The first snow always brings a rush of warmth to my kitchen. The scent of butter, sugar, and vanilla fills the air, and before I know it, Christmas cookies cover every counter. There’s something magical about baking a batch that tastes like holiday cheer—soft, buttery, and ready for bright, colorful icing.
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The Secret to Perfect Christmas Cookies
Making great Christmas cookies isn’t complicated, but it does take a little care. The secret lies in the dough. It needs the right balance of softness and structure to hold its shape and bake evenly.
Why Chilling the Dough Matters
When you chill the dough, the butter firms up. This keeps your cookies from spreading too much in the oven. It also deepens the flavor, giving that rich, bakery-style taste we all love.
The Ideal Thickness for Baking
Roll your dough to about a quarter-inch thickness. Too thin, and they’ll turn crisp. Too thick, and they’ll puff too much. At that sweet spot, you get tender centers with lightly golden edges—perfect for decorating.
Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Royal Icing Ingredients
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp meringue powder
- 6 tbsp water (adjust as needed)
These are all pantry staples, which makes this recipe even better. You can use lemon extract instead of almond if you want a brighter flavor.
How to Make Christmas Cookie Dough
Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy and pale. Then mix in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly combine wet and dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
Divide it in half, flatten each portion, wrap in plastic, and chill for an hour. Once firm, preheat the oven to 350°F. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into festive shapes. Bake for 8–10 minutes, just until the edges turn golden.
Cool the cookies completely before decorating.
Pro Tips for Better Dough
- Always use room temperature butter and egg.
- Mix until just combined—don’t overdo it.
- Chill at least an hour before rolling.
Making Perfect Royal Icing
In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add water a bit at a time until stiff peaks form. For outlining, keep it thick. For flooding, thin it slightly until it smooths over in about 10 seconds.
Outline vs. Flood Consistency
Outline first with thick icing. Then fill in with the thinner one. This method keeps edges crisp and makes the surface smooth for detail work.
Coloring and Storage Tips
Use gel food coloring so your icing stays bright. Cover any unused icing with plastic wrap pressed right against the surface so it doesn’t dry out.
Decorating Christmas Cookies Like a Pro
Start by outlining your cookie shapes with thick icing. Then flood them with thinner icing and let them dry before layering on details.
Basic Technique
Outline, flood, dry, then decorate. That rhythm works for every design.
Add Details and Texture
Use toothpicks or scribe tools to fix lines or swirl colors. Add sprinkles or sugar while the icing is wet for sparkle. You can even create marbled effects by dotting colored icing and swirling it gently.
Time-Saving Tips
Work one color or design at a time. Make icing the night before and keep it covered. Let decorated cookies dry for at least 4–6 hours before stacking.
Creative Cookie Shapes & Theme Ideas
Popular Christmas Shapes
You can never go wrong with stars, trees, reindeer, and stockings. Kids love cutting and decorating these together.
Group Decorating Themes
If you’re baking with family, try a theme. A Winter Wonderland with snowflakes and icy blues feels peaceful. Santa’s Workshop brings bright reds and playful reindeer. Classic Christmas uses greens, golds, and plenty of sprinkles.
Icing Design Ideas for Every Style
- Traditional: Red and green candy canes, holly wreaths, and Santa hats.
- Modern: Plaid lines, metallic touches, and clean edges.
- Minimalist: White snowflakes or monograms for a simple, cozy look.
Essential Tools for Holiday Baking
Keep these on hand for easy decorating:
- Piping bags with fine tips
- Squeeze bottles for flooding
- Toothpicks or scribe tools
- Gel food coloring
- Christmas cookie cutters in all shapes
Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe Card
Print
Christmas Cookies – Easy, Festive & Amazing Treats
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 30 to 40 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft Christmas cookies with crisp edges and a tender center, perfect for decorating with bright royal icing. Classic buttery flavor, easy steps, and reliable shapes for a joyful holiday bake.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Dough
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Royal Icing
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp meringue powder
6 tbsp water, plus more as needed
Gel food coloring, as desired
Instructions
1. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy and pale.
2. Mix in egg, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth.
3. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet in two additions until a soft dough forms.
5. Divide dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap, and chill 1 hour.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
7. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
8. Cut shapes with cookie cutters and place on prepared sheets.
9. Bake 8 to 10 minutes until edges look lightly golden.
10. Cool cookies on sheets 5 minutes, then move to a rack to cool fully.
11. Make icing: whisk powdered sugar and meringue powder, then add water gradually until stiff peaks form.
12. Set thick icing for outlines; thin some with water for flooding that smooths in about 10 seconds.
13. Outline cooled cookies with thick icing, then flood interiors with thin icing.
14. Let cookies dry, then add details and sprinkles as desired.
15. Allow decorated cookies to dry 4 to 6 hours before stacking.
Notes
Chilling is essential for clean edges and no spreading.
Aim for 1/4 inch thickness for even baking and easy decorating.
Use gel colors for vivid icing without thinning it too much.
Keep icing covered with plastic wrap touching the surface to prevent crusting.
Work in color batches for less cleanup and faster decorating.
Storage: keep cookies airtight up to 5 days or freeze undecorated cookies up to 2 months.
Yield varies by cutter size; plan for about 30 to 40 medium cookies.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 10 minutes per batch
- Category: Christmas Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
More Such Recipes
If you love festive baking, try my Easy Yogurt-Based Christmas Cookies with a Soft Texture.
You might also enjoy Classic Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies for Holiday Platters.
Or bake a batch of Festive Peanut Butter Blossoms for Christmas Cookie Exchanges.
And if you want something simpler, try Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars with a Buttery Frosting.
FAQ
What is the most famous Christmas cookie?
Sugar cookies are the classic favorite. They’re simple, sweet, and perfect for decorating with royal icing.
What are the types of Christmas cookies?
There are many—gingerbread, shortbread, snowballs, and thumbprints are all beloved holiday choices.
What are 5 basic types of cookies?
Drop, bar, rolled, molded, and pressed cookies. Each uses a slightly different dough and method.
What are the top 5 most popular cookies?
Chocolate chip, sugar, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, and snickerdoodle top most lists every year.
Final Thoughts
Christmas cookies aren’t just about the baking—they’re about slowing down, laughing over sticky fingers, and sharing sweet moments with the people you love. The scent of vanilla, the sound of laughter, and a counter full of cookies truly make the season bright.
For more decorating ideas, visit my Pinterest page or follow along on Facebook.