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
1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
½ cup (120 ml) sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Optional Decorations
Colored sugar, sprinkles, or frosting
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream butter & sugars: In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
Add eggs & vanilla: Mix in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract. Beat until smooth.
Whisk dry ingredients: In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Combine wet & dry: Slowly add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
Fold in sour cream: Gently mix in sour cream (or Greek yogurt) to lock in moisture. Dough will be slightly sticky.
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.
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
For richer flavor, chill dough overnight before baking.
Don’t overbake—slightly underdone centers make cookies extra soft.
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