Nothing quite matches the joy of biting into a cookie that twinkles with holiday cheer. This Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe brings together buttery dough, a touch of cream cheese for softness, and a dazzling coat of sprinkles that'll make your kitchen (and your guests) sparkle with delight.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I've made plenty of holiday cookies over the years, but this Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe always steals the show. It’s that perfect blend of festive fun and a comfortingly soft bite that keeps everyone reaching for more. Plus, the sprinkle coating? Such a simple step with a huge wow factor!
- Soft and Tender Texture: Thanks to cream cheese folded into the dough, these cookies stay delightfully tender.
- Simple Ingredients: No fancy or hard-to-find items here—just classic pantry staples you probably already have.
- Customizable Sparkle: Choose your favorite sprinkles or sanding sugar colors to match your holiday mood or theme.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The dough can chill in your fridge for days, which is a lifesaver during the busy holiday season.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe plays a special role. Together they create a dough that’s easy to handle, bakes evenly, and tastes like holiday magic. Here’s why each matters and some tips on picking the best.
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of this dough, providing structure while staying tender.
- Baking powder: Adds just enough rise without making the cookies cakey.
- Salt: Enhances the sweetness and deepens flavor complexity.
- Unsalted butter: Softened butter is key for creamy texture and rich flavor.
- Full-fat cream cheese: This is the secret behind the cookies’ soft and moist crumb.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetness plus a bit of crispness around the edges.
- Egg: Binds the dough and contributes to tenderness.
- Vanilla extract: Classic warm flavor that brings everything together.
- Almond extract: Adds a subtle, nutty aroma that elevates the holiday feeling—feel free to skip if you’re not a fan.
- Sprinkles (sanding sugar, nonpareils, jimmies): This is where the sparkle comes alive! Pick colors you love and don’t be shy with coverage.
Make It Your Way
I love that this Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe invites you to get creative—whether that's switching up the sprinkles, dialing back on the almond extract, or even adding your favorite mix-ins. It’s a recipe that flexes with you.
- Variation: One year I swapped part of the sprinkles for finely chopped candied ginger, which added a delightful zing that wowed my guests.
- Dietary tweak: For a dairy-free version, try substituting plant-based cream cheese and butter alternatives; results will be slightly different but still tasty!
- Seasonal spin: Beyond Christmas, swap the sprinkles for pastel-colored sugars at Easter or bold reds and pinks for Valentine’s Day.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe
Step 1: Whisk Dry Ingredients and Prep Dough
Begin by combining your flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and whisking them well. This ensures your rising agent distributes evenly, which helps the cookies bake uniformly. Trust me, this little step makes a noticeable difference in texture.
Step 2: Cream Butter, Cream Cheese & Sugar
Using a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat your softened butter and cream cheese on high speed until smooth—about two minutes. Then add sugar and blend until creamy and fully combined. This is where the dough starts to get that dreamy, soft quality.
Step 3: Mix in Egg and Extracts
Next, add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat on high for about a minute until everything is smoothly incorporated. Don’t skip the scrape-down step here—pushing the dough off the bowl’s sides keeps your cookie flavor consistent.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Mix the dry ingredients into your wet mixture on low speed. The dough will be thick and a bit stiff, which is perfect—it means your cookies will hold their shape. Once mixed, wrap the dough tightly and chill for at least an hour; I find chilling overnight softens flavors even more.
Step 5: Shape, Sparkle, and Bake
Roll tablespoon-sized balls of dough and then roll each one in your chosen sprinkles until fully coated. Place them spaced about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets, and gently flatten each ball with the back of a glass. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 12-13 minutes until the edges just start to turn golden. Let your cookies cool on the sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Top Tip
After making these cookies a dozen times, here are a few gems to help you nail that perfect batch every time — because the last thing you want is a cookie that’s too flat or too cakey.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Both the butter and cream cheese should be soft but not melty to blend seamlessly and create a light dough.
- Dough Chilling: Don’t rush this step. I’ve learned that chilling the dough at least an hour, preferably longer, makes rolling easier and prevents cookies from spreading too much.
- Even Sprinkle Coverage: Roll dough balls generously in sprinkles to make sure each cookie sparkles beautifully—don’t be shy!
- Watch Your Oven: Every oven is different; check the cookies a minute or two before the timer, aiming for barely golden edges for that perfect chewy center.
How to Serve Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe
Garnishes
I like to keep it simple with these cookies—usually just the sprinkles coating their dough balls. But for a bit of extra shine, a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate adds a lovely snowy effect that guests adore.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair splendidly with warm drinks like mulled cider, hot cocoa, or an espresso. For holiday parties, I often set out a platter with these and some gingerbread or peppermint bark for a festive cookie assortment.
Creative Ways to Present
For gifting or parties, arrange the cookies in clear jars or tiered trays lined with festive napkins. You can also tie bundles of three or four with red and green ribbons, making for a charming edible gift!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep my Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe fresh by storing baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and delicious for up to one week, making them perfect for enjoying throughout the holiday season.
Freezing
If you want to get ahead, the dough freezes beautifully—just roll into balls, freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you’re ready, let them thaw about 30 minutes, roll in sprinkles, and bake as usual. Baked cookies also freeze well for up to three months.
Reheating
To bring frozen baked cookies back to life, I pop them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes or microwave briefly on low power. This refreshes their soft texture without compromising the festive sparkle.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The cream cheese adds moisture and a tender crumb that sets these cookies apart. Omitting it will change the texture noticeably, likely making them drier, so I recommend keeping it if possible.
Sanding sugar, nonpareils, and jimmies all work beautifully. I like using multicolored sanding sugar for sparkle and a little crunch, but feel free to mix and match according to what you have or the holiday colors you prefer.
Yes! The dough freezes very well in pre-rolled balls. Once frozen, store them in a sealed bag or container. When ready to bake, let them thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes, roll them in sprinkles, and bake as usual.
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay soft and flavorful for up to one week. For longer storage, freezing is your best option.
Final Thoughts
This Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe is truly one of my holiday favorites—not just for how pretty they come out, but for that soft, buttery bite that's so comforting after a long day of festivities. I hope you enjoy making and sharing these sparkly treats as much as I do. Consider it your go-to cookie for holiday parties, gifts, or cozy winter afternoons. Happy baking and even happier munching!
Print
Sparkling Christmas Cookie Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 28 minutes
- Yield: 32 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Christmas Cookie Sparkles are festive, buttery sugar cookies coated with colorful sprinkles that add a delightful crunch and eye-catching appeal. These soft, cream cheese-enriched cookies offer a tender texture and subtle almond flavor, perfect for holiday celebrations and cookie exchanges.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 and ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 ounces (57g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract*
Topping
- ¾ cup (150g) sprinkles (sanding sugar, nonpareils, and/or jimmies)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl until fully combined. Set aside to use later.
- Cream Butter and Cheese: In a large bowl using a stand mixer or handheld mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and cream cheese on high speed for about 2 minutes until smooth and lightly whipped.
- Add Sugar and Flavors: Add the granulated sugar to the creamed mixture and beat until creamy and combined. Then add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing on high speed for about 1 minute until well incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix on low speed just until combined. The resulting dough will be thick.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 3-4 days. If chilled longer than 2-3 hours, allow dough to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling to soften it.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy cookie removal.
- Form Cookies and Coat with Sprinkles: Roll about 1 tablespoon of dough into balls. Roll each ball in sprinkles to coat evenly. Place dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Gently press down each ball with the back of a measuring cup or glass to slightly flatten them.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 13 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are just lightly browned.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store: Keep the cookies covered at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Cookie dough can be made and refrigerated up to 3-4 days. Baked cookies freeze well for up to 3 months; thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bring to room temperature before serving.
- Freezing Dough: Unbaked dough balls without sprinkles can be frozen up to 3 months; thaw for 30 minutes, roll in sprinkles, then bake as directed.
- Almond Extract: Adds lovely flavor but is optional and can be omitted without replacement.
- Sprinkles: Use sanding sugar, nonpareils, or jimmies as preferred. These can typically be found in grocery baking aisles or specialty baking sets.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Let chilled dough sit at room temperature before rolling if it feels too stiff.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Leave a Reply