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! And then I loose it and I try searching on Pinterest for one similar and nothing compares. Her recipe is honestly the best. The best part is there is no “refrigerate for an hour before rolling out”. Because I have made that recipe before and did not have an hour to wait! So I am sharing her sugar cookie recipe on my blog as a selfish reason, 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 bags 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!
- Sugar Cookie Ingredients-
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 1/2 cups flour
- .
- Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients-
- 1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter
- 8 oz cold cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons of milk
- Sugar Cookie Directions-
- Cream the sugar, butter, sour cream, egg and almond extract until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add in baking soda, salt and flour.
- Roll out on a floured surface about 1/4-1/2" thick. Cut out desired shapes. Place on an un-greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 5-8 minutes until golden brown on the bottom.
- .
- Cream Cheese Frosting Directions
- Mix the butter, cream cheese and almond extract for about 2 minutes, until smooth. Slowly add in the powdered sugar. Add in 1 tablespoon of milk to thin as needed. If it is too thin (could be butter was too soft) add more powdered sugar.
- * Refrigerate cookies after frosting.
You can print this recipe HERE- Sugar Cookie Recipe FREE Printable
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, 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. Then we added some super sparkly sprinkles for fun!
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. 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
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.
hmmmmm maybe the butter is too soft? Or maybe you just need more flour….it depends on your elevation sometimes….
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… 😉
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. 🙁
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.
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
Thank you!!! Nail polish is sally Hansen insta-dry 340 cinna-snap!