The Best Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing

Embrace the joy of holiday baking with this ultimate Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing. These soft, thick sugar cookies are simply delightful, and the dough holds festive shapes perfectly without spreading. You will learn an easy, no-fuss decorating technique that even beginners can master. Ideal for gifting, sharing, or simply enjoying with loved ones, these cookies bring a special touch to your holiday season.

Why You’ll Love These Christmas Sugar Cookies

Making these delicious Christmas sugar cookies will become your favorite holiday tradition. They are truly special for several reasons:

• Enjoy soft, thick centers and delightfully crisp edges in every bite.
• Savor the rich, buttery vanilla flavor, enhanced by optional almond extract.
• The recipe uses simple, accessible pantry ingredients you likely already have.
• The cookie dough holds its shape flawlessly during baking, ensuring perfect cut-outs.
• A highlight is the easy, forgiving glaze icing that sets beautifully without fuss.
• This recipe is perfect for beginner bakers and a fun activity for kids.
• They freeze wonderfully, allowing you to prepare ahead for busy times.
• The versatile base easily accommodates various flavor additions and decorations.

Ingredients

Gather these simple ingredients for your Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing. Quality ingredients ensure the best flavor and texture for your holiday treats.

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

Notes & Substitutions

Achieve the best results for your Christmas sugar cookies by paying attention to these details. As highlighted by baking experts, using proper room temperature butter is crucial for creaming it effectively with sugar, which leads to a smoother dough and better cookie texture. Almond extract significantly enhances the flavor profile, but feel free to experiment with other extracts like peppermint or lemon. Light corn syrup is crucial for the icing’s beautiful sheen and helps it set with a slight stickiness. A small pinch of salt in the icing surprisingly balances the sweetness, preventing it from being cloyingly sugary.

Equipment

You will need a few essential tools to make your festive Christmas sugar cookies:

• Electric stand mixer or handheld mixer
• Large baking sheets
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
• Rolling pin (an adjustable one is recommended for even thickness)
• Your favorite Christmas cookie cutters
• Gel food coloring (Americolor is a great brand for vibrant hues)
• Squeeze bottles or piping bags with tips (Wilton #4 is versatile)

Instructions

Making this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing is a straightforward process when you follow these clear, step-by-step instructions. Remember to allot enough time for chilling the dough, cooling the cookies, and allowing the icing to set. If you’re enjoying them right away and don’t need hardened icing, the process will be quicker.

Make the Cookie Dough

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, using an electric handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on high speed. Continue beating until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, which takes about 3 minutes.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) on high speed for about 1 minute, until well combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is incorporated.
4. Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. The dough will be a bit soft. If it seems too sticky for rolling, add 1 more tablespoon of flour.
5. Roll the Dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts. Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out evenly to about 1/4-inch thickness. Ensure the thickness is consistent to prevent uneven baking.
6. Chill the Dough: Lightly dust one rolled-out dough with flour and place a piece of parchment paper on top (this prevents sticking). Place the second rolled-out dough on top. Cover the stacked dough with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours, or up to 2 days. Chilling prevents spreading.
7. Preheat Oven & Prep Sheets: Once your dough is chilled and firm, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2–3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
8. Cut Shapes: Carefully remove one piece of chilled dough from the refrigerator. If it sticks to the bottom parchment, gently run your hand underneath to help release it. Use your favorite Christmas cookie cutters to cut shapes from the dough. Re-roll any dough scraps and continue cutting until all dough is used. Repeat this process with the second piece of chilled dough. You will get many cookies, even from the re-rolled scraps.
9. Bake the Cookies: Arrange the cut cookies on your prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches between each cookie. Bake for 11–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through if your oven has hot spots.
10. Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before you begin decorating. This helps them firm up and prevents breakage.

Make the Easy Icing

1. Combine Icing Ingredients: In a medium bowl, use a fork to stir together the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, corn syrup, 4.5 tablespoons (67ml) of room temperature water, and the pinch of salt. The mixture will be very thick and initially hard to stir.
2. Adjust Consistency: Switch to a whisk and whisk in another 1/2 tablespoon (8ml) of water. Lift the whisk and let the icing drizzle back into the bowl; the ribbon of icing should hold its shape for a few seconds before melting back into the main icing. This indicates the correct consistency. If it’s still too thick, whisk in another 1/2 tablespoon (8ml) of water or a little more, until you reach the proper “ribbon” consistency.
3. Tint Icing (Optional): If you desire colored icing, stir in gel food coloring. You can divide the icing into separate bowls for multiple colors. Start with 1–2 drops of gel food coloring, stir it in, then add more as needed to reach your desired shade. Remember that the color often deepens as the icing dries.

Decorate and Set Cookies

1. Decorate: You have options for decorating your perfect Christmas sugar cookies. You can dip the cooled cookies directly into the icing for a simple glaze. Alternatively, use squeeze bottles or piping bags (reusable or disposable) fitted with small piping tips (Wilton Piping Tip #4 is excellent).
2. Outline and Flood (Piping Method): If using piping tools, I recommend outlining the cookies with icing first, then filling in the middle with more icing (this is called the “flood” technique).
3. Add Sprinkles: If you are adding sprinkles, do so immediately after applying the wet icing to your cookie. This ensures they adhere properly before the icing starts to set.
4. Set the Icing: Feel free to enjoy some cookies before the icing completely dries! For fully set icing, allow the cookies to dry for 24 hours at room temperature. There’s no need to cover the decorated cookies during this time. For a slight speed boost, you can place the decorated cookies on a baking sheet and refrigerate them. Once the icing is completely dry, these cookies are perfect for gifting or mailing.

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Mastering your Christmas sugar cookies is easier with a few expert tips. To prevent spreading, always roll your dough before chilling it, and ensure your butter is genuinely at room temperature, not melted. For perfect thickness, roll the dough evenly to 1/4-inch; an adjustable rolling pin is ideal. When making the icing, use minimal water additions at a time to control consistency; if it becomes too thin, simply whisk in more confectioners’ sugar. For a flavor boost, try adding different extracts like peppermint or lemon, or warm spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg to the cookie dough. Squeeze bottles are incredibly efficient and beginner-friendly for decorating. If you notice cracked icing, it’s usually because the icing was either too thin or too thick, or the cookies were moved before the icing had a chance to fully set. To learn more about common baking issues, explore helpful tips to prevent cookies from spreading and achieve ideal results.

Serving, Storage & Variations

These delightful Christmas sugar cookies are perfect for any holiday occasion.

• Serving: Enjoy your cookies once the icing is firm enough to handle, or after it has fully set for a pristine finish.
• Storage (Decorated): Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For extended freshness, keep them in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.
• Freezing Baked Cookies: Baked cookies (iced or un-iced) freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Layer them with parchment paper in an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature.
• Freezing Dough: Shape the dough into flat discs, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before re-rolling and cutting.
• Variations:
  • Sandwich Cookies: Pair two cookies with a layer of jam, buttercream, or chocolate ganache.
  • Flavor Profiles: Add citrus zest (orange, lemon), different extracts (peppermint, maple), or pumpkin pie spice to the dough for new twists.
  • Stained Glass Cookies: Cut out small centers before baking and fill with crushed hard candies for a translucent effect.
  • Sprinkle Galore: Use a wide array of sprinkles – nonpareils, sanding sugar, shaped sprinkles – for extra flair and fun.

Nutrition

Understand the nutritional aspects of your Christmas sugar cookies.

Please note: The nutritional information provided is an estimate only. Values can vary significantly based on specific ingredients used, precise measurements, and the exact yield of cookies per batch. For the most accurate information, we recommend using an online nutrition calculator with your exact ingredients.

Component	Amount (Estimated per cookie)
Calories	180-200
Total Fat	8g
Saturated Fat	5g
Cholesterol	25mg
Sodium	60mg
Total Carbs	27g
Dietary Fiber	0g
Total Sugars	18g
Protein	2g

FAQ

Can I make these gluten-free? This recipe has not been specifically tested with gluten-free flour. Substituting may alter the texture and spread of these Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing.

Can I substitute brown sugar for granulated? It’s best to use a dedicated brown sugar cut-out cookie recipe. Brown sugar adds more moisture, which can cause these cookies to spread.

Can I halve the recipe? Yes, you can halve all ingredients precisely. If using a large egg, whisk it first and use half.

Will these work with detailed cookie cutters? Absolutely! Chilling the rolled-out dough is the critical step for ensuring the intricate shapes hold perfectly during baking.

Do I need to adjust for high altitude? High altitude baking often requires slight adjustments to flour, leavening, and liquids. Consult reliable high-altitude baking resources for specific guidance.

Can I omit corn syrup from the icing? You can, but the icing may lose some of its characteristic sheen and stickiness. Honey is a common alternative, though it will impart a subtle flavor.

Does this icing require meringue powder? No, this is a simple glaze icing, designed to be easy and delicious without the need for meringue powder, which is typically used for royal icing.

Conclusion

Creating cherished holiday memories starts in the kitchen, and this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing delivers joy with every bite. These effortlessly delicious cookies, coupled with their easy-to-create beautiful icing, are perfect for festive gatherings, thoughtful gifts, or simply a cozy afternoon treat. Gather your loved ones, bake a batch today, and spread some holiday cheer with these delightful homemade cookies!