These easy Christmas sugar cookies are a festive treat perfect for holiday gatherings. With a simple dough made from basic ingredients, they are fun to decorate and share with family and friends.
This recipe is straightforward and ideal for bakers of all skill levels. You can customize the cookies with various icing colors and toppings to create beautiful holiday designs.
Creating Festive Sugar Cookies
Christmas sugar cookies are a delightful addition to any holiday gathering. Their soft and chewy texture makes them a favorite among both kids and adults.
These cookies can be cut into various festive shapes, such as stars, trees, and snowflakes, allowing for creativity in the kitchen.
With a straightforward recipe, even novice bakers can whip up a batch of these treats in no time.
The preparation is quick, taking only about 30 minutes, and the baking process is just as speedy, requiring only 10-12 minutes in the oven.
Essential Ingredients for Success
To create these festive cookies, a few basic ingredients are necessary.
You will need all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, unsalted butter, white sugar, an egg, and vanilla extract.
For those looking to add a hint of flavor, almond extract can be included as an optional ingredient.
Don’t forget the icing and sprinkles, which are essential for decorating and bringing the cookies to life!
Decorating Your Cookies
The fun truly begins once the cookies are baked and cooled.
Using colorful icing, you can transform simple cookies into festive masterpieces.
Consider using a variety of colors to create vibrant designs that reflect the holiday spirit.
Sprinkles can also add a delightful crunch and a pop of color to your creations.
Setting the Scene for Holiday Cheer
Once your cookies are decorated, it’s time to present them!
Arrange the cookies on a festive platter, surrounded by holiday decorations to enhance the cheerful atmosphere.
Consider using a tablecloth with holiday motifs or adding twinkling lights to create a warm and inviting display.
The visual appeal of your cookie platter will surely impress your guests and make your gathering even more special.
Sharing the Joy of Baking
Baking and decorating Christmas sugar cookies can be a wonderful activity to share with family and friends.
Gather everyone in the kitchen and let each person decorate their own cookies.
This not only makes for a fun experience but also creates lasting memories during the holiday season.
Once the cookies are ready, they can be shared as gifts or enjoyed together, spreading joy and sweetness to all.
Tips for Perfect Cookies
For the best results, ensure that your butter is softened to room temperature before mixing.
This will help achieve a smooth and creamy texture when combined with sugar.
Also, be mindful not to overbake the cookies; they should be slightly golden around the edges while remaining soft in the center.
With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating the perfect batch of Christmas sugar cookies!
Simple Sugar Cookies for the Holidays
This recipe yields soft and chewy sugar cookies that can be cut into festive shapes and decorated with icing. The preparation time is about 30 minutes, and the cookies bake in just 10-12 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar for decoration
- Icing and sprinkles for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture until just combined.
- Shape Cookies: Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place them on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar.
- Bake: Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let cool on wire racks before decorating.
- Decorate: Once cooled, use icing and sprinkles to decorate the cookies as desired.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 40-42 minutes
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 150kcal
- Fat: 7g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 21g