Frosted Christmas Cookies are perfect when you want Christmas sugar cookies without the effort of making cutout cookies! No chilling, rolling pins, or cookie cutters are needed.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time12 minutesmins
Total Time22 minutesmins
Servings: 60
Ingredients
¾cupsbuttersoftened
¼cupshortening
1 ½cupsgranulated sugar
2eggs
1 ½teaspoonvanilla extract
2 ½cupsflour
1box instant vanilla pudding
1teaspoonbaking powder
½teaspoonsalt
Sugar Cookie Frosting Ingredients
1/2cupunsalted buttersoftened
4cupspowdered sugar
6tablespoonsheavy cream
1/4teaspoonsalt
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract or peppermint extract
food coloringoptional
Christmas sprinklesoptional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Beat the butter, shortening, and sugar with an electric mixer for 3 minutes until soft and creamy.
¾ cups butter, ¼ cup shortening, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
Add the eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding mix to the mixing bowl. Continue mixing until completely combined.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2 ½ cups flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder
Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture a little at a time. Mix between additions until all the flour is incorporated.
Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Space the dough balls about 2 inches apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. They are done when light golden brown around the edges and the middle is set.
Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. This allows them to firm up. Then put them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Frosting
Make the frosting while the cookies cool. Use a mixer to beat the butter until it is light and fluffy.
1/2 cup unsalted butter
Gradually add the powdered sugar and heavy cream, beating between each addition. Continue adding and mixing until it is all well incorporated.
4 cups powdered sugar, 6 tablespoons heavy cream
Add the vanilla and salt and mix well.
1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or peppermint extract
Put the frosting in separate bowls to make the red, green, and white frosting. Gradually add drops of gel food coloring to the red and green icing until you reach the desired color.
food coloring
Add a layer of frosting to the cookies when they are completely cool. Decorate with sprinkles.
Christmas sprinkles
Notes
These are soft cookies. So be careful not to overbake them.
Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on the cookie sheets.
Store-bought frosting will make the recipe even simpler.
Use a piping bag and tip and pipe the frosting on for a fancier look.
Try using nonpariels or sparking sugar instead of sprinkles.
It is easy to change the frosting and sprinkles to make these for other holidays, like Valentine's Day or a birthday party.