Name: Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 2 h 21 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 stick salted butter softened; 2 ounces cream cheese softened; 2 large eggs; 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon almond extract; 1½ cups sugar; 2½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt; Red & Green Sanding Sugar

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.

A white plate holds about fifteen soft round cookies stacked in a loose pile, each cookie a pale golden color with a slightly cracked surface. Each cookie is decorated on top with coarse sugar sprinkles in two colors: bright red and bright green, scattered mostly in the center and fading outwards. Each cookie has a shallow grid pattern pressed into its top, made by pressing with a fork, giving it a textured look. Crumbs and a few sprinkles scatter lightly around the plate edge. The background is a white marbled surface and blurred holiday items add soft colors behind the plate. 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 Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

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.

A white plate with a stack of light golden round cookies in the center. Each cookie has a textured pattern of fork marks on top, covered with colored sugar sprinkles, some in green and others in red. The top cookie leans slightly to show its side, revealing soft texture and thickness. Around the stack, more cookies are placed flat on the plate, with red and green sugar sprinkles scattered lightly on the white marbled surface below. The background is softly blurred, focusing attention on the cookies. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

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.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of softened pale yellow salted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of smooth white cream cheese, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with granulated white sugar, two large brown eggs with clean uncracked shells, a small white ceramic bowl containing clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl with light amber almond extract, a neat pile of fine off-white all-purpose flour, a small mound of bright white cornstarch, a small white ceramic bowl holding fine beige baking soda powder, a small white ceramic bowl with fine white salt, and two small white ceramic bowls—one filled with sparkling red sanding sugar and the other with sparkling green sanding sugar—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

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.

📝

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

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

Christmas Sugar Cookies - Serving Suggestion

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:

Can I use unsalted butter instead of salted?

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.

Why do I need to chill the dough for 2 hours?

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.

Can I add food coloring to the dough?

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.

How do I make sure my cookies are soft and not crispy?

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!