Description
Soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet, these classic Christmas sugar cookies are ideal for cutting into festive shapes and decorating with icing and sprinkles. A holiday favorite for all ages.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour to firm up.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters.
- Place cookies on prepared sheets and bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Decorate as desired.
Notes
Chill the dough well for cleaner cookie shapes. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American