There's something magical about a cozy kitchen filled with the sweet scent of freshly baked treats. That’s why I adore this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe — it’s classic, soft, and so easy to personalize with your favorite holiday sprinkles. Baking these will definitely make your holiday season feel extra special.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Festive Christmas sugar cookies are a holiday staple for a reason. This recipe strikes the perfect balance between buttery richness and tender crumb that melts in your mouth — plus, it’s foolproof even if you don't bake often. I love how the subtle almond extract adds a hint of warmth that feels so festive.
- Deliciously Soft Texture: You get soft, tender cookies that stay chewy — no rocky, crunchy surprises here.
- Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this recipe perfect for a holiday baking session with family or friends.
- Customizable Decorating: Whether you use classic red and green sanding sugar or get creative with icing, these cookies are a blank canvas for your holiday spirit.
- Make Ahead Friendly: You can prep the dough in advance to save time on busy holiday days — a total game changer.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe plays a key role. The cream cheese works with butter to give the cookies incredible tenderness, while the combination of vanilla and almond extracts brings that nostalgic holiday flavor. Here are some tips to keep your ingredient shopping stress-free.
- Salted Butter: Softened butter adds richness and moisture — make sure it’s not melted, or you’ll lose that perfect texture.
- Cream Cheese: This ups the soft factor and adds a subtle tang that’s deliciously unexpected.
- Sugar: Regular granulated sugar works great here; it sweetens without overpowering.
- Eggs: They help bind everything together, plus a bit of fluff.
- Vanilla Extract: Classic warmth that spices like cinnamon can’t replace.
- Almond Extract: Just a tiny splash adds a lovely festive twist.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of your cookie dough, choose a good quality brand for best results.
- Cornstarch: This secret weapon gives amazing softness and prevents toughness.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise just enough for that tender bite.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness perfectly.
- Red & Green Sanding Sugar: For that festive sparkle and crunch on top.
Make It Your Way
I love switching things up depending on my mood or who’s stopping by. This Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is a fantastic base so you can get creative. Here’s how I like to mix it up.
- Variation: Sometimes I swap out the red and green sanding sugar for multicolor sprinkles, especially when baking with kids—it makes the process more playful and the cookies extra cheerful.
- Dietary tweaks: If you need a dairy-free version, use vegan butter and cream cheese substitutes—I’ve had success with this approach, just be mindful to soften them well.
- Flavored additions: I’ve added a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg for a cozy twist that complements the almond extract beautifully.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Creaming the Goodness
Start by beating the softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract together. I recommend a hand mixer for this—it saves time and gets the mixture perfectly light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes. This step is crucial because the fluffy texture sets the tone for soft cookies, so don’t rush it. Scrape the bowl sides with a spatula to make sure everything blends evenly.
Step 2: Combining Dry Ingredients
Next, add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to the bowl. I turn the mixer on low speed here to avoid a flour storm across my kitchen. You’re looking for a soft dough that just comes together — don’t overmix! That cornstarch keeps your cookies tender and soft, so it really is worth including.
Step 3: Chill Out Time
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for 2 hours. This resting period isn’t optional — it helps firm up the dough, ensures the flavors meld, and prevents spreading during baking. I usually make the dough the night before and leave it chilling overnight whenever I can.
Step 4: Ready, Set, Bake!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out dough balls about the size of a tablespoon, placing them an inch apart. Use a fork to gently press a crisscross pattern on top — it’s a fun, classic touch that also helps the cookies bake evenly. Then, sprinkle with red or green sanding sugar while the dough is still soft.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Watch closely and resist the temptation to overbake! The cookies should be a little undercooked in the center when you take them out — they’ll firm up as they cool and stay deliciously soft inside. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Top Tip
After making these Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe a dozen times, I picked up some tips that really help make the whole experience smooth and successful. These little nuggets can turn a good batch into a great one.
- Proper Soften: Make sure your butter and cream cheese are fully softened — not melted — for an even batter without lumps.
- Don’t Overbake: This is probably the most common mistake; pulling the cookies out too late makes them dry. Underbaked looks aren’t a flaw here!
- Uniform Sizing: Using a cookie scoop helps keep sizes even, so all cookies bake at the same rate.
- Chill Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step; it’s key for flavor and texture and stops those spread-out flat cookies everyone hates.
How to Serve Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
When it comes to garnishes, I keep it classic with red and green sanding sugar — it provides that delightful crunch and seasonal sparkle. Sometimes I add a dusting of powdered sugar right before serving for a snowy effect. For parties, colorful sprinkles or even edible glitter can make these cookies extra festive. And if you’re feeling crafty, a quick swirl of royal icing can turn these into edible works of art.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with everything from hot cocoa and mulled cider to a simple cup of black coffee. I’ve also enjoyed them alongside a cheese platter during holiday gatherings — the sweet and salty combo is surprisingly perfect.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I love arranging these cookies on a tiered stand surrounded by sprigs of pine and cranberries — it looks stunning and inviting. Wrapping a few in clear cellophane bags tied with a festive ribbon makes lovely homemade gifts too. And don’t underestimate the charm of a simple stack tied with twine, placed next to a warm drink for guests to enjoy.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layering them between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking. They stay fresh and soft for up to a week — great for nibbling throughout the holiday chaos.
Freezing
If I’m making a huge batch, I freeze some baked cookies in a freezer-safe container. After thawing at room temp, they’re almost as good as fresh. You can also freeze the dough balls before baking, which I find super handy when prepping ahead.
Reheating
To enjoy warm cookies, pop one or two in the microwave for about 5-10 seconds. This brings back that soft, just-baked feel that’s so comforting during winter evenings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, you can use unsalted butter, but you might want to add about ¼ teaspoon of salt extra to balance the flavors since salted butter contributes to the seasoning in the recipe.
Chilling the dough firms it up so the cookies don't spread too much while baking. It also helps the flavors to meld better, giving you tastier, thicker, and softer cookies.
Absolutely! Adding food coloring is a fun way to customize your cookies for different holiday themes. Just mix a few drops into the dough after combining the wet and dry ingredients.
The key to soft cookies is to avoid overbaking. Remove them from the oven when they look slightly underbaked; they’ll continue to set as they cool. Also, the cream cheese in the recipe helps keep them tender.
Final Thoughts
This Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe has become a holiday favorite in my house, and I genuinely hope it brings you the same joy it’s brought me year after year. There’s something truly special about gathering around the kitchen and sharing these classic cookies that remind us of warmth, celebration, and comfort. Give it a try — I promise you’ll be reaching for seconds (and maybe even thirds) before the season’s over!
Print
Festive 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 treats perfect for the holiday season. These festive cookies feature a delicate blend of butter, cream cheese, and a hint of almond extract, decorated with colorful red and green sanding sugar for a cheerful presentation. Soft and slightly underbaked for the perfect texture, they will delight family and friends during holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 stick salted butter softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- Red & Green Sanding Sugar
Instructions
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Using a hand mixer, beat the ingredients until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Turn the hand mixer to low speed and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Chill Dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for 2 hours to chill the dough.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Once chilled, remove the dough from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Form Cookies: Shape the dough into balls and place them on the lined baking sheet at least 1 inch apart from each other.
- Decorate: Using a fork, gently press down on each dough ball to create a criss-cross pattern. Sprinkle each cookie with red or green sanding sugar.
- Bake: Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F for 11 minutes. Ensure the cookies do not brown at the edges; they should appear slightly undercooked when removed from the oven for a soft texture.
- Cool: 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 to avoid lumps in the dough.
- Remove cookies when slightly underbaked; they firm up as they cool for the perfect soft texture.
- Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized and shaped cookies.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats for easy 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 and soft treats.
- Freeze baked cookies in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Dough can be prepared 2-3 days in advance and kept refrigerated or frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg

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