These Soft Christmas Cookies are buttery, fluffy, and wonderfully tender, with a soft center that practically melts in your mouth. Finished with colorful festive icing and sprinkles, they’re perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges, holiday parties, baking with the kids, or filling a beautiful holiday dessert tray.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 2¾ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
For the Festive Icing
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Food coloring, optional
- Christmas sprinkles, optional
Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Set aside.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar for 2–3 minutes, until light, fluffy, and creamy.
This step helps give the cookies their soft, delicate texture.
4. Add the Wet Ingredients
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
Add the sour cream and mix until fully incorporated.
The sour cream adds moisture and helps keep the cookies wonderfully soft.
5. Make the Dough
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
Mix on low speed just until everything is combined and a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
If the dough feels too soft to scoop, refrigerate it for 20–30 minutes.
6. Shape the Cookies
Scoop the dough into rounded tablespoons and place them onto the prepared baking sheets.
Leave approximately 2 inches (5 cm) between each cookie.
Gently flatten the tops if desired.
7. Bake
Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to look set.
The cookies should remain pale and soft in the center. Do not overbake—that’s the secret to keeping them tender.
Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.
Make the Christmas Icing
While the cookies cool, prepare the icing.
- Add the powdered sugar to a bowl.
- Gradually whisk in the milk, one tablespoon at a time.
- Add the vanilla extract.
- Continue mixing until you have a smooth, spreadable icing.
- Divide the icing between small bowls if you want several colors.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to create festive shades.
Once the cookies are completely cool, spread or drizzle the icing over each cookie.
Immediately decorate with Christmas sprinkles, colored sugar, or festive candy decorations.
Allow the icing to set before stacking or storing.
Decorating Ideas
Make your cookies extra festive with:
- Red and green icing
- White snowflake decorations
- Christmas sprinkles
- Crushed peppermint candy
- Red and green sanding sugar
- Mini chocolate chips
- Edible glitter
For a beautiful holiday platter, decorate half the cookies with red icing and half with green and white icing.
Tips for Perfect Soft Christmas Cookies
Don’t overbake.
The cookies may look slightly underdone in the center when they come out of the oven. That’s exactly what you want for a soft texture.
Use room-temperature butter.
Softened butter creams more evenly with the sugar.
Don’t add too much flour.
For the most accurate results, weigh the flour if possible. Too much flour can make the cookies dry.
Cool completely before icing.
Warm cookies will cause the icing to melt and slide off.
Chill the dough if needed.
If the dough becomes difficult to handle, a short chill will make scooping much easier.
How to Store
Store the finished cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–5 days.
Place parchment paper between layers if the icing remains soft.
For longer storage, the unbaked dough can be portioned and frozen. Freeze the dough balls on a tray until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container.
Perfect for the Holidays
These soft sugar cookies are wonderful for:
- Christmas cookie exchanges
- Santa’s cookie plate
- Holiday parties
- Christmas baking days
- Homemade edible gifts
- Cozy winter desserts
Recipe Summary
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 20–30 minutes, optional
Bake Time: 9–11 minutes
Total Time: About 45 minutes
Servings: Approximately 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Soft Christmas Cookies, Christmas Sugar Cookies, Holiday Cookies, Soft Sugar Cookies
These cookies are soft, buttery, fluffy, and beautifully festive—the perfect sweet treat for your Christmas baking season!