Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies You’ll Bake Every Year

Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies are the official taste of cozy holiday magic — fluffy, buttery, and ridiculously soft in every bite. Forget dry, crunchy cookies that crumble into holiday disappointment — these beauties stay pillowy, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Cue the twinkle lights, turn up the Christmas playlist, and get ready to bake cookies that look like Pinterest dreams and taste even better. Santa wishes he had these.

Why You’ll Love These Cookies

A lot of Christmas cookies are pretty but taste like cardboard dipped in glitter. Not here — these are for bakers who want adorable cookies and real flavor.

Here’s why you’ll be obsessed:

• Super soft texture — like biting into a sugar-flavored cloud ????
• Hold their shape — your cute tree won’t come out looking like a sad blob
• Perfect for decorating — frosting, sprinkles, edible glitter, you name it
• Holiday-crowd approved — kids and adults devour these equally fast
• Make-ahead friendly — dough stores beautifully (less stress, yay)
• Beginner-friendly — zero baking wizard certification required

If sugar cookies had a “star baker” trophy, these would win it.

New here? Check our 5 Easy Snack Recipes You Can Make Anytime for more simple pantry-friendly ideas!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Nothing fancy — just pure holiday classics:

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour – the snow-like hero
• 1 tsp baking powder – lift + fluff
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened) – soft, not microwave-melted soup!
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract – real vanilla = holiday magic
• ¼ cup sour cream – the secret to extra softness
• Holiday sprinkles
• Royal icing or buttercream (you choose your frosting destiny)

Tools That Help (Optional but Life-Saving)

• Rolling pin
• Christmas cookie cutters (trees! stars! candy canes!)
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack
• Mixer (unless you want an arm workout… your call)

Step-By-Step Instructions

Before You Start

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Take a deep breath — you’re already doing amazing.

Step 1: Whisk the dry team

Grab a bowl. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk like you’re in a baking commercial.

Tip: Whisking helps keep cookies soft — clumpy flour = sad cookies.

Step 2: Cream butter & sugar

In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar until fluffy and pale.
This takes 2–3 minutes — don’t rush. “Soft and airy” now = “soft and dreamy” later.

If you taste it… I didn’t see anything

If you want a deeper look at why creaming butter and sugar properly creates softer, fluffier cookies, this breakdown from Serious Eats is super helpful:

Step 3: Add egg, vanilla & sour cream

Pour in egg, vanilla, and sour cream. Mix until combined and creamy.
The dough at this stage should smell like pure holiday happiness.

Step 4: Combine wet + dry

Add the dry mix in gradually. Go slow so the kitchen doesn’t become snow-storm central. Mix just until dough forms.

Important: Don’t overmix — overmixing toughens dough. We’re making cookies, not hockey pucks.

Step 5: Chill the dough

Cover dough and refrigerate 30–60 mins.
It’s optional but highly recommended to keep cookies thick and fluffy.

If you’re impatient, scroll Pinterest for decorating inspo while you wait. Or sneak some cookie dough. I won’t judge.

Step 6: Roll & cut

Flour your surface lightly. Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness.
Cut into festive shapes — trees, snowflakes, gingerbread men, stars.
If your first few shapes are ugly, call them “rustic”

Step 7: Bake

Place cookies on parchment-lined sheet. Bake 8–10 minutes.
Watch them — pull out when edges are pale.
Brown edges = crispy. We are not here for crispy day-ruiners.

Step 8: Cool & decorate

Let them cool fully. Frost + sprinkle like your Christmas spirit depends on it.

Hot cookies + icing = drippy sadness. Be strong. Wait.

While your dough chills, whip up our Sweet Potato Cheesecake Cups — creamy, cozy, and fall-holiday perfect

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Pro Baker Tips

• Chill dough — this keeps cookies thick, not pancake-shaped.
• Room-temp butter only — soft, not melted. Melted = cookie puddles.
• Use parchment paper — stops spreading, easier cleanup.
• Don’t over-bake — if they look done, you went too far.

Common Mistakes

❌ “I’ll bake until the edges are golden.”
No. Wrong. Stop. Pale edges = soft perfection.

❌ Over-mixing the dough
Unless you’re training for the Mixer Olympics, gently fold.

❌ Rolling dough too thin
We’re making cushy holiday pillows, not crackers.

❌ Frosting warm cookies
You’ll create a sticky frosting slip-n-slide. Don’t do it.

Variations & Substitutions

Because we all love options:

• Add almond extract for bakery vibes
• Swap sour cream for Greek yogurt — still fluffy
• Add lemon zest — fresh & fancy flavor upgrade
• Stir in festive sprinkles into the dough for confetti cookies
• Use brown butter if you’re feeling gourmet (chef kiss level)

And listen… buttercream > royal icing in flavor.
Yeah, I said it. Team buttercream forever.

How to Store, Make Ahead & Freeze

Storing Cookies

Store in airtight container at room temp up to 5 days.
Throw in a slice of bread — helps cookies stay super soft. (Grandma trick )

Make-Ahead Dough

Refrigerate up to 3 days before baking.
If refrigerated overnight, let dough soften 10–15 minutes before rolling.

Freezing

Freeze dough: wrap tightly + place in freezer bag (up to 2 months).
Freeze baked cookies: freeze undecorated or decorated (separate layers with parchment).

Future-you will love this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my cookies flat?
Butter probably too warm or dough wasn’t chilled. Chill = thick, plush cookies.

Can I skip sour cream?
You can, but don’t. It’s the secret soft-cookie fairy dust.

Do I really have to chill the dough?
If you want bakery-thick cookies… yes.

Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely — then gift some… or don’t ????

Can kids decorate these?
Yes, but prepare for a sprinkle explosion. Worth it.

Should cookies look slightly under-done when pulled out?
YES. They finish setting as they cool. Trust the process.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it — the softest, yummiest, most Pinterest-worthy Christmas sugar cookies ever.

Bake a batch, share them with your favorite humans (or don’t — zero guilt here), and enjoy cozy holiday vibes one cookie at a time.

Tag your cookie pics, show off your sprinkle skills, and keep that oven warm — because once people taste these? You’ll be the official holiday cookie provider forever.

Happy baking & happy holiday magic
Now go spread buttery cookie joy!