Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These Christmas Sugar Cookies are a festive classic that everyone will love. Soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet, they’re ideal for cutting into fun holiday shapes and decorating with colorful icing.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, measured correctly
- 1 Tbsp aluminum-free baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and position a rack in the center. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Step 2: Using a stand mixer or handheld mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add the vanilla extract and egg, then beat until combined.
- Step 3: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three parts, mixing until fully incorporated.
- Step 4: Divide the dough into two equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece out to ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut into your favorite holiday shapes.
- Step 5: Place the cookies on a parchment- or silicone-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden.
- Step 6: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating with icing.
Tips & Variations
- For softer cookies, bake for slightly less time and check frequently near the 8-minute mark.
- Use almond extract instead of vanilla for a different flavor twist.
- Chill the dough before rolling for cleaner cookie shapes.
- Decorate with royal icing or colored sugar to make your cookies extra festive.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If decorated with icing, allow it to dry completely before stacking. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies in a sealed container for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, but reduce the salt in the recipe or omit it entirely to avoid overly salty cookies.
How do I keep the cookie shapes from spreading too much?
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling and cutting. Also, avoid overworking the dough to maintain the shapes during baking.
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Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 24 medium-sized cookies 1x
Description
These classic Christmas Sugar Cookies are tender, buttery, and perfect for holiday celebrations. They feature a simple dough that’s easy to roll out and cut into festive shapes, then baked to a golden perfection. Ideal for decorating with icing or enjoying plain with a glass of milk.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (measured correctly)
- 1 Tbsp baking powder (aluminum free)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and position a rack in the center to ensure even baking.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside to combine the leavening and seasoning evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a stand-up or handheld mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. This incorporates air to help create a tender texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture, blending well until fully combined for a smooth dough.
- Incorporate Flour: Gradually add the flour mixture in three parts to the wet ingredients, beating or folding after each addition until the dough comes together fully.
- Roll and Cut Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
- Bake Cookies: Place the cut-out cookies on a parchment paper or silicone-lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden, indicating perfect doneness.
- Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, decorate as desired with icing or sprinkles.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Use aluminum-free baking powder to avoid any metallic aftertaste.
- Rolling dough to uniform thickness helps cookies bake evenly.
- Do not overbake; cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
- Decorate cool cookies to prevent icing from melting.
- Store in an airtight container to keep cookies fresh for up to one week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, holiday baking, cookie recipe, festive cookies
