There’s something magical about biting into soft, buttery cookies glimmering with colorful sprinkles. This Festive Sprinkle Christmas Cookies Recipe isn’t just any cookie—it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing treat that brings sparkle and joy to your holiday baking. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll be your go-to festive cookie every year.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I can’t get enough of this Festive Sprinkle Christmas Cookies Recipe because it delivers that perfect balance of tender texture with the fun crunch of sprinkles on top. It’s simple enough to make with the kids, yet impressive enough to share at any holiday gathering.
- Easy-to-follow steps: Even if you’re not a pro baker, these cookies come together smoothly without fuss.
- Perfect texture: Thanks to cream cheese in the dough, these cookies are tender and melt-in-your-mouth delightful.
- Festive sparkle: The mix of sanding sugar, nonpareils, and jimmies brings that classic holiday cheer to every bite.
- Make ahead friendly: You can prep the dough days in advance, giving you more prep time during busy holiday weeks.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Festive Sprinkle Christmas Cookies Recipe plays a key role. Using quality butter and cream cheese helps the dough stay soft while the combination of vanilla and almond extracts brings subtle warmth. And the sprinkles? They’re the star of the show that makes these cookies feel truly festive.
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of the dough providing structure, so your cookies hold shape beautifully.
- Baking powder: Helps the cookies rise just enough to stay tender without puffing too much.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all other flavors.
- Unsalted butter: Ensures flavor control and a creamy texture when softened to room temperature.
- Full-fat cream cheese: Adds richness and a tender crumb, making these cookies uniquely soft.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps with browning around the edges for that perfect finish.
- Large egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture to the dough.
- Pure vanilla extract: Classic warm flavor that ties everything together.
- Almond extract: Optional but recommended—it cuts through the sweetness with a subtle nutty fragrance.
- Sprinkles (sanding sugar, nonpareils, jimmies): These bring color, texture, and instant festive vibes.
Make It Your Way
I like to switch up the sprinkles depending on my mood or the occasion. Sometimes I go full rainbow for a cheerful party vibe, other times I stick to red and green sanding sugar for classic Christmas feel. Don’t be shy to experiment—it’s your festive cookie canvas!
- Variation: Once, I swapped almond extract for orange zest, which gave the cookies a lovely citrus twist that everyone loved.
- Dietary tip: While this recipe calls for full-fat cream cheese, you can try light cream cheese for a lower fat version, though cookies may be slightly less tender.
- Seasonal twist: Swap sprinkles for crushed peppermint candies to add a minty crunch perfect for winter.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Sprinkle Christmas Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Whisk the Dry Ingredients
Start by whisking the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl until evenly combined. This ensures your rising agent and salt are distributed throughout the flour, so your cookies bake evenly. Set aside while you work on the wet ingredients.
Step 2: Cream Butter, Cream Cheese & Sugar
Using a hand or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the room temperature butter and cream cheese on high speed until smooth—about 2 minutes. This step is where the magic happens, creating a creamy base that’s key for tender cookies. Add the sugar next, and beat until the mixture looks fluffy and combined.
Step 3: Add Egg and Extracts
Mix in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Beat well to fully combine and help develop a smooth batter. Scraping down the bowl is important here—never skip it! You want every bit mixed well for consistent cookies.
Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
Add your flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. The dough will be thick—this is perfect! Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil and chill for at least 1 hour. I like to chill it overnight sometimes, and it makes rolling easier and the flavor deeper. If chilled longer than a couple hours, let the dough sit out for about 30 minutes before rolling so it’s not rock hard.
Step 5: Prepare and Roll Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats—this saves cleanup and keeps bottoms from burning. Roll tablespoons of dough into balls, then roll each in your chosen sprinkles to coat fully. Place dough balls 2 inches apart on your baking sheets. Press each gently with the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to flatten slightly.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake for 12-13 minutes, watching for very light browning at the edges. This tells you they’re set but still soft inside. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes so they firm up a bit, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps avoid soggy bottoms.
Top Tip
From my experience baking these festive delights, the chilling step is crucial. It not only firms up the dough for beautiful shapes but helps layer flavors. Here are a few tips I swear by to get perfect cookies every time:
- Room temperature ingredients: Always soften butter and cream cheese fully. I learned the hard way that cold butter results in uneven mixing and tough cookies.
- Don’t skip chilling: Chilling the dough for at least an hour prevents spreading and keeps your sprinkles right where you want them.
- Press gently: When flattening cookie dough balls, use just enough pressure to slightly flatten—too hard and the cookies spread too thin.
- Watch baking time closely: Every oven is different—start watching at 11 minutes for your first batch to avoid over-baking.
How to Serve Festive Sprinkle Christmas Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep the garnishes simple since the sprinkles already make a statement, but sometimes I dust the cooled cookies with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar for an extra snowy effect. For a little festive flair, you can also drizzle white chocolate or colored candy melts over the top—kids love to help with this!
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with hot cocoa or a steaming mug of spiced apple cider. For holiday parties, I often serve them alongside an assortment of other treats like peppermint bark, gingerbread men, and mini cheesecakes to create an irresistible cookie platter.
Creative Ways to Present
For gifting, I love stacking these cookies in a clear jar, tied up with a festive ribbon. You can also arrange them on a wooden board with sprigs of fresh rosemary or pine for a rustic holiday display. If you’re hosting a party, arranging cookies on tiered plates sprinkled with edible glitter always wows guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay soft and delicious for up to a week. Adding a slice of bread inside the container helps keep them moist—something I started doing after my first batch got a little too dry!
Freezing
Both baked cookies and unbaked dough balls freeze really well. If you want to freeze dough, I skip rolling them in sprinkles before freezing to avoid sogginess. When ready to bake, let ball dough thaw at room temp for about 30 minutes, then roll in sprinkles and bake. Baked cookies thaw in the fridge overnight and still taste freshly made.
Reheating
If you want your cookies warm, I pop them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes or microwave for 10 seconds. This revives that fresh-baked softness and makes the sprinkles sparkle like new.
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