Name: Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies with Easy Royal Icing
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 0.5 tsp salt; 1 cup unsalted butter (softened); 1 cup granulated sugar; 1 egg (large); 2 tsp vanilla extract; 0.5 tsp almond extract (optional); 3 cups powdered sugar; 2 tbsp meringue powder; 5-6 tbsp warm water

There are a few iconic holiday traditions that never go out of style: trimming the Christmas tree, sipping warm cocoa while snowflakes fall outside, and baking a batch of beautifully decorated Christmas sugar cookies. If you’re searching for the perfect recipe that delivers buttery, soft cut-out cookies paired with a glossy, quick-drying royal icing, this is the one you’ll come back to every December. These Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies with Easy Royal Icing offer nostalgic flavor, reliable structure for cookie cutters, and a decorating experience that’s equal parts creative and delicious.

Whether you’re baking with kids, preparing treats for a cookie exchange, or stocking your holiday dessert table, these cookies make a stunning (and mouthwatering) addition to any festive spread. With crisp edges, tender centers, and icing that sets firm enough for stacking or gifting, this recipe brings holiday magic straight into your kitchen—no professional baker skills required.

Why This Recipe Works So Well

If you’ve ever made sugar cookies that spread too much, lost their shapes, turned too crisp, or felt too bland, you know not all sugar cookie recipes are created equal. This recipe avoids every common pitfall.

Here’s what makes these Christmas sugar cookies exceptional:

1. Perfectly Balanced Dough

This dough holds its shape beautifully, thanks to the right ratio of flour to fat and the slight chill time required after rolling. Your trees will look like trees, your stars will stay sharp, and your candy canes won’t morph into blobs.

2. Tender, Buttery Texture

Creamed butter and sugar create a light, melt-in-your-mouth texture without becoming crumbly. They’re soft without being cakey and sturdy without being hard—your Christmas cookie sweet spot.

3. No-Spread Baking

Because the dough is rolled before chilling, the fats stabilize, ensuring your cookies bake evenly and predictably every time.

4. Foolproof Royal Icing

Royal icing is infamous for intimidating beginners, but this simple version mixes up in minutes, sets beautifully, and provides a clean, smooth surface. Whether you’re piping intricate designs or simply flooding with festive colors, the icing dries to a satin finish perfect for photo-worthy cookies.

Ingredients You Need

Below is everything required to make the holiday sugar cookies and the accompanying royal icing. Each item plays a key role in flavor, structure, or decorating success.

For the Sugar Cookies

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract (optional but recommended for classic bakery flavor)

For the Easy Royal Icing

3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons meringue powder
5–6 tablespoons warm water
Food coloring gels (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough

Start by whisking your dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, and salt—in a medium mixing bowl. This ensures even distribution and prevents clumping. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This step not only sweetens the cookies but incorporates air, which gives sugar cookies their soft, delicate texture.

Add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until a soft dough forms. If the dough seems crumbly, keep mixing—it will come together.

2. Roll Out the Dough (Before Chilling)

To avoid cracking later, divide your dough into two portions and roll each between sheets of parchment paper to about ¼-inch thickness. This ensures even baking and removes the need for extra flour, which can toughen the dough.

Transfer the sheets of rolled dough to the fridge and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

3. Cut and Bake the Cookies

Once chilled, remove one dough sheet at a time and cut out your desired Christmas shapes—stars, trees, wreaths, snowflakes, snowmen, ornaments, and gingerbread people all work beautifully.

Place cookies on a lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes. The edges should remain pale, with only a hint of golden color. Let them cool on a wire rack before decorating.

4. Make the Easy Royal Icing

In a mixing bowl, whisk powdered sugar and meringue powder. Add warm water one tablespoon at a time until you achieve a thick but pipeable consistency for outlining. Add more water for a thinner “flood” consistency.

Tint with gel food coloring as desired—gels work best because they don’t dilute the icing.

5. Decorate Like a Pro

Royal icing dries in stages:

Outline consistency helps create borders to keep the icing in place.
Flood consistency allows you to fill in shapes effortlessly.
Detail icing can be slightly thicker for patterns like snowflakes, ornaments, and gingerbread faces.

Allow cookies to fully dry (usually 12–24 hours) before stacking or packaging.

Expert Tips for the Best Christmas Sugar Cookies

Chill Time Is Non-Negotiable

Even if you’re in a hurry, chilling the rolled dough is the difference between crisp shapes and wonky, spread-out cookies.

Avoid Overmixing

Once the flour is added, mix only until combined to maintain a tender crumb.

Roll Even Thickness

Uneven dough leads to uneven baking. Use rolling guides or dowels if needed.

Use Gel Food Coloring

Liquid food colors are too thin and can ruin icing consistency.

Let Cookies Cool Completely

Icing will melt, slide, or absorb into warm cookies—patience pays off.

Fun Variations

1. Lemon Sugar Cookies

Swap almond extract for lemon zest and a splash of lemon juice.

2. Chocolate Sugar Cookies

Replace ½ cup flour with unsweetened cocoa powder.

3. Peppermint Twist

Add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract and crush candy canes over the wet icing.

4. Sparkle Cookies

Use sanding sugar or edible glitter for shimmer without complex designs.

Gifting Ideas

These cookies are sturdy enough for packaging and beautiful enough to impress. Place them in holiday tins, cellophane bags with ribbon, or mason jars. They also make excellent edible place cards—simply pipe names onto each cookie.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with milk, hot cocoa, or mulled cider.
Arrange alongside gingerbread cookies for a cozy dessert spread.
Add to a holiday charcuterie dessert board with chocolates and fruit.