There’s something truly magical about the ritual of baking Christmas sugar cookies, a tradition that seems to weave itself into the very fabric of the season.

In my family, the holiday simply wouldn't feel complete without a kitchen dusted with flour and the warm, buttery scent of cookies in the oven.

A Cookie with a Story

This particular recipe is a cherished heirloom, passed down from my grandma to my mom, and now to me.

My baker daughter and I, we spent countless cozy afternoons tweaking and testing, determined to perfect that classic dough into something truly special.

Ingredients Needed for the Recipe

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to cookie success, and each one plays a specific, important role.

Here’s what you’ll need to create these delightful treats.

• Butter (softened) – The foundation of our dough, providing that rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a subtle, comforting flavor.
• Granulated Sugar – This is what sweetens the deal, giving the cookies their classic, delightful taste and helping them achieve a lovely, tender crumb.
• Vanilla Extract – The essential, warm flavor that makes a sugar cookie taste, well, like a sugar cookie.
• Almond Extract – This is our secret weapon, a family favorite that adds a wonderful, nuanced depth you’ll absolutely adore.
• Large Egg – Our trusty binder, holding all the beautiful ingredients together in a cohesive, pliable dough.
• Salt – A crucial pinch to balance all the sweetness and make the other flavors truly pop on your palate.
• Baking Powder – Our little leavening agent, giving the cookies just the right amount of gentle lift as they bake.
• All-Purpose Flour – The main structure of our cookie, creating a dough that’s sturdy enough for cutting but tender to eat.

The Heart of the Cookie

That hint of almond extract is, for me, the soul of this recipe.

It’s the taste that instantly transports me back to my grandma’s kitchen, a flavor that simply means Christmas.

How to make Christmas Sugar Cookies (Our Favorite Recipe)?

The process is a joyful one, a simple series of steps that leads to the most satisfying results.

Just follow along, and you really can’t go wrong.

Step 1- Creaming the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer until it’s perfectly smooth and pale.

Now add the granulated sugar, and mix them together until the combination is fully combined, wonderfully light, and fluffy.

Step 2- Incorporating the Wet Ingredients

Next, mix in the vanilla extract, that special almond extract, and the single large egg.

Blend everything until the mixture is completely uniform, scraping down the sides of the bowl to make sure nothing is left behind.

Step 3- Adding the Dry Ingredients

It’s time for the salt, baking powder, and about half of your measured flour.

Mix these in well, then add the remainder of the flour, stirring until you can no longer see any dry patches.

Step 4- Preparing the Dough for Chilling

Divide your soft, pliable dough into two equal portions to make the next steps more manageable.

Place each portion onto a large sheet of plastic wrap, and use a rolling pin to roll it out to about ⅜ of an inch thick.

Step 5- The Essential Chill

This is the step you simply cannot skip, the secret to cookies that hold their shape.

Wrap the rolled-out dough securely in the plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least four hours, or even better, overnight.

Step 6- Cutting and Baking

Once the dough is firm, preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Unwrap the chilled dough, use your favorite cookie cutters to stamp out shapes, and place them about two inches apart on the sheets.

Step 7- The Final Bake

Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, watching for the moment the cookies no longer look wet and the edges show just the faintest hint of golden brown.

Let them cool completely on the baking sheet before you even think about decorating; patience is key here.

Your Decorating Playground

When it comes to decorating, I truly believe there are no rules, only possibilities.

My kids used to love slathering cookies in simple glaze and burying them under a mountain of colorful sprinkles and candies.

Our Favorite Icing Shortcut

These days, we achieve a more polished look by using meringue powder to make a simple, foolproof royal icing.

A tiny tablespoon of light corn syrup mixed in gives the icing a beautiful, professional-looking shine that’s just gorgeous.

Tips

A few little pieces of advice can make the difference between a good cookie and a great one.

Keep these in mind for your baking adventure.

• Always, always chill your dough thoroughly; it prevents spreading and makes the dough so much easier to handle.
• When rolling, your surface might need a light dusting of extra flour to prevent any frustrating sticking.
• Resist the urge to over-bake; you want them just set with those barely-there brown edges for the perfect soft texture.
• For that bakery-style shine on your icing, remember that secret ingredient—a tablespoon of light corn syrup works wonders.

Storage and Freezing

Once decorated, store your beautiful cookies in a single layer inside an airtight container at room temperature; they’ll stay fresh for about a week.

You can also freeze the undecorated, baked cookies for up to three months, or even freeze the wrapped raw dough for later baking.

A Final Thought

This recipe is more than just a list of ingredients and steps; it’s a piece of my family’s Christmas, shared with you.

So gather your loved ones, roll up your sleeves, and create some delicious, buttery magic of your own.