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The holiday season is a magical time to gather with loved ones and share the warmth of togetherness, laughter, and of course, delicious treats! These Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies are the perfect way to bring festive joy to your table. Buttery, soft, and beautifully decorated, they’re as delightful to make as they are to eat.
Let me walk you through this festive recipe that will fill your home with the spirit of Christmas and the heavenly aroma of freshly baked cookies! ✨
Why You’ll Love These Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Versatile and Fun to Make: From Christmas trees to sparkling stars, you can shape these cookies into any festive design you desire!
- Deliciously Buttery and Sweet: The vanilla-almond flavored cookies are a dream, and the royal icing adds just the right amount of sweetness.
- Creative Holiday Activity: Decorating these cookies is a great way to bond with family and friends while letting your creativity shine.
- Perfect for Gifting: Pack these cookies in a decorative box for a homemade gift that everyone will love.
Ingredients for Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies
For the Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract (optional)
the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 large egg white or 2 tbsp meringue powder
- 2 tbsp water (more if needed)
- 1 tsp lemon juice (optional for flavor)
- Gel food coloring (red, green, gold, white)
For Decoration:
- Edible gold glitter
- Red and green edible pearls
- Sprinkles (red and white for festive touches)
Tools You’ll Need
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters (stars, trees, snowflakes)
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer
- Piping bags with fine tips
- Toothpicks (for spreading icing)
How to Make Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies
1. Make the Cookies
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using).
- Combine and Chill: Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough into two portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll and Cut: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create festive shapes.
- Bake: Place cookies on prepared baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
2. Make the Royal Icing
- Mix Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, egg white (or meringue powder), water, and lemon juice (if using).
- Beat: Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Adjust consistency with water if needed.
- Color the Icing: Divide icing into bowls and add food coloring to create red, green, and white icing. Thin some icing for flooding and keep the rest thick for details.
3. Decorate the Cookies
- Base Layer: Pipe a border using thicker icing, then fill the inside with flood icing. Use a toothpick to smooth out the surface.
- Add Festive Details: For Christmas trees, use green flood icing, then add red or gold pearls as ornaments. Snowflakes can be decorated with white icing and intricate red or green accents.
- Sparkle and Shine: Finish by dusting cookies with edible gold glitter and adding sprinkles for that magical holiday touch.
- Let Dry: Allow the decorated cookies to dry for 2-4 hours before stacking or serving.
Tips for Perfect Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Chill the Dough: Chilling ensures the cookies hold their shape during baking.
- Perfect Icing Consistency: Flood icing should be thin enough to spread but not runny. Thick icing is ideal for detailed piping.
- Drying Time: Allow layers of icing to dry completely before adding more to avoid smudging.
- Creative Decorations: Get creative with edible markers, sprinkles, or even small candy pieces for extra flair.
How to Store Your Cookies
- Room Temperature: Store decorated cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Undecorated cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before decorating.
- Transporting: Layer cookies with parchment paper in a sturdy container to prevent breakage.
FAQs About Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies
1. Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can refrigerate the dough for up to 2 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
2. How can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour for a similar result.
3. Can I use store-bought icing?
Yes, but homemade royal icing provides better consistency for intricate designs.
4. How do I fix runny royal icing?
Add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until you achieve the desired thickness.
Share the Joy
These Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies are more than just a treat—they’re a celebration of the season. Bake a batch (or two!) and share the holiday magic with your family, friends, or neighbors. Don’t forget to snap some pictures of your creations and tag us on Pinterest—we’d love to see your festive masterpieces!
For even more holiday baking ideas, check out these festive recipes:
Wishing you a joyful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and of course, cookies! Happy Holidays and happy baking! 🎅✨
Print
Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies – A Holiday Treat for All Ages
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies (depending on size) 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Merry Christmas Sugar Cookies are buttery, tender cookies decorated with festive royal icing. Perfect for holiday gifting, decorating, or enjoying with family! This recipe includes tips for achieving smooth royal icing and creative decoration ideas for the ultimate festive touch.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract (optional)
For the Royal Icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 large egg white or 2 tbsp meringue powder
- 2 tbsp water (more if needed)
- 1 tsp lemon juice (optional for flavor)
- Gel food coloring (red, green, gold, white)
For Decoration:
- Edible gold glitter
- Red and green edible pearls
- Sprinkles (red and white for festive touches)
Instructions
- Make the Cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), mixing until combined.
- Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough into two portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create shapes and place on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely before decorating.
- Make the Royal Icing:
- In a mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, egg white (or meringue powder), water, and lemon juice (if using).
- Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form. Adjust consistency with water if needed.
- Divide icing into bowls and color with gel food coloring. Thin some icing for flooding; leave the rest thick for details.
- Decorate the Cookies:
- Pipe a border with thicker icing, then flood with thinner icing. Use a toothpick to smooth out and eliminate air bubbles.
- Add festive details with additional icing, edible pearls, and sprinkles. Dust with edible glitter for a sparkling finish.
- Let decorated cookies dry completely for 2-4 hours before serving or stacking.
Notes
- Chill the dough to prevent spreading and ensure clean, sharp cookie shapes.
- For intricate designs, use a fine piping tip and ensure icing layers are dry before adding details.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze undecorated cookies for later use.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
