Festive & Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies!
Whip up the ultimate festive treat with these easy-to-make Christmas sugar cookies! Perfect for holiday gatherings, decorating with family, and spreading cheer.
Equipment
- Medium Bowl
- Electric Mixer
- Large Bowl
- Parchment Paper
- Silicone baking mats
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie Cutters
- Baking Sheets
- Wire Rack
- Squeeze bottles (optional)
- Piping bags (optional)
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp almond extract optional
For the Easy Icing
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (or use water for a pure white icing)
- 2 tsp light corn syrup
- 4 1/2 to 5 Tbsp room temperature water
- Pinch salt
- Gel food coloring & sprinkles optional, for fun decorating!
Instructions
Preparing Your Delicious Cookie Dough:
- In a medium bowl, simply whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside.
- In a larger bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until they're wonderfully smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if you're using it). Beat on high for about 1 minute until well combined. Don't forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl!
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until everything just comes together. The dough will be a little soft. If it feels too sticky, add an extra tablespoon of flour.
- Divide your dough into two equal portions. Place each portion between two pieces of lightly floured parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each dough portion out evenly to about ¼-inch thickness.
- Lightly dust one rolled-out dough with flour, then place a piece of parchment on top to prevent sticking. Stack the second rolled-out dough on top. Wrap this stack in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours, or up to 2 days. This step is key for perfect cut-out shapes!
Baking Your Festive Cookies:
- Once your dough is chilled and firm, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Carefully remove one chilled dough piece from the refrigerator. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Gather and re-roll any dough scraps, then cut more shapes. Repeat with the second piece of dough.
- Arrange your cookie shapes on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches between each cookie.
- Bake for 11-12 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. If your oven bakes unevenly, rotate the baking sheets halfway through.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then gently transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Whipping Up the Easy Icing:
- In a medium bowl, stir together the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, corn syrup, 4.5 tablespoons of water, and a pinch of salt with a fork. It will be quite thick!
- Switch to a whisk and gradually whisk in another ½ tablespoon of water (or more, drop by drop) until the icing drizzles smoothly from the whisk and holds its shape for a few seconds before melting back into the bowl. This is the perfect consistency!
- If you'd like colored icing, divide it into separate bowls and stir in 1-2 drops of gel food coloring at a time until you reach your desired shades. Remember, the color deepens as it dries.
- Get creative! Decorate your completely cooled cookies by dipping them into the icing, or use squeeze bottles or piping bags for more detailed designs. If adding sprinkles, do it right after applying the icing.
- Let your beautifully decorated cookies sit uncovered for about 24 hours for the icing to fully set. While they’re delicious immediately, this waiting time makes them stackable and perfect for gifting!
Notes
Store decorated cookies in an airtight container for up to a week. These cookies are perfect for gifting or sharing.
Nutrition Information (per 3-inch cookie):
- Calories: N/A
- Total Carbs: N/A
- Net Carbs: N/A
- Fats: N/A
- Protein: N/A
