It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Bring on the holiday cheer with these delicious and easy Christmas sugar cookies with icing. Impress your friends and family with these festive treats that are perfect for snacking, gifting, or leaving for Santa Claus.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tbsp milk
- Food coloring (optional)
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with milk, until dough forms.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.
- Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface.
- Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges.
- Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
- Add food coloring if desired.
- Ice cookies and decorate with sprinkles.
- Let icing set before serving or storing.
Nutritional Information:
Serving size: 1 cookie
Calories: 120
Total fat: 6g
Saturated fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 25mg
Sodium: 20mg
Total carbohydrates: 15g
Dietary fiber: 0g
Sugar: 8g
Protein: 1g
Cooking Time:
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10-12 minutes per batch
Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes (includes chilling time)
Equipment:
- Large bowl
- Electric mixer
- Whisk
- Plastic wrap
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters
- Lined baking sheet
- Wire rack
- Small bowl
Serving Suggestions:
These Christmas sugar cookies with icing are perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or as a festive treat to snack on. Serve with a glass of milk or your favorite hot beverage.
Variations:
Get creative with your cookie cutters and icing colors to make these Christmas sugar cookies truly unique. You can also add different extracts like peppermint or almond to the dough for a fun twist on the classic recipe.
Substitutions:
- You can use salted butter, but omit the additional salt in the recipe.
- Substitute almond milk or soy milk for the milk in the recipe to make it dairy-free.
- Swap out the powdered sugar for a glaze made with honey or maple syrup.
Storage:
Store these Christmas sugar cookies with icing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. You can also freeze the cookies for up to 3 months.
Tips:
- Chill the dough for at least 1 hour to make it easier to roll out and cut into shapes.
- Don’t overwork the dough or the cookies will be tough.
- Let the cookies cool completely before icing to prevent the icing from melting.
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant colors.
Notes:
This recipe makes approximately 36 cookies, depending on the size of your cookie cutters.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I make the dough ahead of time?
- Can I freeze the dough?
- Do I have to use icing?
Yes, you can make the dough up to 3 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Yes, you can freeze the dough for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before rolling out and cutting into shapes.
No, you can leave the cookies plain or dust with powdered sugar instead.
Personal Thoughts:
These Christmas sugar cookies with icing are a staple in my holiday baking repertoire. They’re easy to make, delicious, and perfect for sharing with loved ones. I love how versatile they are, and I always have fun experimenting with different cookie cutters and icing colors. If you’re looking for a festive treat to make this holiday season, give these cookies a try!