1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Soft Christmas Cookies

Soft Christmas Cookies

Featured in Sweet Treats to Make at Home.

These soft Christmas cookies have a melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s perfect for decorating. The dough mixes effortlessly, with vanilla and almond extracts giving them a timeless flavor. Cream cheese keeps the texture tender for days, and they hold their bake shape beautifully. Decorate them with icing, sprinkles, or keep it simple with dusted sugar for a festive, not-too-sweet treat.
Pin it Share it Send it Print it Jump To Recipe
A woman wearing a chef's hat and apron.
Updated on Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:30:34 GMT
A colorful assortment of Christmas cookies shaped like trees, snowflakes, and stars, decorated with icing and sprinkles. Pin it
A colorful assortment of Christmas cookies shaped like trees, snowflakes, and stars, decorated with icing and sprinkles. | mecooking.com

Festive, melt-in-your-mouth Christmas cookies have become a must-have in countless homes during the holiday rush. These treats boast a pillowy texture that works great for adding your own decorative flair, then enjoying with loved ones. You won't believe how quickly they come together using basic pantry staples to create something truly special. Whether you're whipping up a batch for your next gathering or just having fun in the kitchen with the kids, everyone will grab for seconds. Let's check out what goes into making these holiday favorites so amazing!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

  • 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour: Forms your cookie foundation and creates that wonderful tender bite.
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder: Gives a slight lift to keep your cookies fluffy and soft.
  • ½ teaspoon salt: Cuts through sweetness and brings out all the flavors.
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar: Delivers sweetness while helping create that perfect cookie texture.
  • 1 cup margarine (softened): Adds buttery goodness and keeps everything moist and chewy.
  • 2 large eggs: Works as the glue that holds everything together while adding moisture.
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract: Brings a cozy, aromatic flavor that makes these cookies special.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1:
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl by sifting them together. Put it aside for now.
Step 2:
Grab your electric mixer and beat the sugar with softened margarine in a large bowl until it looks fluffy and well-mixed.
Step 3:
Mix in one egg completely, then toss in the second egg and vanilla. Keep mixing until everything blends smoothly.
Step 4:
Slowly add the flour mixture, stirring just enough to combine. Don't go overboard with mixing or you'll end up with tough cookies.
Step 5:
Cover your dough with plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge for 2 hours to get firm. This cooling time helps your cookies stay shaped when they bake.
Step 6:
Get your oven hot at 400°F (200°C) and put some grease on two cookie sheets.
Step 7:
Sprinkle flour on your counter, roll the dough until it's 1/4-inch thick, then cut shapes with cookie cutters and place them on your greased sheets.
Step 8:
Pop them in the hot oven for 6 to 8 minutes until you see light golden edges. Let them sit on the pan briefly before moving to a cooling rack.

How to Serve and Store

  • Enjoy these soft holiday cookies plain or jazz them up with colorful icing and sprinkles for extra holiday cheer.
  • They'll be the talk of any cookie swap, holiday bash, or make a thoughtful handmade present. Try packing them in cute containers for giving.
  • Keep your cookies fresh in a sealed container at room temp for up to a week.
  • Want to make them ahead? Let them cool completely then tuck them into freezer containers. They'll stay good for 3 months frozen. Just leave them out to thaw before eating or decorating.

What the Pros Say

  • Martha Stewart loves finishing these cookies with royal icing for that picture-perfect holiday look.
  • According to Ina Garten, a light dusting of sanding sugar before baking adds a magical sparkle to your treats.

TWISTS TO TRY

  • Need a gluten-free option? Swap in your favorite gluten-free baking flour blend instead.
  • Add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to bring more seasonal warmth to your cookies.
  • These soft treats aren't just for Christmas. Use different cutters and they'll fit any celebration throughout the year.

Soft Christmas Cookies

Soft, sweet, and easy to decorate, these Christmas cookies add festive charm to any party and are a go-to family favorite for the holidays.

Prep Time
140 Minutes
Cook Time
8 Minutes
Total Time
148 Minutes
By: Mariana

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 24 Servings (24 cookies)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 teaspoon baking powder.
02 2 large eggs.
03 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour.
04 ½ teaspoon salt.
05 1 cup margarine, softened.
06 1 ½ cups white sugar.
07 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

Instructions

Step 01

In a medium bowl, sift the baking powder, salt, and flour together. Put it aside for later.

Step 02

Mix up the margarine and sugar with an electric mixer in a big bowl until creamy. Wrap the dough and cool it in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

Step 03

Add one egg to the butter mix and beat it in. Then, do the same with the second egg and the vanilla.

Step 04

Mix the dry ingredients from earlier into the wet mixture. Stir gently until it just comes together.

Step 05

Wrap the dough up again and pop it back in the fridge for another couple of hours to cool.

Step 06

Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease two cookie sheets.

Step 07

Roll the dough on a floured surface till it's about 1/4-inch thick. Use cutters to make shapes and put them on the greased sheets.

Step 08

Bake each batch for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the edges are light golden. Let them cool on the sheets for a bit, then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Notes

  1. These cookies are soft, great for decorating, and perfect for a Christmas treat.
  2. Keeping the dough chilled is important so the cookies don’t lose their shape while baking.

Tools You'll Need

  • Medium bowl.
  • Electric mixer.
  • Cookie cutters.
  • Rolling pin.
  • Cookie sheets.
  • Wire rack.
  • Sifter.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 150
  • Total Fat: 7 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 20 g
  • Protein: 2 g