25+ Very Merry Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipes

Updated October 19, 2018
Credit: Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Whether you want to go traditional or try something new, we have the perfect Christmas sugar cookie recipe for you. From delicious icings to unusual flavors to festive shapes, our crowdpleasing cookie collection is sure to elevate your holiday baking game. Find decked-out soft sugar cookies, gift-worthy Christmas tree sugar cookies, chewy sugar cookies, and so much more.

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Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Sugar Cookie Cutouts Recipe

With four flavor-packed glazes to choose from—Eggnog, Chicory Coffee, Key Lime, or Mulled Wine—this Christmas cut out sugar cookie recipe is endlessly customizable. We think 1/8 inch is the perfect thickness for a crisp, buttery cookie, but this dough can be rolled to 1/4 inch thick if you prefer soft sugar cookies.

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Sugar Cookie Mittens

Credit: Gooseberry Patch

Sugar Cookie Mittens Recipe

Cozy up with these fun and festive homemade Sugar Cookie Mittens for the holiday season. These adorable sugar cookies also make a perfect holiday gift for friends and family. Pour a glass of milk, pull up a seat by the fire, and prepare to indulge in a fabulous sweet treat.

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5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

Credit: Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Recipe

We bet you have most of the ingredients for these craveworthy Christmas sugar cookies in your pantry already. We suggest chilling the dough beforehand to make it easier to roll. When glazing, use a shallow bowl that will accommodate the entire cookie.

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Soft Sugar Cookie Trees

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Soft Sugar Cookie Trees Recipe

This soft sugar cookie recipe is even better when topped with cream cheese icing. A coat of green sparkling sugar brings these stunning Christmas tree cookies to life, while gold non pareils make dazzling ornaments. Make the dough up to 2 days ahead—it will be easier to roll when it's very cold.

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Sugar Cookies

Credit: Lucas Allen

Sugar Cookies Recipe

Just seven ingredients are all you'll need to make the easiest, best-tasting Christmas sugar cookies. Prepare the dough in advance and set aside some time on the weekend to make holiday cut-outs with your kids. Mix and match with a variety of Christmas cookie cutters, from doves to bells to Christmas trees.

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Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies

Credit: Ralph Anderson; Mindi Shapiro Levine

Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Refrigerated sugar cookie dough makes for a clever shortcut with these adorable reindeer cookies. Kids can help place Rudolph's eyes, mouth, and antlers.

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Big Crunchy Sugar Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Big Crunchy Sugar Cookies Recipe

Sparkling sugar cookies are holiday classics—batch a batch for a holiday cookie swap or Christmas gathering. These goodies, which earn their name from a coating of coarse sugar, received our Test Kitchen's highest rating. We guarantee guests will be asking you for the recipe.

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Sugar Cookie Pops

Credit: Oxmoor House

Sugar Cookie Pops Recipe

To bake these adorable cookie pops, simply roll balls of sugar cookie dough in Christmas-colored sprinkles and insert a white craft stick before baking. Make a decked-out (and edible) centerpiece for your holiday table by filling a container with florist foam, topping it with jelly beans, and then sticking the pops into the foam.

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Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies Recipe

This dough will work for slice-and-bake cookies or as a rolled dough for your favorite cookie cutters.

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Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies Recipe

Lace these sugar cookies with a double hit of vanilla from the seeds and extract of the vanilla bean. Frost the cookies white, and sprinkle them wth iridescent glitter; they'll look like delicate snowflakes.

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Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies Recipe

Adults will love these elegant cookies, made with a touch of brandy. And they're great for a Hanukkah party.

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Cinnamon Sugar Cookies

Credit: Randy Mayor

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Recipe

Ready to shake up your sugar cookie repertoire? The double hit of cinnamon (on the inside and out) and the crispy, crunchy texture make these treats perfect for packaging and giving during the holidays.

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Classic Sugar Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Classic Sugar Cookies Recipe

This foolproof recipe will become your new go-to Christmas sugar cookie recipe. Cut the dough into a variety of your favorite holiday shapes, from snowflakes to Christmas trees. The dippable glaze will transform the cookies into works of art. You can also use a pastry brush to paint the glaze onto the cookies.

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Lemon-Frosted Sugar Cookies

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Lemon-Frosted Sugar Cookies Recipe

You may want to start this recipe early in the day because the dough requires at least 4 hours to chill.

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Christmas Cookie Puzzles

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Christmas Cookie Puzzles Recipe

Choose cutters with simple shapes; they're easier to handle and less likely to break. If you want to make small puzzles, cut dough into 4-inch squares, and use a single cookie cutter to punch out the center of each square while still hot from the oven. Working quickly, cut lines from edges of square to form puzzle pieces. Store icing in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

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Christmas Cookies 4 Ways

Christmas Cookies 4 Ways Recipe

Whether you're craving chocolate cookies, lemon cookies, spice cookies, or sugar cookies, you can tweak this foolproof cookie base to bake a variety of Christmas cookies.

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Light Bulb Sugar Cookies

Credit: Greg DuPree

Light Bulb Sugar Cookies Recipe

These treats are as cute as can be, and their taste is just as memorable. Because they're made with sorghum syrup, ginger, vanilla, and cardamom, their flavor is a change of pace from the usual sugar cookies. Serve the light bulbs separately, or thread several of them on a decorative ribbon or string as a party favor or gift.

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Iced Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Iced Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies Recipe

Whole-wheat flour adds a layer of complexity to these cookies that all-purpose flour can't achieve; the wheat in the whole grain actually enhances the flavors of butter and vanilla. Unlike classic royal icing, which starts with a pound of powdered sugar, we use just 1/2 cup and thicken it with Greek yogurt. Looking for festive colors without the chemicals? Try naturally colored sparkling sugars (such as those from India Tree), which use colorants derived from plants.

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Christmas Sugar Cookies

Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

These Christmas sugar cookies are the ultimate easy holiday baking project. Serve them plain or top them with our super simple 3-ingredient icing (we love the subtle citrus flavor it brings to the cookies). Looking for more classic holiday inspiration? Check out 55+ Easy Christmas Cookies next. 

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Santa Sugar Cookies

Santa Sugar Cookies Recipe

Santa-shaped rolled sugar cookies, decorated with red and white icing, have a fun Reddi-wip beard added just before eating

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Truffle-Iced Sugar Cookies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Truffle-Iced Sugar Cookies Recipe

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Cranberry-Lemon Sugar Cookies

Cranberry-Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe

Round up the family and get baking—learn how this twist on a classic recipe is perfect for the holiday season!

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Caramelized-Sugar Cookies

Credit: James Carrier

Caramelized-Sugar Cookies Recipe

Notes: Store these caramel cookies airtight for up to 2 days.

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Sugar Cookie Stars

Credit: Maura McEvoy

Sugar Cookie Stars Recipe

Sandwich your favorite jam in between two star-shaped sugar cookies (made from storebought dough) for an easy, fruity cookie treat. 

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Brown Sugar Icebox Cookies

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Brown Sugar Icebox Cookies Recipe

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Christmas Cutout Cookies

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Kay Clarke

Christmas Cutout Cookies Recipe

This is the perfect sugar cookie recipe for holiday baking; it's easy to make and a great way to get kids involved in the fun. 

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Orange Sugar Cookies With Orange-Cream Cheese Frosting

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Orange Sugar Cookies With Orange-Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Orange zest lends a delicate floral, citrus flavor to this delightfully crisp and light shortbread cookies. Finished with a vibrant orange and cream cheese frosting, they’re the perfect treat to deliver a taste of sunshine on a chilly winter day.

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Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Credit: Victori Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Chocolate Sugar Cookies Recipe

What’s tastier than a regular sugar cookie? A Chocolate Sugar Cookie. We love the versatility of this recipe. Simply pick your favorite cookie cutter or turn it into a cookie cup that can hold a tasty filling. The cookie dough can be made ahead and chilled a day or two before baking. We’ve included our recipe for frosting, so you can decorate your cookies. We chose various dog cookie cutters and gave each one a festive holiday sweater. This Chocolate Sugar Cookie recipe will be a hit with your cookie swap friends and Santa.

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