Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

These Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe are the cookies the whole season revolves around. Soft, buttery, and sturdy enough to hold any shape you cut, they bake up with lightly crisp edges and a tender center that stays soft for days. Roll out the dough, cut stars and trees and snowmen, and let everyone at the table decorate their own.

For more seasonal favourites, try our Gingerbread Cookies, our Chewy Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies and our Cranberry White Chocolate Blondies.

What Makes These Christmas Sugar Cookies So Good

The dough is the star. Butter and sugar cream together into a rich base, an egg and a splash of vanilla bind it, and just enough flour makes a dough that rolls smoothly and holds sharp edges in the oven. A little cornstarch in the mix keeps the cookies soft in the middle, so they never turn hard and crunchy like a cracker.

They are also the perfect blank canvas. The cookies taste wonderful plain with a dusting of sugar, but they really shine with a simple royal icing or buttercream frosting, sprinkles, and a little imagination. Kids love decorating them, and adults love eating them, which is the whole point of a holiday cookie.

The Key Ingredients

Pantry staples, with a couple of small tricks that make a big difference.

The Butter and Sugar

Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, creams with granulated sugar into a light, fluffy base. Softened butter matters here: cold butter will not cream properly, and melted butter makes the dough spread in the oven.

The Flour and Cornstarch

All purpose flour gives the cookies structure, and a spoonful of cornstarch keeps them soft and tender. Measure the flour by spooning it into the cup and leveling it off, because packing the cup makes tough, dry cookies.

The Flavor

Vanilla extract is the classic flavor, and a little almond extract alongside it gives the cookies that unmistakable bakery taste. A pinch of salt sharpens the sweetness, and a little baking powder gives a gentle lift without puffing the cookies out of shape.

How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies

Chill the dough, cut the shapes, and bake just until set.

• Cream the butter and sugar: beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add egg and vanilla: beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth.
• Mix in the dry ingredients: stir in flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt just until combined.
• Chill the dough: wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour so the cookies hold their shape.
• Roll, cut, and bake: roll to a quarter inch thick, cut shapes, and bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping the Chill

Warm sugar cookie dough spreads in the oven and loses every sharp edge you cut. Chill the dough for at least an hour, and chill the cut shapes for ten minutes more if your kitchen is warm.

Overbaking the Cookies

Sugar cookies should look pale and barely set when they come out of the oven. They firm up as they cool, and an extra minute in the oven turns them from soft to crunchy.

Rolling the Dough Too Thin

Dough rolled thinner than a quarter inch bakes up crisp and fragile. A quarter inch thickness gives soft centers, sturdy edges, and cookies that survive frosting and decorating.

What to Serve with Christmas Sugar Cookies

These cookies belong on every holiday table, and they love a warm drink:

• Hot chocolate, for dunking on a cold night
• Warm milk, the classic cookie partner
• Eggnog, for a festive holiday pairing
• A cookie exchange plate, shared with friends and neighbors

Make It Your Own

The dough welcomes flavors. Swap the vanilla for lemon or orange zest for a citrus version, add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for warmth, or roll the cut shapes in colored sugar before baking for a sparkly finish. Royal icing dries hard and stacks well for gifting, while buttercream stays soft and creamy. Freeze the baked, unfrosted cookies for up to a month and decorate them whenever the mood strikes.

Make These Christmas Sugar Cookies Today

Buttery, soft, and ready for frosting, these are the cookies that turn an ordinary afternoon into a holiday memory. Mix the dough tonight. Browse more of our Dessert recipes for more holiday baking.