Description
Unwrap the magic of the holidays with these Soft Christmas Cookies that truly live up to their name—they practically melt in your mouth! Tender, buttery, and perfectly shaped for decorating, these festive sugar cookies are a holiday must-bake. Whether you’re prepping treats for Santa, sharing tins with friends, or adding charm to your dessert tray, these cookies shine. They’re easy to make, great for baking with kids, and perfect for holiday parties. From quick breakfast treats to snack table highlights, this easy recipe delivers classic flavor with a soft twist.
Ingredients
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Royal icing (for decorating)
Holiday sprinkles (for decorating)
Instructions
1. Beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and almond extracts.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture until dough forms.
5. Wrap dough in plastic and chill for 1 hour.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
7. Roll dough to ¼ inch thick and cut into festive shapes.
8. Bake 8–10 minutes until edges are set but not browned.
9. Let cookies cool completely before decorating.
10. Decorate with royal icing and sprinkles. Let icing dry before stacking.
Notes
For the softest cookies, don’t overbake—remove them as soon as edges are set.
Chill the dough thoroughly for the cleanest cut-out shapes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: soft Christmas cookies, holiday cookies, sugar cookies, easy recipe, baking with kids