There’s just something so comforting about festive cookies fresh from the oven — soft, sweet, and decked out in holiday sprinkles. This Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is a total game-changer when you want that classic Christmas cookie joy without the fuss of rolling or cutting out shapes.

A stack of round cookies with a light beige base, mixed with red and green sprinkles inside the dough. The top of the cookies is also decorated with red, green, and white sprinkles scattered unevenly. The cookies have a slightly soft texture and are placed on a white marbled surface with a few glass bowls filled with the same colored sprinkles blurred in the background. 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 Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m honestly obsessed with how easy and festive these cookies are. They bring back warm memories of baking with family, but they’re also perfectly simple if you’re new to cookie-making. Trust me — you’ll enjoy every sprinkle-studded bite.

Effortless Baking: No rolling or cutters needed — just scoop, chill, and bake.
Perfectly Soft & Chewy: Every cookie is tender with a slightly crisp edge, the texture I always crave.
Sprinkle Party: Packed with colorful sprinkles inside and out, they’re cheerful and eye-catching.
Make-Ahead Friendly: Chill the dough for up to 4 days, giving you extra prep flexibility during busy holiday weeks.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe plays a key role, balancing flavor and texture so you end up with irresistibly soft cookies that hold their shape well. Here’s why I love these ingredients and a few tips for picking quality ones.

Flat lay of a small mound of spooned and leveled all-purpose flour, a small pile of fine white baking powder, a tiny mound of fine salt crystals, a half cup of soft unsalted butter shaped in a smooth block, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated white sugar, one large whole egg with a clean shell, a small white ceramic bowl containing clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl overflowing with colorful rainbow sprinkles placed symmetrically alongside another small white ceramic bowl with more rainbow sprinkles, all arranged with perfect symmetry 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: This forms the sturdy base but still keeps the cookies tender when measured correctly—spooning and leveling is key here.
Baking powder: Just enough to give the cookies a subtle rise and lightness without puffing them up too much.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor — don’t skip it even in sweet recipes!
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter creamed with sugar adds richness and that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens perfectly and helps create those slightly crisp edges after baking.
Egg: Binds everything together and adds moisture—make sure it’s at room temperature for the best mix.
Vanilla extract: The classic flavor boost, use pure vanilla for that warm, rounded aroma.
Sprinkles: The star of the show for holiday cheer. Use your favorites for different colors or shapes to match your holiday vibe!

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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

What I love about this Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to switch things up. Whether you want to tone down the sweetness or add a little extra flair, this base invites you to get creative.

Variation: I once swapped half the sprinkles with chopped toasted pecans for a fun crunch, and it was a hit with family who love texture contrasts.
Dairy-free tweak: Use a vegan butter substitute, and you’ll still get soft, buttery cookies without compromise.
Extract swaps: Try almond or peppermint extract instead of vanilla for a festive twist that’s perfect for the holidays.
Color code: Pick seasonal sprinkles—reds, greens, golds—or even snowflake shapes to jazz up your cookies for different celebrations.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

A metal baking tray sits on a white marbled surface, lined with a brown silicone baking mat. On the mat, there are fifteen evenly spaced dough balls arranged in three rows of five. Each dough ball is light beige in color with small bits of red and green sprinkled on top, giving a festive look. The texture of the dough balls is smooth and round. The overall scene is simple and tidy, focused on the neatly placed dough balls. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Whisk Dry Ingredients Together

Start by combining the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Give it a good whisk to evenly distribute everything. This step is small but important—it ensures your cookies rise evenly and have the best texture.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar

Using a mixer, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed for about a minute until light and fluffy. This creaming traps air and creates the soft base we want. Don’t rush this step—it makes a big difference!

Step 3: Add Egg and Vanilla

Beat in the egg and vanilla extract on high speed until combined. Scrape down the bowl sides once or twice to make sure everything mixes evenly. This is where your dough really starts coming together.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Switch to low speed and add the dry ingredients gradually, mixing until just combined. Avoid overmixing here—otherwise, the cookies might turn out tough. Then fold in half the sprinkles; trust me, this little surprise inside makes these cookies unforgettable.

Step 5: Shape and Chill

Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out roughly 2-tablespoon dough balls. Roll them gently in your hands, then dip the tops in extra sprinkles for that festive finish. I always chill them on a baking sheet or plate, covered, for at least 2 hours—this step is key for their perfect texture and shape.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange the chilled dough balls about 3 inches apart. Bake for 12 to 13 minutes until the edges are lightly browned but centers look soft. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This cooling time helps them set up nice and chewy.

Top Tip

From my many Christmas baking sessions, chilling the dough is a game-changer. It keeps the cookies from spreading too thin and really helps bring out the buttery flavor. Plus, adding sprinkles twice—inside and on top—gives these cookies their iconic “festive” look and extra crunch!

Don’t Skip Chilling: I once baked these without chilling and they flattened too much. Waiting a couple hours really pays off.
Sugar & Butter at Room Temp: Make sure these are soft but not melted for best mixing and texture.
Sprinkle Twice: Mixing some into the dough and adding more on top before baking gives that joyful, festive crunch I adore.
Watch the Bake Time: Take them out while the centers still look soft—the residual heat finishes the job and keeps them chewy.

How to Serve Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

Christmas Sugar Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

For garnishes, I like to keep it classic by adding extra colorful sprinkles right on top before baking. Sometimes, I dust them lightly with powdered sugar for a snowy effect—a little touch that feels magical on cookie platters.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a warm mug of spiced hot cocoa or your favorite holiday tea. For parties, setting them alongside a cheese board with some dried fruit and nuts balances the sweetness perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I stacked these cookies into mini Christmas trees by threading a skewer through them and topping with a star-shaped sprinkle. It was a fun centerpiece and the kids loved it! Another fave is packing them in cute holiday tins with tissue paper for gift-giving.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After baking, store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. I’ve found they stay soft and delicious for up to a week if well sealed—you’ll be reaching for them all week long!

Freezing

The unbaked dough freezes wonderfully. Just scoop balls onto a tray, freeze until firm, then store in freezer bags. When you want cookies, bake straight from frozen adding a minute or two to the bake time. It’s a lifesaver during hectic holiday prep.

Reheating

If you have leftover baked cookies, warming them briefly in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes brings back the fresh-baked feel and soft texture — especially great with a cup of tea or coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use margarine instead of butter in this cookie recipe?

While margarine can be used in a pinch, I recommend unsalted butter for the best flavor and texture in the Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe. Butter’s richness is crucial to that classic soft, chewy bite.

How important is chilling the dough before baking?

Chilling the dough for at least 2 hours is key to preventing the cookies from spreading too much and helps develop flavor. I’ve skipped this step before, and the cookies ended up thin and flat. So, patience here definitely pays off.

Can I substitute different extracts or flavors in this recipe?

Absolutely! Vanilla is classic, but almond or peppermint extracts add a festive flair that pairs wonderfully with the sprinkles. Just use the same amount and adjust based on your taste preferences.

How long do these cookies stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies keep fresh and soft for up to one week. I recommend enjoying them within the first few days for optimal flavor and texture.

Final Thoughts

This Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my holiday baking routine. It’s straightforward enough to tackle on a busy day, yet decorative and indulgent enough to impress guests or delight family. Give it a try—you’ll find the ease and nostalgia make these cookies a new festive favorite you come back to year after year.