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Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies That Stay Soft - Family Recipe!

These Soft Christmas Sugar Cookies offer a melt-in-your-mouth texture with rich buttery flavor and festive shapes that hold beautifully, making them the perfect addition to your holiday baking traditions.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 176
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
  2. Cream softened butter until light and fluffy; add granulated sugar and beat until smooth.
  3. Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
  4. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
  5. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
  6. Preheat oven to 375°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
  7. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into festive shapes.
  8. Bake 6–8 minutes until edges turn lightly golden; cool on baking sheet before transferring to wire racks.
  9. Decorate with colored sugar before baking or frost after cooling completely.

Notes

Chilling is essential for shape retention and soft texture. Do not overbake—cookies continue setting as they cool on the baking sheet.