Name: Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 2 h 21 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 stick salted butter softened; 2 ounces cream cheese softened; 1½ cups sugar; 2 large eggs; 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon almond extract; 2½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt; Red & Green Sanding Sugar

Nothing says the holidays quite like the warm, sweet aroma of freshly baked sugar cookies. This Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is my go-to treat every season because it’s soft, buttery, and decorated just right with classic red and green sugars that bring the holiday spirit to life.

A white plate full of light golden round cookies, each with a crisscross pattern pressed on top. The cookies are decorated with red and green sugar sprinkles scattered mainly in the center and lightly around the edges. The cookies are stacked in a slightly uneven pile on a white marbled surface, with some sugar sprinkles falling on the plate around them. In the background, faint blurred festive decorations add a soft holiday feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made plenty of sugar cookies over the years, but this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe always stands out for its perfect balance of flavor and texture. It's a recipe that makes holiday baking feel joyful — easy enough for a cozy afternoon but special enough to wow your family and friends.

Soft, Tender Texture: Thanks to the combination of butter and cream cheese, these cookies practically melt in your mouth.
Easy Decoration: The red and green sanding sugars add just the right festive sparkle with zero fuss.
Reliable Chilling Step: Chilling the dough makes rolling and shaping a breeze and helps the cookies hold their shape perfectly.
Perfect for Gifting: These cookies look gorgeous in a holiday tin or wrapped up in cellophane tied with a ribbon.

A white plate holds a stack of soft round cookies with fork marks pressed in a crisscross pattern on top. The cookies are light golden in color, with some sprinkled with red sugar crystals and others with green sugar crystals on the top surface. The stack is thick, roughly four cookies high, and the cookies have a slightly rough, crumbly texture. Around the plate’s edge and on the white marbled surface beneath, there are scattered red and green sugar crystals. In the blurry background, more cookies can be seen out of focus. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe has a role in making these cookies special. I always recommend using the freshest ingredients for the best flavor — like real vanilla extract and good quality butter — so your cookies taste as festive as they look.

Flat lay of a stick of salted butter with a smooth surface, a small white ceramic bowl filled with soft cream cheese, a shallow white ceramic bowl heaped with granulated sugar, two large whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl containing clear vanilla extract, another small white bowl with pale almond extract, a simple white ceramic bowl filled with finely sifted all-purpose flour, a white bowl holding white cornstarch powder, a small white bowl with fine baking soda powder, a tiny white bowl with fine salt crystals, two small white bowls—one filled with bright red sanding sugar and the other with vivid green sanding sugar— all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Salted Butter: Softened butter adds richness and moisture, making the cookies tender.
Cream Cheese: This secret ingredient adds a subtle tang and extra softness that’s hard to beat.
Sugar: Provides just the right amount of sweetness and contributes to the cookies’ crisp edges.
Eggs: Bind the dough and help create a nice, soft crumb.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor with warm, sweet notes.
Almond Extract: Adds depth with a subtle nutty touch — it’s a game changer.
All-Purpose Flour: Forms the structure; adding cornstarch keeps the cookies soft and tender.
Cornstarch: Helps create a delicate texture by reducing gluten formation.
Baking Soda: Provides just a bit of lift so the cookies aren’t too dense.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Red & Green Sanding Sugar: Classic festive decoration that’s easy to sprinkle on and adds a fun crunch.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak to your liking. You can make them as traditional or as unique as you want — whether that’s swapping extracts or getting creative with decorations. I often switch things up depending on my mood.

Variation: I once added a teaspoon of cinnamon for a warm holiday twist — it was a big hit at my family gathering!
Dietary Swap: For a dairy-free version, try using vegan butter and cashew cream — it changes the flavor slightly but keeps them wonderfully soft.
Decorating Fun: Have kids? Let them experiment with edible glitter or colored sprinkles instead of sanding sugars for extra fun.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter, Cream Cheese, and Sugar Until Fluffy

Start by adding the softened butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract into a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat everything on medium-high speed for about 4-5 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This step is crucial because it incorporates air, giving your cookies a soft, delicate texture. Make sure your butter and cream cheese are really at room temperature to avoid lumps.

Step 2: Mix in Dry Ingredients Gently

Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Switch your mixer to low speed and mix until just combined into a soft dough. Overmixing here can lead to tough cookies, so stop as soon as the dough forms.

Step 3: Chill the Dough for Better Results

Cover your dough tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. This chilling period firms up the dough, making it easier to scoop and shape. Plus, it helps the cookies hold their shape better while baking — trust me, this is worth the wait.

Step 4: Scoop and Press with a Fork

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to place dough balls on the sheet about an inch apart — I find a cookie scoop gives you the most consistent size, so everything bakes evenly. Lightly press each cookie with a fork in a crisscross pattern — it’s the classic look and it also flattens the dough nicely for even baking.

Step 5: Sprinkle and Bake

Sprinkle a pinch of red or green sanding sugar on top of each cookie for that festive sparkle. Bake for 9-11 minutes, but watch closely — the edges shouldn’t brown. You want the cookies to look just slightly underbaked when you pull them out because they’ll firm up as they cool and stay deliciously soft.

Step 6: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes to set up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. I always resist the urge to eat them straight away because the flavor really develops once cooled, but if you're in a hurry, warm cookies are fantastic with a glass of milk!

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few little tricks that make this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe foolproof, no matter your experience level in the kitchen.

Fully Soften Before Mixing: Make sure your butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature — cold spots create lumps and uneven texture.
Don’t Skip Chilling: Refrigerating the dough is key — it reduces spreading and gives your cookies that perfect shape and tender crumb.
Watch the Oven Closely: I’ve burned more than a few batches by leaving them in too long, so set a timer and keep an eye on color. Pull them out early for soft cookies!
Use Parchment or Silicone Mats: These help prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze — trust me, you’ll thank yourself later.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Christmas sugar cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with the classic red and green sanding sugar for garnish — it adds just the right pop of color and that satisfying crunch. For a little extra fun, sometimes I sprinkle on edible glitter or use piped royal icing to make snowflakes and holiday shapes. It’s easy to customize depending on your mood or the occasion.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of cocoa or mulled apple cider. They’re also a nice complement to a cheese board if you want a sweet and savory holiday spread. When I bring these to parties, I often fill a festive platter with cookies alongside spiced nuts and fresh fruit.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gifting, I like stacking these cookies in neat piles wrapped in wax paper and tied with twine inside a pretty tin. Another favorite is arranging them on a decorative plate with fresh pine sprigs and cranberries sprinkled around — it instantly feels festive and inviting on the dessert table.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay wonderfully soft and fresh for 5 to 7 days. Sometimes I place a slice of bread in the container to help maintain moisture — that little trick works every time!

Freezing

I often freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container layered between parchment paper to prevent sticking. They freeze well for up to 3 months. When I’m ready to enjoy, I thaw them on the counter for a couple of hours — just like freshly baked!

Reheating

To bring out that fresh-baked taste and softness, I pop the cookies in the microwave for 5-10 seconds. It’s the perfect way to warm them without drying them out. If you have an oven handy, a quick 2-minute heat at low temperature works too.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! The dough can be made 2-3 days ahead and kept in the refrigerator, or you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Just thaw before baking for the best results.

What’s the trick to keeping these sugar cookies soft?

The cream cheese in the dough helps a lot with softness, as does chilling the dough before baking. Also, make sure to slightly underbake the cookies—they firm up off the heat and stay tender inside.

Can I substitute almond extract if I’m allergic?

Yes! You can simply leave out the almond extract or replace it with an additional ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. The flavor will still be delicious and festive.

How do I avoid cookies spreading too much during baking?

Chilling the dough for at least 2 hours is key to preventing excess spreading. Also, make sure your baking soda is fresh and your oven isn’t too hot. Using parchment paper or silicone mats helps cookies bake evenly too.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe isn’t just another cookie—it’s a little holiday tradition baked into every bite. I love how easy they come together and how much joy they bring to my kitchen every year. Give them a try, and I’m sure you’ll find yourself reaching for this recipe season after season, sharing smiles and sweet memories with every batch.