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A collection of baked goods from easy Christmas cookie recipes on a festive plate.

Classic Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies

These classic Christmas sugar cookies are simple to make and perfect for holiday decorating. The recipe yields delicious, tender cookies that can be customized with your favorite frostings and sprinkles.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

  • Baking Sheets
  • Parchment Paper
  • Large Bowl
  • Mixer
  • Wire Rack
  • Cookie Cutters

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough

  • 2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Salt

For Frosting

  • 2 cups Powdered Sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons Milk or Lemon Juice
  • Food Coloring & Sprinkles optional, for decorating

Instructions
 

Baking the Cookies

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing on low speed until just combined.
  • If the dough is too soft, flatten it into a disc, wrap it, and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick and cut out shapes with cookie cutters.
  • Transfer cut cookies to prepared baking sheets, leaving an inch between them, and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
  • Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorating the Cookies

  • For the frosting, whisk powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons of milk or lemon juice until smooth, adding more liquid as needed to reach desired consistency.
  • Divide and color the frosting with food coloring if desired, then decorate the cooled cookies with frosting and sprinkles.

Notes

For best results, do not overmix the dough. Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading during baking. Get creative with your cookie cutter shapes and frosting colors for a festive touch!