Nothing brings the holiday magic like a soft sugar cookie during the holidays, buttery, sweet and topped with a dreamy vanilla-almond icing that sets just enough to stack or gift. These easy drop-style cookies are everything you love about classic Christmas sugar cookies without the fuss of rolling and cutting. These Soft Holiday Sugar Cookies are perfect for cozy nights of holiday baking, cookie exchanges or leaving out for Santa.

Overhead view of festive soft holiday sugar cookies decorated with red, green, and white vanilla-almond icing and Christmas sprinkles, arranged neatly on parchment paper for a cozy holiday baking scene.

These Soft Holiday Sugar Cookies are the perfect balance between chewy and tender with just a hint of almond extract for that nostalgic bakery-style flavor. The dough comes together in just a few minutes, with a touch of sour cream that keeps the centers soft for days. Once baked, you’ll drizzle or spread them with a silky vanilla-almond icing that hardens slightly, making them the perfect cookie for gifting, a Christmas cookie exchange, or enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa.

Helpful Tips & Variations

Festive finish: Tint the icing red, green, or gold and top with sprinkles or crushed peppermints.
For thicker cookies: Chill dough 30–45 minutes before baking.
Flavor swap: Use peppermint or orange extract instead of almond for a fun holiday twist.
Make-ahead magic: Both dough and icing store beautifully for early Christmas prep.
Extra cozy: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough.
Easy icing: Pipe from a zip-top bag with a tiny corner snipped for tidy decorating.

Recipe: Soft Holiday Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Almond Icing

Soft Holiday Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Almond Icing

Recipe by CassidyCourse: DessertCuisine: americaDifficulty: Easy

Servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

180

kcal

Soft, buttery, and topped with the dreamiest holiday icing, these Christmas sugar cookies are everything cozy baking should be.

Ingredients

For the Cookies
2 ¾ cups (344 g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract (optional)
2 Tbsp sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup sugar or colored sanding sugar (for rolling)
For the Icing
1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar, sifted
2–3 Tbsp milk or cream
1 Tbsp melted butter
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp almond extract (optional)
Pinch of salt
Food coloring & holiday sprinkles (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment.
Whisk dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt.
Cream butter & sugar: Beat 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
Add wet ingredients: Mix in egg, vanilla, almond extract, and sour cream until smooth.
Combine: Add dry ingredients on low speed until just combined.
Chill (optional): 30 min for thicker cookies.
Scoop & roll: 2 Tbsp dough balls; roll in sugar; place 2 inches apart.
Bake 10–12 min until edges set and tops pale. Cool 5 min on sheet, then rack.
Make the Icing
Whisk all icing ingredients until smooth and glossy. Adjust milk for consistency.
Spread or pipe over cooled cookies; decorate immediately.
Let icing set 1–2 hours before stacking or packaging.

Notes

Almond extract adds that classic Christmas cookie flavor.
Keep cookies pale, overbaking dries them out.
Double the icing if you prefer thicker coverage or multiple colors.
Stays soft for days, perfect for holiday cookie exchanges or gifting.

Storage & Freezer Tips

Room Temp: Airtight container (up to 5 days). Layer with parchment if iced.
Freeze Dough: Scoop balls → freeze → bag. Bake from frozen + 1–2 min.
Freeze Baked Cookies: Unfrosted up to 2 months; ice after thawing.
Freeze Iced Cookies: Once set, layer with parchment and freeze for 1 month.
Holiday Prep Tip: Bake early December and store frozen for fresh Christmas trays.

More Holiday Baking Recipes

I hope you and your loved ones enjoy these Soft Holiday Sugar Cookies with Vanilla-Almond Icing as much as my family and I do! If you make them, tag @cassandcrumb on Instagram or leave a comment below. I’d love to see your festive cookies and hear how they turned out. 🎄✨ Happy holiday baking!