why make this recipe

Christmas Sugar Cookies are a delightful treat that fill your home with the sweet aroma of the holidays. These cookies are perfect for sharing with family and friends, decorating with festive sprinkles, or leaving out for Santa. Their soft, chewy texture harmonizes with a rich cream cheese frosting, making them a favorite for many. This recipe captures the joy and spirit of the Christmas season, allowing you to create your own version of the beloved Crumbl cookies at home.

how to make Christmas Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

270 g (2¼ cups) all-purpose flour
4 g (1 tsp) baking powder
¼ tsp salt
170 g (1½ sticks / ¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened (68-72°F)
200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp almond extract (optional)
54 g (⅓ cup) Christmas jimmies sprinkles
283 g (1¼ bricks / 10 oz) full-fat cream cheese, softened (68-72°F)
184 g (13 Tbsp) salted butter, softened (68-72°F)
2 tsp vanilla extract
⅛ tsp salt
150 g (1¼ cups) powdered sugar, sifted
80 ml (⅓ cup) heavy cream, very cold
24 g (2 Tbsp) Christmas sprinkles (jimmies, nonpareils, trees, etc.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Pause to scrape down the bowl once or twice.
Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat on medium-low speed until combined, about 30 seconds.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in two parts, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
Gently fold in the Christmas jimmies sprinkles using a spatula until evenly distributed.
Use a 3-Tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough (48-50 g each).
Roll each scoop into a ball and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
Slightly flatten each dough ball with your fingers or the bottom of a glass, keeping the cookies at least ½-inch thick.
Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops look soft and no longer glossy. The cookies should not brown.
Remove from the oven, then immediately shape into a perfect circle by gently rotating a cookie cutter or glass larger than the cookies around each cookie to lightly bring in the edges.
Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the cream cheese and butter on low speed until smooth, creamy, and lump-free, about 1-2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add the vanilla extract and salt, then beat on low until just combined.
Add the sifted powdered sugar in three parts, beating on low speed until just combined, about 10-15 seconds each. Stop to scrape the bowl as needed.
Gradually drizzle in the cold heavy cream (about 1 tablespoon at a time) while whisking on low speed until stiff peaks form, about 1-1½ minutes. Be careful not to overwhip the heavy cream or your frosting will split or become greasy.
Pipe the frosting in a spiral pattern over the cookies with a #2A or #1A piping tip, starting from the center and working outward. Alternatively, spread with a spatula to create decorative swirls.
Just before serving, sprinkle Christmas sprinkles over the frosting (less is more!).

how to serve Christmas Sugar Cookies

Serve these festive cookies on a beautiful platter at holiday gatherings or pack them up in festive boxes as gifts. Pair them with a glass of milk or a warm cup of cocoa for a cozy treat.

how to store Christmas Sugar Cookies

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze the undecorated cookies for up to three months. Just make sure to thaw them completely before frosting.

tips to make Christmas Sugar Cookies

Ensure your butter and cream cheese are softened to the right temperature for the best texture.
Don’t overmix the dough; mixing just until combined will help keep the cookies soft.
Use colorful Christmas sprinkles to give the cookies a festive look. You can also use a mix of sprinkles for variety.

variation

Feel free to switch up the flavors in the frosting. You could use different extracts like peppermint or add cocoa powder for chocolate frosting.

FAQs

Can I use margarine instead of butter?
While margarine can be used, it may affect the flavor and texture of the cookies.

What if I don’t have a stand mixer?
You can easily use a hand mixer or even mix by hand, though it may take a bit more effort.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Just bring it back to room temperature before baking.

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Print Recipe

Delightful sugar cookies with a soft, chewy texture topped with rich cream cheese frosting, perfect for the holiday season.

Author: megan
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Total Time: 26 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat until combined, about 30 seconds.
Gradually add the dry ingredients in two parts, mixing on low speed until just combined.
Fold in the Christmas jimmies sprinkles.
Use a 3-Tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough and roll into balls.
Flatten each ball slightly and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are set and tops look soft.
Remove from oven and shape into perfect circles if needed.
Cool cookies on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
In a stand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Add vanilla extract and salt; beat until combined.
Gradually add powdered sugar in three parts, mixing until just combined.
Drizzle in cold heavy cream while whisking until stiff peaks form.
Pipe frosting over cookies and sprinkle with festive sprinkles before serving.

Notes

Ensure butter and cream cheese are softened properly for the best texture. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 150
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 100mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 20mg

Keywords: Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, holiday baking