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Christmas Sugar Cookies

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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.

Christmas Sugar Cookies on a white serving plate on the bottom part of the image and the other bare cookies on the upper part of the image alongside with a Santa Claus miniature and stuffed toy.
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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.

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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.

Horizontal image of Christmas Sugar Cookies. on a white platter

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 
Ingredients used to make Christmas Sugar Cookies.

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.

How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies

You can have perfectly baked Christmas Sugar Cookies that are perfect for royal icing by following these easy six steps below.

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. 

Creamed butter and sugar in a mixxing bowl.

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).  

Cookie dough in a mixing bowl.

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.  

Cut outs of cookies on a parchment paper on the left part of the image and the remaining cookie dough being rolled out on the right side.

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.

Cut outs of rolled cookie dough on parchment paper.

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
Christmas Sugar Cookies on a white serving plate with one cookie being picked by hand.

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.

How to store

Store your cookies in an airtight container for up to one week.

Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Certinaly, these cookies are great made a day or two ahead of when you need them.

Can I freeze sugar cookies?

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.

A zoomed in shot of Christmas Sugar Cookies on a white serving plate.

If you like cookies, give these recipes a try:

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.

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📋 Recipe

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Corinne Schmitt
These homemade sugar cookies are festive and easy to decorate.
5 from 22 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Cookies
Calories 236 kcal

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

Serving: 1CookieCalories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 56mgPotassium: 52mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 374IUCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg
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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!

Christmas Sugar Cookies on a white serving plate with a text at the top part of the image saying "Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe".

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