Sugar Cookies for Santa
These festive sugar cookies strike the perfect balance between simplicity and wow-factor with chewy centers and crisp edges – exactly what Santa (and your family) deserves after a long night of gift-delivering. Perfect for creating magical holiday moments with children.
Equipment
- Electric Mixer
- Cookie Cutters
- Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Wire Cooling Rack
Ingredients
For the cookies
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour sifted (310g)
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature (226g)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract pure, not imitation
- ½ tsp almond extract optional
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
For the frosting
- 3 cups powdered sugar (360g)
- 3-4 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- food coloring optional
- sprinkles, colored sugar, or other decorations
Instructions
- Beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed for 3-4 minutes until pale yellow and fluffy.
- Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat on medium speed until fully incorporated and smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.
- Place cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the frosting, mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust consistency with more milk or sugar as needed. Divide into separate bowls and add food coloring if desired.
- Once cookies are completely cool, decorate with frosting and festive sprinkles.
Notes
- Store unfrosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week
- Frosted cookies should be stored in single layers separated by parchment paper
- Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months
- Cookie dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 2 months
- Add a slice of bread to your cookie storage container to keep cookies soft Substitution Options:
- Butter alternative: Use plant-based butter for dairy-free cookies
- Egg replacement: ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce or a commercial egg replacer
- Gluten-free option: Replace all-purpose with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend
- Extract variations: Peppermint, orange, or lemon extract can replace almond extract Healthier Alternatives:
- Reduce sugar by 25% (¾ cup instead of 1 cup)
- Use whole wheat pastry flour for half the all-purpose flour
- Add lemon zest to enhance flavor naturally while reducing the need for frosting
- Try coconut sugar in place of granulated sugar for a lower glycemic impact
- Frosted cookies should be stored in single layers separated by parchment paper
- Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months
- Cookie dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for 2 months
- Add a slice of bread to your cookie storage container to keep cookies soft Substitution Options:
- Butter alternative: Use plant-based butter for dairy-free cookies
- Egg replacement: ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce or a commercial egg replacer
- Gluten-free option: Replace all-purpose with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend
- Extract variations: Peppermint, orange, or lemon extract can replace almond extract Healthier Alternatives:
- Reduce sugar by 25% (¾ cup instead of 1 cup)
- Use whole wheat pastry flour for half the all-purpose flour
- Add lemon zest to enhance flavor naturally while reducing the need for frosting
- Try coconut sugar in place of granulated sugar for a lower glycemic impact
Nutrition
Calories: 175kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1.5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 65mgSugar: 15g
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