Welcome to the ultimate guide to the most delightful holiday cookie recipes! When the festive season arrives, there’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked cookies filling your home. This classic sugar cookie recipe is the only one you’ll need. It’s reliable, easy to follow, and produces perfectly soft yet firm cookies that are ideal for decorating. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, this recipe guarantees sweet success.
We’ve designed these cookies to hold their shape perfectly, making them a fantastic canvas for your creative decorating ideas. They have a rich, buttery flavor and a wonderfully tender texture that melts in your mouth. Get ready to create some delicious holiday memories!
Why You’ll Love This Holiday Cookie Recipe
There are countless holiday cookie recipes out there, but this one truly stands out. Here’s why it will become your go-to choice for every festive occasion.
Perfect for Decorating: The dough is specifically formulated to prevent spreading, so your intricate cookie cutter shapes will come out of the oven looking sharp and defined.
Amazing Buttery Flavor: We use high-quality butter and a touch of vanilla extract to create a rich, classic taste that is simply irresistible.
Simple, Everyday Ingredients: You won’t need to hunt for special items. This recipe uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand.
Make-Ahead Friendly: The dough can be prepared in advance and chilled or frozen, saving you precious time during the busy holiday season. If you love planning ahead, check out our other favorite holiday desserts.
Look at those sharp edges! These cookies are ready for decorating.
Key Ingredients for Perfect Sugar Cookies
The magic of these cookies lies in their simplicity. Using good quality ingredients is key to achieving the best flavor and texture.
For the Cookies:
All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the cookies. Make sure to measure it correctly by spooning it into your measuring cup and leveling it off.
Baking Powder: Gives the cookies a slight lift, ensuring a tender texture without causing them to spread.
Unsalted Butter: The star of the show! Use room temperature butter for a smooth, creamy dough.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and contributes to their texture.
Egg: Binds the ingredients together and adds richness.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the buttery flavor.
Salt: Balances the sweetness.
For the Easy Royal Icing:
Powdered Sugar: The base of the icing, creating a smooth finish.
Meringue Powder: Helps the icing harden with a beautiful matte finish, making the cookies stackable.
Warm Water: Used to adjust the consistency of the icing.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create flawless holiday cookies. We’ve broken it down to make the process as clear and easy as possible.
1. Prepare the Cookie Dough
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside.
In a large bowl, using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat the room temperature butter and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until the dough just starts to come together. Be careful not to overmix.
2. Chill the Dough (The Most Important Step!)
Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and form it into two flat disks. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap.
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours, or until firm. This is the secret to preventing your cookies from spreading in the oven.
Perfectly chilled dough is the secret to cookies that don't spread.
3. Roll, Cut, and Bake
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, about 1-2 inches apart.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Expert Tips for the Best Holiday Cookies
A few extra tips can take your holiday cookie recipes from good to absolutely perfect.
Room Temperature is Key: Ensure your butter and egg are at room temperature before you begin. This helps the ingredients combine smoothly for a uniform dough.
Don’t Skip the Chilling: Chilling the dough solidifies the butter, which is the number one thing that prevents the cookies from spreading into flat, sad blobs in the oven.
Consistent Thickness: Try to roll your dough to an even 1/4-inch thickness. This ensures all your cookies bake evenly and have the same delightful texture.
You can make this sugar cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and store it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the dough for up to 3 months. Just thaw it in the fridge overnight before rolling and baking.
The most critical step is to chill the dough thoroughly for at least 1-2 hours after mixing and before rolling. Chilling solidifies the butter, which prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven’s heat.
Once the icing is completely hardened (which can take several hours), you can store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. It’s best to store them in a single layer or with sheets of parchment paper between layers to protect the decoration.
Yes! You can freeze the undecorated, baked cookies for up to 3 months. Let them cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe airtight container. Thaw at room temperature before decorating. You can also freeze decorated cookies, but there’s a small risk of the icing colors bleeding upon thawing.
A simple royal icing using meringue powder is the best choice. It dries hard with a smooth, matte finish, which is perfect for packaging, stacking, and shipping your beautiful holiday cookies.
More Festive Recipe Inspiration
Once you’ve mastered these classic sugar cookies, you might be looking for more holiday treats. For a savory option that’s perfect for a holiday party, you can’t go wrong with a classic cheese ball recipe. And if you’re a fan of peanut butter, our almond flour peanut butter cookies are a fantastic gluten-free alternative. This recipe is a cornerstone of our larger collection of Christmas cookie recipes you’re sure to love.
The Best Classic Holiday Sugar Cookies Recipe
FL Recipes
The Best Classic Holiday Sugar Cookies Recipe
This is the ultimate holiday cookie recipe! These classic sugar cookies hold their shape perfectly, have a rich buttery flavor, and are perfect for decorating. A reliable and easy recipe for festive baking.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until just combined.
With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
Divide the dough in half, shape into two flat disks, and wrap each tightly in plastic wrap.
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours until firm.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll one disk of dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
Place cookies on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.
Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
For the icing, whisk the powdered sugar and meringue powder together. Add the warm water and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed for 2 minutes until stiff peaks form. Add more water, a teaspoon at a time, to reach desired consistency. Color with gel food coloring if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 120kcalProtein: 1.5gFat: 6gFiber: 0.5g
Notes
Dough Chilling is Crucial: Do not skip the chilling step! This is the most important part for ensuring your cookies do not spread while baking. Measuring Flour: For the best results, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife. This prevents the dough from becoming too dry. Storage: Store undecorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Store decorated cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Keyword Christmas Cookies,holiday cookies,sugar cookies
We hope this guide helps you create the most delicious and beautiful treats for your family and friends. Baking is all about sharing the love, and we can’t wait to see your amazing creations. Share your decorated cookies with us on Pinterest and spread the holiday cheer!
Get into the festive spirit with these delightful holiday cookies!
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
