Dessert

Soft Christmas Cookies Recipe

BySana Jeannette November 15, 2025November 15, 2025

Introduction

These soft Christmas cookies are a delightful treat perfect for the holiday season. With a tender, buttery texture and sweet vanilla-almond flavor, they’re ideal for decorating and sharing with loved ones.

A white plate holds several Christmas tree shaped sugar cookies with two visible layers: a golden brown cookie base and a thick layer of white icing covering the whole tree shape on top. The white icing features decorative swirls of red or white icing forming diagonal lines across each tree. Green sugar sprinkles are scattered over the white icing, with clusters of small white and red round sprinkles adding texture and color contrast, resembling ornaments. The cookies are arranged overlapping, filling the plate. The background is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
4 tablespoons milk

For the Icing:

2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Food coloring and sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.

Step 3: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until smooth.
Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk, until a soft dough forms. If the dough feels sticky, chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Step 5: On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut into festive shapes using cookie cutters and place them on the prepared baking sheets.

Step 6: Bake the cookies for 6–8 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 7: While the cookies cool, prepare the icing by mixing powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add food coloring if desired. Spread or pipe the icing over the cooled cookies and decorate with sprinkles for a festive finish.

Tips & Variations

Chilling the dough before rolling makes it easier to handle and helps maintain the cookie shape during baking.

For a fun twist, add a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to the dough for a citrusy note.
Use royal icing instead of simple icing for more detailed decorations that harden nicely.

Storage

Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If iced, let the icing set completely before stacking to prevent sticking. To reheat, bring to room temperature; warming is generally not necessary as the cookies are best enjoyed soft.

How to Serve

A white plate filled with several tree-shaped sugar cookies with a light golden-brown base layer, each cookie covered with a smooth, white icing layer on top. On top of the white icing, green or red icing lines create swirling patterns resembling garlands on Christmas trees, with one cookie showing thick green swirls and another with thinner red ribbons. The cookies are decorated with small round and star-shaped sprinkles in red, green, and white, evenly spread across the icing, adding texture and festive color. The plate is placed on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before rolling and baking. Just bring it to room temperature slightly before working with it.

What if I don’t have almond extract?

Almond extract adds a subtle nutty flavor but can be omitted or replaced with an equal amount of extra vanilla extract without compromising the taste too much.