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Our favorite best-loved Christmas sugar cookies recipe uses an easy no-chill dough and looks as magical as it tastes!
Our Favorite Christmas Cookie!
These Christmas sugar cookies are the ones we make EVERY year during the holidays. We start with our BEST-LOVED sugar cookies (the ones with a hint of almond and no chill required) then simply add our festive flair to bring the Christmas spirit. They’re a personal favorite and ones we get asked for the recipe EVERY time we make them.
For more festive Christmas treats, try Gingerbread Cookies, Christmas Cookies and Italian Christmas Cookies.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Bring the Christmas spirit! These Christmas cookies are insanely fun to decorate and great for parties and get-togethers.
- Ready in about 30 minutes. They come together in no time, with no chilling required!
- Our tastiest sugar cookie. They are soft and delicious and so addicting – everyone loves this cookie.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 25 minutes
COOK TIME: 10 minutes
Sugar Cookies
- ¾ cup butter – We used unsalted butter but salted works. Just make sure it’s softened.
- 8 ounces cream cheese – Softened cream cheese helps the dough come together and makes for a soft cookie.
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg – room-temperature incorporates better
- 1 teaspoon almond extract – or swap for vanilla extract
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour – How to Measure Flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt – Omit if using salted butter.
Frosting & Toppings
- ⅓ cup butter – How to Soften Butter Quickly
- 4½ cups powdered sugar – sifted
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- food coloring
- Christmas sprinkles & colored decorating gel
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies
- PREP. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a cookie sheet.
- DOUGH. In a large bowl use an electric mixer (or Kitchen Aid with the paddle attachment) to mix ¾ cup butter, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon almond extract until creamy.
- In a separate bowl sift 2¾ cups flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Combine until soft dough forms.
- ROLL & CUT. On a lightly floured surface use a rolling pin and roll the sugar cookie dough to about ⅜ inches. (For a crispier cookie roll the dough thinner.) Once the dough has been rolled cut with holiday cookie cutters.
- BAKE. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the bottom of the cookie has just barely browned. Let cool on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack.
For the Frosting
- CREAM. Add ⅓ cup butter, 4½ cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and ½ teaspoon almond extract to a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine.
- DIVIDE & COLOR. Make all the frosting one color or divide it into separate bowls and mix it with different food coloring.
- DECORATE. Frost the cookies. Use colored decorating gel to add embellishments. Add any holiday sprinkles you wish.
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Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Christmas Cookie Cutters
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting & Toppings
- ⅓ cup butter, softened
- 4½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- food coloring
- Christmas sprinkles, colored decorating gel
Instructions
Sugar Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a cookie sheet.
- In a large bowl mix butter, cream cheese, sugars, egg, and almond until creamy. Use a Kitchen-Aid or hand mixer.
- In a separate bowl sift the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Combine until soft dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, mix in a bit more flour.
- Lightly flour the counter and roll out the dough to about ⅜ inches. (For a crispier cookie roll the dough thinner.) Once the dough has been rolled cut with holiday cookie cutters.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool before decorating.
Frosting
- Add the butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and almond extract to a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine.
- Make all the frosting one color or divide it into separate bowls and mix it with different food coloring.
- Frost the cookies. Use colored decorating gel to add embellishments. Add any holiday sprinkles you wish.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 days or freeze for 2-3 months. See How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips.
Allow the frosting to set and store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days, in the refrigerator for 6-7 days, or in a freezer-safe container and freeze for 3 months. If needed, separate layers with parchment paper or wax paper.
These are so yummy! The almond extract gives the perfect flavor, and they come out so tasty.
This Sugar Cookie recipe is the best! Great flavor and a soft cookie. Easy to make! Yummy!
Wanted to try something different from the traditional Betty Crocker cutouts, that dough is difficult to work with. Turns out this dough is somewhat difficult to work with as well, keeps sticking although I had to add flour and added an abundance of flour to roll out. But they are tasty and the frosting is amazing! Kid says they taste like pop tarts!
Thanks for the feedback!! Glad the kiddos enjoyed and thanks for giving this recipe a try!
These look so yummy!!
So cute and festive and easy to make. The cream cheese sends this recipe over the top. I could eat a dozen at one sitting. Lol
I’m not sure but I think that it’s the cream cheese in these that make them stand out above the rest but these cookies are absolutely amazing