My sister is really the best sugar cookie, cake and cupcake baker I know. So every year around Christmas she get’s a text “what is your favorite sugar cookie recipe?” And she sends it then we make it! Her recipe is honestly the best. The best part is there is no “refrigerate for an hour before rolling out”. I am sharing her sugar cookie recipe here, for selfish reasons, so I know where to find it every year!! And bonus part we have a FREE Christmas Sugar Cookie printable for you at the bottom of this post. You get a recipe and a piece of Christmas art to hang in your home or to attach to a plate of cookies that you give as a Christmas gift.
My sister sent this recipe to me (for the last time) and reminded me that she has tried a lot of recipes and this sugar cookie is bar far her favorite! She got it from a friend that make it every year too! I added almond extract instead of vanilla, but you could do either. We also used some sugar cookie cut-outs that my mom passed onto us. So fun to use the cut-outs that we used as children.
I’ve learned that the kids really love using piping tips too- Ella and Lola are pro’s! Finn can do it…it just takes a little more help. I love how creative piping allows all of us to get! We usually pipe all the cookies, even if it’s just outlining until we reach the middle. That’s how I frosted the mittens above. Then, to finish them off, we used the star technique and made the mittens look nice and fluffy on the bottom. Keep reading for more frosting ideas!
For these darling mittens, we did the star shape again at the bottom but use a 1A round tip to make the circle dots all over the mittens. Just squeeze your piping bag and then stop squeezing before you pull away.
Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 1/2 cups flour
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 8 oz cold cream cheese
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2-4 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tbsp milk as needed
Instructions
Sugar Cookie Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Cream the sugar and butter until smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in sour cream, egg and almond extract
- Add in baking soda, salt and flour. 1 cup of flour at a time
- Roll out on a floured surface about 1/4" thick. Cut out desired shapes.
- Place on an un-greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 5-7 minutes until golden brown on the bottom.
- Let cool completely
Cream Cheese
- Mix the butter and cream cheese together
- Add almond extract
- Slowly add in the powdered sugar. If it is too thin (could be butter was too soft) add more powdered sugar. If too thick add in 1 tablespoon of milk to thin as needed. Whip until nice a white and fluffy, could take 5 minutes.
- We double this frosting recipe if we are doing lots of piping and detailing.
Notes
You can print this recipe HERE- Sugar Cookie Recipe FREE Printable
Christmas Cookie Cutter Set // Set of Piping Tips // Christmas Sprinkles // Piping Bags // Cookie Boxes // Cookie Bags // Marble Rolling Pin // Snowflake Sprinkles // Gold Sprinkles // Checkered Silicone Oven Mats // Our Place Pan // 6 Quart Kitchen Aid // Caraway Pan
The tree was my favorite! We used the star tip 1 M. It’s easiest to pipe the tree with the cookie turned upside down. Starting at the bottom of the cookie, pipe a row of swoops to form the bottom row of branches. Repeat with a second and third row, finishing at the top of the cookie. Top the tree by piping a star!
To make a star shape, like we did the top of the tree and all over the snowflake cookie, use the star tip 1M. Hold the bag straight up, with the tip slightly above the cookie, squeeze the bag to form a star. Use light pressure for a smaller star, and more pressure for a bigger one. Stop squeezing before pulling tip away. Or make a criss cross pattern like the other snowflake cookie by squeezing that same star tip starting in the middle and dragging out.
These little cutie wreaths look so intimidating, but I’m telling you, with a practice cookie you’ll have the technique down in no time. Ella has become a pro at these. The same technique will make cute holly and berries! We used the leaf 352 piping tip. Just like the other tips, you squeeze softly for a small leaf and harder for a large leaf, then stop squeezing as you pull away. So fun!
We love this idea for a gift! Make your favorite cookies and put on a cute serving tray ( or this marble and wood tray, and other options HERE), give as a cute and yummy gift! These boxes are nice for treats. You can buy these individual cookie cutters or buy a Christmas cookie set.
Snap shot of Christmas Sugar Cookies 2018
The tree was my favorite! We used the star tip 1 M. It’s easiest to pipe the tree with the cookie turned upside down. Starting at the bottom of the cookie, pipe a row of swoops to form the bottom row of branches. Repeat with a second and third row, finishing at the top of the cookie. Top the tree by piping a star!
We cooked all these cookies on these darling and colorful baking trays from Our Place. I love that we can cook, frost and then serve them all on one pan! It also works as a griddle on the stovetop!! The pan also comes with an Oven Mat that’s a reusable parchment alternative. I’m giving these as gifts this year!
It’s all in the details! Yes, that is a darling pink cookie, but piping a pretty bow is the perfect way to add a finishing touch! We literally just cut the tip off the bag for this one- made a small round hole. Hold the bag at an angle with the tip touching the cookie. Start at center of the bow, squeeze bag up and around the left then back to center to form a loop, do the same on the right side. To make the streamers coming off, start back at the center squeezing and moving tip away from the bow. Repeat for second streamer. To make a bigger detail cut a bigger hole. We like to outline and fill in cookies that way! We hope you love these sugar cookies as much as we have over the years, our technique improves every year too! But really its about the memories we make together. (and the tasty treat!)
Find more of my favorite Christmas Cookies below-
Paleo Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Paleo Double Chocolate Chip Peppermint Cookies
Sara Hoffart says
Hi! I’ve tried the sugar cookie recipe twice, and its coming out more like batter than dough, if that makes sense. It’s too syrupy. What am I doing wrong? Is there something I can do to correct it? Thanks so much.
[email protected] says
hmmmmm maybe the butter is too soft? Or maybe you just need more flour….it depends on your elevation sometimes….
Natalie says
Sara, the same thing happened to me! It was way too much like batter to be able to roll and cut cookies. I ended up having to add close to three more cups of flour to get the dough to come together. Haven’t tasted them yet… 😉
JBS says
Ditto here! The wet ingredients are soupy and the dough is very soft and sticky. I used a cookie scoop but sad to miss traditional roll out Christmas cookies. 🙁
[email protected] says
Was your butter cold? If it is too melty then the dough doesn’t work as well….
If they are sticky you just need to add more flour so you can roll them out.
Pat says
These look and sound delicious! Can’t wait to try them ~ my favorite cookie!😊
Your kids are adorable! Hey, do you mind sharing the nail polish color shown in the photos?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pat
[email protected] says
Thank you!!! Nail polish is sally Hansen insta-dry 340 cinna-snap!