I’m so excited to share my one-bowl Christmas sugar cookie recipe with you!
These cookies have been a holiday secret weapon for years. They’re ridiculously easy to make but still taste like you spent hours in the kitchen.
No more juggling multiple mixing bowls or complicated techniques!
The best part? You can customize them with any festive sprinkles or spices you love.
Want to know how to get that perfect chewy texture that’ll have everyone asking for your recipe at the holiday party?
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Cream of tartar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Sprinkles
Recommended Tools
Making these delicious One-Bowl Christmas Sugar Cookies is a breeze when you have the right tools on hand. The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity, but having these kitchen essentials will make the process even smoother and help you create perfect holiday cookies every time.
- Electric Mixer:
Makes creaming the butter and sugar until “light and fluffy” much easier than doing it by hand.
- Large Mixing Bowl:
The star of this one-bowl recipe, it needs to be big enough to hold all ingredients without spilling over when mixing.
- Cookie Scoop:
Helps you create uniform cookie dough balls so they all bake evenly and look professional.
- Baking Sheets:
You’ll need good quality baking sheets that won’t warp in the oven for even cooking of your Christmas cookies.
- Parchment Paper:
Specifically mentioned in the recipe, it prevents cookies from sticking and makes cleanup super easy.
- Cooling Rack:
Essential for the final step of cooling your cookies properly so they maintain their perfect texture.
Instructions for One-Bowl Christmas Sugar Cookies
Ready to make some delicious Christmas cookies without making a huge mess? Let’s get started with these super easy one-bowl sugar cookies!
First, preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This step is crucial for easy cleanup later – trust me, you’ll thank yourself!
Grab a large bowl and cream together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter and 1¼ cups of granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Don’t rush this part – this is where the magic happens for that perfect cookie texture!
Next, crack in 1 large egg and pour in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, then mix everything really well. The vanilla gives these cookies that classic, irresistible aroma that screams “Christmas is here!”
Time for the dry ingredients! Add 2¼ cups of all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon of cream of tartar, ½ teaspoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and ¾ teaspoon of salt right into the same bowl. Stir just until combined – no need to beat the dough to death! Over-mixing is the enemy of tender cookies.
Now comes the fun part! Scoop the dough into balls and roll them in festive sprinkles or sugar. Place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. They need room to spread out and get comfortable!
Don’t skip this next step! Pop the sheets with the dough balls into your fridge for 15 minutes to chill. This helps the cookies keep their shape and prevents them from spreading too much during baking.
Finally, bake for 9-10 minutes until the centers are just set. They might look slightly underdone, but that’s exactly what you want for that perfect chewy center! Let them cool on a rack and watch them disappear faster than you can say “Santa’s coming!”
Pro Tips
Chill the formed cookie dough balls on the baking sheet for a full 15 minutes in the refrigerator before baking to maintain their perfect shape and prevent excessive spreading, resulting in cookies with crisp edges and soft centers.
Substitutions & Variations
These classic sugar cookies can be transformed into unique treats with simple ingredient swaps that maintain their festive charm but add unexpected flavor.
- Citrus Zest Cookies: Add 1 tablespoon of orange, lemon or lime zest to the dough for a bright flavor that complements the sweetness.
- Spiced Holiday Version: Mix in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg and a pinch of cloves for a warmly spiced cookie perfect for winter.
- Almond Extract Upgrade: Replace half the vanilla extract with almond extract for a sophisticated nutty undertone that pairs beautifully with the sugar base.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend and add ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum if not included in the blend.
- Cream Cheese Twist: Replace ¼ cup of the butter with 2 ounces of cream cheese for a more tender cookie with subtle tanginess.
- Chocolate Dipped Edges: After cooling completely, dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate and add festive sprinkles for an elegant presentation.
Leftovers & Storage Tips
While these one-bowl sugar cookies often disappear within hours of coming out of the oven, you might occasionally find yourself with leftovers that deserve proper storage.
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
If you need longer, freeze them! Just place cookies in a freezer-safe bag with parchment between layers.
They’ll keep for 3 months – just thaw before enjoying!
Decorate With Royal Icing
One-Bowl Christmas Sugar Cookies
Easy, festive sugar cookies made in just one bowl - perfect for holiday baking and decorating.
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- Sprinkles or granulated sugar for rolling (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350°F; line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla; mix well.
- Stir in dry ingredients until just combined.
- Scoop dough into balls, roll in sugar or sprinkles, place 2" apart on sheets.
- Chill dough on sheets for 15 minutes in fridge.
- Bake 9–10 minutes until centers set. Cool on rack.
