Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
Packed with festive color and classic sugar cookie flavor, these Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies are the ultimate holiday crowd-pleaser. Simple, sweet, and fun to bake, they bring instant joy to cookie plates and cookie lovers alike.
There’s something magical about this time of year, when kitchens fill with the scent of butter, vanilla, and a hint of holiday cheer. And if there’s one cookie that captures the pure joy of Christmas baking, it’s these Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies. Soft, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth centers with crisp, golden edges — all wrapped in a dazzling coat of colorful sprinkles — they’re as fun to make as they are to eat.
Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange, leaving a sweet treat for Santa, or simply creating cozy memories at home, these cookies bring festive sparkle to every moment. Simple, nostalgic, and endlessly charming, they’re the kind of treat that becomes a tradition all on its own.
Looking for other sugar cookie recipes? Check out my Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars, Eggnog Sugar Cookie Bars, and Frosted Sugar Cookies!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Festive and Fun - rolling the dough in colorful Christmas sprinkles instantly transforms simple chewy sugar cookies into cheerful holiday treats.
- Perfect Texture - soft and tender on the inside with lightly crisp edges — the classic sugar cookie experience everyone loves.
- Quick and Easy - no complicated steps, no chilling required, and minimal ingredients. You can have cookies in the oven in under 20 minutes, which is ideal in the busy holiday season.
- Great for Sharing - these cookies hold their shape beautifully and travel well, making them ideal for cookie swaps, gifting, or holiday parties.
- Family-Friendly - kids love helping roll the dough in sprinkles, and adults love how delicious they turn out — a win for all ages.
- Make-Ahead Friendly - the dough freezes wonderfully, so you can prep ahead and bake fresh cookies whenever the craving (or the holiday rush!) hits.
Ingredients
Butter - Adds rich flavor and helps create the soft, tender texture of the cookies.
Granulated Sugar - Sweetens the dough and helps the cookies bake up with lightly crisp edges.
Brown Sugar - Adds moisture and a hint of caramel flavor for a chewier, deeper-tasting cookie.
Eggs - Bind the ingredients together and give the cookies structure and softness.
Vanilla Extract - Brings warm, classic sweetness that enhances every other flavor.
Almond Extract - Adds a subtle, festive bakery-style aroma that makes the cookies extra special.
Baking Soda - Helps the cookies spread just the right amount as they bake.
Baking Powder - Gives the cookies a light lift so they stay soft and fluffy.
Cornstarch - Creates a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture by softening the dough.
Salt - Balances the sweetness and brings out the full flavor of the cookies.
All-Purpose Flour - Provides the perfect structure for cookies that hold their shape while staying soft.
Christmas Sprinkles - Add cheerful holiday color and a fun, crunchy finish to every bite.
Variations
Chocolate-Dipped - once cooled, dip half of each cookie in melted semisweet or white chocolate and add extra sprinkles for a richer holiday treat.
Peppermint Twist - replace the almond extract with peppermint extract and sprinkle the dough in crushed candy canes instead of sprinkles.
Citrus Sugar Cookies - add 1–2 teaspoons of fresh orange or lemon zest to the dough for a bright, seasonal twist.
Gluten-Free Version - swap in a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking flour (with xanthan gum) for soft, dependable results.
Frosted Sprinkle Cookies - spread a thin layer of vanilla buttercream over the cooled cookies and top with sprinkles for a bakery-style finish.
Step by Step Instructions
Photo 1. Add the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to a large bowl or a bowl with stand mixer. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat until well combined, about 2-3 minutes.
Photo 2. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and mix until combined.
Photo 3. Add the baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt, and mix to combine.
Photo 4. Add the flour and mix until combined.
Photo 5. Fold in the sprinkles.
Photo 6. Form into large ~3 tablespoon sized dough balls, place on a parchment lined baking sheet, and press additional sprinkles on the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes. The edges should be slightly golden. If you want your edges a little thicker, take a bowl or glass that is slightly larger than the cookies, set it upside down over a cookie, and swirl it around the edges of the cookie. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Expert Tips
Use room-temperature butter and eggs - this ensures the dough mixes smoothly and gives you evenly textured cookies.
Cream the butter and sugars long enough - 2 to 3 full minutes of creaming adds air to the dough, helping the cookies bake up soft and light instead of dense.
Space the cookies generously - these cookies spread slightly, so give them 2-3" inches of room on the baking sheet.
Perfectly Rounded Cookies - if you want your edges a little thicker and cookies perfectly round, take a bowl or glass that is slightly larger than the cookies, set it upside down over a cookie, and swirl it around the edges of the cookie.
Bake just until the edges are just set - the centers should still look soft; they’ll finish setting as they cool, keeping them perfectly chewy.
Use parchment paper or silicone mats - this prevents sticking and keeps the bottoms from over-browning.
Recipe FAQs
Nope! This recipe is designed to bake without chilling. But if the dough feels too soft or sticky, a quick 15–20 minutes in the fridge helps.
Absolutely! Jimmies and nonpareils work best. Avoid large sugar pearls, which can get very hard when baked.
Remove them from the oven when the edges are just set and the centers still look soft. Store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread to keep them tender.
Yes — both baked cookies and unbaked dough freeze well. Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months, or freeze dough balls and bake straight from frozen.
Other Cookie Recipes to Consider
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Christmas colored sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, or the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter, sugar, and brown sugar.
- Beat until creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract, and beat to combine.
- Add the baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt, and mix well to combine.
- Add the flour and beat until combined.
- Stir in the sprinkles.
- Form into ~3 tablespoon sized cookie dough balls and place 2-3" apart on the prepared baking sheets. I fit 6 cookies per large baking sheet.
- Press additional sprinkles onto the top of each dough ball, slightly flattening them out.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes, until the edges are slightly browned. The center might not seem done but they will set up.
- If you want perfectly rounded and thicker edges, use a glass bowl or cup that is slightly larger than the cookies, place upside down on top of each cookie, and swirl the cookie around to achieve this.
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
