Christmas Sugar Cookies

If you’re looking for a delightful treat that’s both classic and versatile, these festive christmas sugar cookies are the perfect choice for your holiday celebrations. Soft, buttery, and sweet with just the right amount of chew, they are a winter wonderland in every bite. Topped with a smooth, creamy buttercream frosting in delicate shades of icy blue and adorned with elegant winter-themed decorations, these cookies are not only delicious but also visually stunning. Whether you’re baking for a family gathering, a cookie exchange, or simply to spread holiday cheer, this recipe will quickly become a cherished tradition in your home.

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Christmas Sugar Cookies:

For the Cookies:

• Unsalted Butter (room temperature): Butter provides richness and flavor while contributing to the tender texture of the cookies. Using it at room temperature ensures it creams well with the sugars.
• Vegetable Oil: Oil adds moisture and softness to the cookies, giving them a slightly chewy texture that contrasts nicely with the crisp edges.
• Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens the dough and helps achieve the right texture, with a slight crispness around the edges.
• Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar adds sweetness while also giving the cookies a melt-in-your-mouth texture. It helps to create a finer crumb.
• Egg (room temperature): The egg binds the ingredients together, adding structure and moisture to the dough, ensuring the cookies are soft and tender.
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds warmth and enhances the overall flavor of the cookies, complementing the almond extract perfectly.
• Almond Extract: A small amount of almond extract brings a subtle nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the vanilla, giving the cookies a unique twist.
• Milk: Milk adds moisture to the dough, making it easier to work with and helping to achieve a soft, tender crumb.
• Flour: Flour is the base of the cookies, providing structure and body. It balances the wet ingredients to create a dough that’s easy to shape and roll out.
• Baking Powder: Baking powder helps the cookies rise slightly, giving them a light, airy texture.
• Baking Soda: Baking soda works alongside the baking powder to ensure the cookies rise just enough, while also contributing to their slight chewiness.
• Salt: Salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and balances the sweetness, ensuring the cookies aren’t overly sugary.

For the Frosting:

• Unsalted Butter (room temperature): Butter provides a rich, creamy base for the frosting, making it smooth and spreadable.
• Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar sweetens the frosting and creates a smooth, fluffy texture that’s easy to spread or pipe onto the cookies.
• Milk: Milk adds moisture to the frosting, making it easier to achieve the perfect consistency for spreading or piping.
• Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds depth of flavor to the frosting, making it a perfect complement to the sweet, buttery cookies.
• Almond Extract: A touch of almond extract in the frosting echoes the flavor in the cookies, tying everything together with a subtle nutty note.
• Salt: Salt in the frosting enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness, ensuring the frosting isn’t overly sugary.
• Sprinkles and Food Colouring (optional): For decorating the cookies.

You’ll need the following tools for making the Christmas Sugar Cookies:

• Mixing Bowls: A large bowl for combining the cookie dough ingredients and a smaller ones for measuring.
• Measuring Scale: To accurately measure all your ingredients in grams.
• Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: For creaming the butter and sugars, and mixing the dough.
• Spatula: To fold in the dry ingredients and combine the mixtures.
• Baking Sheet: For baking the cookies.
• Parchment Paper: To line the baking sheet, preventing the cookies from sticking.
• Cookie Scoop: To evenly portion out the dough.
• Cooling Rack: For allowing the cookies to cool evenly after baking.
• Frosting Spatula: To evenly spread the frosting.

Here is the full Recipe:

Ingredients:

For the Cookies:

• 76 g (1/3 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 120 g (1/2 cup) granulated sugar
• 90 g (3/4 cup) powdered sugar
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp almond extract
• 1 tbsp milk
• 274 g (2 1/4 cups) flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

For the Sugar Frosting:

• 114 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 360 g (3 cups) powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Sprinkles (optional)
• Food Colouring (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 165°C (325°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the room temperature butter and vegetable oil until smooth and homogeneous, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the granulated sugar while continuing to beat the mixture. Then add the powdered sugar and mix until well combined.
3. Add the Egg and Extracts: Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg, milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat the mixture until everything is fully incorporated.
4. Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Beat until no streaks or clumps of flour remain, but be careful not to overmix.
5. Form the Cookies: Scoop out the dough and roll into balls. Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten the tops of the balls with your palm.
6. Bake: Bake the cookies at 165°C (325°F) for about 13 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still slightly underdone. This will ensure a soft, chewy texture. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Make the Frosting: While the cookies are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, combine all the frosting ingredients. Start beating on low speed, gradually increasing to high, until the frosting is creamy and slightly fluffy. If you wish to add color, incorporate the food coloring of your choice and mix until you achieve the desired shade.
8. Decorate: Once the cookies have cooled, use an offset spatula to spread an even layer of frosting on each cookie. Feel free to add sprinkles or other decorations to make them extra festive.

Tips and Tricks:

• Chill the Dough: Chilling your dough for at least 30 minutes makes it easier to handle and helps the cookies maintain their shape while baking.
• Don’t Overwork the Dough: Handle the dough gently and avoid overmixing once the dry ingredients are added. This will keep the cookies tender and prevent them from becoming tough.
• Prevent Spreading: To keep your sugar cookies from spreading too much, chill the dough in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before baking.
• Use Parchment Paper: Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat helps prevent the cookies from sticking and allows for easy cleanup.
• Watch Baking Time: Sugar cookies can quickly go from perfectly baked to overbaked. Bake just until the edges are set and lightly golden. The centers should still look soft when you take them out of the oven, as they will continue to firm up while cooling.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure that butter and eggs are at room temperature for smoother mixing and a more consistent dough.
• Add Flavor Variations: While vanilla is classic, you can enhance your sugar cookies by adding almond extract, lemon zest, or spices like cinnamon for a unique twist.
• Decorating Tips: For smooth icing, wait until the cookies are completely cool before decorating. You can also use royal icing or buttercream for a neat and professional finish.
• Store Properly: To keep sugar cookies fresh and soft, store them in an airtight container.

These tips will help you create perfectly frosted, delicious Sugar Cookies every time!

More Christmas Baking Recipes:

• Vanilla Crescent Cookies (Vanillekipferl): Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth crescent-shaped cookies made with almonds or hazelnuts, and coated in vanilla sugar. A true holiday classic that pairs perfectly with a warm cup of tea or coffee.
• Reindeer Linzer Cookies: A festive twist on the traditional Linzer cookies, these are filled with tart red currant jelly and decorated with adorable reindeer faces, complete with sugar eyes and chocolate antlers.
• Gingerbread Pool Cookies: A whimsical take on gingerbread, these cookies feature a rich cocoa base, filled with melted white chocolate and topped with mini gingerbread cookies lounging in a frosty “pool.”
• Chewy Gingerbread Cookies: Soft and chewy cut-out cookies bursting with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Perfect for decorating with royal icing and making memories with loved ones.
• Almond Star Cookies: Delicate and crisp almond-based cookies shaped like stars, dusted with powdered sugar or glazed for an extra touch of holiday sparkle.
• Matcha Cinnamon Cookies: A unique holiday treat blending earthy matcha with the warm spice of cinnamon, topped with a creamy frosting for a festive flavor fusion.

Watch the recipe video here. Let’s get to baking! Here is the full recipe: