Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional: Icing and sprinkles for decoration
Directions:
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually blend this into the creamed mixture.
Chill Dough: Cover the dough and chill for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Roll and Cut Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter.
Bake: Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are barely brown.
Decorate: Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Decorate with icing and sprinkles if desired.
Enjoy your Soft Christmas Cookies, perfect for the holiday season!
PrintSoft Christmas Cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These soft Christmas sugar cookies are perfect for the holiday season! Made with simple ingredients, they have a tender, pillowy texture and are topped with festive frosting and sprinkles. This easy recipe is ideal for decorating with the family and makes delicious, chewy cookies that stay soft for days.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Frosting:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (red, green, or any preferred colors)
- Holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare the Cookie Dough: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and sour cream.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until just combined.
- Shape the Cookies: Using a cookie scoop, form dough balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Gently press down on each ball with the bottom of a glass to flatten slightly.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate: In a medium bowl, beat butter until fluffy, then gradually add powdered sugar and heavy cream until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract and food coloring as desired. Frost cooled cookies and add sprinkles.
Notes
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Adding a slice of bread to the container helps keep them soft longer.
- Freezing: Both the dough and baked cookies freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw before decorating or serving.