Best Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipes

CHRISTMAS CUTOUT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. In another bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy and light. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, a third at a time to make a stiff dough. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out a portion of cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Place on lightly greased or nonstick cookie sheets. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minute, rotating baking sheet halfway through cooking time. Cool completely on pans about 5 minutes, transfer to cooling racks and cool completely before decorating.
• In a small bowl, mix sugar and water to form a thick, smooth icing. Stir in food coloring to reach desired shade. Drop icing onto cookies using a small teaspoon and smooth with the back of the spoon. Make additional bowls for additional colors.
• Additional multi-colored sprinkles can be added on top of icing before it dries for more decorative cookies, if desired.

ELAINE'S HOLIDAY CUT OUT SUGAR COOKIES - CHRISTMAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Cream butter and sugar.
• Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well.
• Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, to chill dough before rolling.
• Roll dough thickly. (about 1/4"). If you roll them too thin, they are hard to work with.
• Cut shapes, and put on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake 10-12 minutes.
• Cool on rack.
• Frost with your favorite frosting, icing, or glaze.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS SUGAR CUTOUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift together flour and baking powder in separate bowl.
• In second bowl, beat together sugar and egg until it becomes lemon-colored.
• Add butter, orange juice and vanilla.
• Mix until thoroughly incorporated.
• Slowly begin adding flour mixture (about 1/2 cup at a time) and blend; continue until all flour is used.
• Form into 2 flattened rectangles, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour.
• When ready to roll, set oven to 400 deg F.
• Cover baking sheets with parchment paper (can be reused from batch to batch).
• Sprinkle powdered sugar onto rolling surface as you would flour.
• Roll out one rectangle into desired thickness and cut out; place on baking sheet, making sure not to let cookies touch.
• Re-form scraps and roll again (may have to add more powdered sugar for rolling); continue until all dough is used.
• Once baking sheet is full, place into oven and set timer for 6 minutes.
• Depending on cookie thickness, baking time can range from 6-10 minutes, so check at the 6-minute mark to determine whether you need to bake longer.
• When light golden in color, remove cookies from baking sheet and place on cooling racks or flat surface covered with parchment.
• Cool to room temperature and frost with favorite frosting.
• If decorating, I recommend the following frosting (also appears in recipezaar under "Cutout Cookie Decorator Icing":.
• 1 cup confectioners sugar.
• 2 tsp milk.
• 2 tsp light corn syrup.
• 1/4 tsp vanilla.
• food coloring.

GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS SUGAR CUTOUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients together.
• Add shortening or margarine using a fork to combine with dry ingredients.
• Add unbeaten eggs and vanilla.
• Mix well.
• Add ground pecans for added flavor. (This is how Grandma always mixed hers).
• Whisk the dry ingredients together, add alternately with the eggs and vanilla.
• Mix well.
• Roll out thin on floured board and cut with floured cookie cutters.
• Decorate with sugar.
• Bake at 375°F for 8 minutes.
• Makes about 6 dozen.

CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Beat in the sour cream, honey and vanilla. Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and chill for 2 hours or until easy to handle. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured 3-in. cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake at 325° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. , In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white coating; stir until smooth. Stir in food coloring; drizzle over cookies.

EASY CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, flour, melted butter and egg until soft dough forms.
• On floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with about 2 1/2- to 3-inch cookie cutters. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cutouts 1 inch apart.
• Bake 6 to 9 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• Spread frosting on cooled cookies. Decorate as desired with icing, sprinkles and sugars. Store cookies in tightly covered container.

GLUTEN-FREE CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, shortening and softened butter with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. On low speed, beat in vanilla and egg. Stir in flour blend, baking powder and salt until well mixed. Divide dough in half; shape each half into disk. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.
• Heat oven to 375°F. On work surface lightly sprinkled with flour blend, roll each half of dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 8 to 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand 2 minutes on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Stir together Glaze ingredients. Spread on cookies. Sprinkle with additional granulated sugar, if desired.

ROLL OUT CLASSIC BUTTER - SUGAR COOKIES (CHRISTMAS OR HOLIDAYS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line some cookie sheets with either silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with a mixer paddle attachment for two minutes. Stop and scrape the bowl.
• Cream the mixture for an additional minute.
• Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined.
• Sift together baking powder and flour. Add the flour mixture 1 cup at a time to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly after each addition. Blend in the last cup of flour by hand. The dough will be stiff.
• Divide the dough into two balls. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.
• Roll out one ball of dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about 1/4 inch thick. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper and run a floured metal spatula under the dough to loosen it a bit.
• Cut cookies with cookie cutters of your choice. Dip them in flour before each use.
• Carefully place the cut out cookies onto prepared cookie sheets.
• If you own a Dobord adjust to 1/4 inch. Line Dobord bottom plate with parchment paper. Cut another sheet of parchment paper and roll out dough between that and the lined bottom. Cut out cookies with cookie cutters dipped in flour before each use.
• Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until they just start to brown. Let the cookies rest on the cookie sheet for 5 to 10 minutes before removing them to a cooling rack. Cool completely before glazing. Repeat process with second ball of dough.
• For Glaze (if using): In a mixing bowl thoroughly mix the sugar and the milk. The mixture should be very soft and have a heavy cream texture before you add the corn syrup. Add the corn syrup and mix just until combined. Mix in the extract and food coloring if you are planning on using only one color. If using many colors, divide up the glaze in to as many bowls as you need. Color each one using gel or paste food coloring (mix in a small bit at a time using a toothpick until you get the color you want). Use a small pastry brush to glaze the cookies. Paint the entire tops of the cookies with a thin layer of glaze and place back on the cooling racks to dry. Depending on temperature and humidity it will take between 6 and 12 hours for the glaze to dry completely.

MOM'S CHRISTMAS SUGAR CUT-OUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper.
• Mix confectioners' sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, and almond extract in a bowl with an electric mixer until it comes together well and butter is not clumpy. Slowly mix in baking soda and cream of tarter, then flour. When the dough becomes tougher to mix, use your hands to mash and knead until the dough is completely formed.
• Transfer dough to a large, floured work surface. Carefully roll to a thickness of about 1 centimeter or a little more; the thicker the dough, the softer the cookie. (These cookies will puff up in the oven.) Add flour to your work surface, the dough, and the rolling pin as needed.
• Cut out as many shapes as you can cleverly fit in the dough. Remove any extra dough from the perimeters of your cookies. Save all the scraps and roll into another ball for the next round of rolling and cutting out cookies.
• Delicately transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 1 inch of space between each one.
• Bake one tray at a time on the middle rack of the preheated oven, until cookies are still white on top and have fluffed up, 7 to 8 minutes. If they brown lightly along the edges, they should be removed immediately. Let the cookies sit on the tray for 1 minute and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool while you bake the second sheet of cookies.
• While cookies are cooling, prepare frosting by beating butter, egg white, and vanilla together in a bowl until creamy. Slowly mix in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Divide frosting into smaller bowls. Add 2 to 3 drops food coloring per bowl and mix well.
• Apply a thick layer of frosting to cooled cookies, spreading as smoothly as you can. Leave cookies on wire racks and cover with waxed paper. Let sit until frosting has hardened, 8 hours to overnight.

MARTHA'S BLUE RIBBON SUGAR COOKIES - CHRISTMAS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until well mixed.
• Add 2 eggs to the creamed mixture. Mix well.
• In another large bowl, mix sifted flour, baking powder and salt together. Add to creamed butter mixture. Mix well.
• Add in grated orange rind, and mix well.
• Make into a ball, and chill in bowl covered with saran wrap, for at least 2 hours, or overnight in the refrigerator.
• When ready to bake preheat the oven to 350.
• With a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to about 1/4" thick on a very lightly floured surface.
• Make into desired shapes using cookie cutters. (I dip my cutters in flour before cutting each cookie, so they don't stick). If you don't have cookie cutters, you can use the bottom of a glass instead. Brush off any excess flour before putting them on the cookie sheet, if there is any.
• Place cookies on ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart. You may use parchment paper if you like.
• Bake for 8 minutes (or you may preheat the oven to 300, and bake for 10 minutes).
• Let cookies cool on wire racks.
• Decorate.
• Store in a covered plastic container, or cookie tin.

PAULA DEEN'S ICED CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• To make the cookies - in a large bowl, beat butter and next 3 ingredients at medium speed with a mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each additon.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until combined. Cover dough with plastic and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On lightly flour surface roll dough to 1/4" thickness. Cut dough with desired cutters. Reroll dough scraps and cut out cookies until all dough has been used.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool on pans for 2 miutes and then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• To make Royal Icing - In a small bowl, whisk water and meringue powder until foamy. Gradually add confectioners sugar, whisking until smooth. Divide into small bowls and tint with food coloring pastes, stirring to achieve desired colors.
• Decorate cookes as desired with Royal Icing, dragees and sugar sprinkles.
• Store in airtight containers for up to 1 week.

SUGAR FREE CHRISTMAS CUT OUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream shortening, add sugar replacement and egg; beat well. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, add the milk, vanilla, and water. Put in flour mixture and stir well.
• Chill dough 2 to 4 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Roll out 1/8 inch thick and cut the cookies. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes Cool. Keep in air tight container.

CHRISTMAS SURPRISE SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg and flour until dough forms. Divide dough into thirds. Tint one-third red and one-third green with food colors; leave one-third plain. Keep dough covered tightly until ready to use.
• On floured surface, roll each third of dough until 1/8 inch thick. For round cookies, cut with 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter; for square cookies, cut into 1 1/2-inch squares using sharp knife. (Dip cutter or knife in flour for easier cutting.)
• On ungreased cookie sheet, place half the cookies 1 inch apart. Place 1 candy piece on center of each cookie; top with another cookie. Gently press edges together to seal, using tines of fork. To decorate before baking, sprinkle cookies with colored sprinkles, sugars or decors as desired.
• Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Decorate with gels as desired.

MERRY MAKER CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Mix sugar and butter.
• Add eggs and flavorings; mix well.
• Mix dry ingredients together, and blend in to other mixture.
• Divide dough into several parts.
• Tint each a different color.
• Make as many different colors as you like, but make sure they are really different to get the strongest contrast.
• Refrigerate dough for two or three hours.
• Take each color of dough and roll into small balls.
• Place an assortment of different colors next to each other, making sure no two of the same colors touch.
• Roll together, until about 1/8-inch thick.
• Cut as many cookies as possible from dough, because if you reroll it, it will smear together.
• Or, you can make a few at a time by rolling only a few balls at a time.
• Bake cookies at 375°F for 7-8 minutes, or until lightly golden on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
• These cookies freeze well.

CHRISTMAS TREE SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Beat in egg and extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle., On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 4x3-in. tree-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. , For icing, combine confectioners' sugar and milk. Remove 1/3 cup icing to a small bowl; tint dark green with food coloring. Tint remaining icing light green; spread over cookies. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; fill bag with dark green icing. Pipe zigzag lines onto trees for Christmas lights; decorate with sprinkles.

CHRISTMAS WREATH SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter, sour cream and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add egg, lime peel, lime juice and vanilla; beat until smooth. On low speed, beat in flour, baking soda and salt until dough forms. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Shape each half into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Place pastry cloth on work surface; sprinkle with flour. With floured cloth-covered rolling pin, roll 1 disk of dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut with floured 3-inch fluted cutter. With 1-inch scalloped or fluted canapé cutter, cut out center of each circle. On ungreased cookie sheet, place wreath cutouts 1 inch apart. Cut each small cutout in half; brush backs of small cutouts with water and place on wreaths for bows. Repeat with second disk of dough.
• Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack; cool completely.
• In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of the lime juice with wire whisk. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon at a time, until glaze is thin. Working with a few cookies at a time, brush glaze over cookies and immediately decorate with sugars and sprinkles as desired. Let stand until set. Store in layers with waxed paper between.

EASY VEGAN CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix ground flax seed and water in a bowl; let sit until thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Cream vegan margarine and coconut sugar together until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add flax mixture and vanilla extract; mix until well combined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt; mix well until a soft dough forms. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll out dough to 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness on a floured surface. Dip cookie cutter in flour, cut out cookies, and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Chill completely before adding frosting.
• Combine confectioners' sugar, soy milk, vanilla extract, and food coloring in a bowl. Dip cookies in frosting and place on a wire rack until frosting is set, about 30 minutes.

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Combine : butter, sugar, eggs , vanilla then add ricotta and mix well.
• 2. Add the dry ingredients flour, salt, baking soda. Mix well and drop by tablespoons onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, or a greased cookie sheet.
• 3. Bake 350* 10 minutes or so, just barely lt golden on the edges..remove to cooling rack.. Cool completely before putting vanilla frosting on top, then add sprinkles, if you have any left store in fridge...

BROWN SUGAR, MOLASSES, NUT COOKIES (CHRISTMAS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the sugar, shortening, molasses, and eggs until smooth.
• Mix in all remaining ingredients, beating well.
• Cover and refrigerate until firm enough to handle (2 1/2 hours to overnight).
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Roll out dough (small amounts at a time) on well-floured surface until 1/8-inch thick.
• Cut with cookie cutters.
• Bake until golden brown (10-15 minutes).
• Dust with powdered sugar.
• Decorate with colored candies.

CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES--OR ANYTIME

Steps:

• Mix the shortening, sugar, vanilla, and eggs till light and fluffy.
• Add the rest of the ingredients.
• Chill 3-4 hours or overnight (I do mine overnight).
• On a well-floured surface, roll thin.
• Cut in shapes.
• Place on ungreased baking sheet.
• Sprinkle sugar on top of them.
• Bake 350-375 degrees (depending on oven) for 6-8 minutes depending on your thickness.
• Cool on a rack.
• You may also decorate them with and icing; there are a couple of good ones on Zaar.