The holiday season simply wouldn’t feel complete without a plate of cookies sitting on the counter, filling the air with the smell of butter, sugar, and spice. Soft Christmas cookies hold a special place in festive traditions because they combine everything we love about holiday baking: pillowy centers, sweet aromas, and flavors that instantly remind us of cozy gatherings and twinkling lights. Unlike crispy cookies, these are made to be tender, melt-in-your-mouth treats that invite you to go back for “just one more.”
In this guide, you’ll learn how to make the best soft Christmas cookies with exact measurements, foolproof instructions, and tips that guarantee success. We’ll also explore variations, storage methods, and serving ideas to help you turn a simple recipe into the star of your holiday table.
Ingredients (with Detailed Measurements)
To create cookies that are both soft and flavorful, you’ll need these carefully balanced ingredients:
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1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
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1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
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½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
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2 large eggs, at room temperature
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, for a warm holiday flavor)
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½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional, for depth)
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½ cup (120 ml) sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (adds moisture for softness)
For a festive finish, you can add:
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Colored sugar, sprinkles, or frosting for decorating
Instructions (Step-by-Step Guide)
Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Station
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and ensures even baking.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together using a hand or stand mixer on medium speed for about 2–3 minutes. The mixture should look light and fluffy. This step incorporates air, which helps give the cookies their soft, tender texture.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Crack in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then mix in the vanilla extract until everything is combined. The batter should look smooth and slightly glossy at this stage.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This ensures the leavening agents are evenly distributed so the cookies bake uniformly.
Step 5: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients
Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing, as it can make the cookies dense rather than soft.
Step 6: Add Sour Cream for Moisture
Fold in the sour cream (or Greek yogurt). This little trick locks in moisture and creates that irresistible pillowy softness. The dough will be slightly sticky, which is exactly what you want.
Step 7: Portion and Bake
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each cookie about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underdone. Remember, the cookies will continue to cook slightly as they cool.
Step 8: Cool and Decorate
Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Once cooled, you can decorate with icing, sprinkles, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Tips for Perfecting Soft Christmas Cookies
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Measure flour correctly: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off. Too much flour can make cookies tough.
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Don’t overbake: Pull cookies out just as the edges set. Overbaking will turn them crisp instead of soft.
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Keep dough cool: If you’re baking multiple batches, refrigerate the dough between uses to maintain consistency.
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Enhance flavor: For richer cookies, chill the dough overnight. This allows the flavors to deepen and the texture to improve.
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Add mix-ins carefully: Chocolate chips, dried cranberries, or crushed candy canes are great, but don’t overload the dough. Stick to 1 cup of mix-ins per batch.
Conservation and Storage
The beauty of these cookies is that they stay soft for days if stored properly.
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Room Temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Place a slice of bread in the container to help maintain moisture.
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Freezing Dough: Scoop cookie dough onto a tray, freeze until solid, then store in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1–2 extra minutes to the bake time.
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Freezing Baked Cookies: Layer cooled cookies between parchment paper in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Variations
One of the joys of baking is making the recipe your own. Try these festive twists:
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Spiced Version: Increase cinnamon and nutmeg, and add ½ teaspoon of ground ginger for a gingerbread-like flavor.
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Peppermint Twist: Stir in ½ teaspoon peppermint extract and sprinkle crushed candy canes on top.
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Frosted Cookies: Spread cream cheese frosting or buttercream over cooled cookies and decorate with red and green sprinkles.
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Chocolate Lover’s: Add ½ cup cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and top with white chocolate drizzle.
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Gluten-Free: Substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. The sour cream helps maintain softness even without gluten.
Serving Suggestions
Soft Christmas cookies can shine in countless ways during the holiday season:
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On a cookie platter: Mix them with gingerbread men, sugar cookies, and shortbread for variety.
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As gifts: Pack them in festive tins or boxes lined with parchment. Add a ribbon and a handwritten tag for a personal touch.
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With hot drinks: Serve alongside hot cocoa, spiced cider, or coffee for a cozy evening treat.
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For cookie swaps: These cookies travel well and will quickly become the highlight of any exchange.
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Decorating parties: Bake the cookies ahead of time, then let kids and adults decorate with icing and sprinkles for a fun activity.
Conclusion
Making the best soft Christmas cookies isn’t complicated, but it does require care with ingredients, a watchful eye while baking, and a little creativity when decorating. These cookies are soft, flavorful, and endlessly versatile. Whether you enjoy them plain, spiced, or frosted, they’ll add warmth and sweetness to your holiday season. More than just a dessert, they’re a tradition that brings families together, fills kitchens with laughter, and makes the holidays unforgettable.
So preheat the oven, gather your ingredients, and bake up a batch of cookies that will keep everyone reaching for seconds. After all, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without soft cookies waiting on the plate.
Print
Best Soft Christmas Cookies: A Complete Guide to Holiday Baking
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 30 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These soft Christmas cookies are buttery, tender, and perfectly festive. With a pillowy texture, warm vanilla flavor, and endless decorating options, they’re the perfect treat to brighten your holiday season.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
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1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
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1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
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½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
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2 large eggs, at room temperature
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking soda
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
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½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
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½ cup (120 ml) sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Optional Decorations
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Colored sugar, sprinkles, or frosting
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Cream butter & sugars: In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
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Add eggs & vanilla: Mix in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract. Beat until smooth.
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Whisk dry ingredients: In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
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Combine wet & dry: Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
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Fold in sour cream: Gently mix in sour cream (or Greek yogurt) to lock in moisture. Dough will be slightly sticky.
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Scoop & bake: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until edges are set but centers are soft.
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Cool & decorate: Let cookies rest on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Decorate with icing, powdered sugar, or sprinkles once cooled.
Notes
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For richer flavor, chill dough overnight before baking.
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Don’t overbake—slightly underdone centers make cookies extra soft.
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Add mix-ins like chocolate chips, cranberries, or crushed candy canes (up to 1 cup).
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (+optional chilling)
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: best soft Christmas cookies, soft Christmas cookie recipe, holiday soft cookies, chewy Christmas cookies