These Christmas Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for the holiday season. With a simple dough that’s easy to roll out and decorate, they’re a festive treat for cookie exchanges or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and extracts: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until well combined.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Form cookies: Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Flatten cookies: Gently flatten each cookie with the bottom of a glass or your hand to about 1/4-inch thickness.
- Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate (optional): Once cooled, you can decorate with sprinkles, icing, or colored sugars for a festive touch.
