This Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe is my all-time favorite roll-out sugar cookies recipe. Crispy on the outside and chewy in the center these cookies are the perfect cookies to top with royal icing.
If you love homemade Christmas cookies then this is the recipe for you. Festive and easy to decorate these homemade sugar cookies are bound to be a crowd-pleaser during the holiday season.
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About Royal Icing
Royal icing is a sweet glaze that hardens when exposed to the air. It forms a nice and instant crust on the top of your cookie giving you a nice and smooth colored icing.
Why I Love This Recipe
Christmas Sugar Cookies are homemade sugar cookies that are so festive and make great cookies for Santa!
- Easy to make
- Fun to make
- Always a hit at parties
- Looks beautiful on a plate
- Fills the house with a delicious aroma
If you love Christmas Cookie recipes like this one, you may also enjoy this Peppermint Snickerdoodle recipe.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients to help you make these homemade cookies. Most of these ingredients you most likely have on hand and that can save you a trip to the grocery store.
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
- unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- granulated sugar
- large egg, at room temperature
- pure vanilla extract
- Royal Icing
- White Chocolate to decorate
Substitutions
Butter: Salted butter can be used in place of unsalted butter.
Royal Icing: Don’t like royal icing? You can use regular buttercream or cream cheese frosting instead.
Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
Are you ready to enjoy some delicious homemade sugar cookies? Gather these kitchen tools and you will be ready to bake these festive cookies.
- mixing bowl
- hand mixer
- baking sheets
- rolling pin
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Cream together butter and sugar
In a large bowl using a hand mixer beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: Add in dry ingredients
Add the egg, vanilla and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. The dough will be soft.
Step 3: Chill the cookie dough
Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours. Once chilled, preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
Step 4: Cut out the cookies
Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out your cookie dough until it is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Then, using a cookie-cutter like in the picture, cut the dough into shapes.
Step 5: Continue cutting out shapes
Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used.
Step 6: Bake the cookies
Place your baking sheets in the oven and bake for 10-12 mins. Bake until the cookies are slightly brown on the edges but still soft.
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
Are you looking for ways to change up these homemade sugar cookies? Here are my best swaps and additions.
Peppermint: Use a candy cane-shaped cookie cutter and add crushed peppermints to the top of your cookies for a peppermint cookie.
Sprinkles: Want to use sprinkles? Add the sprinkles to the royal icing while your icing is still wet. You will need to work quickly.
Unfrosted: If you prefer an unfrosted cookie, skip the royal icing and just leave your sugar cookies plain. They will be delicious!
Toppings
Are you curious what you can use for decorations on top of your Christmas Sugar Cookies? Here are my favorite toppings.
- Peppermints
- Sprinkles
- Edible Glitter
- Crushed Andes Mints
- Chopped Oreos
- mini M&M’s
Tips
Want to make sure that your cookies turn out perfectly? Here are my best tips for Christmas Sugar Cookies.
- The dough can be chilled up to overnight. I like to make the cookie dough before bed so that in the morning it’s ready to make cookies.
- If you are leaving your cookies unfrosted and want to decorate them, add the sprinkles and decorations before you bake the cookies.
FAQs
Do you have questions about Christmas Sugar Cookies? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Store your cookies in an airtight container for up to one week.
Certinaly, these cookies are great made a day or two ahead of when you need them.
Yes! Sugar cookies can be frozen as raw dough or even as baked cookies. Though I do recommend you freeze your cookies unfrosted and frost them after they thaw.
More Cookie Recipes
If you like cookies, give these recipes a try:
- Pudding Mix Gingerbread Cookies
- Grinch Cookies
- Green Cake Mix Cookies
- Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
- Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ready to get cooking? Print off the recipe card below or toggle on Cook Mode to keep your screen from going dark while you follow along on your phone or tablet.
📋 Recipe
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- hand mixer
- Baking sheets
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Royal Icing White Chocolate to decorate
Instructions
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the egg, vanilla and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be soft.
- Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours. Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Using cookie cutters like in the picture, cut the dough into shapes.
- Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used.
- Bake for 10-12 mins.
Nutrition
Need to run to the store for a few ingredients first? Don’t forget to pin this recipe so you can find it when you’re ready to cook!
