christmas cookie recipes are the heartbeat of my holiday season. I love the ritual of pulling out my favorite bowls, turning up the carols, and shaping dough while the kitchen warms up. If you are hunting for Tasty Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Holidays, you are in the right spot. I am sharing my go to sugar cookie recipe that bakes up soft inside with a light snap on the edges, holds its shape for decorating, and tastes like pure vanilla butter bliss. Think easy steps, ingredients you already know, and zero stress. Ready to bake a batch that makes the house smell like December magic? 
Heres Why Youll Love These Christmas Sugar Cookies
You do not need fancy techniques or expensive ingredients. These Christmas sugar cookies are simple, reliable, and made for decorating. The dough is forgiving, the shapes stay crisp, and the cookies are buttery without being heavy. When you bite in, you get that tender center and a delicate edge that makes you reach for one more.
Let us talk flavor. We keep it classic with vanilla, but a tiny splash of almond extract makes the flavor pop. The icing dries with a light sheen so you can stack them for gifting. And when I say the dough rolls out like a dream, I mean it. No cracking tantrums. No sticky mess. Just smooth, workable dough.
These are the cookies I make every year for friends, neighbors, and those last minute cookie swaps. I have tested this recipe so many times I could make it with my eyes closed. It is my cornerstone for Tasty Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Holidays because it is dependable and crowd approved.
“I have tried five recipes and this is the only one that kept the cutout shapes and still tasted buttery and soft. My kids decorated them with no crumbling mess. Absolute win.”
By the way, if you want to branch out later, check out these cutout cookies with icing that hardens. They are perfect for cookie decorating nights and make adorable gift boxes.
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies
Here is the quick path from pantry to plate. We cream, mix, chill, roll, bake, and decorate. Nothing complicated, just smart steps that set you up for success. The most important part is chilling the dough so your cookies keep their shape. I will walk you through it.
Ingredients
- 2 and 3/4 cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temp
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temp
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon almond extract for extra flavor
- Easy icing: 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 to 3 tablespoons milk, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, pinch of salt
Directions
- Whisk dry ingredients. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, then almond extract if using.
- Combine. Add dry ingredients to wet in two additions. Mix until a smooth dough forms.
- Chill. Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap, and chill 1 to 2 hours. Chilled dough is key.
- Roll and cut. Roll dough on lightly floured parchment to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes.
- Bake. Bake at 350 F for 8 to 10 minutes until edges are set and bottoms are pale golden.
- Cool and decorate. Stir icing until smooth. Spread or pipe onto cooled cookies. Let dry before stacking.
Pro tips that guarantee success: use room temperature butter for proper creaming, keep the dough chilled so shapes do not spread, and roll the dough between parchment paper for less flour and less sticking. If you want a fun twist for your cookie platter, these cozy Cinnamon Roll Cookies add swirls and warm spice that look amazing next to classic trees and stars.
One more note for Tasty Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Holidays lovers. Icing is flexible. If you want it thicker for piping details, add a bit more powdered sugar. For flooding a smooth surface, add tiny splashes of milk and stir until it glides. A small squeeze bottle or a zip top bag with the corner snipped works great if you do not own piping bags.
3 Tricks to Rolling Out Christmas Cookie Dough
Trick one: start with chilled dough. It should feel cool and slightly firm, not stiff as a brick. If it is rock hard, let it rest at room temp for 5 to 10 minutes until it yields a bit to your touch. Rolling dough that is too warm leads to sticking and misshapen cookies. Too cold and it will crack. Find that sweet spot and you will fly through the rolling stage.
Trick two: roll between two sheets of parchment. This keeps the top of your dough smooth, cuts down on extra flour, and makes transferring shapes a breeze. If you do use flour, go light. Too much flour can make cookies tough. I sometimes sprinkle powdered sugar instead for a little sweetness and less dryness.
Trick three: aim for even thickness. Use guides, like two wooden rulers or rolling pin rings, to keep the dough at about 1/4 inch. Even thickness means even baking. If you are working in a warm kitchen, roll small portions at a time and stash the rest in the fridge. That way every batch keeps its shape. These tricks show up in all my Tasty Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Holidays because they work every single time.
Christmas Sugar Cookie Tools
You do not need a giant stash of gadgets. A few smart tools make the process smooth and help your cookies look like the festive beauties you see in your head.
- Stand mixer or hand mixer for proper creaming
- Rolling pin with thickness rings if possible
- Assorted cookie cutters
- Parchment paper for rolling and baking
- Wire racks to cool evenly
- Small offset spatula for spreading icing
- Squeeze bottles or piping bags for neat icing lines
If you love decorating days, keep a few extra sheets of parchment handy so you can slide iced cookies onto trays without smudging. And for those who want ultra crisp cutout edges, do not skip chilling. You can also peek at my guide on cutout cookies for decoration with icing that hardens for even more shaping tips and icing inspo.
Our Best Christmas Cookies
Once you master these, you can build a whole cookie tray. Add variety with flavor and texture. I like to include something spiced, something nutty, and something chocolatey alongside these sugar cookies. Variety makes the platter feel special and keeps everyone reaching in for a different bite.
Try a batch of soft, pumpkin spiced beauties like these pumpkin pie cookies and watch them vanish. For melt in your mouth, buttery bites that dust lips with sugar, you cannot go wrong with a classic like this Mexican wedding cookies guide. Round out the plate with something swirled and fun like those cinnamon roll numbers linked above.
And yes, these sugar cookies deserve center stage. They are the backbone of my Tasty Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Holidays because you can customize the shapes and colors for any theme. Snowflakes with pale blue icing, candy canes with red stripes, or ornaments dotted with sprinkles. Bake ahead, freeze unfrosted cookies, and decorate when you are ready.
Storage tip: Keep decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, with parchment between layers. For longer storage, freeze baked, unfrosted cookies for up to 2 months, then thaw and decorate. It saves your sanity during the busy week of parties and school concerts.
Common Questions
How thick should I roll the dough?
About 1/4 inch. Thicker dough stays softer in the center and holds shape. Too thin and they can brown too fast.
Why did my cookies spread?
Warm dough is the usual culprit. Make sure your butter started at room temp, not melted, and chill the cut shapes on a sheet for 10 minutes before baking if your kitchen is warm.
Can I flavor the icing?
Yes. Add almond extract, lemon juice, or peppermint extract in tiny amounts. Start small, taste, and adjust.
How do I get vibrant colors?
Use gel food coloring rather than liquid. It brings bold color without thinning the icing.
What is the best way to ship cookies?
Let icing dry completely, wrap cookies in pairs, back to back, with bubble wrap, and pack tightly with tissue so they do not rattle.
Bring On The Cookie Joy
I hope this guide makes baking feel doable and fun, not fussy. With a chilled dough, even rolling, and a simple icing, you will have a tray that sparkles. If you want more detail on decorating and variations, the step by step photos in Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing – Sally’s Baking are super helpful, and you can browse big roundups like 52 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes or 52 Delicious Christmas Cookies To Make This Holiday Season for even more ideas. Keep this recipe in your pocket for Tasty Christmas Cookie Recipes to Sweeten Your Holidays, and make it your own with shapes and colors your family loves. I cannot wait to see what you bake up. Happy cookie season and save me a star or two. 
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla to the creamed mixture, and mix until combined. If using, add the almond extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in two additions, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two halves, flatten into discs, wrap, and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll the chilled dough on lightly floured parchment to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut into desired shapes.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set and the bottoms are pale golden.
- Allow cookies to cool before decorating.
- Stir the icing ingredients together until smooth.
- Spread or pipe icing onto cooled cookies and let dry before stacking.