Soft Frosted Christmas Cookies (2024)

Published: Oct 16, 2023 · Modified: Dec 6, 2023 by Arlene Mobley · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Soft Frosted Christmas Cookies are a true holiday delight, bringing joy and sweetness to your festive celebrations. These cookies are soft and buttery, with a sugary frosting that melts in your mouth.

Often decorated with holiday-themed sprinkles or designs, they add a touch of whimsy to your dessert table.

Perfect for sharing with loved ones or leaving out for Santa, these cookies are a quintessential part of the holiday season.

These Christmas cookies are a perfect cookie exchange recipe.

Experience the joy of soft frosted Christmas cookies this holiday season! These delightful treats are bursting with delicious flavors.

The vanilla-based cookie provides a heavenly rich and buttery taste that simply melts in your mouth. And that's not all - the creamy frosting is the perfect complement.

Recipe Prep

1. Soften the butter on the counter for at least 2 hours before beginning the recipe.
2. Remove the eggs from the refrigerator and warm to room temperature. Or place them in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes.
3. In a small bowl whisk the dry ingredients together.
4. Line you baking sheets with parchment paper.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit.

Recipe Name-Ingredients

Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️

👇See the step by step directions below!

Frosted Christmas Cookies Ingredients

To make Soft Frosted Christmas Cookies, you will need the following ingredients:

• unsalted butter: while unsalted and salted butter can usually be swapped in most recipes when it comes to making cookies unsalted butter should be used.
• white sugar:
• eggs
• flavorings: vanilla and almond extract
• unbleached all-purpose flour
• cream of tarter: used to make sure the cookie bakes up soft and chewy
• baking powder
• salt

Cookie Dough Step-by-Step

• Step 1: If you haven't already combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Whisk the dry ingredients together until combined.

• Step 2: In a large mixing bowl cream, the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Step 3: Beat in the eggs, pure vanilla extract, and pure almond extract.

• Step 4: Slowly beat the dried ingredients into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms.

• Step 5: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.

• Step 6: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.

• Step 7: Using a 1 ½ inch cookie scoop or teaspoon, scoop out dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.

Step 8: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden.

• Step 9: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

• Step 10: Bake all of the cookies and allow them to cool before frosting and decorating them.

How do you make cookies evenly shaped?

Making evenly shaped cookies requires a few simple techniques:

• Use a cookie dough scoop: This will ensure that you're using the same amount of dough for each cookie. You can release the dough directly onto the baking sheet to maintain the shape.
• Chill the dough: After making your cookie dough, chill it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before baking. This makes the dough easier to handle and helps the cookies keep their shape while baking.
• Roll the dough into balls: If you're not using a cookie scoop, you can roll the dough into balls by hand. Try to keep each ball the same size for even baking.
• Space them out on the baking sheet: Make sure there's enough space between each cookie on the baking sheet. Cookies spread out as they bake, and if they're too close together, they'll merge into one another.
• Bake at the right temperature: Make sure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature. Too hot, and the cookies will spread too quickly; too cold, and they won't spread enough.
• Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper: These provide a non-stick surface and even heat distribution, helping your cookies to bake uniformly.

Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you make cookies, the better you'll get at shaping them evenly.

Frosting Ingredients

• unsalted butter
• confectioners’ sugar: you might find it called icing sugar or powdered sugar on the baking aisle in most stores.
• almond extract: use pure extracts when baking for the best flavor.
• water: to thin the frosting.
• gel food coloring: gel food color has a rich vibrant color and will not thin the frosting like liquid food colorings will.
• sprinkles: use colorful Christmas themed sprinkles to decorate the cookies.

Making the cookie frosting

📌The cookies need to cool completely before frosting.

Mix the frosting right before you plan to frosting the Christmas cookies. If you have to mix the frosting ahead of time cover the frosting bowl with plastic wrap. Press the plastic wrap flush over and directly on top of the frosting so a crust does not form.

• Step 1: In a large mixing bowl beat the butter and almond extract together until fluffy.

• Step 2: Gradually add the powdered sugar to the bowl and beat until combined with the butter.

• Step 3: When the frosting starts to get too thick as you are adding the powdered sugar to the bowl beat in one tablespoon of water at a time until the desired consistency is reached.

You want a stiff and creamy frosting that can be easily spread over the cookies but not run down the edges.

• Step 4: If coloring the frosting divide the frosting between 3 small bowls. Add a few drops of green food coloring to one bowl and a few drops of red coloring to one bowl and stir the food coloring into the frosting until no streaks are visible. Leave one bowl uncolored so you have a white frosting.

• Step 5: Spread the frosting over each cookie with a small spatula or knife. Sprinkle the colored jimmies over the top of the unset frosting so they adhere to the frosting.

Allow the frosting to set up on the top of the cookies before storing in an airtight container.

This recipe will make 38 frosted and decorated 2 ½ inch Christmas cookies.

Optional Decorating Ideas

• Use different colored frosting and sprinkles to create a colorful assortment of cookies.
• Add in fun flavors like lemon or peppermint extract to the frosting for added dimension.
• For a festive touch, add holiday-themed toppings such as mini candy canes, or red and green M&M's.

Creative Ways to Package and Give Away Christmas Cookies

• Wrap cookies in cellophane bags tied with ribbon for a cute individual treat.
• Place them in a decorative tin or box lined with tissue paper for an elegant gift.
• Use mason jars and twine to create a rustic and charming presentation.

Recipe FAQS

📌Pro Cookie Making Tips

Make your loved ones happy this holiday season with homemade treats! Get tips on how to make delicious, soft frosted cookies that are perfect as a holiday gift.

• For best results use room temperature butter and eggs.
• Parchment lined baking sheets help prevent burning and sticking.
• To achieve perfectly shaped cookies, chill the dough for at least 1 hour before scooping and baking.
• If the dough becomes too soft, chill it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before continuing with the recipe.
• If you don't have a cookie scoop, you can use a spoon to measure out equal amounts of dough.
• Cookie size: a 1 ½ inch cookie scoop makes 2 ½ inch round cookies, a 2 inch cookie scoop makes 3 inch round cookies and so on.
• Beating frosting: add a cup of powdered sugar to the butter mixture at a time. Toward the end when the frosting seem to be getting too stiff add 1 tablespoon of water at a time to thin the frosting to a creamy and spreadable consistency.
• Coloring the frosting: I recommend a gel food coloring because a gel will not effect the consistency of the butter cream frosting when you color it.

Bake It!

The perfect batch of soft frosted Christmas cookies is a must-have during the holiday season.

This step by step guide on how to make these delicious treats ensures that even the most inexperienced bakers can make tasty and beautiful Christmas cookies in no time.

Don’t forget to add some extra details like colored sugar to bring your cookies to life.

Oh, and never forget the sprinkles!

When baking, remember to check the oven every 5 minutes with a timer so you can take them out once they’re lightly browned and soft for optimal results.

With all these tips, there’s no excuse not to try this recipe for yourself and surprise your family or friends with an amazing treat this Christmas!

Be sure to give it a go, they won’t regret it. And above all, have fun baking!

More Christmas Cookie Recipes

Are you ready to up your Christmas cookie game? Delight your taste buds and impress your loved ones with an array of delicious treats? Check out some of my other Christmas cookie recipes.

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