ByRebekah Winscott Christmas, Cookies

Christmas Sugar Cookies

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Meet my go-to Christmas sugar cookies recipe! These classic vanilla sugar cookies are simple, versatile, and easy to make. The dough rolls out beautifully, is easy to handle, and holds its shape in the oven, giving you crisp, clean edges every time. Finish them with a sprinkle of sanding sugar, or dress them up with my easy homemade sugar cookie icing below. It’s smooth, delicious, and perfect for piping without the fuss of royal icing.

Decorated Christmas sugar cookies with blue and green icing in round and Christmas tree shapes on parchment paper.
Festive decorated sugar cookies — a fun and colorful holiday baking project.

Sugar Cookie Recipe

If you’re searching for the best Christmas sugar cookies, the kind that hold their shape beautifully, won’t spread in the oven, are easy to make with simple pantry staples, and taste just as good as they look, this recipe is for you.

And if you’ve been looking for an easy sugar cookie icing that isn’t royal icing, one that pipes smoothly and dries firm without becoming rock hard, you’ll love this one too.

This sugar cookie recipe has earned a spot on my holiday cookie tray right alongside gingerbread men, meringues, and hot chocolate bombs. I’ll be making them again this year, and I have a feeling your family, friends, and holiday guests will enjoy them just as much.

Stack of soft, buttery Christmas sugar cookies on parchment paper ready for decorating or gifting.
These soft, buttery Xmas sugar cookies are perfectly tender and hold their shape beautifully

Why These Christmas Sugar Cookies Are the Best

  • Soft centers and crisp edges. These cookies stay soft in the center with lightly crisp edges for the perfect texture.
  • Easy-to-work-with dough. The dough comes together easily and rolls out smoothly without much hassle.
  • Perfect for decorating. They provide a sturdy base for icing, sprinkles, and all your favorite decorations.
  • Fun to make with kids. Cutting out shapes and decorating cookies is a holiday activity the whole family can enjoy.
  • Perfect for gifting. Package them in cookie tins or treat boxes for a thoughtful homemade gift.

Ingredients You’ll Need

(Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!)

Overhead view of ingredients including butter, flour, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and baking powder on a light marble surface.
Simple pantry ingredients you’ll need to make these soft holiday sugar cookies
  • Unsalted butter, softened
  • Granulated sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Egg
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • All-purpose flour

How to Make the Best Christmas Cut-Out Cookies

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes, or until the mixture is light and creamy.

2. Add the egg and vanilla extract to the bowl and beat for another 1 to 2 minutes, until everything is fully combined and smooth.

Creamed butter and sugar mixture in a stainless steel mixing bowl.
Adding an egg to creamed butter and sugar mixture in a stainless steel bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. The dough should be slightly sticky but easy to handle.

4. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading and makes the dough easier to roll out.

adding flour mixture to creamed butter, sugar, and egg in a mixing bowl to make Christmas sugar cookie dough.
Wrapped sugar cookie dough in plastic wrap ready to chill before rolling and cutting Christmas cookies.

5. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the chilled dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll it out to about 5 mm (1/5 inch) thick. For easier handling, divide the dough into two portions and roll out one portion at a time.

6. Use Christmas cookie cutters to cut the dough into festive shapes such as trees, stars, snowflakes, or ornaments. You can also use round cookie cutters for a simple classic look.

Rolled-out sugar cookie dough on parchment paper, ready to cut into shapes for Christmas cookies.
Christmas sugar cookie dough rolled out and cut into festive shapes like stars and trees using cookie cutters.

7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the cookies are set around the edges.

8. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer them to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before decorating.

9. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice and icing sugar until smooth. The glaze should be thick enough to coat the cookies without running off. If needed, add a little more icing sugar to thicken it.

Freshly baked Christmas sugar cookies in tree and snowflake shapes cooling on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bowl of bright blue cookie icing ready for decorating.

10. Divide the glaze into three small bowls. Leave one bowl white, then add a drop of green food coloring to one bowl and a drop of blue food coloring to another.

11. Decorate the cooled cookies with the colored glaze however you like. Use different colors and patterns to create festive holiday designs.

Decorated Christmas sugar cookies with blue and white icing in tree and snowflake shapes cooling on a wire rack.
Decorate festive sugar cookies are perfect for Christmas parties and gifting.”

12. Allow the decorated cookies to sit for 30 to 60 minutes, or until the glaze has fully hardened before serving or storing.

A few helpful tips

  • Too much flour can make sugar cookies dry and crumbly. For the best results, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife instead of scooping directly from the bag.
  • If your kitchen is warm, keep half of the dough in the refrigerator while you work with the other half. This helps maintain the dough’s texture and makes cutting shapes easier.
  • Gel food coloring provides vibrant colors without thinning the glaze, making it easier to achieve clean, festive designs.
  • Placing a piece of bread in the storage container can help keep the cookies soft and fresh for longer.

Storage Instructions

  • Store at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keep the cookies in an airtight container to maintain their freshness and texture.
  • Separate layers with parchment paper. This helps prevent decorated cookies from sticking together and protects the glaze.
  • Keep in a cool, dry place. Avoid storing the cookies near heat sources or in direct sunlight.
  • Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months. Place completely cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers.
  • Freeze the cookie dough for later. Wrap the dough tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling and baking.
Decorated Christmas sugar cookies displayed on a rustic wooden serving board, including Christmas tree-shaped cookies and round cut-out cookies decorated with blue, green, and white glaze. The baked cookies have a soft, buttery texture and are arranged for holiday serving and decorating inspiration.

Christmas Sugar Cookies FAQ

Sugar cookies often spread if the butter was too soft or the dough wasn’t chilled long enough. Make sure to chill the dough for at least 30 minutes and avoid placing it on a warm baking sheet.

Overbaking is the most common reason sugar cookies turn out dry. Bake just until the edges are set and avoid browning. Measuring flour correctly (using the spoon-and-level method) also helps prevent a dry texture.

Roll the dough to about ¼ inch (or 5 mm) thick. This thickness ensures cookies are soft in the center but still sturdy enough for decorating.

Yes! These cookies hold their shape well, making them perfect for edible ornaments. Just use a straw to punch a small hole near the top before baking. Once decorated and dried, thread ribbon through and hang them up.

You can use margarine, but the flavor and texture may change slightly. Butter gives sugar cookies a richer taste and better structure. If substituting, choose a stick margarine with at least 80% fat.

If you’re planning a holiday cookie tray, don’t stop with these Christmas Sugar Cookies! For a minty holiday treat, try my Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies or festive Christmas Thin Mint Cookies. My Grinch Nutter Butter Cookies are always a fun choice for kids, while Pecan Snowball Cookies and Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies are buttery classics that belong on every Christmas dessert table.

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Christmas Sugar Cookies

Recipe by Rebekah Winscott

These soft Christmas sugar cookies are buttery, perfectly shaped, and easy to decorate. The dough holds its shape without spreading, making it perfect for holiday cut-outs. Great for cookie exchanges, decorating with kids, or festive gifting!

  • Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield25 1x
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Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

For the Glaze:

  • 6–7 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (or milk for a milder flavor)
  • blue and green food coloring

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
  2. Add egg and vanilla: Mix in egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
  3. Combine dry ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
  4. Chill: Wrap dough and chill for 30 minutes to make it easier to roll and cut.
  5. Preheat & roll out: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough between parchment paper to ¼ inch thick.
  6. Cut shapes: Use cookie cutters to make festive shapes like trees, stars, and snowflakes.
  7. Bake: Place on parchment-lined sheet and bake 7–8 minutes, until edges are just set (not browned).
  8. Cool & decorate: Cool on a rack completely before icing.
  9. Make the glaze: Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Adjust consistency if needed.
  10. Decorate: Tint glaze with food coloring and spread or pipe designs. Let set for 30–60 minutes.

Notes

  • Use room temperature butter for a smooth, creamy dough. For dairy-free, sub with plant-based butter (like Earth Balance).
  • Spoon and level the flour to avoid packing too much. For gluten-free, swap with a 1:1 GF baking flour blend.
  • For softer cookies, slightly underbake them (edges should stay pale).

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 95 kcal
  • Sugar: 6.5 g
  • Sodium: 35 mg
  • Fat: 4.3 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 13 g
  • Fiber: 0.1 g
  • Protein: 1.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg

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Did you make these Christmas Sugar Cookies? Leave a rating and a comment below, I love hearing how they turned out!

Posted In: Christmas, Cookies

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Rebekah Winscott

Food Blogger

Rebekah Winscott is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania–based food blogger and the creator of This Nana Can Cook, where she shares approachable, flavorful recipes for everyday cooks. Inspired by her grandmother’s timeless dishes, she blends quick, delicious meals with heartwarming storytelling and practical kitchen tips.

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