Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies

Christmas is all about traditions. There are foods you eat every year. Light displays you drive through every year. Present-giving-routines you do every year.

My family sticks by most of the classics when it comes to holiday baking. We’ve been making big batches of decorated sugar cookies every year since I was born. This recipe is most definitely older than I am, and it’s a staple in my house during the month of December.

My grandma was the one who always made the cookies. My mom and I would go over to her house and spend a whole afternoon baking. We’d sometimes spice things up by also making My Man’s cookies and No Bake cookies, but the sugar cookies were one that we would always make no matter what.

My grandma passed away last week after a battle with COVID-19. I’ve been thinking about her a lot over the last several weeks, especially as we get closer to Christmas. She adored this time of year and I think that’s where I got it from, too. We made so many memories in the kitchen together…and I’ll continue to make things her way for as long as I live.

I thought now was the perfect time to share our family’s sugar cookie recipe with you all. It’s what my grandma would’ve wanted. She would’ve loved to see this recipe go all over the world and help other families build Christmas memories. Family is what was most important to her.

Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!

Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies

• Servings: 4 dozen
• Time: 1 hr
• Difficulty: Easy
• Print

The perfect sugar cookie for icing and sprinkles.

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 TBS. cold milk
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tsp. baking powder

Directions

1. In a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until creamy. Gradually stir in eggs, vanilla extract and cold milk.
2. Sift together flour and baking powder. Gradually stir into the creamed sugar mixture until well combined.
3. On a well-floured surface, turn out cookie dough. Roll out with a rolling pin until 1/4″-1/2″ thin. Cut out shaped with cookie cutters.
4. Place cookies on parchment-paper lined baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes, checking after 8 to see how they are browning up.
5. Let cookies cool on wire racks before icing. If you want cookies with just sprinkles and no icing, make sure to put sprinkles on them *before* baking.