Description
Soft, buttery, and perfectly shaped for the holidays, these Christmas Sugar Cookies are the ultimate treat for your festive baking season.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups (281g) all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¼–½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 3 cups (360g) confectioners’ sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (omit for stark white icing)
- 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
- 4½–5 tablespoons (67–75ml) room temperature water
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: gel food coloring and sprinkles
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.
- Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract, and beat until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients on low speed until a soft dough forms.
- Divide dough into two parts. Roll each portion out to ¼-inch thickness between parchment sheets.
- Stack, cover, and refrigerate for 1–2 hours (up to 2 days).
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cut out cookie shapes using your favorite cutters, re-rolling scraps as needed.
- Place cookies 3 inches apart on the sheets.
- Bake 11–12 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges. Cool completely before icing.
- For the icing, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, corn syrup, and 4½ tablespoons water.
- Add a few drops more water as needed until a thick, smooth consistency forms.
- Tint with gel coloring if desired. Dip or pipe onto cooled cookies.
- Allow icing to set for 24 hours for a glossy, stackable finish.
Notes
Use room temperature butter and egg for the best dough texture. Roll the dough before chilling—it’s much easier to handle. Refrigerate cut-outs for 10–15 minutes before baking for perfectly shaped cookies.
- Prep Time: 120 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American