Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing

Get ready to fill your home with the delightful aroma of homemade holiday treats! This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing brings you classic, festive cookies with soft, thick centers and wonderfully crisp edges. Our no-spread dough ensures your intricate cookie cutter shapes stay perfect. Paired with a simple, no-fuss glaze icing, decorating these festive cookies becomes a joyful, stress-free experience, perfect for bakers of all skill levels.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

You’ll adore this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing for so many reasons!

• Achieve perfect soft, thick cookie centers every time.
• Enjoy delightfully crisp edges that add a lovely texture contrast.
• Experience a rich, buttery vanilla flavor that truly tastes like Christmas.
• The dough uses common pantry ingredients you likely already have on hand.
• Your cookies will beautifully hold their cut-out shapes without spreading.
• The simple glaze icing is perfect for beginners and seasoned decorators alike.
• These cookies are excellent for freezing, making holiday prep a breeze.
• Our step-by-step guidance ensures your baking success from start to finish.

Ingredients

Gather your ingredients for these delightful cookies and easy icing. You’ll find everything you need to create a truly special treat!

For the Cookies:

• 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for rolling
• 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 enhances flavor significantly)

For the Easy Icing:

• 3 cups (360g) confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or water for stark white icing)
• 2 teaspoons light corn syrup (for sheen and stick)
• 4.5–5 Tablespoons (67–75ml) room temperature water
• Pinch salt (balances sweetness)
• Optional: Gel food coloring for tinting and sprinkles for decoration

Notes & Substitutions

• Room Temperature Butter: This is crucial for a smooth, creamy dough. Butter is at room temperature when you can easily indent it with your finger, but it still holds its shape.
• Flavor Variations: Feel free to swap or add extracts like maple, coconut, or even a hint of peppermint for a delightful twist.
• Corn Syrup: Light corn syrup provides a beautiful sheen and helps the icing set firmly without being brittle. If unavailable, you can omit it; the icing will still work but might be less shiny.
• Flour Amount: If your dough feels too sticky after mixing, add one more tablespoon of flour at a time until it’s workable but still soft.
• Vanilla in Icing: Using vanilla extract will give the icing a slightly off-white hue. For a truly stark white icing, replace the vanilla extract with an equal amount of water.

Equipment

Having the right tools makes baking these Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing a breeze.

• Electric mixer (stand or handheld)
• Large baking sheets
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
• Rolling pin (an adjustable one helps with even thickness)
• Holiday cookie cutters
• Wire cooling rack
• Gel food coloring (if tinting)
• Squeeze bottles or piping bags + tips (Wilton #4 recommended)

Instructions

Making this Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing involves several enjoyable steps. Plan ahead, as the dough requires chilling and the icing needs time to set.

Make the Cookie Dough

Begin by preparing your dough to ensure a perfect foundation for your festive cut-outs.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set these dry ingredients aside.
• In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on high speed. Continue until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, which takes about 3 minutes.
• Add the room temperature egg, pure vanilla extract, and optional almond extract. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute until well combined. Scrape down the bowl sides and bottom as needed.
• Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough is just combined, being careful not to overmix. The dough will be soft. If it feels too sticky, add one extra tablespoon of flour.

Chilling and Rolling the Dough

Chilling is a critical step for preventing spread and maintaining those lovely shapes.

According to King Arthur Baking, chilling cookie dough solidifies the fat, preventing excessive spreading and resulting in a chewier texture.

• Divide the soft dough into two equal portions.
• Place each portion onto a piece of lightly floured parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each portion out evenly to about 1/4-inch thickness.
• Lightly dust one rolled-out dough with flour, then place a piece of parchment paper on top. Stack the second rolled-out dough on this parchment.
• Cover the stacked dough with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours, or up to 2 days. This crucial chilling step prevents the cookies from spreading in the oven.

Baking the Cookies

Time to bring your cookie shapes to life!

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Carefully remove one chilled dough portion from the refrigerator. If it sticks, gently run your hand underneath the parchment to release it.
• Using your favorite holiday cookie cutters, cut out shapes from the dough. Re-roll any dough scraps and cut additional cookies until all dough is used. Repeat with the second dough portion.
• Arrange the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets, ensuring they are about 3 inches apart.
• Bake for 11-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through if your oven has hot spots.
• Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack. Cool completely before you begin decorating.

Make the Easy Glaze Icing

This simple icing sets beautifully and is perfect for these Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing.

• In a medium bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, light corn syrup, 4.5 tablespoons of room temperature water, and a pinch of salt.
• Stir the mixture with a fork until it becomes very thick. Then, switch to a whisk and whisk in another 1/2 tablespoon of water.
• Check the consistency: when you 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. If it’s too thick, whisk in a little more water (1/2 teaspoon at a time) until you reach the desired consistency.

Decorating the Christmas Sugar Cookies

Now for the fun part – bringing festive color to your cookies!

• If you’re tinting your icing, divide it into separate bowls and stir in gel food coloring, adding just one or two drops at a time until you achieve your desired shade. Remember, the color will deepen as it dries.
• Transfer the icing to squeeze bottles or piping bags fitted with small tips (like Wilton #4).
• Decorate your cookies as desired. For a clean finish, outline the cookies first with icing, then fill in the centers.
• If you’re adding sprinkles, apply them immediately after flooding the cookie with wet icing so they adhere well.
• You can enjoy the cookies right away, but the icing takes about 24 hours to set completely. For slightly faster setting, briefly place decorated cookies in the refrigerator. No need to cover them while the icing dries.

Pro Tips for Perfect Christmas Sugar Cookies

Achieve bakery-quality results with these helpful tips for your Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing.

• Dough Texture: Do not overmix the dough after adding dry ingredients; this ensures tender cookies.
• Chilling is Key: Always chill the rolled-out dough thoroughly to prevent any spreading during baking.
• Even Thickness: Roll your dough uniformly to 1/4-inch thickness for consistent baking and texture.
• Cookie Cutter Release: Lightly flour your cookie cutters before each use to prevent sticking.
• Re-rolling Scraps: Gather and re-roll dough scraps quickly. If the dough gets warm, chill it briefly before cutting more shapes.
• Icing Consistency: Adjust your icing with a tiny bit more water to thin it, or more confectioners’ sugar to thicken it.
• Drying Time: Allow at least 24 hours for the icing to fully harden and prevent smudging.
• Speeding Up Drying: Place decorated cookies on baking sheets in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to help the icing set faster.

Serving, Storage, and Variations

Make the most of your delicious Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing with these tips.

Serving Suggestions

These festive cookies are perfect for holiday platters, adding a cheerful touch to any gathering. They make wonderful edible gifts or thoughtful additions to cookie exchanges. Enjoy them with a warm mug of hot cocoa for a cozy holiday treat.

Storage

Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also refrigerate them for up to 10 days. Baked and undecorated cookies, or even iced cookies, freeze beautifully for up to 3 months in an airtight container. You can also freeze portions of the raw dough, wrapped tightly in discs, for up to 3 months.

Flavor Variations

Elevate your cookies by adding citrus zest, such as lemon or orange, to the dough. Incorporate warm spices like cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced sugar cookie. Experiment with other extracts like maple, coconut, or even a hint of peppermint for a delightful twist.

Nutrition Information

A note on nutrition: This information is an estimate based on ingredients and preparation. Exact values may vary depending on specific brands, ingredient quantities, and optional additions like sprinkles or extra icing.

Serving Size	Calories	Total Fat	Saturated Fat	Cholesterol	Sodium	Total Carb	Sugars	Protein
1 cookie	~150	~7g	~4g	~25mg	~50mg	~20g	~15g	~1g

Conclusion

This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing makes holiday baking wonderfully simple and joyful. With soft centers, crisp edges, and a delightful buttery vanilla flavor, these cookies are a true festive classic. The easy glaze icing adds to the fun, allowing for hassle-free decorating that everyone can enjoy. We hope you embrace this beloved holiday tradition and create beautiful memories. Don’t forget to share your festive cookie creations with us!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)