Christmas Sugar Cookies
Delight in the festive spirit with these soft and chewy Christmas Sugar Cookies, perfect for holiday gatherings and creative decorating.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 270 g 270 g (2¼ cups) all-purpose flour
- 4 g 4 g (1 tsp) baking powder
- 0.25 tsp ¼ tsp salt
- 170 g 170 g (1½ sticks / ¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened (68-72°F)
- 200 g 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 1 large 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 Tbsp 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 0.25 tsp ¼ tsp almond extract (optional) Optional for flavor enhancement
- 54 g 54 g (⅓ cup) Christmas jimmies sprinkles For decoration
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 283 g 283 g (1¼ bricks / 10 oz) full-fat cream cheese, softened (68-72°F)
- 184 g 184 g (13 Tbsp) salted butter, softened (68-72°F)
- 2 tsp 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.125 tsp ⅛ tsp salt
- 150 g 150 g (1¼ cups) powdered sugar, sifted
- 80 ml 80 ml (⅓ cup) heavy cream, very cold
- 24 g 24 g (2 Tbsp) assorted Christmas sprinkles (jimmies, nonpareils, etc.) For decoration
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- Beat the softened butter and granulated sugar in a stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes), pausing to scrape down the bowl.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), then mix on medium-low speed until combined (around 30 seconds).
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients in two parts on low speed until combined—be careful not to overmix.
- Gently fold in the Christmas jimmies sprinkles with a spatula until evenly distributed.
Baking
- Using a 3-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the dough (48-50 g each) and roll into balls, spacing them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
- Slightly flatten each cookie dough ball while keeping them at least ½-inch thick.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are set and tops are no longer glossy. The cookies should remain pale, not browned.
- After removing from the oven, use a larger cookie cutter or glass to gently shape the cookies into perfect circles immediately.
- Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese and butter on low until smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add vanilla and salt, mixing until just combined.
- Gradually add sifted powdered sugar in three parts, combining each time for about 10-15 seconds.
- Drizzle in the cold heavy cream one tablespoon at a time while whisking on low speed until stiff peaks form (about 1-1½ minutes).
- Pipe or spread the frosting over cooled cookies, and finish with a sprinkle of festive decorations just before serving.
Notes
To keep your cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If freezing, place the cookies in a single layer in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature or warm in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.