Name: Failproof Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 1 h 3 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups cake flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 0.5 teaspoon baking soda; 0.25 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 cup granulated sugar; 0.5 cup unsalted butter, room temperature; 0.5 cup vegetable shortening; 0.5 cup sour cream; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 0.5 teaspoon almond extract; 1 large egg; 1 cup unsalted butter (for frosting); 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting); 3.5 cups powdered sugar (for frosting); 2 tablespoons heavy cream (for frosting); red food coloring; green food coloring; Sprinkles

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Oh, Christmas baking! Is there anything better than the smell of cookies wafting through the house, especially when you know those cookies are destined for sharing with loved ones? These aren’t just any cookies; these Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies are *designed* to be melt-in-your-mouth soft and oh-so-festive. I remember one year, my little sister and I tried to sneak a peek at the cookies before they were ready, and Mom caught us! We ended up “helping” by adding *way* too many sprinkles. Oops! But hey, they were still delicious, and that’s what matters, right?

Why You’ll Love These Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

Seriously, you’re gonna *love* these cookies! They’re super easy to whip up, taste amazing, and are just perfect for spreading some holiday cheer. Trust me, everyone will be begging for the recipe!

Easy to Make

Don’t be intimidated! The steps are straightforward, and you probably already have most of the ingredients. I promise, it’s easier than wrapping presents!

Soft and Delicious

The name says it all, right? These cookies are seriously soft, like little pillows of sugary goodness. And that vanilla buttercream? To die for!

Perfect for Holiday Baking

Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, gifts for neighbors… these cookies are perfect for *everything*. Plus, they’re just plain fun to make with the family!

Ingredients for Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

Okay, let’s gather our goodies! Here’s what you’ll need to make these amazing Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies. Don’t skimp on the good stuff, okay? You’ll want 3 cups of cake flour (it *has* to be cake flour for that soft texture!), 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 0.5 teaspoon of baking soda, and a pinch of 0.25 teaspoon of kosher salt. For sweetness, grab 1 cup of granulated sugar. Now, for the fats: 0.5 cup of unsalted butter (room temperature, please!) and 0.5 cup of vegetable shortening. Oh, and don’t forget 0.5 cup of sour cream! We’re not done yet! You’ll also need 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, 0.5 teaspoon of almond extract, and 1 large egg. And for the frosting? Get ready! 1 cup of unsalted butter, 0.5 teaspoon of vanilla extract, a whopping 3.5 cups of powdered sugar, and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Almost there! Red and green food coloring, and of course… SPRINKLES!

How to Prepare Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

Alright, let’s get baking! Follow these steps, and you’ll have the most amazing Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies in no time. Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through it!

Making the Soft Christmas Sugar Cookie Dough

First things first, preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Then, line those baking sheets with parchment paper – trust me, it makes cleanup a breeze. In a bowl, whisk together your cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Now, in your mixer, cream together the sugar, butter, shortening, and sour cream until it’s super smooth. We’re talking *really* smooth, like velvety smooth. Next, add the egg, vanilla, and almond extract, and mix it all up. Slowly add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix! We’re going for soft cookies, not hockey pucks!

Baking the Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

Okay, now for the fun part! Form the dough into balls (about a tablespoon each, I’d say), and place them on your prepared cookie sheets, leaving a little space between each one. Next, grab a cup and gently press those dough balls down. Now, into the oven they go! Bake for 10-13 minutes, until the tops are set and a *pale* yellow. The key here is *don’t overbake them!* They should still be soft. Let the cookies cool on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience, my friend, patience!

Frosting Your Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

While the cookies are cooling, let’s whip up that frosting! In your mixer, combine the butter and vanilla extract until it’s light and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, and then thin it out with the heavy cream until it’s nice and spreadable. Divide the frosting into three bowls. Leave one bowl plain, and add red food coloring to one and green food coloring to the other. Now, frost those cooled cookies and go wild with the sprinkles! My favorite part is letting the kids decorate them – even if they *do* use half the bottle of sprinkles!

Tips for the Best Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

Want to take these Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies from good to *amazing*? Here are a few little secrets I’ve learned over the years. These tips will help you bake perfect, melt-in-your-mouth cookies every single time!

Don’t Overmix the Dough

Seriously, resist the urge! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, and that’s a big no-no for soft cookies. You’ll end up with tough cookies, and nobody wants that, right?

Avoid Overbaking

I can’t stress this enough! Keep a close eye on those cookies. They should be pale yellow and just set. Take them out of the oven even if they seem a little soft, they’ll firm up as they cool.

Chill the Dough

Okay, this one’s optional, but it can make a difference! Chilling the dough for about 30 minutes can help prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. Plus, it makes the dough easier to handle. Win-win!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

Let’s talk ingredients! These Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies are pretty forgiving, but there are a few things you should know to make them *perfect*. And hey, sometimes you just gotta make do with what you’ve got, right?

Cake Flour

Okay, cake flour is *key* for that super soft texture. But if you don’t have any, don’t panic! You can make a substitute: just use all-purpose flour and remove 2 tablespoons, then add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Easy peasy!

Sour Cream

Sour cream adds moisture and a little tang, which I love! If you don’t have sour cream, you can use plain Greek yogurt or even full-fat plain yogurt. Just make sure it’s not sweetened!

Storing Your Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

So, you’ve baked these beautiful Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies… now how do you keep them fresh? Here’s the lowdown on storing them so they stay soft and delicious. Because nobody wants a stale cookie, am I right?

Short-Term Storage

If you’re planning on eating these babies within a few days, just store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to 5 days, easy peasy!

Long-Term Storage

Want to save some for later? No problem! You can freeze these cookies for up to 2 months. Just pop them in a freezer-safe container or bag. When you’re ready to eat them, thaw them at room temperature. Voila!

Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies FAQ

Got questions about these Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies? Don’t worry, I’ve got answers! Here are some of the most common questions I get asked, so you can bake with confidence. Let’s get to it!

Can I use salted butter?

Okay, so if you’re using salted butter, just omit the salt from the recipe. Simple as that! Too much salt can definitely ruin the flavor, and we want these cookies to be perfectly sweet and delicious, right?

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?

I really recommend cake flour for that super soft texture, but if you’re in a pinch, you can use all-purpose flour. Just remove 2 tablespoons of the all-purpose flour and add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. It won’t be *quite* the same, but it’ll still be yummy!

How long will these cookies stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies will stay fresh for up to 5 days. But let’s be honest, they probably won’t last that long! They’re just too good to resist!

Nutritional Information for Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

Okay, so here’s the deal: the nutritional information for these Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies is just an estimate. It can totally vary depending on the exact ingredients and brands you use. So, please don’t take it as gospel, okay? Just enjoy the cookies!

Share The Joy of Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies

Made these Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies? Yay! Leave a comment, rate the recipe, and share your cookie creations on social media! I wanna see ’em!