These are fan-favorite cut-out Christmas sugar cookies! My recipe for sugar cookies promises flavorful cookies with soft and thick centers, slightly crisp edges, and flat tops for decorating. The dough comes together with 7–8 simple ingredients, and the cookies hold their cookie cutter shape in the oven. Decorate them with my easy glaze cookie icing, a wonderful alternative to royal icing. Get out your rolling pin and favorite cookie cutters and have fun!
I originally published this recipe in 2014 and have since added new photos, a video tutorial, a few more success tips, and a list of helpful tools.
The holiday season and a batch of decorated Christmas sugar cookies go hand-in-hand. Today’s recipe is a classic staple, and has been a popular favorite since I first published it many years ago. It’s basically my favorite sugar cookie recipe, but all dressed up for the holidays. And I love that you don’t need to mess with royal icing! The cookie icing below is unfussy and low maintenance, which is definitely appreciated if you’re baking a lot of cookies in December. 😉
Here’s Why You’ll Love These Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Soft, thick centers with slightly crisp edges
- Irresistible buttery vanilla flavor
- Made from simple ingredients
- Leave plain or flavor with extras like maple, cinnamon, peppermint, and more
- Hold shape while baking
- Icing is manageable for young bakers and beginners
- Freeze beautifully
- Easy-to-follow recipe used by beginner and expert bakers alike
By the way, if you love sugar cookies, but aren’t up for decorating with icing, you’ll enjoy my stained glass window cookies, Christmas sparkle cookies, pecan sugar cookies, or drop Christmas sugar cookies instead.
How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies
You need 7–8 ingredients for the dough. With so few ingredients, it’s important to follow the recipe closely, because each one has an important job. Creamed butter and sugar form the base of the dough. Egg and flour provide structure, and vanilla adds flavor. I almost always add a touch of almond extract for additional flavor, and highly recommend that you try it too! You could also use peppermint extract or another flavor extract instead. Baking powder adds lift, and salt balances the sweet.
So many little ingredients doing big jobs to create a perfect cookie:
Success Tip: Make sure you start with proper room temperature butter. Room temperature butter is cool to the touch and about 65°F (18°C), which may be cooler than your kitchen. To test the butter to make sure it’s ready to cream, poke it with your finger. Your finger should make an indent without sinking down into the butter. The butter should not be shiny or greasy.
This is a recipe that requires some planning ahead.
After you make the cookie dough, it must chill for 1–2 hours, and up to 2 days. Chilling is a mandatory step. Without chilling, these cookie cutter sugar cookies won’t hold shape. You don’t want your snowman-shaped cookie turning into the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man (though that could work for Halloween cookies).
Also, the icing recipe below needs at least 24 hours to dry/set (but you can certainly eat them prior to the icing drying!). This is much longer than royal icing, which usually dries in 2 hours. So even though we’re not messing with finicky royal icing, we do have to wait longer to stack/transport the cookies.
After you make the cookie dough, divide it in half:
And then roll out each portion of dough before chilling:
Let’s talk about rolling out this dough, because it’s an unusual order of steps.
3 Tricks to Rolling Out Christmas Cookie Dough
- Trick #1: Pay attention to the order of the steps. Notice how I roll out the dough BEFORE chilling it in the refrigerator? That’s the most important trick! Let me explain why I do this. Just like when you’re making chocolate chip cookies, to prevent the cookies from over-spreading, the dough must chill. If you’ve ever tried rolling out chilled sugar cookie dough, you may remember how difficult it is to roll out cold, stiff dough. So, roll out the dough while it’s still soft (right after mixing it together), and then chill the rolled-out dough.
- Trick #2: Divide the dough in half before rolling it out. Why? Smaller sections of dough are easier to roll out.
- Trick #3: Roll out the cookie dough directly on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper so you can easily transfer it to the refrigerator. Pick the whole thing up, set it on a baking sheet, and place it in the refrigerator. If you don’t have enough room for two baking sheets in your refrigerator, simply stack the pieces of rolled-out dough on top of each other, with parchment paper or silicone baking mat in between. You can see me doing this in the video tutorial below.
After the rolled-out dough chills for at least 1–2 hours, use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and re-roll your scraps. Remember, you have two slabs of dough.
Arrange cookies on a lined baking sheet. I usually get about 2 dozen 3-inch cookies from this recipe. Here’s some of the cookies before baking:
And after baking:
Use My Easy Cookie Icing
My easy cookie icing recipe below is a great alternative to traditional royal icing. It’s like a very thick opaque glaze and comes together quickly with a fork and a mixing bowl. This is one of my favorite ways to decorate sugar cookies because it’s low maintenance, but still delivers pretty (and tasty) results. I have a separate cookie icing page dedicated to it, and it can be used on pretty much any cookie cutter cookies like gingerbread cookies, brown sugar cut-out cookies, chocolate sugar cookies, Valentine’s Day cookies, or Easter cookies.
(I also have a recipe for thick cookie buttercream, if you’d like that option!)
Here’s why you’ll love the cookie glaze icing:
- 5 basic ingredients
- Can tint the icing different colors
- Can use squeeze bottle or piping tips to decorate
- Manageable for everyone
- Doesn’t dry into hard cement texture
- After it dries, you can stack, freeze, and transport cookies
You need confectioners’ sugar, water, vanilla extract (replace with water to keep the icing stark white), a touch of corn syrup, and a little salt. The corn syrup gives the icing sticking power and creates a beautiful sheen when the icing dries. The icing sets after 24 hours, so you can easily stack these Christmas sugar cookies for storage, transport, or even shipping.
Yes, you can create gourmet-looking Christmas cookies like the ones above without royal icing! For more decorating inspiration, see my video tutorial on how to decorate sugar cookies.
Christmas Sugar Cookie Tools
Before I leave you with the recipe, let me suggest some useful sugar cookie tools. These are the exact products I use in my own kitchen:
- Electric Mixer: stand mixer or handheld.
- Baking Sheets: I use and love these baking sheets.
- Parchment or Baking Mats: silicone baking mats or parchment sheets (for rolling out & transferring the rolled-out dough, and for baking the cookies).
- Rolling Pin: This is my favorite rolling pin. If you have difficulty evenly rolling out dough, try this adjustable rolling pin. It’s really helpful!
- Cookie Cutters: If you’d like suggestions for cookie cutters, I love Ann Clark brand. (Not sponsored, just a genuine fan!) The pictured shapes came from this holiday cookie cutter set.
- Food Coloring: Liquid food coloring can alter the consistency of the icing, so I recommend gel food coloring. I like Americolor brand.
- Squeeze Bottle: To make decorating a breeze, use a squeeze bottle. They’re less intimidating than piping tips and very easy to use. If you want to use a piping tip, I love Wilton #4 for decorating sugar cookies. (You’ll also need a disposable or reusable piping bag if using a piping tip.)
These baking tools would be great to add to your holiday wish list. And while you’re at it, be sure to check out my guide of Holiday Gifts for Bakers. Lots of fun ideas in there, either for yourself or other baker friends! You can also review my recommended Best Cookie Baking Tools and Cookie Decorating Supplies for even more suggestions.
Craving More Christmas Cookies?
- Peanut Butter Blossoms (same base dough as these peanut butter cookies!)
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Lace Cookies
- Homemade Gingerbread House
- Spritz Cookies
- Butter Cookies and Chocolate Butter Cookies
- Snowball Cookies
- Pinwheel Cookies
- Hot Cocoa Cookies
This recipe is part of my annual cookie countdown called Sally’s Cookie Palooza. It’s the biggest, most delicious event of the year! Browse dozens of cookie recipes over on the Sally’s Cookie Palooza page.
Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes
- Yield: 24 3-inch cookies and 1.5 cups icing
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Cut-out Christmas sugar cookies with crisp edges and soft centers. This icing recipe is so simple, making decorating hassle-free!
Ingredients
Cookies
- 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more as needed for rolling and work surface
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but makes the flavor outstanding)*
Easy Icing
- 3 cups (360g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (omit and replace with water for stark white icing)
- 2 teaspoons light corn syrup*
- 4.5–5 Tablespoons (67–75ml) room temperature water
- pinch salt*
- optional: gel food coloring & sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Make sure you have allotted enough time (and enough counter space!) to make these cookies. The cookie dough needs to chill, the cookies need to cool completely, and the icing needs 24 hours to completely set. If enjoying right away and hardened icing isn’t a concern, you’ll only need about 3–4 hours to make these.
- Make the cookie dough: Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl using a handheld or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. (Here’s a helpful tutorial if you need guidance on how to cream butter and sugar.) Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract (if using), and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Dough will be a bit soft. If the dough seems too soft and sticky for rolling, add 1 more Tablespoon of flour.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a lightly floured silicone baking mat. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use more flour if the dough seems too sticky. The rolled-out dough can be any shape, as long as it is evenly 1/4-inch thick.
- Lightly dust one of the rolled-out doughs with flour. Place a piece of parchment on top. (This prevents sticking.) Place the second rolled-out dough on top. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours and up to 2 days.
- Once chilled, preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2–3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Carefully remove the top dough piece from the refrigerator. If it’s sticking to the bottom, run your hand under it to help remove it. Using a cookie cutter, cut the dough into shapes. Re-roll the remaining dough and continue cutting until all is used. Repeat with second piece of dough. (Note: It doesn’t seem like a lot of dough, but you get a lot of cookies from the dough scraps you re-roll.)
- Arrange cookies on baking sheets about 3 inches apart. Bake for 11–12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. If your oven has hot spots, rotate the baking sheet halfway through bake time. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating. No need to cover the cookies as they cool.
- Make the icing: Using a fork, stir the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, corn syrup, and 4.5 Tablespoons (67ml) of water, and optional salt together in a medium bowl. It will be very thick and almost impossible to stir. Switch to a whisk and whisk in 1/2 Tablespoon (8ml) more of water. If you lift the whisk and let the icing drizzle back into the bowl, the ribbon of icing will hold shape for a few seconds before melting back into the icing. That is when you know it’s the right consistency and is ready to use. If it’s too thick (sometimes it is), whisk in another 1/2 Tablespoon (8ml) of water or a little more until you reach the proper consistency.
- If you’re tinting the icing another color, stir in the food coloring. You can pour some icing into different bowls if using multiple colors. When tinting icing, use only 1–2 drops at first, stir it in, then add more as needed to reach your desired color. Remember, color darkens as icing dries.
- Decorate the cookies: You can dip the cookies into the icing or use squeeze bottles or piping bags (reusable or disposable) fitted with piping tips (I usually use Wilton Piping Tip #4). Decorate your cookies as desired. If using the squeeze bottles or piping tips, I usually outline cookies with icing first, then fill in the middle. If adding sprinkles on top of the icing, add them right after applying icing on your cookie.
- Let icing dry/set: Feel free to enjoy cookies before icing completely dries. Icing dries in 24 hours. No need to cover the decorated cookies as you wait for the icing to set. If it’s helpful, decorate the cookies directly on a baking sheet so you can place the entire baking sheet in the refrigerator to help slightly speed up the icing setting. Once the icing has dried, these cookies are great for gifting or for sending.
- Cover and store decorated cookies for up to 5 days at room temperature or up to 10 days in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Freezing Instructions: Plain or decorated sugar cookies freeze well up to 3 months. Wait for the icing to set completely before layering between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-friendly container. To thaw, thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature. You can also freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months before rolling it out. Prepare the dough through step 4, divide in half, flatten both halves into a disc as we do with pie crust, wrap each in plastic wrap, then freeze. To thaw, thaw the discs in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature for about 1 hour. Roll out the dough as directed in step 5, then chill rolled-out dough in the refrigerator for 45 minutes–1 hour before cutting into shapes and baking.
- Make-Ahead Instructions & Storing Icing: If not decorating right away, cover the icing tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can store in piping bags (with clips or rubber bands to seal ends), in squeeze bottles, or covered in bowl or container. Bring to room temperature before using. If icing has thickened up, add a few drops of water and mix in to thin out. Depending how you stored the icing (squeeze bottle/piping bag/container or bowl) shake squeeze bottle to mix/massage piping bag to mix/whisk in bowl or container to mix.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Baking Sheets | Silicone Baking Mats or Parchment Sheets | Rolling Pin or Adjustable Rolling Pin | Holiday Cookie Cutter Set | Cooling Rack | Squeeze Bottle | Piping Bag (Disposable or Reusable) | Americolor Soft Gel Paste Color Kit | Couplers | Wilton Tip #4
- Room Temperature Butter: Room temperature butter is essential. If the dough is too sticky, your butter may have been too soft. Room temperature butter is actually cool to the touch. Room temperature egg is preferred so it’s quickly and evenly mixed into the cookie dough.
- Flavors: I love flavoring this cookie dough with 1/2 teaspoon almond extract as listed in the ingredients above. For lighter flavor, use 1/4 teaspoon. Instead of the almond extract, try using 1 teaspoon of maple extract, coconut extract, lemon extract, or peppermint extract. Or add 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon. If using lemon extract, you can also add 1 Tablespoon lemon zest.
- Corn Syrup: Corn syrup gives the icing sticking power and creates a beautiful sheen on the dried icing. I don’t recommend skipping it, but you can if absolutely needed.
- Salt: I know salt isn’t a typical ingredient in cookie icing, but it helps offset its sweetness. You need just a small pinch.
- Yield of Icing: This amount of icing is enough for icing 2 dozen cookies. You’ll have plenty if you want to divide it and tint the batch multiple colors, too. Icing can easily be halved by halving all of the ingredients. (Still add a tiny pinch of salt.)
- Be sure to check out my top 5 cookie baking tips AND these are my 10 must-have cookie baking tools.
Reader Comments and Reviews
This year I decided to make my sister’s sugar cookies for our Christmas Eve party. Hers were everyone’s favorite. She passed away 13 years ago and I thought it would be a nice remembrance and way to feel close to her. However, I could not find that recipe! Lucky for me, I found yours. They are just as delicious (sorry Beth) and your instructions are great. I made them and had them in the fridge for 2 days before baking. They were so easy to cut out and baked up beautifully. Beth would definitely approve. Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes and Merry Christmas.
Hi Sally! I’m curious if I could add sprinkles to the dough? Would that affect the recipe at all?
Hi Sally, you can add sprinkles to this dough before rolling it out. We recommend beating in 3/4 cup after you mix the wet and dry ingredients together. You may need to use a little arm muscle (or very sturdy cookie cutters) to cut through the sprinkles. Keep that in mind when shaping. Enjoy!
Love this. First time making a glaze, so easy!
Followed exactly with a scale. Left in fridge a day, and was so easy to cut and place. Kept their shape and tasted great as I ate a couple warm. Few hours later, my son ate one and said “They’re already hard”.. I tried one and it too was very crispy. Only golden brown very edges and did 10-12 mins all batches. Oven calibrated. Are they supposed to be hardshell after cooled?
Hi Kevin, they shouldn’t be hard like that, no. Is it possible that they were rolled thinner than 1/4 inch? That could account for needing less time in the oven.
They were probably more like 3/8″, but not any thinner than Supermarket mixes we’ve always used that stayed soft. So beyond bake time/color, we didn’t add too much extra flour at all rolling, and over-mixing being possible.. didn’t think we did. Kind of stumped, but thanks for replying.
I’ve been using your recipe for a while and they are the best ever sugar cookies. My family loves them and compares them to the exact taste of Starbucks sugar cookies. Thank you for this wonderful recipe and for making my family happy.
I doubled the recipe and used lemon extract- amazing! I had to play with the bake time a little because I don’t have a good read on my oven yet, but both the crunchy gold ones and the soft baked cookies were perfect for decorating AND tasted amazing.
I do not have or ever want to use Corn Syrup. What can I use instead ?
Hi Ann, honey is a great substitute for the corn syrup. Or, you could simply leave it out.
I followed the recipe exactly, including the tip about the squeeze bottles. This was my 9yo and my first experience with decorating cookies like this. It turned out so well, and she had a blast. We made about 3 dozen, and have only 20 left! We may have to make a second batch for Santa…
Can chocolate be added to the icing?
Hi Tony, we haven’t tested it, but you can try swapping a small amount of the confectioners’ sugar for cocoa powder. You shouldn’t need much, but keep in mind that cocoa powder is quite drying so you may need to adjust the water as well. Let us know what you try!
I think the flour measurements are wrong. I used 2 1/4 cups leveled. Didn’t compact it and it was too much flour. The dough just crumbled. Go by weight if you make these. I didn’t have a food scale.
Best cookies I’ve ever had! Definitely adding this to my cook book!
Best sugar cookies and icing my family has ever had. Everyone is asking for the recipe. Thank you!
Also, is it possible to use 1/2 cup sugar? I ran out. Or if not, what else could I use?
Hi Emily, you could use 1/4 cup brown sugar to make up the difference if you have some!
I love this recipe! The cookies pair well with apple cider. For the icing, I used a simpler powdered sugar icing. To do this, you mix powdered sugar and as much water as you need for an icing-like consistency. Add food coloring as desired. Thank you for sharing!!!!
I make your sugar cookies every year and they’re perfect every time. I use white spelt flour as my husband is wheat intolerant and the recipe works perfectly! I’m wondering if it’s safe to double the recipe or if I should make two separate batches? Sally, you’re my go to for all things baking, huge love to you
Hi Hillary! This recipe doubles well. So glad you love it!
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’ve just rolled out the dough and put the sheets in the fridge.
Fingers crossed.
For the icing –
(1) can I substitute liquid glucose for the corn syrup? I can’t find any where I live.
(2) Can I use this as the glue for a gingerbread house.
Thanks
Hi Shilpa, yes, you can use that as a swap for the corn syrup or you can simply omit it. We wouldn’t recommend this as the glue for a gingerbread house. We’d recommend a crusting buttercream like this instead.
Hi Sally! Love your site!
Can I do wet on wet decorating with this icing?? I noticed you didn’t…
Hi Elizabeth, you can, but the two icings may bleed together.
We love these cookies! Have made them multiple times and they always come out perfect. I’d like to try making these with just sprinkles…Would it work to put sugar sprinkles on these before baking instead of decorating with frosting?
Hi Cara, absolutely! You can top the cookies with sprinkles before baking. You may want to gently press them into the dough so they stick.
helpful and delicious!
Hi Sally. I love your website, and your recipes are amazing. I just tried your sugar cookie recipe. I followed your recipe exactly, even weighing all the ingredients. My cookies taste great, but they all have little bumps on them. Can you give me some insight as to why?
Hi Angie! This can happen if the wet ingredients are over-mixed and get too much air mixed in. You can lightly tap them down after the cookies come out of the oven.
Hi Sally how long can they stay in an airtight container ?
Hi Lisa, Cover and store decorated cookies for up to 5 days at room temperature or up to 10 days in the refrigerator.
Would this dough hold up for to make a sugar-cookie house out of. I want to make “gingerbread” houses with my granddaughter, but she only likes vanilla cookies.
Hi Eirin, yes, absolutely. Here is our gingerbread house post, if you’d like guidance on building the house. Enjoy!
Hi. I haven’t made these yet but have a question. Can I use Imperial Margerine sticks in place if butter? I have done lactose intolerance. Thank you
Diane
Hi Diane, we haven’t tested it ourselves, but you might try a plant-based butter instead of margarine. Margarine has very different properties than butter. The results may be different but let us know if you give it a try!
I have been following this recipe for my sugar cookies for several years now and they always come out amazing! I am always guaranteed the perfect sugar cookies. This year though, I’d like to try something a little different. I have some extra candy canes at home and was wondering if I can crush and add them to the cookie dough prior to baking. I have seen other “candy cane/peppermint” cookie recipes but the amount of flour used is generally around 1-1/2 cups compared to the 2-1/4 cups used in this recipe. Will this recipe be ok with me simply adding the crushed candy cane or will adjustments be needed? Thank you!
Hi Xia-Xiang, what a fun idea! We haven’t tested it, but it should fine to add some crushed candy canes to the dough. We’re unsure if any adjustments will be needed. You may want to do a test batch as is with the candy canes added, then adjust for future batches. Let us know how it goes for you!
Thanks for your recipe Sally i will try and make it but can I ask you something i have trouble doing the piping in the bag is there a easy way to do this icing way please let me know i would like to do this before Christmas that you and have a great Christmas with your family
Hi Mill! For a single color of icing on cookies, you can put the icing in a wide bowl and dip the tops of the cookies in. It’s much faster!
Love the recipe! Any tips on making these to be used as edible ornaments to be hung on the tree? Would I just bake them a little longer?
Hi Valerie, we haven’t tried that with this recipe! Usually cookie ornaments are made from a non-edible salt dough that should preserve for longer. We’d do a quick search to find one better suited for ornaments.
I followed the recipe closely, and nevertheless, my cookies came out terrible. They did not hold their shape. They looked like blobs. The flavor was good but something about the technique isn’t your typical sugar cookie.
I did everything step by step but my dough looks like Graham cracker and it just crumbles 🙁
Hi Jose! We’re happy to help. How did you measure the flour? Make sure to spoon and level (instead of scooping) to avoid packing in too much flour into your measuring cups – or use a kitchen scale. You can read more about properly measuring baking ingredients in this post.
If I make these cookies ahead of time without the icing, do I need to thaw them first before I bake them? Trying to prep for a kids cooking decorating party
Hi Elaine! See Notes after the recipe for our recommended make ahead instructions. You may also find our post on how to host a cookie decorating day helpful!
It says that it only takes two hours but the cookies and frosting needs to sit for 24 hours. So why would you say it only takes 2 hours
Hi Alivia! Yes, two hours to bake and decorate the cookies, but they will need 24 hours to fully set.
To cut down on gluten,
I used almond flour instead of regular flour. Same measurers. The dough was softer and I baked the cookies longer but great results!
This is hands down the best Sugar Cookie I’ve ever made and ever eaten! My house is quite warm from all the baking I’m doing so I did have to rechill the dough and cookie cutouts in between each batch I baked but they are perfect!