prep time: 15 min | bake time: 10 min | total time: 25 min
These Christmas sugar cookies are as pretty as they are delicious! They have soft, chewy centers, lightly crispy edges, and plenty of festive sprinkles that make them perfect for the holiday season.
You don’t need to chill the dough. Simply make the cookie dough, scoop, roll in sugar and sprinkles, and bake. No complicated steps, no waiting around, and no special equipment required beyond a mixing bowl and whisk or mixer.
They’re made without eggs and have been tested with dairy-free ingredients, so you can easily make a batch that everyone can enjoy. I have got you covered for your Christmas party, putting together a holiday cookie box, or making something sweet to share with family and friends!
No chilling required: Make the dough, scoop, and bake straight away.
Chewy centers and crispy edges: A lovely contrast in every bite.
Festive and pretty: Colorful sprinkles make these cookies perfect for Christmas.
Eggless: No eggs or complicated egg substitutes are needed.
Dairy-free option: The recipe has been tested using dairy-free ingredients.
Easy to make: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this a great holiday baking recipe.
Butter: Use room-temperature butter, cut into cubes, so it creams easily with the sugars. For a dairy-free version, use a plant-based butter stick suitable for baking.
Caster Sugar: or use cane sugar/ granulated sugar. Adds sweetness and helps create the cookie’s crisp edges.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and helps give the cookies their chewy centers.
Milk: Brings the dough together and adds moisture. Use dairy or unsweetened plant-based milk.
Vanilla Extract: Adds a lovely flavor that complements the buttery sugar cookie base.
All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure to the cookies.
Cornstarch: Helps create a softer, more tender texture.
Baking Soda: Helps the cookies spread and develop lightly golden edges.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the other flavors.
Sprinkles: Add color and a festive touch. Use Christmas-themed sprinkles for a holiday look.
Caster or Granulated Sugar: Coating the cookie dough in sugar gives the outside a lovely crisp finish.
Extra Sprinkles: Dip the tops of the cookies in sprinkles before baking for a colorful finish.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, cream the room-temperature butter with the caster sugar and light brown sugar for 2–3 minutes, until soft and smooth. Use a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or an electric hand mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.Add the milk and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.
Add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Mix until a soft cookie dough forms. Avoid overmixing once the flour has been added. Fold in the sprinkles until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Divide the dough into 9 equal portions, approximately 75–80 g each. You can use a large cookie scoop or measure each portion on a kitchen scale. Smaller portions will also work; just adjust the baking time.
Roll each portion into a ball. Roll the dough in caster or granulated sugar until coated, then dip the top into extra sprinkles. You can also dip the tops in sprinkles first and then roll the dough in sugar.
Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving enough space between them to spread.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 10 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may still look soft and risen when you take the cookies out of the oven. They’ll continue to set as they cool.
For perfectly round cookies, use a round cookie cutter or a bowl slightly larger than each cookie to gently scoot around the edges while the cookies are still hot. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before serving or storing.
No! This is a no-chill sugar cookie recipe. Once you’ve made the dough, you can portion, decorate, and bake the cookies straight away.
Yes. This recipe is naturally eggless and doesn’t require an egg substitute. Milk helps bring the dough together.
Absolutely! Use any sprinkles you like. Christmas-themed sprinkles, red and green jimmies, or festive nonpareils are all lovely options. Check the ingredients if you need the cookies to be dairy-free.
Cookies can spread more than expected if the butter is too soft or melted, or if the flour is not measured accurately. Make sure your butter is at room temperature rather than greasy or melted, and measure the ingredients carefully.
Yes, Divide the dough into smaller portions. Keep an eye on them while baking, as smaller cookies will need less time in the oven.
Use room-temperature butter: This makes it easier to cream the butter and sugars until smooth.
Don’t skip the brown sugar: It helps create the soft, chewy centers.
Measure the flour accurately: Too much flour can make the cookies dry or dense. A digital kitchen scale gives the most consistent results.
Use festive sprinkles: Choose Christmas colors or shapes to make the cookies look extra special.
Leave room for spreading: Arrange the dough portions with enough space between them on the baking sheet.
Shape while hot: If the cookies spread unevenly, use a round cutter to gently bring the edges into a neat circle as soon as they come out of the oven.
Let them cool completely: The centers will firm up as the cookies cool, so give them time before moving or stacking them.
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