Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
User Reviews
5
Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Description
The sugar cookies are made by creaming softened butter and cream cheese with both granulated and powdered sugars, then adding egg and almond extract. Flour, baking powder, and salt are sifted into the wet mixture to form a soft cookie dough, which is rolled to about 3/8 inch thickness and cut with holiday-themed cookie cutters.
Baked at 375°F for 8-10 minutes, the cookies develop a tender texture. Decorating involves a rich frosting made from butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and almond extract, which can be tinted with food coloring and garnished with sprinkles and decorating gels for visual appeal fitting the Christmas theme.
The cookie dough can be made ahead and chilled for up to two days or frozen for several months, while frosted cookies can be stored at room temperature for several days or frozen for longer preservation. Using royal icing is suggested for a smoother finish on decorations.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- ¾ cup butter softened
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Frosting & Toppings
- ⅓ cup butter softened
- 4½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Food Coloring
- Sprinkles Christmas, colored
- decorating gel Christmas, colored
Instructions
Sugar Cookies
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a cookie sheet.
- In a large bowl mix butter, cream cheese, sugars, egg, and almond until creamy. Use a Kitchen-Aid or hand mixer.
- In a separate bowl sift the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Combine until soft dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, mix in a bit more flour.
- Lightly flour the counter and roll out the dough to about ⅜ inches. (For a crispier cookie roll the dough thinner.) Once the dough has been rolled cut with holiday cookie cutters.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool before decorating.
Frosting
- Add the butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and almond extract to a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine.
- Make all the frosting one color or divide it into separate bowls and mix it with different food coloring.
- Frost the cookies. Use colored decorating gel to add embellishments. Add any holiday sprinkles you wish.
Notes
- For a smoother decoration finish, consider using Royal Icing.
- Cookie dough can be refrigerated 1-2 days or frozen for 2-3 months before baking.
- Baked and frosted cookies store best in airtight containers: room temperature for 4-5 days, refrigerator for 6-7 days, or frozen for up to 3 months; use parchment between layers to prevent sticking.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 24Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 293 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cookie | |
| Calories | 293kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 45g | 15% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 39mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 157mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 46mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 33g | 66% |
| Vitamin A | 397IU | 8% |
| Calcium | 22mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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