If you’re on the hunt for the perfect festive treat this holiday season, I’ve got you covered with my Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe. These cookies strike the ultimate balance between soft, tender crumb and a hint of buttery sweetness that melts in your mouth. When I first tried this recipe, I was thrilled by how easy it was and how wonderfully soft the cookies stayed even days later. Trust me, once you bake these, your family and friends will keep coming back for more – these are truly fan-freaking-tastic!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Deliciously Soft Texture: Unlike typical sugar cookies, these stay tender and cakey, perfect for holiday snacking.
- Easy-to-Follow Steps: Even if you’re new to baking, you’ll find the process straightforward and satisfying.
- Versatile Frosting Options: Customize with classic red, green, or keep it simple with creamy vanilla frosting.
- Perfect for Sharing: These cookies keep their softness for days, so they’re great for gift-giving or parties.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe lies in using cake flour for that tender bite, combined with a mix of butter and vegetable shortening to keep the cookies soft and moist. Each ingredient pulls its weight in making the flavors shine while ensuring that perfect soft texture you crave.
- Cake Flour: It’s finer and lighter than all-purpose flour, giving your cookies a delicate tenderness.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leaveners help your cookies rise just enough without drying them out.
- Kosher Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create that slight golden crust.
- Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s at room temperature for smooth mixing and rich flavor.
- Vegetable Shortening: Helps retain moisture so your cookies stay soft longer.
- Sour Cream: Brings a subtle tang and extra softness to the dough.
- Vanilla & Almond Extracts: These extracts bring depth and warmth to the flavor profile.
- Large Egg: Binds everything together and adds structure.
- For Frosting: Unsalted butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and food coloring for festive flair!
Variations
One of my favorite things about this Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. Whether you prefer a dairy-free option or want to switch up flavors, there’s a way to tweak it without losing that delightful softness.
- Dairy-Free Version: I’ve swapped out sour cream for coconut yogurt and used dairy-free butter, and the cookies still turned out soft and delicious.
- Spiced Variation: Add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry ingredients for a cozy holiday twist that my family absolutely loves.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Using a gluten-free cake flour blend works well, just keep the dough consistency in check like I did on my test runs.
- No-Bake Option: While these cookies are best fresh baked, you can prepare the dough balls, freeze them, and bake fresh when guests arrive.
How to Make Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep your oven and dry ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 325°F (that’s a slightly lower temp than your typical cookie bake). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper so the cookies don’t stick and clean up is a breeze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt until evenly combined. This ensures your leavening is well distributed, which is key to those beautifully soft cookies.
Step 2: Cream together your fats and sugar
Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the granulated sugar, room-temperature butter, vegetable shortening, and sour cream on medium-high speed. This takes around three minutes to get the mix light, fluffy, and smooth — it’s such a satisfying step because you’ll see the magic starting here. When I first tried rushing this part, the texture wasn’t as soft, so take your time!
Step 3: Incorporate your egg and extracts
Next, add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract to your fluffy mixture. Mix until just combined to avoid over-beating, which can make the dough tough. The almond extract adds that subtle, festive aroma that really elevates these cookies in ways I didn’t expect until I tried it.
Step 4: Blend in the dry ingredients
Slowly add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients on low speed, mixing until just combined — about one minute should do it. Avoid over-mixing here; your dough should be soft but not sticky. If it’s too sticky, a quick chill in the fridge can help before scooping.
Step 5: Shape the dough and bake with care
Using a medium cookie scoop or tablespoon, form the dough into smooth balls with your hands and place them about 2 inches apart on your baking sheets. Press each gently with the bottom of a cup for that classic sugar cookie look and to help them bake evenly. Bake for 10–13 minutes — watch for when the tops look set and pale yellow. Be careful not to overbake. I learned the hard way that taking them out just slightly underdone yields the softest texture and melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
Step 6: Cool and frost your cookies
Once baked, let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, make your frosting by beating butter and vanilla extract until combined, then adding powdered sugar a cup at a time. Thin with heavy cream to get the perfect spreadable consistency. Divide into bowls and add red and green food coloring to two of them, leaving one white for classic options. Frost your cookies, sprinkle some festive sprinkles on top, and voila — holiday cheer on a plate!
Pro Tips for Making Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Use Cake Flour for Tenderness: The key trick I discovered is that cake flour produces a softer crumb than all-purpose, so don’t skip it!
- Don’t Overbake: These cookies look slightly undercooked when you take them out, but they finish baking on the hot pan for that perfect softness.
- Balance Butter and Shortening: The butter gives flavor, while shortening locks in moisture—I learned this combo keeps the cookies soft even after days.
- Proper Cooling is Essential: Let cookies cool fully on a wire rack before frosting to prevent melting and keep your decorations looking crisp.
How to Serve Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping these cookies with festive sprinkles in red, green, and white — it instantly brings holiday joy. Sometimes I add a tiny swirl of colored sugar crystals for a bit of sparkle. If you’re feeling creative, try piped royal icing details or even edible glitter for that extra wow factor.
Side Dishes
These soft sugar cookies pair beautifully with hot cocoa for cozy afternoons or alongside spiced mulled wine at holiday parties. I also enjoy having them served with a simple cheese platter, as the sweetness complements sharp cheeses surprisingly well.
Creative Ways to Present
For my last Christmas gathering, I arranged these cookies on a tiered stand decorated with pine branches and fairy lights — it made for a stunning centerpiece. Another time, I packaged them individually in cellophane bags tied with colorful ribbons for charming homemade gifts everyone adored.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies keep best in an airtight container at room temperature. From my experience, placing a slice of bread inside helps maintain moisture so the cookies stay soft for up to a week. If you don’t have bread, a damp paper towel works in a pinch!
Freezing
I often freeze unbaked dough balls wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then bake fresh when I need some last-minute treats. You can also freeze fully baked and cooled cookies in a single layer in a sealed container for up to 3 months. When ready, just thaw at room temperature, and they’re almost as good as fresh!
Reheating
If you want to enjoy leftovers warm, pop cookies in a 300°F oven for about 3-5 minutes. This refreshes their softness and lightly melts the frosting. I wouldn’t recommend microwaving as it can make them too soft or chewy, but the oven keeps the texture just right.
FAQs
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Can I use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?
You can substitute all-purpose flour, but the texture will be slightly denser rather than tender and soft. To mimic cake flour, replace 2 tablespoons of each cup of all-purpose flour with cornstarch, sift together, and then measure.
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How do I keep my sugar cookies soft for longer?
Store cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread or a damp paper towel to help retain moisture. Avoid placing them near heat or direct sunlight, and don’t refrigerate as this dries them out quickly.
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Can I freeze the cookie dough?
Absolutely! Roll the dough into balls, wrap tightly in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container, and freeze. When ready, bake from frozen, adding a couple minutes to the bake time.
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What frosting works best with these sugar cookies?
A classic buttercream frosting, like the recipe provided here, pairs beautifully because it’s rich yet light. Cream cheese frosting is another delicious option if you want a tangy contrast.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe captures the joy of the holidays in every bite. It’s become a staple in my kitchen because it’s so simple, forgiving, and reliably tasty — just like sharing good times with friends. If you want cookies that impress with softness, flavor, and classic festive charm, give this recipe a try. Once you do, I’m pretty sure these will become your go-to sugar cookies year after year!
Print
Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies are perfectly tender and lightly sweetened, making them an ideal holiday treat. Made with cake flour and a blend of butter and shortening for extra softness, these cookies bake up into delicate rounds that are easily topped with creamy, colorful frosting and festive sprinkles. Perfect for sharing during the holidays or decorating with family.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 3 cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable shortening
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 large egg
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt until well combined to prepare the base dry mixture for the cookies.
- Cream Butter, Shortening, Sugar, and Sour Cream: Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat together the granulated sugar, softened butter, vegetable shortening, and sour cream on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes. Mix until the mixture is smooth, light, and fluffy, which adds air for a soft texture.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Incorporate the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the creamed mixture, mixing until fully blended for flavor and moisture.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined—this should take about 1 minute. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Form Cookie Balls: Using a medium cookie scoop, portion out the dough and roll each portion into smooth balls with your hands. Place them evenly spaced (about 2 inches apart) on the prepared baking sheets.
- Flatten Cookie Dough: Press each dough ball gently with the bottom of a cup to flatten slightly, which helps the cookies bake evenly and maintain a soft center.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 13 minutes or until the tops are set and pale yellow. Be careful not to overbake to retain their soft texture; slightly underbaking is ideal.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool thoroughly before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and vanilla extract together until combined and smooth.
- Add Powdered Sugar and Cream: Slowly add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Thin the frosting with heavy cream to reach your desired spreadable consistency.
- Color and Decorate: Divide the frosting into three bowls. Tint one with red food coloring, another with green, and leave one white. Use the colored frosting to decorate your cooled cookies, then top with festive sprinkles. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
- These cookies can also be frozen unfrosted for up to 3 months; thaw completely before frosting.
- Adjust the amount of food coloring to achieve desired vibrant colors.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with dairy-free margarine and heavy cream with coconut cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
