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Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 122 reviews

These festive Christmas Sugar Cookies are buttery, soft, and perfectly sweetened, decorated with colorful red and green sanding sugars to bring holiday cheer. Easy to make and perfect for sharing or gifting, these classic cookies offer a delightful mix of tender crumb and sparkling sugar decoration.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 1/3 cup butter (room temperature)
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Decorations

  • 3 tablespoons red sanding sugar
  • 3 tablespoons green sanding sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a stand mixer, beat together the room temperature butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 3 minutes. This step is key for a tender cookie texture.
  3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until the mixture is very well combined, ensuring an even flavor and proper dough consistency.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix Dough: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough comes together evenly without overmixing.
  5. Portion and Shape Cookies: Use a medium cookie scoop to drop balls of dough about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Roll each piece of dough into a smooth ball for uniform baking.
  6. Decorate with Sanding Sugar: Place red sanding sugar in one small bowl and green sanding sugar in another. Divide the cookie dough balls into three sections: roll one third in red sugar, another third in green sugar, and the final third in a mix of both sugars, coating them evenly.
  7. Flatten and Bake: Lightly flatten the tops of the sugared cookie balls with your hand or a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 11 minutes or until the edges are turning golden and the tops look slightly underdone to maintain softness.
  8. Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set and prevents breaking.

Notes

  • Make sure butter is at room temperature for proper creaming.
  • Do not overbake the cookies; underdone centers keep them soft.
  • Use parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
  • You can substitute vanilla extract with almond extract for a different flavor.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week.

Keywords: Christmas sugar cookies, holiday cookies, festive cookies, sugar cookie recipe, holiday baking

Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/christmas-sugar-cookies-recipe/