By 
Do you love sugar cookies? I admit they are my favorite cookies to make especially on Christmas Eve. This soft delicious cut out cookie recipe is sure to please a holiday crowd! Use your favorite cookie cutters to make this recipe and add icing once they are cooled. The total prep time is 3 hours (2 hours to chill the dough) bake time 8 to 10 minutes and yields about 4 dozen cookies.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links; should you choose to make a purchase using said link, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Buttery Soft Christmas Cookies
Ingredients:
- 3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup softened butter (not melted)
- 1 1/2 cups of granulated white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions:
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, set aside. In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add in the vanilla. Gradually blend in the sifted ingredients until fully absorbed. Cover dough, and chill for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. On a clean floured surface, roll out small portions of chilled dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. You can find cute and fun Christmas cookie cutters here.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are barely brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Once cooled decorate using your favorite royal icing colors. Enjoy!
These cookies will keep their shape nicely and remain soft and chewy long after being cooled. Bake ahead and store in the freezer. They will remain fresh for 3-6 months as long as they are wrapped tightly in plastic and kept in an airtight container.
I hope you enjoy making this recipe if so share it and also see my classic recipe for Easy Royal Icing!
Do you have a good icing recipe?
Yes the icing recipe is linked
https://theaquacottage.com/2021/12/01/easy-royal-icing-recipe/
no way to print this out…
Hit file and print from your computer!
Thank you
Your Welcome!
Is white sugar granulated sugar or confectioners (powdered) sugar?
Thank you for this recipe. I will be trying it and your royal icing recipe this weekend.
Your Welcome!
Can this be made up and put in freezer for later on.
I have never frozen this recipe, sorry
Thanks for this recipe! How long will these cookies keep for?
Up to 2 weeks or 6 months frozen.
We have a large family, so nothing ever lasts long enough to be frozen. We make these as a Christmas eve tradition and I have never frozen the dough.
How can I print this recipe? I cannot find an option to do so.
File print from your computer
Can I make them drop cookies instead of cutouts
No, its a cut out recipe but if you try let me know!
Difficult if not impossible to print
Sorry, file print from computer or download then print.
Do u have to sift?? Don’t have a sifter
I have always sifted the flour.
Salted or unsalted butter?
I use salted, you can use either.
You can use either. I used salted.
Fun cookies to bake with kids. Thanks!!!!
Also, I copy and paste to Word then save &/or print it.
Awesome!! I will be looking into adding a print button soon!
My daughter and I just made a batch of these cookies, and they turned out great. The cookies held their shape and didn’t spread like the other recipe I used (Crusco and butter blend). I was able to make 40 shaped cookies, and they tasted great.
Amazing! So glad to hear!
Do i use salted or unsalted butter?
You can use either, I used salted.
Can you just make sugar cookies no icing? What do I sprinkle on top?
Sure you can add colorful Christmas sprinkles or anything you like. They will still taste yummy!
Is it 1 cup of butter or 1 stick? A stick is a ½…
No, 1 cup of butter is 2 sticks.
White granulated sugar or powdered sugar ?
Granulated sugar for the cookies and powdered for the icing.
I don’t see the icing recipe
It’s linked at the end of the cookie recipe.