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Soft Christmas Cookies

Soft Christmas Cookies

These Soft Christmas Cookies are the ultimate holiday sugar cookies — tender, buttery, and perfectly shaped for decorating. With a subtle almond flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, they’re the BEST easy Christmas cookie recipe for festive baking and gifting.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 30 cookies
Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Christmas
Calories: 160
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 4 tablespoons milk
  • 2 cups powdered sugar (for icing)
  • 4 tablespoons milk (for icing)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing)

Equipment

  • electric mixer for creaming butter and sugar
  • Rolling Pin to roll dough evenly
  • cookie cutters for festive shapes
  • wire rack to cool cookies evenly
  • mixing bowls for dry and wet ingredients

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3–4 minutes. This step ensures a tender cookie texture.
  3. Beat in the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix until a smooth, soft dough forms. If sticky, wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  5. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into festive shapes using cookie cutters.
  6. Arrange cookies on prepared sheets and bake for 6–8 minutes, until the edges are just golden. Do not overbake — cookies will stay soft as they cool.
  7. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract for icing. Decorate cooled cookies and add sprinkles if desired.

Notes

For the softest texture, don’t overbake. Bake only until the edges are lightly golden. If dough feels sticky, chill it briefly before rolling. The hint of almond extract gives these cookies their signature festive flavor — don’t skip it!