These festive sugar cookies are perfect for celebrating the holiday season. With their soft texture and sweet flavor, they make a delightful treat for Christmas gatherings and cookie exchanges.
The recipe is simple and can be customized with various decorations, including colorful icing and sprinkles, to create a cheerful holiday display.
Creating Festive Sugar Cookies
Christmas sugar cookies are a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season. Their soft texture and sweet flavor make them a favorite among both kids and adults.
These cookies can be customized with various decorations, allowing for creativity and personal touches. Whether you prefer classic icing or colorful sprinkles, the possibilities are endless.
Gather your loved ones and enjoy the process of baking and decorating these festive treats together, making memories that will last a lifetime.
Ingredients for Success
To create these festive cookies, you will need a few basic ingredients that are likely already in your pantry.
The main components include all-purpose flour, sugar, and butter, which form the foundation of the cookie dough.
Additional ingredients such as eggs, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract enhance the flavor, while powdered sugar is essential for the icing.
Simple Steps to Bake
The process of making these cookies is straightforward and enjoyable. Start by preheating your oven to the right temperature, ensuring a perfect bake.
Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and cream the butter and sugar in another. Combining these mixtures creates a smooth dough that can be shaped into festive forms.
Once the cookies are baked to a golden perfection, allow them to cool before decorating. This step is crucial for achieving the best results.
Decorating Your Cookies
Once cooled, the fun really begins! Prepare your icing by mixing powdered sugar with a little water or milk to achieve the desired consistency.
Food coloring can be added to create vibrant hues that match the festive spirit.
Use piping bags or simple tools to apply the icing, and don’t forget to sprinkle on some festive toppings for that extra touch of cheer.
Setting the Scene
To create a truly inviting atmosphere, consider the presentation of your cookies. Arrange them on a beautiful plate and place them against a backdrop of twinkling Christmas lights.
Adding holiday decorations around the cookies enhances the festive feel, making them a centerpiece for gatherings.
These cookies not only taste great but also add to the overall holiday decor, bringing joy to all who see them.
Sharing the Joy
These Christmas sugar cookies are perfect for sharing with friends, family, and neighbors.
They make excellent gifts during the holiday season, especially when packaged in decorative boxes or tins.
Whether for a cookie exchange or a festive gathering, these treats are sure to spread holiday cheer and create lasting memories.
Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
These sugar cookies are made with basic ingredients like flour, sugar, and butter, and are perfect for decorating. The recipe yields about 24 cookies and takes approximately 1 hour from start to finish.
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 cups powdered sugar for icing
- Food coloring for decorating (optional)
- Sprinkles for decoration (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 in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Shape Cookies: Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place them onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass.
- Bake: Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let cool on wire racks.
- Decorate: Once cooled, use powdered sugar mixed with a little water or milk to create icing. Add food coloring if desired and decorate with sprinkles.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories: 150kcal
- Fat: 7g
- Protein: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 22g