Festive Holiday Tradition

Soft Christmas Cookies are a timeless holiday treat, evoking memories of cozy winter days and family baking traditions. Baking these cookies fills your home with the irresistible scent of butter, sugar, and vanilla—a scent that instantly signals the warmth and joy of the holiday season. The recipe is simple enough for bakers of all skill levels but creates a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture that feels like a special treat. Using classic ingredients like butter, sugar, and sour cream ensures the cookies remain tender, while holiday-shaped cutters add a festive and playful touch.

Why These Ingredients Work

The combination of butter, sugar, and sour cream gives these cookies their soft and delicate texture. Butter adds flavor and richness, sugar contributes sweetness and slight caramelization, and sour cream adds moisture and a subtle tang that balances the sweetness perfectly. Baking powder and baking soda provide gentle leavening, creating cookies that rise just enough to stay soft without becoming cakey. Vanilla and almond extracts enhance the aroma and depth of flavor, while decorations like icing and sprinkles turn each cookie into a festive masterpiece.

Fun and Creativity in Decorating

Decorating is where these cookies really shine. Once cooled, you can personalize each cookie with colorful icing, edible glitter, or holiday-themed sprinkles. It’s a fun activity for kids and adults alike, encouraging creativity while creating family memories. You can make reindeer, Christmas trees, stars, or snowflakes—all perfect for gifting or enjoying with a hot cup of cocoa. The soft texture ensures that decorations adhere beautifully without cracking, giving you picture-perfect cookies every time.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract
• ½ cup sour cream

For the Icing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles for decoration

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat & Prepare

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Mix Ingredients

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts, then mix in sour cream until smooth. Gradually combine with the dry ingredients to form a soft dough.

Step 3: Shape Cookies

Roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut into holiday shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies on prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly.

Step 4: Bake

Bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are barely golden. Let cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.

Step 5: Decorate

Mix powdered sugar with milk and extract to make icing. Add food coloring if desired. Decorate cookies with icing and sprinkles for festive flair.

Recipe Timing

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 8–10 minutes per batch
• Total Time: 25–30 minutes
• Yield: About 24 cookies (depending on size)

Nutrition (per cookie, approx.)

• Calories: 150 kcal
• Protein: 2g
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Fat: 7g
• Sugar: 12g
• Fiber: 0.5g

Soft Christmas Cookies

1. Can I make the dough ahead?

Yes! Chill the dough for up to 48 hours before baking, or freeze for longer storage.

2. Can I make these gluten-free?

Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Check that baking powder is gluten-free as well.

3. How do I keep the cookies soft?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Adding a slice of bread in the container can help maintain softness.

4. Can I use different extracts?

Yes! Almond, lemon, or peppermint extracts give a festive twist to flavor.

5. Are these safe for kids to decorate?

Absolutely! Kids will love spreading icing and adding sprinkles—just supervise when using sharp cookie cutters.