Classic Christmas Cookies

5 from 4 votes

These Old Fashioned Christmas Sugar Cookies are a classic Christmas treat. Sprinkle them with red and green sanding sugar for a festive holiday feel.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Chill2

Total Time2 20

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: cookies

Calories: 97kcal

In a large bowl add butter, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Using a hand mixer beat until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
1 stick salted butter, 2 ounces cream cheese, 1½ cups sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoons almond extract
Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add flour, cornstarch baking soda, and salt. Turn the hand mixer to a low speed and combine the ingredients until a soft dough forms.
2½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Once the dough has been chilled for 2 hours remove from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Place the balls on the parchment paper-lined cookie sheet, at least 1 inch apart.
Using a fork make a criss-cross pattern pressing down lightly into the cookie dough.
Sprinkle sugar with green or red sugar.
Red & Green Sanding Sugar
Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Make sure not to overcook these cookies - they should not brown on the edges at all. You want them to be soft, and they should look a bit undercooked when you pull them out of the oven.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to continue cooling.

Storage:

To Store: Baked and decorated cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 5-7 days. You can keep them on the countertop at room temperature or place them in the refrigerator.
To Freeze: Like most cream cheese cookie recipes, these sugar cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Make-Ahead: One of the best things about a good sugar cookie dough is that it can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for a few days before using it. So, if you’d like to make this dough in advance, go right ahead! You can even freeze it for up to 3 months.

Tips:

Make sure your butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature.
Make sure you do not overcook these cookies. They should not brown on the edges at all. You want them to be soft, and they should look a bit undercooked when you pull them out of the oven.
The cookie dough must be chilled for at least a couple of hours to ensure the cookies bake up nice and soft and don’t spread too much on your cookie sheet.
I love this Cookie Scoop set because it makes it much easier to get the perfect size scoop. This is a set of 3 so you always will have the right size!
The best Silicone Baking Mat is a kitchen MUST HAVE! I use them to line my baking sheets for everything… from making cookies, sheet pan dinners, and so much more!If you prefer, you can skip the sanding sugar and opt for frosting or a homemade icing instead. You can decorate sugar cookies for any holiday or season with colorful candy, sprinkles, non pareils, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar.