Description
These Best Soft Christmas Cookies bake up thick, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth with cozy vanilla-almond aroma. The dough comes together fast, needs no chilling, and is perfect for sugar rolling or frosting with sprinkles. Simple, festive, and irresistible for gifting, cookie swaps, or a cozy night in by the tree.
Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients
- – 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- – 1 tsp baking soda
- – 1/2 tsp baking powder
- – 1/4 tsp salt
- Wet Ingredients
- – 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- – 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- – 1 large egg
- – 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- – 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
- – 3 tbsp sour cream or milk
- For Rolling (optional)
- – Extra granulated sugar
- Optional Frosting
- – 2 cups powdered sugar
- – 2 tbsp butter, softened
- – 1–2 tbsp milk
- – 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- – Food coloring and sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, 2–3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract until smooth.
- Add Sour Cream or Milk: Mix in sour cream or milk until combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix just until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Shape the Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized balls (about 1 tbsp/25 g). Roll in sugar if desired; arrange on sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
- Bake: Bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are set and centers look puffed and soft. Do not overbake.
- Cool: Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Optional Frosting: Beat powdered sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla until smooth (adjust milk for spreadable consistency). Tint, spread on cooled cookies, and decorate with sprinkles.
Notes
- Spoon and level flour to avoid dense cookies; too much flour makes them dry.
- For extra tender cookies, use sour cream; milk gives a slightly lighter texture.
- If dough feels sticky or warm, chill for 20–30 minutes for easier rolling.
- Cookies set as they cool—pull them when centers look just set for soft texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1.4g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Christmas cookies, soft sugar cookies, holiday cookies, frosted sugar cookies, no chill cookies, vanilla almond cookies