
- 283 g (1¼ bricks / 10 oz) full-fat cream cheese, softened (68-72°F)
- 184 g (13 Tbsp) salted butter, softened (68-72°F)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 150 g (1¼ cups) powdered sugar, sifted
- 80 ml (⅓ cup) heavy cream, very cold
- 24 g (2 Tbsp) Christmas sprinkles (jimmies, nonpareils, trees, etc.)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Pause to scrape down the bowl once or twice.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat on medium-low speed until combined, about 30 seconds.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in two parts, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Gently fold in the Christmas jimmies sprinkles using a spatula until evenly distributed.
- Use a 3-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough (about 48-50 g each).
- Roll each scoop into a ball and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Slightly flatten each dough ball with your fingers or the bottom of a glass, keeping the cookies at least ½ inch thick.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops look soft and no longer glossy. The cookies should not brown.
- Remove from the oven and immediately shape into a perfect circle by gently rotating a cookie cutter or glass around each cookie.
- Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the frosting, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the cream cheese and butter on low speed until smooth, creamy, and lump-free, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract and salt, then beat on low until just combined.
- Add the sifted powdered sugar in three parts, beating until just combined each time, about 10-15 seconds.
- Gradually drizzle in the cold heavy cream while whisking on low speed until stiff peaks form, about 1-1½ minutes. Be careful not to overwhip the heavy cream.
- Pipe the frosting on the cookies with a #2A or #1A piping tip, starting from the center and working outward, or spread with a spatula to create decorative swirls.
- Before serving, sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles.
how to serve Christmas Sugar Cookies
Serve your Christmas Sugar Cookies on a festive platter. They are perfect for holiday parties, gift giving, or enjoying with a warm cup of cocoa. These cookies are a delightful treat that everyone will love.
how to store Christmas Sugar Cookies
Store your Christmas Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze the unbaked dough or the baked cookies. Just be sure to wrap them well to prevent freezer burn.
tips to make Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Make sure your butter and cream cheese are at the right temperature for easy mixing.
- Don’t overmix the dough as this can lead to tough cookies.
- For extra flavor, feel free to add other types of extracts, like lemon or orange.
variation
You can add different holiday-themed mixes to the cookies, such as peppermint or other festive jimmies, to switch up the flavor and appearance.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of frosting?
Yes, you can use any frosting you like, such as buttercream or royal icing.
Can I make these cookies in advance?
Absolutely! The cookies and frosting can be made a few days ahead. Just store them separately and frost them right before serving.
What if I don’t have cream cheese?
You can substitute cream cheese with mascarpone cheese or a buttercream frosting for a different flavor.
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat on medium-low speed until combined, about 30 seconds.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in two parts, mixing on low speed until just combined.
- Gently fold in the Christmas jimmies sprinkles using a spatula until evenly distributed.
- Use a 3-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough (about 48-50 g each).
- Roll each scoop into a ball and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Slightly flatten each dough ball with your fingers or the bottom of a glass, keeping the cookies at least ½ inch thick.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops look soft and no longer glossy.
- Remove from oven and immediately shape into a perfect circle by gently rotating a cookie cutter or glass around each cookie.
- Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on low speed until smooth, creamy, and lump-free, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract and salt, then beat until just combined.
- Add the sifted powdered sugar in three parts, beating until just combined each time.
- Gradually drizzle in the cold heavy cream while whisking on low speed until stiff peaks form, about 1-1½ minutes.
- Pipe the frosting on the cookies or spread it with a spatula to create decorative swirls. Before serving, sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles.