There's something truly magical about the smell of freshly baked cookies around the holidays. This Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is one I’ve cherished for years because of its soft texture, subtle almond hint, and festive red and green sprinkle charm that just screams cozy holiday vibes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I can’t tell you how many times this Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe has brought friends and family together in my kitchen. It’s simple, reliable, and gives you those perfectly soft, sweet cookies that you’ll be proud to share — or hide for yourself!
- Classic Flavor Combo: Butter and cream cheese make the cookies irresistibly tender and flavorful.
- Festive Touch: The red and green sanding sugar sprinkles add that perfect holiday sparkle.
- Easy to Personalize: You can tweak extracts or decorations to match your family's favorite flavors.
- Reliable and Foolproof: Even if you’re new to baking, this recipe is forgiving and yields great results every time.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this classic cookie dough plays a unique role to give you that melt-in-your-mouth texture and balanced sweetness. Picking fresh ingredients makes all the difference, so don’t skimp on butter quality or vanilla extract – it truly shines here.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and a touch of saltiness that enhances sweetness; make sure it’s softened for easier mixing.
- Cream cheese: Keeps the dough moist and adds a subtle tang that sets these cookies apart.
- Sugar: Sweetens while helping with texture; granulated sugar works best here for that slight crunch.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and add a tender crumb.
- Vanilla extract: Classic warming flavor that’s essential for holiday cookies.
- Almond extract: Gives a festive, nutty hint that pairs beautifully with vanilla.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the structure but you also add cornstarch for softness.
- Cornstarch: Makes the cookies tender and slightly cakey, preventing toughness.
- Baking soda: Helps with slight leavening and spread.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and boosts flavors.
- Red & Green Sanding Sugar: Sprinkles that add holiday cheer and a touch of sparkle.
Make It Your Way
I love playing around with extracts or toppings depending on my mood or who I’m baking for. This classic sugar cookie base is so versatile you can easily make it your own, and honestly, that’s part of the fun!
- Variation: Adding a bit of lemon zest brightens the flavor and gives a festive twist I’ve tried when hosting cookie swaps.
- Dietary Modification: You can swap the butter for a dairy-free alternative and use flax eggs to make it vegan-friendly — results are still tender.
- Seasonal changes: Try swapping the sanding sugar for crushed peppermint candies or cinnamon sugar for a different festive vibe.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Beat Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar Until Fluffy
Start by softening the butter and cream cheese—trust me, it makes all the difference. Using a hand mixer, beat them together with sugar, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract for about 4-5 minutes until the mixture looks light and fluffy. This step is key to getting tender cookies instead of dense ones, so don’t rush it!
Step 2: Slowly Add Dry Ingredients and Form Dough
Scrape down the bowl so everything’s evenly incorporated, then add your flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Use the mixer on low speed to combine until you get a soft dough that's easy to handle but not sticky. If it feels too sticky, a little extra flour will help, but be careful not to add too much.
Step 3: Chill the Dough
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours. This part can’t be skipped — chilling firm ups the dough, prevents spreading, and helps develop flavor. I usually prep this in the morning if baking later in the day or even the night before for convenience.
Step 4: Shape & Decorate
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop dough balls about 1 inch apart—using a cookie scoop helps make them even. Press down lightly with a fork in a crisscross pattern, then sprinkle red or green sanding sugar on top for that festive sparkle.
Step 5: Bake and Cool
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes at 350°F. The secret here is not to overbake—you want your cookies to still look slightly undercooked in the middle when you pull them out. They’ll continue firming as they cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Top Tip
Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to make this Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe come out perfectly every time, and sharing these will hopefully save you some kitchen hiccups.
- Softening Ingredients: Always soften your butter and cream cheese fully at room temperature; lumps can make the texture uneven.
- Chill Time is Key: That 2-hour chill isn’t just for convenience — it prevents spreading and enhances flavor depth.
- Watch the Bake: Cookies will look underbaked but don't worry—they’ll set as they cool, keeping them soft and tender.
- Use a Cookie Scoop: It guarantees uniform sizing and even baking, plus it’s way less messy than rolling by hand.
How to Serve Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I stick to the traditional red and green sanding sugar because it gives such a charming sparkle and the perfect crunchy contrast to the soft cookie. But I’ve also jazzed them up with a drizzle of melted white chocolate or tiny edible pearls for special gatherings. Those little touches always get compliments!
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a warm mug of classic eggnog or a spiced chai latte. I’ve also served them alongside a cheese board for a sweet contrast — it’s a fun combo that surprises guests.
Creative Ways to Present
For cookie swaps or gifts, I arrange them in a tiered serving tray layered with holiday-themed napkins. Wrapping a few in clear cellophane tied with ribbon makes for adorable homemade presents that everyone asks for year after year.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After baking, I let the cookies cool completely before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and delicious for up to a week, perfect for keeping the festive spirit alive throughout the holidays.
Freezing
I’ve frozen both the dough and the baked cookies with great success. For dough, wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months — just thaw overnight in the fridge before baking. For baked cookies, freeze in an airtight container, then thaw at room temp for a few hours before enjoying.
Reheating
If you want fresh-from-the-oven softness, I reheat cookies in the microwave for just 5-10 seconds. It’s amazing how much softer and more aromatic they taste with this quick trick.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can use either, but salted butter adds a nice balance of flavor. If you use unsalted, consider adding a pinch more salt to the dough.
Chilling firms up the dough which prevents spreading during baking, helps develop flavors, and results in a nicer texture. It’s a small step that really makes a difference.
Absolutely! You can omit almond extract or substitute with more vanilla extract or even a splash of lemon extract for a different flavor profile.
Avoid overbaking—it’s better to take them out when slightly underdone. Store in an airtight container with a slice of bread; the bread helps keep cookies moist.
Final Thoughts
This Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s more than just a treat — it’s part of holiday memories with those I love. I hope you find joy in making it just as much as I do and that it brings a bit of sweet magic to your celebrations, too. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll become a holiday staple in your kitchen as well!
Print
Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 21 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Classic Christmas Cookies are soft, buttery sugar cookies enhanced with cream cheese and a hint of almond extract. These festive treats are easy to prepare, decorated with red and green sanding sugar, and perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 stick salted butter softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Decoration
- Red & Green Sanding Sugar
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large bowl, add softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Using a hand mixer, beat the mixture until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
- Combine dry ingredients: Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Turn the mixer to low speed and combine until a soft dough forms.
- Chill the dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours to firm up.
- Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape and decorate cookies: Scoop balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them at least 1 inch apart. Using a fork, gently press a criss-cross pattern into each cookie. Sprinkle with red and green sanding sugar.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 11 minutes. The cookies should remain soft and look slightly underbaked without browning on the edges.
- Cool the cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Soften butter and cream cheese fully before mixing to prevent lumps in the dough.
- Remove cookies from the oven when slightly underbaked; they will firm up as they cool for a soft texture.
- Use a cookie scoop to ensure uniform cookie size and shape.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and simplify cleanup.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days.
- Reheat cookies in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to enjoy warm, soft cookies.
- Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Dough can be made 2-3 days in advance and refrigerated or frozen up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
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