The Ultimate Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipe: Chewy and Soft
When the holiday season rolls around, there’s one tradition in our farmhouse that everyone looks forward to: baking Christmas cookies. And not just any recipe— one of the best sugar cookie recipe you’ll ever make. They’re soft in the center, have perfectly crisp edges, and are full of buttery flavor thanks to quality, simple ingredients.
This classic sugar cookie recipe has been part of our family for years. The kids love the whole process, from rolling out the dough, to decorating with sugar cookie icing in festive colors. It’s a tradition that brings joy to our whole family.
Why This Recipe is Special
What makes this the best recipe for Christmas sugar cookies?
- Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: With basic pantry staples and organic ingredients like all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract, you’ll achieve soft, chewy cookies with a rich, buttery flavor.
- Perfect for Decorating: These cookies hold their shape beautifully, making them ideal cut-out cookies for the holidays.
- A Family Favorite: Watching my kids use their favorite cookie cutters to create shapes and then decorate with frosting is my favorite part of the season.
For the best results, I recommend using a paddle attachment on an electric mixer to ensure the dough is perfectly mixed without overworking it.
If you’re looking for a way to make these cookies even better, try adding a splash of almond extract to the dough—it gives them a subtle, nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with sugar cookie icing.
Tips for Perfect Sugar Cookies
Getting the perfect sugar cookie recipe every time requires a few key steps:
1. Start with Room Temperature Ingredients:
Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you start mixing. This helps the dough come together smoothly.
2. Measure Carefully:
Use a measuring cup to measure your dry ingredients, especially the flour mixture. Adding too much flour can result in dry, crumbly cookies. A good rule of thumb is to spoon the flour into the cup and level it off with a knife.
3. Chill the Dough:
Once mixed, divide the dough into balls, flatten each into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Let the dough chill for at least an hour. Chilling helps create soft cookies with defined edges.
4. Use the Right Tools:
Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface with a sturdy rolling pin, and cut shapes with favorite cookie cutters. Bake on a silicone mat or piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet for even cooking.
5. Avoid Overbaking:
Watch for the edges of the cookies to turn golden brown, and pull them out of the oven. Baked cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
Storage and Freezing Tips
Short-Term Storage: Keep baked cookies in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Freezing the Dough: Wrap portions of the dough tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. You can freeze for up to 3 months. For cookie dough balls, freeze on a cookie sheet before transferring to a freezer bag.
Freezing Baked Cookies: Layer cooled cookies between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container. Thaw at room temperature when ready to decorate or enjoy.
The Joy of Winter on the Homestead
There’s something special about baking in a farmhouse surrounded by snowy woods. The smell of cookies in the oven fills our old kitchen with warmth. As the kids work on decorating with natural food coloring and sprinkles, I can’t help but smile—it’s the essence of a cozy winter.
Even if you’re not in the countryside, this recipe can bring the same feeling of connection and joy to your home.
And if you’re looking for more fun Christmas cookies, check out these cranberry orange cookies, or these cream cheese bliss bars.
Classic Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter softened
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the unsalted butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add this to the wet mixture on low speed until just combined.
Divide the dough into two disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, but up to 3 days is fine!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (190°C) and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut into shapes using favorite cookie cutters.
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, about 1 inch apart, and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
Cool on a wire rack before decorating.
Decorating Your Cookies
For festive cutout sugar cookies, I use our tried and true buttercream recipe with natural food dyes and sprinkles. However, if you want to go extra special, use royal icing for an over the top festive touch!
Let’s Be Friends!
I hope these yummy homemade sugar cookies bring joy to your holiday celebrations. If you try this easy recipe, I’d love to hear about it!
Follow me on Instagram for more cozy baking tips and glimpses into life on the homestead. Curious about why I’m so passionate about from-scratch living? Check out my About Me page to learn more about our farmhouse and family traditions.
Let’s bake, decorate, and make sweet memories—one recipe at a time!
Hi Eryn. Is that sweet rolling pin with tree cut outs available anywhere?
It was a rolling pin I purchased at Target last year from the Magnolia line. I’m not sure they still have it. I’m sorry!