Soft and tender Christmas sugar cookies are the perfect holiday treat to make and eat as a family. They look as magical as they taste!
These brightly decorated masterpieces are sure to put you in the Christmas spirit this year. They are simple to make and so fun to decorate. For more festive Christmas treats try Gingerbread Cookies, Peppermint Brownies, and Christmas Crack.
Fun and Festive Holiday Cookies
There is something so magical about decorating holiday sugar cookies as a family. It is one of my kids’ favorite things to do together. We love cutting out shapes and getting artistic with the decorations.
Not only are these sugar cookies insanely fun to decorate, they taste utterly irresistible. They are soft and tender with the perfect amount of sweetness.
You will surely want to save this recipe in your folder of must-dos during the Christmas season!
Tips for Perfect Cookies
Some notes on how to make sure your cookies turn out great each time include:
- Over-mixing the dough can create a tougher cookie.
- Don’t roll the dough too thin, unless you want crispy cookies. I like to stick to ⅜” thick.
- If your dough is too dry when you’re trying to roll it out simply sprinkle a bit of water on the dough and knead it a few times. Be sure you don’t add too much.
- If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle a bit of flour and knead.
Using these tips and tricks will ensure you have soft sugar cookies!
How to Make Them
PREP. Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a cookie sheet to be used later.
DOUGH. In a large bowl mix together butter, cream cheese, sugars, egg and almond until creamy. Use a Kitchen-Aid or hand mixer. In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Combine together until soft dough forms.
ROLL & CUT. 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. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool before decorating.
For the frosting
CREAM. Add the butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and almond extract to a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine.
DIVIDE & COLOR. You can make all the frosting one color or divide it into separate bowls and mix with different food coloring.
DECORATE. Frost the cookies. Use colored decorating gel to add embellishments. Add any holiday sprinkles you wish.
Variations
Christmas baking is just not complete until I have made sugar cookies. When I made this recipe, I decided to stick to making trees and candy canes, but you can use any Christmas shaped cookie cutters that you wish. Some other notable shapes include:
- Bell
- Stocking
- Gingerbread man
- Snowman
- Star
Make sure you also have different food coloring gel and sprinkles to match so each Christmas sugar cookie turns out both tasty and visually delicious.
Storage Tips
You can STORE these Christmas sugar cookies both frosted or unfrosted. You can also store them at room temperature or keep them in the freezer for later. If you are storing frosted cookies, be sure that the frosting has set completely first.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days. Separate layers with parchment or wax paper. If you put the cookies in the fridge they last for 6-7 days.
- To store the cookies in the FREEZER, you can either wrap them individually with plastic wrap or stack them, separating the layers with wax paper. Either way, be sure to use a freezer safe airtight container to put the cookies in. They’ll last for up to 3 months.
WARNING: Don’t be surprised when you make 3 dozen and have ZERO leftovers. 😉
For More Christmas Cookies, try:
- Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Easy Shortbread Cookie
- Snowball Cookies
- Gingersnaps
- Christmas Snickerdoodles
More Collections: Christmas Desserts
Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe
Equipment
- Christmas Cookie Cutters
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- 3/4 c butter softened
- 8 oz cream Cheese softened
- 1 c sugar
- 1/2 c powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2 3/4 c all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Frosting & Toppings
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 4 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- food coloring
- Christmas sprinkles, colored decorating gel
Instructions
Sugar Cookie
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a cookie sheet to be used later.
- In a large bowl mix together butter, cream cheese, sugars, egg and almond until creamy. Use a Kitchen-Aid or hand mixer.
- In a separate bowl sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Combine together until soft dough forms.
- 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.
- You can make all the frosting one color or divide it into separate bowls and mix with different food coloring.
- Frost the cookies. Use colored decorating gel to add embellishments. Add any holiday sprinkles you wish.
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
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
These look so yummy!!