These Christmas sugar cookies are the perfect edible gift for Christmas. Use your favorite cutters, icing, and sprinkles, and make this a family tradition.
The Best Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Sugar cookies are a staple recipe that everyone needs, especially during the festive season. This recipe uses our popular Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies as a base, and then all you need to do is cut out the Christmas shapes you love and decorate them any way you love.
It is a fun activity to do with kids, as they really get to explore their creativity. Just be prepared for finding sprinkles all around your floors for a few days after, and sticky spots from the cookie icing. And just remember, no eating raw dough. The risks are just not worth it.
We also love making these Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies, especially if you love all things gingerbread. Do you love classic Christmas cookie recipes? My personal favorite from childhood is these Gluten-Free Snowball Cookies.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Nostalgic - Sugar cookies are a must for everyone. They bring back so many memories for me.
Fun to make - All children love getting in on the holiday spirit, and this is definitely one you need to entrench.
Customizable - Change up the icing, icing colors, sprinkles, and cutter shapes, and you have a cookie for all seasons.
Ingredients In This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Here are the ingredients we will be using for this cookie recipe.
For The Cookies:
- Shortening - This is for the texture and flavor.
- Granulated sugar - Adds sweetness.
- Gluten-free vanilla extract - Use a good-quality gluten-free vanilla extract. You can change things up by using different extracts like almond extract.
- Egg - Gives the cookies structure and binds the ingredients.
- Milk - This adds moisture to the cookies.
- All-purpose gluten-free flour blend - Use a store-bought gluten-free flour blend or make your own.
- Gluten-free baking powder - This makes them rise.
- Salt - Enhances the flavor of the cookies.
- Xanthan gum - This replaces the gluten.
For The Frosting:
- Butter - This gives it texture and flavor.
- Gluten-free vanilla extract - adds a lovely flavor to the frosting.
- Powdered sugar - sweetens the frosting and makes it thick.
- Milk - Helps to thin out the frosting so it is spreadable.
Equipment Needed
You'll need a large mixing bowl so you can combine the ingredients. I love using a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream the ingredients and to mix the sugar cookie dough. A rolling pin makes it easier to roll the dough out evenly.
A baking sheet or two to make the cookies in the oven. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut the dough into all sorts of shapes. We usually use a few different Christmas-themed cutters. A cooling rack is a must so the bottoms don't go soggy.
How To Make This Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
If you've never made sugar cookies, follow along or watch the how-to video for the detailed directions.
For The Cookies
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Position the oven rack in the center of the oven. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, cream shortening, sugar, vanilla, and egg. Stir in the milk. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum. Make sure to mix well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until combined. Roll the dough into a rectangular shape about a ½ inch thick.
Place the cut-out cookies onto the cookie sheet two inches apart.
Bake for 8–10 minutes until light brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully remove the cookies from the cookie sheet to a cooling rack.
Finish cooling on a wire rack. Once completely cool, frost with buttercream or cream cheese frosting. Store cookies in an airtight container.
For The Frosting
In a medium mixing bowl, beat together butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well. Alternate one cup of powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk until all ingredients are blended. Beat in additional milk if needed to obtain the desired consistency.
You can store frosting in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a week.
Tips For Making The Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Use some of these tips for the best success.
- Use the suggested flour - Coconut and almond flour don't work for this recipe. I would suggest you use the suggested flour.
- Let the dough chill - I like to let the dough chill overnight; however, a few hours are good too.
- Prevent sticking - Use gluten-free flour on your rolling pin and cutters.
- Don't knead the dough too much - If you knead it too much, it will become tough.
- Roll the dough between parchment paper - Rolling the cookie dough between parchment paper makes it easier to roll and not stick on the counter.
- Bake the cookies until golden brown - The cookies are usually ready when they have brown edges.
- Let the cookies cool - Let the cookies cool completely before decorating them, or else the icing will melt.
- Use gel food coloring - Add some color to the cookies by adding a few drops of gel food coloring.
Other Christmas Cookie Recipes
Here's a list of a few of our other favorite cookies. We love placing a variety of them in Christmas cookie containers and giving them to neighbors, teachers and family.
- Gluten-free snowball cookies
- Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
- Gluten-free gingersnaps
- Gluten Free Pizzelles
If you are keen to try something a little different, these cookies are great:
- Gluten-free Christmas Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
- Gluten-Free Stained Glass Cookies
- Gluten Free Spiced Christmas Biscuits
- Vegan Gluten-Free Linzer Cookies
Frequently Asked Questions
What's The Best Way To Store It?
Cool the cookies, and then store them in an airtight container for 5 days.
Where To Buy Christmas Sugar Cookies?
You can buy gluten-free Christmas sugar cookies during the festive season at your local retailer or online. We like to get some from Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, and Walmart. We love these Gluten Free Palace Holiday Cookie Gift Baskets if you want to treat someone special. Our go-to is Walker's. Christmas has arrived in our household when these Walker’s Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies make an appearance.
Try to obtain them fairly quickly, depending on your preferred gluten-free brand. Stock usually sells out fast during this festive period.
Christmas Sugar Cookies
These Christmas sugar cookies are a classic Christmas dessert that's perfect for gift-giving.
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- ⅔ cup shortening
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 4 teaspoons of milk
- 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend (we used Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour)
- 1½ teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum
For the frosting:
- ½ cup butter (1 stick), room temperature
- 1½ teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract
- 4½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Position the oven rack in the center of the oven. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, cream shortening, sugar, vanilla, and egg. Stir in the milk.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum. Make sure to mix well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until combined. Roll the dough into a rectangular shape about a ½ inch thick.
- Place the cut-out cookies onto the cookie sheet two inches apart.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes until light brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully remove the cookies from the cookie sheet to a cooling rack.
- Finish cooling on a wire rack. Once completely cool, frost with butter cream or cream cheese frosting. Store cookies in an airtight container.
- For the frosting: In a medium mixing bowl, beat together butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well. Alternate one cup of powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk until all ingredients are blended. Beat in additional milk if needed to obtain the desired consistency. You can store frosting in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a week.
Notes
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 316Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 61mgCarbohydrates: 55gSugar: 55gProtein: 0g
This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands used at the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.
If you make this Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe, please consider stopping by and letting me know what you think.
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