Description
Delight in these classic Christmas Cut-Out Sugar Cookies, perfect for holiday celebrations. Soft, buttery, and easy to decorate, these cookies are made from a simple dough that chills to the perfect consistency, rolled out and cut into festive shapes. Finished with sweet vanilla icing and optional sprinkles or food coloring, these cookies are a fun and delicious holiday tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional)
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
For the Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Food coloring and sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will help create tender cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until fully combined and smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and salt.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough and producing tough cookies.
- Chill Dough: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This firms the dough, making it easier to roll and cut.
- Preheat Oven and Roll Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about ¼ inch thickness for even, consistent baking.
- Cut Out Cookies: Use cookie cutters to cut festive shapes from the dough, then transfer the shapes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookie edges just begin to turn golden. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft and tender.
- Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating. Prepare the icing by mixing powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Use food coloring and sprinkles as desired for festive decoration.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is crucial for clean cookie shapes and preventing spreading during baking.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets to avoid sticking and for easy cleanup.
- For best results, allow cookies to cool completely before icing to avoid melting the decoration.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- This recipe can be doubled easily to make more cookies for large gatherings.
