Name: Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies with Homemade Glaze
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 57 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar; 1/4 cup of granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for rolling; 1 lb powdered sugar; 1/4 cup corn syrup; 1/4 cup water; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; Gel food colors

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One of the most iconic holiday desserts has to be the classic Christmas sugar cookies with icing or homemade glaze. Cut out cookies are a great way to create a sweet treat for a theme like Christmas. This foolproof sugar cookie recipe is one you'll use year-round but especially love for those special holiday-decorated cookies for sharing on Christmas Eve or at a local cookie exchange.

Christmas Sugar Cookies

It's a tradition going back many generations. Rolling cookie dough out on a clean counter and cutting out reindeer, trees, snowmen, and Santa Claus. A childhood rite of passage and a sentimental memory of parents. Making Christmas sugar cookies is one tradition that every family has and should carry out year after year, and this recipe is going to become the go-to choice.

Want more ideas for cookies to make with kids? You'll love these copycat Subway white chocolate cranberry cookies or these slice and bake Christmas cookies. Of course, classic chocolate chip is always a hit along with crunchy oatmeal cookies, but my son loves when I make a batch of these cranberry pinwheel slice and bake cookies.

What's the Best Thickness for Sugar Cookies?

Having made my share of cookies over the year, this is really a personal preference. I much prefer a soft and chewy cookie while others are prone to reach for the crunchy cookie. So, if you like crunchy cookies, ¼" is ideal for making this recipe. If you prefer a softer cookie, ½" thickness is ideal. Whatever you choose, any thinner and they will break apart too easily.

Why Didn't My Sugar Cookies Keep Their Shape?

The number one culprit of sugar cookies that spread out and lose their shape is that they were not chilled properly before baking. When baking with butter, if it isn't cold it will melt too fast and cause the dough to spread out fast. So, chilling the dough prior to baking tends to be the standard with sugar cookies or any cutout cookie.

Another issue is simply adding too much butter and sugar. If your ratio of butter and sugar to flour is off-balance, then the cookies will spread out as they don't have enough flour to hold their shape. The recipe below prevents this from happening and is fairly foolproof.

Can You Add Sprinkles Before Baking?

If you are not going to add glaze but only want sprinkles, the best way to get them to stick is to add them to the cookies before baking. Simply sprinkle or place on the cookies just before you pop them into the oven.

If you are planning to ice or glaze the cookies after baking, wait and add your sprinkles to the icing so they stick afterward and show on the top of the cookie. I like adding not just regular sprinkles or jimmies but unique to the holiday or event. Below are some favorite sprinkle blends I found on Etsy that are great for Christmas sugar cookie decorating.

How do You Decorate Christmas Sugar Cookies?

Sugar cookies don't have to be decorated, but that is the best part of making them with your children. Typically, sugar cookies will have at the minimum a sprinkle of sugar on top. I like using colored sugar crystals or colorful jimmies (sprinkles) if not using icing.

Royal icing and glaze are other options that are popular since they set nicely. The glaze below is a simple mixture you can put on your cookies and when left out will harden so they can be stacked or stored easily.

How Long In Advance Can I Make Christmas Cookies?

I have made these 2-3 days before serving and stored in an airtight container with great success. You can always prepare the dough up to a week before baking if refrigerating or up to 4 months before baking if freezing. Just thaw, roll, cut, and bake when ready!

Ingredients for Sugar Cookies

Unsalted butter
Light brown sugar
Granulated sugar
Egg
Vanilla extract
Salt
Baking powder
All purpose flour

Ingredients for Cookie Glaze

Powdered sugar
Corn syrup
Water
Vanilla extract
Gel food colors

How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookies

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and airy.

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix to combine.

Into a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Add the sifted flour to the butter mixture mixing until a dough forms.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30-minutes to one week.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

On a clean surface, sprinkle a light dusting of flour (¼ cup) and place the dough on the surface.

Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to ¼" thickness.

Cut the dough into desired shapes and place onto the lined baking sheets at least 1" apart.

Add sprinkles if not icing. Bake for 8-10 minutes for softer cookies and 10-12 for crisp cookies.

Allow the cookies to cool for 15 minutes before icing.

How to Make Sugar Cookie Glaze

In a large bowl, mix together powdered sugar, corn syrup, water, and vanilla and mix until incorporated.

If coloring your glaze, separate into individual bowls and add gel food coloring until the desired shade is reached.

Pipe or spread onto cooled cookies in the desired design.

More Holiday Treat Recipes

If you like this recipe then you'll love some of the other holidays treats we've shared here before too! Below are some of my favorites that go great on a dessert buffet. You can make tons of great treats and add to your Christmas treats platters.

Chef's Tips

If you struggle with measuring thickness of dough, invest in a Joseph adjustable rolling pin. These come with removable rings that help you see the thickness at a glance when rolling out your dough.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 24