Delicious Christmas Dessert Ideas

This simple and festive cookie is a quick way to add a homemade touch to your Christmas dessert table. The dough is easy to mix, you can tint it with food coloring, and kids love decorating with sprinkles — if you want more meal ideas for the season, try these 12 delicious lunch ideas for inspiration.

Why make this recipe

• Uses common pantry ingredients.
• Quick to prepare and bake.
• Fun to decorate with powdered sugar glaze and sprinkles.
• Makes a batch that is great to share at parties or to gift.

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Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles (for decoration)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until well combined.
5. If desired, divide the dough and add food coloring to each portion.
6. Shape the dough into your desired shapes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until lightly golden.
8. Let cool and then decorate with powdered sugar glaze and sprinkles as desired.

Serving

Serve these cookies on a festive plate or in clear bags tied with ribbon for gifts. They pair well with hot cocoa, coffee, or tea.

Storage

• At room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• In the fridge: Keep in a sealed container for up to 1 week. Let come to room temperature before serving.
• To freeze: Place baked cookies in a single layer on a tray to freeze, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw before decorating.

Tips

• For a smooth glaze, sift the powdered sugar before mixing with a little milk or water.
• If the dough is sticky, chill it for 15–30 minutes to make shaping easier.
• Try combining spice flavors like a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm holiday taste, or borrow nutty and honey notes from other festive sweets like Christmas baklava when planning your dessert spread.
• Use different cookie cutters and food coloring to make themed cookie assortments.

Variations

• Colorful party cookies: Divide dough and tint each portion with food coloring before shaping.
• Cut-out sandwich cookies: Make two small cookies and sandwich them with flavored buttercream.
• Chocolate twist: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the dry ingredients or serve alongside a rich chocolate log; a good comparison is the chocolate yule log recipe.
• Gluten-free option: Substitute a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend and check texture before baking.

FAQs

Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
A: Yes. Wrap the dough and refrigerate for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge before using.

Q: How do I make the powdered sugar glaze?
A: Mix powdered sugar with a little milk or water until smooth. Adjust liquid for desired thickness.

Q: Can I skip the powdered sugar glaze?
A: Yes. Dust with powdered sugar, sandwich with jam, or use a light buttercream.

Conclusion

For more holiday dessert inspiration and ideas to fill your table, see this list of 20 Best Christmas Dessert Ideas for Your Holiday Table.

Christmas Cookies

These simple and festive cookies are perfect for adding a homemade touch to your Christmas dessert table. Easy to prepare, fun to decorate, and great for parties.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 32 minutes mins

Servings: 24 cookies

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Holiday

Calories: 90

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the glaze and decoration

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• optional Food coloring
• to taste Sprinkles

Method

 

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until well combined.
5. If desired, divide the dough and add food coloring to each portion.
6. Shape the dough into your desired shapes and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Baking

1. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until lightly golden.
2. Let cool and then decorate with powdered sugar glaze and sprinkles as desired.

Notes

Serve these cookies on a festive plate or in clear bags tied with ribbon for gifts. They pair well with hot cocoa, coffee, or tea. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 1 week. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw before decorating.