If you’re on the hunt for the perfect holiday treat, you’re going to adore this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies come out soft, buttery, and just sweet enough, with that festive pop of colorful sprinkles. Plus, the whipped frosting on top makes them irresistible for any Christmas gathering. Stick around—I’ll walk you through some friendly tips and tricks to help you bake these like a pro, even if you’re new to sugar cookies!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfect Holiday Flavor: The combination of vanilla and sprinkles gives these cookies a festive, nostalgic taste that instantly brightens any Christmas cookie platter.
Soft, But Not Too Sweet: You’ll find these cookies have just the right balance of sweetness, making them a hit with kids and adults alike.
Whipped Frosting Magic: The frosting is light, fluffy, and spreads beautifully without being overly sticky or heavy.
Easy to Customize: Whether you want to add more sprinkles, adjust flavors, or experiment with shapes, this recipe is wonderfully adaptable.

Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe - Recipe Step

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients come together to create the perfect sugar cookie base that’s sturdy enough for frosting but still melts in your mouth. Choosing good quality butter and fresh vanilla extract really makes a difference here.

Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe - Ingredients

All-purpose flour: Spoon and level it for accuracy, or better yet, use a kitchen scale to avoid dry cookies.
Baking powder and baking soda: Both help with the perfect rise and texture.
Salt: Enhances the sweetness and balances flavors perfectly.
Christmas sprinkles: I use colorful jimmie sprinkles for that classic festive look and a bit of crunch.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter is key to creamy dough and tender cookies.
White granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and a slight crisp to the cookie edges.
Large eggs: Bring the dough together and add richness.
Pure vanilla extract: For that warm, comforting flavor in both cookies and frosting.
Powdered sugar: Sifted for a smooth, lump-free frosting.
Heavy cream: Gives the frosting its fluffy, spreadable consistency.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love tweaking this Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe depending on the crowd or occasion. You can easily make these allergy-friendly or add your favorite flavors to switch things up.

Gluten-Free Version: I swapped the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free blend once, and they still turned out soft and delicious.
Flavored Frosting: Adding a little peppermint extract to the frosting really brings out those holiday vibes.
No-Sprinkle Option: If you’re baking for little ones sensitive to texture, leaving out sprinkles makes them just as tasty.
Vegan Alternative: Using vegan butter and flax eggs will get you pretty close to the same results for a plant-based crowd.

How to Make Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients with Sprinkles

First up, sift your flour into a large mixing bowl to get rid of lumps—this step really helps create light, tender cookies. Then stir in the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and that festive 1/3 cup of Christmas jimmie sprinkles. I love how the sprinkles get embedded through the dough, adding little bursts of color when baked. Set this aside while you prepare the wet ingredients.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using a mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar on high for about 2 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. This is one of my favorite parts because it gives the cookies a soft texture. Next, add your vanilla extract and the eggs, beating again on high for 1 minute to blend everything together beautifully.

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients and Rest the Dough

Turn your mixer to low and gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture—mix just until combined. Don’t over-mix here or your cookies might turn out tougher. Letting the dough rest for 10 minutes after mixing is a trick I discovered that allows the gluten to relax, helping the cookies stay tender, plus it’s easier to scoop later.

Step 4: Chill and Bake the Cookies

Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Using a large cookie scoop, portion out the dough and place the balls on the sheets. Chill these in the fridge for at least 30 minutes—this step is key to prevent spreading during baking. When your oven reaches 350°F, bake about 6 cookies per sheet for 13-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5: Whip Up the Frosting

While the cookies cool, sift the powdered sugar for a smooth frosting base. Beat room temperature butter on high for 3 minutes until fluffy, then slowly add the powdered sugar. Mix until smooth, then blend in the vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and heavy cream. Beat on high for another 2 minutes until the frosting is perfectly light and creamy. This frosting won’t be too thick or too runny—just right for spreading or piping.

Step 6: Decorate and Enjoy

Use a small cookie scoop to dollop frosting onto each cookie. Then spread it out gently with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Top with extra sprinkles for that extra festive touch! My family goes crazy for these; they’re always the first batch to disappear at holiday parties.

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Pro Tips for Making Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe

Chilling is Key: Don’t skip chilling the dough—it keeps the cookies from spreading too much and helps retain that perfect shape for frosting.
Perfect Flour Measure: I learned that spooning and leveling your flour or weighing it helps avoid dry, crumbly cookies.
Soft Butter Makes a Difference: Using room temperature butter, not melted, gives your cookies the best tenderness and lift.
Frosting Consistency: If your frosting feels too stiff, add a little more heavy cream, one teaspoon at a time, until it’s easy to spread but holds its shape.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe

Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe - Serving

Garnishes

I love topping my cookies with a mix of festive sprinkles—little stars, red and green jimmies, or pearlized sugar crystals add a fun crunch and make them look extra special. Sometimes, I even add edible glitter to sparkle up the platter, especially if I’m baking for kids.

Side Dishes

These sugar cookies pair wonderfully with hot cocoa topped with marshmallows, classic eggnog, or a cup of freshly brewed coffee for adults. For a holiday party, I like adding a cheese board with seasonal fruits alongside the cookies to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

One of my favorite presentation ideas is to arrange these cookies in a circle on a festive platter, piping the frosting in pretty swirls and layering with sprinkles of different colors. I’ve even wrapped them individually in cellophane bags tied with ribbons to use as edible gifts or stocking stuffers—always a hit!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

You’ll want to keep your decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh for up to a week, but I recommend eating them sooner because the frosting tastes best fresh. I usually keep them stacked with parchment paper in between to avoid smudges.

Freezing

Freezing the plain, unbaked cookie dough is a great way to prep ahead. Simply scoop the dough balls onto a tray, freeze until solid, and then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready, bake from frozen—just add a minute or two to the baking time. I don’t recommend freezing frosted cookies because the texture can change.

Reheating

If your cookies have been stored and you want that just-baked warmth, pop them in a 300°F oven for about 3-5 minutes. Avoid microwaving since it can melt the frosting and make the cookies soggy. This little trick revitalizes their softness and flavor beautifully.

FAQs

Can I make these Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe without eggs?

Absolutely! You can replace each egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water, chilled for 5 minutes) for a vegan-friendly option. Just note that the texture might be slightly different—still delicious, though!
How far in advance can I make the cookies?

You can prepare and bake the cookies up to 3 days before you want to serve them. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature and frost them the day you plan to serve for the best freshness.
What if I don’t have an offset spatula for frosting?

No worries! You can use the back of a spoon or a butter knife to spread the frosting evenly. The key is to go gently so the cookies don’t break and to keep the frosting smooth.
Can I substitute the sprinkles with other mix-ins?

For sure! Try mini chocolate chips, crushed peppermint candies, or colored sugars as fun alternatives. Just keep in mind that some sprinkles melt differently during baking, so choose high-quality baking sprinkles for best results.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Sugar Cookies with Frosting Recipe has become my go-to during the holiday season because it’s just so reliably delicious and fun to make. I love watching how the sprinkles peek out after baking and seeing my family’s faces light up when they bite into that perfect blend of soft cookie and creamy frosting. If you give this recipe a try, I’m confident it’ll become a holiday favorite in your home, too—so grab your mixer, put on some Christmas tunes, and have fun baking!