Name: Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies – Soft, Festive & Easy Holiday Cookies
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar; 1 large egg, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour; ¾ teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup Christmas sprinkles (jimmies work best)

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

½ cup Christmas sprinkles (jimmies work best)

Instructions

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light, fluffy, and pale in color. This step is essential for creating soft, tender cookies, so take your time and mix for at least 2–3 minutes.

Step 2: Add Egg and Vanilla

Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is evenly mixed.

Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix, as this can make the cookies dense.

Step 4: Roll and Decorate

Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into smooth balls. Roll each dough ball generously in Christmas sprinkles, pressing gently so the sprinkles stick well.

Step 5: Bake

Place the dough balls on a lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 9–11 minutes, just until the edges are set but the centers still look soft. Do not overbake.

Notes

For the softest cookies, remove them from the oven while they still look slightly underbaked in the center. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet. Using jimmies instead of nonpareils helps prevent color bleeding.