The first bite of these colorful treats always brings a smile—there’s just something magical about that crunch of sprinkles paired with soft, buttery cookies. This Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe feels like holiday cheer in every bite, perfect for sharing or keeping all to yourself!

The image shows a small stack of five round sugar cookies with two colors of sugar crystals on the outside: green and red. The bottom cookie is green, followed by a red cookie, then a green cookie, and another red cookie. On top is a green cookie with a bite taken out, showing a light, soft inside. The cookies have a slightly rough texture from the sugar crystals, and one broken cookie piece lies flat in front of the stack on a surface with a white marbled texture. The background is plain and light, making the colorful cookies stand out. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m honestly pretty picky about sugar cookies, but this Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe checks all the boxes for me every single time. These cookies come out soft, tender, with just the right amount of richness from cream cheese—not to mention that joyful sparkle from the sprinkles. They’re a festive classic that’s easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Perfect Texture: Soft and slightly chewy with just enough crumb, thanks to the cream cheese in the dough.
Vibrant Sprinkles: Judiciously coated in sprinkles, so they stay colorful and festive without getting lost in the bake.
Hands-On Fun: Rolling the dough balls in sprinkles makes this recipe as much about creating joyful moments as eating the cookies.
Make Ahead Friendly: You can chill the dough for days, which means less last-minute holiday stress and better flavor development.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a special role in turning out these soft, flavorful Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies. Using real cream cheese gives a tender texture and subtle tang, while the choice of sprinkles adds personality and that signature holiday pop. Here’s a breakdown of the key ingredients to keep in mind when shopping:

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl of baking powder, a small white bowl of salt, a block of unsalted butter with a smooth, pale yellow surface, a rectangular piece of cream cheese with a glossy texture, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar sparkling in natural light, one whole large brown egg with a clean shell, a small white bowl containing pale golden vanilla extract, a small white bowl with clear almond extract, and a small white bowl filled with colorful round sprinkles in shades of red, blue, yellow, green, and white, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure while keeping the cookies soft; spoon and level for accurate measuring to avoid dryness.
Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise just a bit, ensuring they don’t turn out dense.
Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness.
Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and flavor; soften it to room temperature for easy mixing.
Cream Cheese: The secret ingredient for ultra-tender cookies – don’t skip it! Make sure it’s softened similarly to butter.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and contributes to the cookie’s chewy texture.
Egg: Binds everything together and adds moisture; room temperature eggs mix better.
Vanilla Extract: Classic flavor enhancer, boosting the cookie’s aroma and warmth.
Almond Extract: Adds a subtle nutty depth — optional but I find it really elevates the flavor.
Sprinkles: Use your favorite mix—sanding sugar, nonpareils, or jimmies all work beautifully.

📝

Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe is how easily it lends itself to customization. I’ve tried swapping some extracts or changing sprinkle combinations to match the mood—and you can, too!

Variation: Once, I tried lemon extract instead of almond for a fresh twist that gave the cookies a bright, zingy flavor perfect for holiday brunch.
Dietary Swap: For a dairy-free version, use a vegan butter and cream cheese alternative; the texture is surprisingly close and just as delightful.
Seasonal Sprinkles: Feel free to switch sprinkles throughout the year to match other celebrations—think pastel sprinkles for Easter, or orange and black for Halloween!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe

A white rectangular tray is filled with four groups of colorful sugar cookies in red, green, and white colors. One group has red sugar crystals covering the round cookies, another group is covered with green sugar crystals, and the third group has white icing with red and green sprinkles on top. The fourth group is coated with small round red, green, and white sprinkles. In the middle of the tray, a cookie is broken in half, showing a light yellow inside. A woman's hand is holding the tray from the right side, with another woman's hand visible at the bottom holding it. Surrounding the tray, there are two white round plates with more cookies; one plate has a cookie with a bite taken out. All sits on a white marbled surface with a red and white cloth partially visible at the bottom left. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Combine the Dry Ingredients and Prep the Dough

Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. This helps evenly distribute the leavening agent and salt so your cookies bake uniformly. Set that aside for now.

In your mixer, beat softened butter and cream cheese on high speed until smooth and creamy—about two minutes. This mix feels super silky and lightening the base like this is key for the soft texture. Add sugar next and beat until creamy again. Then mix in the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts until everything is combined nicely.

Step 2: Bring It All Together and Chill

Mix the dry ingredients into your wet batter on low speed just until combined. The dough will be thick, which is exactly what you want! Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil and chill for at least an hour. Pro tip: if chilling longer than a couple of hours, take the dough out a bit before rolling so it softens up—it makes rolling easier and helps the cookies spread just right when baked.

Step 3: Roll, Sprinkle, and Flatten

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Now here’s the fun part: roll tablespoon-sized dough balls and coat them thoroughly in your sprinkles. I like to have a few bowls for different colors, it’s a festive way to mix things up!

Place them on the baking sheets spaced about two inches apart. Use the back of a measuring cup or a drinking glass to gently press down each dough ball just enough so they’re slightly flattened but still thick. This helps get them to bake evenly and keeps the sprinkles where they belong.

Step 4: Bake and Cool

Bake for 12 to 13 minutes, keeping an eye on the edges—they should be just starting to turn golden. The cookies will look soft when you take them out, but they firm up as they cool. Let them rest on the baking sheet for five minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. This also prevents them from breaking or sticking.

Top Tip

From my years of baking this recipe, these simple tips really make the difference between "meh" and "magical" cookies.

Softened Ingredients Matter: Make sure both your butter and cream cheese are truly at room temperature—it helps the dough come together much smoother.
Don’t Overmix: Once you add your flour, mix just enough to incorporate. Overworking the dough can make cookies tough.
Chill the Dough: I can't stress this enough—this step helps prevent spreading and deepens the flavors.
Press Gently: Lightly flatten the dough balls but avoid smashing sprinkles off. It keeps your cookies beautiful and colorful.

How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe

Christmas sprinkle cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with colorful sanding sugar sprinkles, but if I’m feeling extra festive, I’ll dust a tiny bit of edible glitter on top or add small holiday-themed sprinkles after baking. It's such a delight to see those sparkles catch the light on cookie platters!

Side Dishes

These cookies go beautifully with a warm mug of hot cocoa or a spiced latte. I’ve also paired them with a cheese board for holiday parties—a fun contrast between sweet and savory that guests love.

Creative Ways to Present

For entertaining, I like arranging these cookies on tiered stands mixed with fresh holly or pine sprigs. Another favorite is wrapping stacks of them in parchment paper tied with festive twine, which makes a charming edible gift that feels really personal.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and fresh for about a week—perfect for keeping at holiday gatherings or packing in lunchboxes.

Freezing

I often freeze extra dough balls before baking. Just shape and sprinkle them, then put them on a tray to freeze individually before transferring to a bag. When I want fresh cookies, I pop them right into the oven—no thawing needed, just add a minute or two to the baking time.

Reheating

If you have leftovers that have gone a bit stale, warming them in a preheated 300°F oven for about 5 minutes brings back that fresh-baked softness and revives the sprinkles’ crunch.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other kinds of sprinkles for this Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! You can use sanding sugar, classic nonpareils, jimmies, or any holiday-themed sprinkles you love. Just be mindful that very large or heavy decorations might affect how the cookies bake.

How do I make sure my Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies stay soft?

Using cream cheese in the dough helps keep the texture soft, but also chilling the dough and not overbaking are key to that tender bite. Take the cookies out as soon as the edges start to brown lightly.

Can I bake these cookies without almond extract?

Yes, almond extract is optional but adds a lovely depth. If you don’t have it, just leave it out or replace it with a bit more vanilla extract without any issue.

How far in advance can I make these cookies?

The dough can be chilled tightly wrapped for up to 3-4 days before baking, which is great for spreading out your holiday prep time. Once baked, the cookies stay fresh for about a week at room temperature.
You can also freeze baked cookies for longer storage, just make sure they’re completely cooled before freezing.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe holds a little piece of my holiday heart. Between the merry crunch of the sprinkles and the cozy, buttery softness of the dough, it’s a treat that always brings a warm smile and a festive spirit to the table. I really hope you enjoy making (and eating) them as much as I do—these cookies are a delicious way to create joyful moments with loved ones, no matter where you are.