Santa Clause Cookies with Vanilla Frosting Recipe

If you’re looking for a festive treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat, I’ve got you covered with this Santa Clause Cookies with Vanilla Frosting Recipe. These aren’t your typical holiday cookies – each bite is buttery, lightly sweet, and perfectly complemented by a luscious vanilla frosting that you can decorate any way you like. I absolutely love how this recipe brings out my inner kid every Christmas, and I’m excited to share all my best tips so you can nail it in your kitchen too.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

What I love about this Santa Clause Cookies with Vanilla Frosting Recipe is how straightforward the ingredients are—they all work in harmony to create that nostalgic holiday cookie we crave. Plus, a couple of optional extras like hazelnut liquor really boost the flavor if you’re feeling fancy.

• Salted Butter: Using room temperature butter helps you cream it smoothly with sugar for the perfect cookie texture.
• Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel note that makes the cookies so delicious.
• Hazelnut Liquor (optional): This little splash adds a fun, nutty complexity—feel free to skip if you prefer.
• Vanilla Extract: A must-have for that warm, comforting flavor foundation in both dough and frosting.
• Egg: Helps bind everything together and adds a rich texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: The main structural ingredient for your cookie dough; sometimes you’ll need a bit more to get just the right consistency.
• Baking Soda: Ensures the cookies get just a touch of lift without spreading too thin.
• Kosher Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors beautifully.
• Powdered Sugar: For making that silky smooth vanilla frosting and buttercream.
• Cream Cheese (optional for Buttercream): Adds tangy richness when making the buttercream frosting.
• Sprinkles / Vanilla Sugar / Sanding Sugar: These are your fun decorating options—mix and match for a festive look!

Variations

One of the things I really enjoy about this Santa Clause Cookies with Vanilla Frosting Recipe is how easy it is to play around with. Depending on your mood or your holiday theme, you can switch up flavors and decorations to keep things exciting and personal.

• Hazelnut-Free Version: When I don’t have hazelnut liquor on hand, I substitute with a dash of almond extract, and it still tastes amazing.
• Frosting Swap: I sometimes swap vanilla frosting for chocolate buttercream to mix up the look and flavor for Santa’s suit!
• Gluten-Free: You can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend instead of regular flour, but be mindful of dough consistency—it might need a bit more liquid.
• Decorations: Instead of sprinkles, try crushed peppermint candies or edible glitter for a sparkly winter effect.

How to Make Santa Clause Cookies with Vanilla Frosting Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Basics and Make the Dough

I always start by beating the softened butter with light brown sugar until it’s light and fluffy—this takes about a minute with a mixer. It’s incredible how this simple step lays the foundation for the silkiness in the cookie. Then, you stir in the hazelnut liquor if you’re using it, plus vanilla extract for that classic holiday scent. Adding the egg at room temperature helps everything come together smoothly without knocking the air out of the mixture.

Next up, you mix in your flour, baking soda, and salt. This part is where you want to watch the texture closely—your dough should hold together in a ball but not be sticky. If it feels too wet, sprinkle in one tablespoon of flour at a time until it’s just right. I discovered this little trick after a couple of too-sticky batches that became impossible to roll out!

Step 2: Roll, Cut, and Chill

This part is always fun because you get to bring out your favorite holiday cookie cutters. I love using snowflakes, stars, and Christmas trees to get that festive vibe going. Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to 1/4-inch thickness—that keeps things tidy and makes cleanup easier. Don’t skimp on the flour for dusting; if your dough sticks, it can ruin your shapes.

After you cut out your cookies, carefully transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet. I use a floured spatula or an offset spatula for this—it’s a game-changer when handling delicate shapes. Then, here’s my secret: pop the baking sheet in the freezer for 20-30 minutes until the cookies are firm. This chilling step helps prevent spreading in the oven and keeps your shapes crisp and defined.

Step 3: Bake Until Just Golden

Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake the cookies on the middle rack for 8-10 minutes. Keep your eye on them—they’re done when they’re just barely golden around the edges but still pale on top. Overbaking can dry these out, and we want tender, soft cookies. Once baked, let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling is important because it lets the cookies firm up for decorating.

Step 4: Whip Up Your Vanilla Frosting and Buttercream

The vanilla frosting is delightfully simple: mix powdered sugar with a splash of hazelnut liquor (if using), vanilla, and a bit of water until drizzly but smooth. I like to thin it out tablespoon by tablespoon until it’s the perfect texture for flooding my cookie shapes.

For the buttercream, beating the butter and cream cheese together until extra fluffy took me a few tries to get just right, but trust me, it’s worth it because it adds that creamy richness great for piping small details like Santa’s beard. Adding powdered sugar and vanilla afterward and beating some more gives you a frosting that’s stable yet soft enough to pipe cleanly.

Step 5: Decorate Your Santa Clause Cookies with Vanilla Frosting Recipe

Decorating is where the magic happens, and I love this part because you can really make these cookies your own. For Santas, I outline a star cookie with vanilla frosting, then fill the body with red sprinkles or sanding sugar, leaving one triangle for the face. Mini chocolate chips make perfect little eyes, and I pipe buttercream for the beard and add a red sprinkle nose.

Snowflakes get piped with lines and dots of frosting to highlight their shape, and a sprinkle of vanilla sugar makes them glisten like freshly fallen snow. Christmas trees are filled with vanilla frosting and sprinkled with sugar for that frosty effect. Letting the frosting set for about an hour keeps everything neat and ready to stack or serve.

How to Serve Santa Clause Cookies with Vanilla Frosting Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with colorful sprinkles and vanilla sugar; they add just the right amount of sparkle and festive fun without overpowering the frosting’s flavor. For a little extra flair, sometimes crushed peppermint candies give a nice pop of color and a hint of minty freshness.

Side Dishes

Serving these cookies with a warm mug of spiced hot cocoa or your favorite holiday punch is my go-to. They also pair beautifully with a bowl of fresh seasonal fruit or a sliced cheese platter to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For a party, I like to arrange them on a decorative platter lined with evergreen sprigs and cranberries—it instantly adds holiday cheer. Wrapping individual cookies in clear bags tied with red ribbon makes adorable gifts or stocking stuffers that look as thoughtful as they taste.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. They keep well for up to 5 days, though honestly, they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

If you want to make these in advance, you can freeze both unbaked cut-out cookies and baked cookies. Freeze unbaked cookies on a baking sheet first, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. When ready, bake straight from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

I usually don’t reheat decorated cookies, but if you prefer them warm and fresh, pop them in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes to soften slightly—just watch so they don’t melt the frosting.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

When I first tried this Santa Clause Cookies with Vanilla Frosting Recipe, I was hooked not just by the flavors but by the joyful process of decorating and sharing them. They make holiday baking fun for everyone—whether you’re a total newbie or a seasoned pro. I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do—it’s a recipe that brings smiles, warmth, and a little extra sparkle to the season. So grab your rolling pin and cookie cutters, and let’s make some magic.

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