Name: Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 2 h 30 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 4 h 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed for rolling and work surface; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar; 1 large egg, at room temperature; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but makes the flavor outstanding); Royal Icing; Red gel food coloring; Black gel food coloring; Orange gel food coloring

There’s just something magical about biting into a perfectly soft, sweet cookie decorated like a jolly snowman—this Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe is a festive treat that brings smiles and holiday cheer every time. You’ll love how these cookies are not just cute, but irresistibly delicious and perfect for sharing with friends and family.

The image shows seven snowman-shaped cookies stacked on a white plate with detailed lace-like edges, all placed on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has three layers: a smooth white icing base covering the whole snowman shape, a black hat on top with a slightly raised texture, and a bright red scarf wrapped around the neck. The faces have small black dots for eyes and mouths and an orange carrot-shaped nose. Three small black dots in the middle resemble buttons. Around the plate, there are a few snowflake-shaped cookies with white icing and light blue sugar decorations and a round cookie with white icing. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I first made this Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe a few holiday seasons ago, and it's been a joyful tradition ever since. The taste, the texture, and the endless decorating fun are just unbeatable. Plus, they’re a fantastic way to get creative in the kitchen with the kids or friends!

Perfect Texture: Soft yet sturdy crumb that holds its shape beautifully, ideal for decorating.
Flavors That Pop: A hint of almond extract takes these cookies beyond basic sugar cookies, adding depth without overpowering.
Fun to Decorate: Royal icing in bright colors lets you personalize each snowman with scarves, hats, and smiles.
Great for Gifting: These cookies stay soft days after baking, making them perfect for holiday gifts or parties.

The image shows decorated cookies on a white marbled surface. There are two types of cookies: snowmen and snowflakes. The snowman cookies have a light golden base with a smooth white icing covering their whole bodies, three black buttons down the middle, small black dots for eyes and mouth, an orange carrot-shaped nose, a bright red scarf, and a black hat on top. The snowflake cookies have a similarly light golden base decorated with intricate white icing patterns and some sparkling sugar crystals with a shiny blue bead in the center. The cookies are spread out randomly but some overlap slightly, showing detail and texture clearly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe plays an essential role in crafting that tender yet well-shaped cookie base that's so fun to decorate. Using room temperature butter and egg ensures the dough blends smoothly, while the flour, baking powder, and salt work together to give the right rise and subtle flavor balance.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white ceramic bowl of baking powder powder, a small white ceramic bowl of salt, a softened whole stick of unsalted butter resting on the edge of a white ceramic dish, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar, one whole uncracked brown egg, a small white ceramic bowl of clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl of clear almond extract, three small white ceramic bowls each filled with thick royal icing colored bright red, deep blackish gray, and vibrant orange, all placed neatly in perfect symmetry, fresh and natural ingredients, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Spoon and level it to avoid packing in too much flour — this keeps cookies tender, not tough.
Baking powder: Adds just a touch of lift to give the cookies a delicate crumb.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor.
Unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt level precisely and ensures a creamy, smooth dough.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens without overwhelming and helps create a tender crumb.
Egg: Binds the dough together and adds richness — make sure it’s room temperature for easier mixing.
Pure vanilla extract: Classic flavor that complements the other ingredients beautifully.
Almond extract (optional): Adds a subtle, delightful nuttiness that makes these cookies stand out (I never skip this!).
Royal Icing: The perfect decorating medium that hardens nicely so designs stay crisp and adorable.
Gel food coloring: Use vibrant colors for scarves, hats, noses, and eyes to bring your snowmen to life.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This recipe is incredibly forgiving when it comes to flavor tweaks and decoration styles, so make it your own! I like swapping almond extract for peppermint during the holidays for a festive twist, but you could try lemon or even pumpkin spice for unique seasonal variations.

Flavor variation: Last Christmas, I used peppermint extract instead of almond - the kids loved the minty kick paired with the sweet icing.
Decorating style: Sometimes I let my nephew mix the icing colors, creating fun, unexpected snowmen scarves and hats!
Diet-friendly tweak: For a dairy-free version, try coconut oil instead of butter—your dough texture might be slightly different, but the flavor remains delightful.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients with Care

Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl — this ensures everything is evenly combined and helps prevent any pockets of leavening that might make your cookies uneven.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar Till Dreamy

Using a stand or handheld mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and sugar on high for about 2 minutes. You want it smooth, creamy, and a little fluffy—this is where your cookies get that buttery richness.

Step 3: Add the Egg and Extracts

Beat in the room temperature egg with vanilla — and almond extract if you’re using it — until fully combined. Don't forget to scrape down the sides and bottom of your bowl to get every bit mixed in evenly.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry, Adjust If Needed

Mix the dry ingredients into the wet on low speed until a soft dough forms. If it feels too sticky to roll, add a tablespoon of flour. The dough should be pliable but not clinging to your hands or the surface.

Step 5: Roll, Stack, and Chill

Divide your dough in half and roll each out to ¼ inch thickness between lightly floured parchment or silicone mats. Stack the rolled dough with flour dusting and parchment between the layers, then cover and chill for at least 1-2 hours. This rest is crucial for clean cookie cutter edges and easy handling.

Step 6: Cut, Arrange, and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Use your snowman cookie cutter to cut shapes carefully. Re-roll scraps to maximize yield. Arrange cookies spaced comfortably on lined baking sheets, bake 11-12 minutes until edges just start to brown, rotate halfway if needed, then cool on racks.

Step 7: Decorate with Joy

Mix small bowls of royal icing tinted red, black, and orange, leaving some white icing plain. Pipe a white base coat leaving space for hats, then layer on scarves, hats, eyes, mouths, buttons, and noses with the colored icings. Patience helps here — chilling the cookies speeds drying and keeps details crisp.

Top Tip

Through making this Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe multiple times, I’ve realized a few tips can make a big difference between good cookies and show-stopping ones.

Chill the Dough Thoroughly: This prevents spreading and keeps your snowmen perfectly shaped, making decorating so much easier.
Room Temperature Butter & Egg: Don’t rush this step — too soft butter can make sticky dough, and cold eggs can cause uneven mixing.
Use Parchment or Silicone Mats: Rolling dough between these keeps things clean and makes transferring shapes less stressful.
Be Patient When Icing: Let the white icing dry before adding colored details to avoid blending and smudging.

How to Serve Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe

snowman sugar cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually garnish my snowman cookies with tiny edible glitter and a sprinkle of white sugar crystals to mimic sparkling snow. Sometimes I add small candy pearls for buttons — it’s these little details that make the cookies feel extra festive and fun.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa or cinnamon-spiced tea for a cozy treat. They also complement a holiday cookie platter beautifully, alongside gingerbread or peppermint bark.

Creative Ways to Present

For gift-giving, I like to stack cookies in a clear box tied with a festive ribbon, separating layers with parchment paper. Another fun idea is to use a wooden tray lined with faux snow and sprinkle mini pinecones around the cookies for a wintry display that doubles as décor.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layering them with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They stay deliciously soft for about 5 days this way — perfect if you’re pacing your cookie enjoyment over a week.

Freezing

These Snowman Sugar Cookies freeze beautifully! I wrap decorated cookies individually when the icing has fully set and layer them carefully in a freezer container with parchment paper between. They’ll keep up to 3 months — just thaw gently at room temp or in the fridge before serving.

Reheating

Instead of reheating, I find these cookies taste best fresh or at room temperature. If you prefer your iced cookies a bit warmer, let them sit out for 15-20 minutes after thawing rather than trying to microwave, which can soften the icing.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I skip the almond extract?

Yes, you can! The almond extract is optional but highly recommended — it adds a lovely depth to the cookies. If you leave it out, just make sure your vanilla is good quality for the best flavor.

How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?

Chilling the dough after rolling it out is the key! The recipe advises a 1-2 hour chill with the dough stacks wrapped — this firms up the butter and helps maintain the shapes while baking.

My royal icing is too runny, how can I fix it?

Try adding more powdered sugar a teaspoon at a time until the icing is pipeable but not dripping. Also, ensure you don’t add too much liquid coloring — gel food coloring is best for less watery, vibrant icing.

Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can make and freeze the dough up to 3 months in advance or bake and freeze the decorated cookies once the icing has set. Just thaw carefully when you’re ready to enjoy them.

Final Thoughts

This Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it blends holiday tradition, creativity, and deliciousness in one perfect package. Whether you’re making these for a party, gifting, or sharing over a cozy night in, each bite is a little celebration. Give it a try—you’ll find it’s as rewarding to make as it is to eat.