Christmas Cookies Recipe: Easy, Festive & Delicious Treats

It started with a quiet December morning, snow gently falling outside and the kitchen warm from the oven. My little one pulled out the cookie cutters—stars, bells, reindeer—and said, “Let’s make cookies for Santa.” And just like that, baking Christmas Cookies became our new tradition. One bowl. No chilling. Just flour-dusted fingers and sweet vanilla warmth filling the house.

These Christmas Cookies are buttery vanilla biscuits that strike the perfect balance between soft and crisp. The dough comes together in minutes, no chilling needed, and bakes into golden-edged cookies that are just as good plain as they are decorated. Whether you’re hosting a cookie-decorating night or just want something sweet to nibble with hot cocoa, this easy recipe fits right in.

What Makes These Christmas Cookies Special

You’ll love the texture here. If you roll the dough thin (around 1/8 inch), you get cookies that are light and crispy. Roll them a bit thicker (1/4 inch) and they bake up soft and tender with just a hint of chew.

The real magic? No chilling time. Most sugar cookie doughs need to rest in the fridge, but this one is ready to roll out and cut as soon as it’s mixed. That means less waiting and more cookie-making.

Also, these vanilla biscuits are wonderfully forgiving. Re-roll the dough as many times as you need. It stays easy to work with and bakes beautifully every time. You can leave them plain or decorate them with chocolate, icing, or a dusting of sugar. However you serve them, they taste like Christmas.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This is a true pantry-friendly recipe. Here’s what goes in:

• Butter: Use unsalted if you have it, but salted works too—just skip the added salt.
• Sugar: Caster or superfine sugar gives the smoothest texture, but white granulated is fine too.
• Vanilla: A full 1½ teaspoons adds warmth and that classic sugar cookie flavor.
• Egg: Helps bind the dough and adds just enough richness.
• Flour: All-purpose is perfect here. No fancy flours needed.
• Baking Powder & Salt: Just enough to lift the cookies and balance the sweetness.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Christmas Cookies

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C), or 320°F (160°C) if using a fan oven. Line two trays with parchment paper.
2. Cream the butter and sugar for about a minute until smooth and pale. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed.
3. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Scrape down the bowl if needed.
4. Add the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, salt—and mix slowly at first, then beat until a clumpy dough forms.
5. Flour your surface and tip the dough out. Pat it into a ball, then divide in half and shape each half into a disc.
6. Roll out the dough to your desired thickness. Go thinner for crisp cookies, thicker for softer ones. Flour under and over the dough to prevent sticking.
7. Cut out your shapes with cookie cutters. Use a knife or spatula to lift and transfer them to the trays.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, rotating trays halfway through. Look for pale tops with lightly golden edges.
9. Cool on the tray before decorating. They’ll firm up as they cool.

These cookies hold their shape beautifully, so you’ll get clean, defined edges every time.

Tips for Success

• Flour everything: Your surface, rolling pin, and even the top of the dough. This keeps things smooth and mess-free.
• Don’t overbake: They might look pale, but pull them once the edges turn golden. Overbaking makes them dry.
• Cool completely before decorating. Warm cookies can cause icing or chocolate to melt and slide off.

Decorating Ideas for Christmas Cookies

These vanilla biscuits are a blank canvas. You can:

• Dip in melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed candy canes or chopped nuts.
• Dust with icing sugar for a snowy finish.
• Pipe on royal icing and add silver balls or festive sprinkles.
• Or just leave them plain. They’re sweet and buttery enough to stand alone.

Decorating can be as relaxed or as fancy as you want. They’re fun to make with kids or during a quiet evening with a mug of something warm.

Recipe Notes & Storage

This dough makes about three full trays of cookies, or around 40 cookies, depending on your cutters and thickness.

• No chilling needed, but the dough still rolls like a dream.
• You can re-roll the scraps as many times as you want. The texture won’t suffer.
• Store in an airtight container for up to one week. They’re at their best in the first few days, but still tasty later.

These cookies are adapted from Sugar Spun Run’s classic sugar cookie recipe and tweaked for simplicity and flexibility.

Christmas Cookies Recipe Card

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Nutrition Information

Each cookie is around 96 calories, with 12g carbs, 5g fat, and 1g protein. They’re rich enough to feel indulgent, but light enough to keep snacking.

More Such Recipes

Planning a full dessert table? Pair these cookies with something rich and festive like this sweet addition to the dessert table: Christmas Trifle. Or keep your oven free with a no-bake Christmas dessert idea: Easy Christmas Cheesecake Slab.

Want a savory contrast? Try this festive holiday appetizer: Italian Cheese Log Christmas Appetizer or round things out with a perfect pairing: Classic Christmas Prime Rib for your cookie spread.

FAQ

Conclusion

Christmas Cookies like these are more than just a treat. They’re a way to slow down, gather in the kitchen, and create something sweet together. With simple ingredients and a no-fuss dough, you can whip up a batch any time. Try different decorations, bake with loved ones, and let these become part of your holiday rhythm.

For more decorating ideas and inspiration, visit Pinterest or join the conversation on Facebook.