Christmas Sugar Cookies
The holiday season is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves, fill the kitchen with festive aromas, and create treats that make everyone smile.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie cutters
- Baking sheets
- Cooling Rack
- Spatula
- Small bowls or cups
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract optional
- 3 –4 tablespoons milk
For Decorating:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 –3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring assorted
- Sprinkles sanding sugar, or edible glitter
Instructions
Prepare Your Dough
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
- Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully combined.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, alternating with milk, until a soft dough forms.
- Pro Tip: Don’t overmix once you add the flour—this keeps the cookies tender instead of tough.
Chill the Dough
- Divide the dough into two discs and wrap in plastic wrap.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight).
- Pro Tip: Chilling prevents spreading and makes it easier to cut out perfect shapes.
Roll and Cut Shapes
- Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin.
- Roll one disc of dough to about ¼-inch thickness.
- Use your favorite Christmas cookie cutters to cut shapes and transfer them to a lined baking sheet.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
- Pro Tip: Dust your cutters with a little flour to prevent sticking.
Bake the Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake cookies for 8–10 minutes, until edges are just starting to turn golden.
- Remove from oven and let cookies sit on the tray for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Pro Tip: Don’t overbake—cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
Make the Icing
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Divide into separate bowls if using different colors, then add food coloring as desired.
- Keep icing covered with a damp cloth when not in use to prevent drying.
- Pro Tip: Add food coloring gradually for the perfect shade without making the icing too runny.
Decorate and Enjoy
- Use a spoon, piping bag, or squeeze bottle to decorate your cookies with icing.
- Add sprinkles, sanding sugar, or edible glitter while icing is still wet.
- Let the cookies set for 1–2 hours before stacking or storing.
- Pro Tip: For a smooth finish, gently tap the tray on the counter to level the icing before adding sprinkles.
Notes
Nutritional Value (Per Serving – 1 Cookie)
- Calories: 140
- Total Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
- Sodium: 60mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 20g
- Sugars: 10g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Fiber: 0.3g