Amazing christmas sprinkle sugar cookies in 1 step

January 15, 2026
Written By Emily Harrison

Biographical Info: Emily "Em" Harrison is the founder and head recipe developer at Cookery Command. Raised in a Midwestern kitchen full of timeless family recipes, she combines her degree in nutrition science with her professional test kitchen experience to create reliable, delicious, and approachable meals for the modern American home cook. Her goal is to help you feel confident and joyful in your kitchen, turning everyday cooking into a memorable experience.

Oh, the holidays! They are magical, aren’t they? But sometimes that magic gets buried under a mountain of stress, especially when it comes to baking for cookie exchanges or big family gatherings. Well, take a deep breath, because I’ve got your back. We are going back to basics with my go-to recipe for christmas sprinkle sugar cookies. Throw out the rolling pin and forget the chilling time; these are soft, chewy, incredibly buttery, and they come together so fast. This recipe is one of my absolute favorites for ensuring quick, delicious results every single time. My family relies on these Easy Holiday Sprinkle Cookies because they look like they took hours of careful decorating, but honestly, they are pure genius in their simplicity! If you’ve ever struggled with traditional sugar cookies that crack or get too hard, remember that sometimes you need to keep the icing separate—I rely on my formula for sugar cookie icing that dries hard only when I want a crisp edge, not here!

Why These are the Best Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies Recipe for Your Holiday Baking

I truly stand by the fact that these are the gold standard for Soft Christmas Cookies you’ll ever make. Forget those crispy, crumbly sugar cookies that leave you reaching for milk! Our recipe focuses on that amazing, plush center that stays wonderfully soft for days. That rich, decadent flavor comes directly from using quality butter, making them the ultimate Buttery Sprinkle Cookies Holiday treat. The best part? We skip the fussy rolling and cutting. Seriously, who has time for that during the holidays? These are designed for maximum festive payoff with minimal fuss. If you love super soft cookies, you might also check out my recipe for snickerdoodles, or see how I make the best chewy chocolate chip cookies!

Key Features of Our Easy Holiday Sprinkle Cookies

  • No chilling needed! We get that soft texture straight from the bowl.
  • It’s a true Quick Christmas Cookie Recipe—prep is done in minutes.
  • They are totally ready for gifting right out of the oven.
  • They look incredibly festive thanks to the sprinkles—talk about Decorating Free Christmas Cookies!

Gathering Ingredients for Your Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Okay, let’s talk ingredients because this is where the buttery magic really starts. We need one cup of *unsalted* butter, and this is crucial—it must be perfectly softened, not melted. I always leave mine out on the counter the morning I plan to bake. You’ll also need one full cup of light brown sugar, packed tightly into the measuring cup. That little bit of molasses in the brown sugar is our secret weapon for that soft, chewy texture we chase!

Ingredient Notes and Substitution Tips for Buttery Sprinkle Cookies Holiday

Don’t be tempted to swap all that brown sugar for white sugar; you will lose that wonderful chewiness! For the sprinkles, I prefer the classic jimmies or even a mix of jimmies and colorful nonpareils. The nonpareils sometimes melt a little, which is fine, but the jimmies hold their shape better and give a nice textural crunch. If you want to make a gorgeous vanilla frosting later, I have a super smooth vanilla buttercream ready for you!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Soft Christmas Cookies

Alright, once you have those perfect ingredients ready to go, let’s get baking! First thing’s first: get that oven warmed up to 350°F (175°C). I always line my baking sheets with parchment paper—it’s the secret to easy cleanup, which means I can bake more batches later! The instructions look long, but trust me, it moves fast because we aren’t dealing with rolling pins.

Mixing the Dough for Festive Christmas Baking

Start by creaming together your softened butter and brown sugar until it gets light and fluffy. This might take a couple of minutes, but it builds the air pockets we need for softness! Beat in your egg and vanilla. Now, take your dry ingredients—the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—and whisk them together separately. Add the dry stuff to the wet mixture in stages, mixing only on low speed until it just comes together. Seriously, stop mixing the second you don’t see streaks of flour. Overmixing is the enemy of chewiness!

Shaping and Coating Your Red Green Sprinkle Cookies

Next, stir in that first half-cup of your gorgeous Christmas sprinkles right into the dough. Now, grab a shallow dish and put the remaining sprinkles in there. Scoop your cookie dough—about a rounded tablespoon each—and then gently roll that ball in the decorative sprinkles until it’s coated all over. Pop them onto your prepared sheets, making sure they have about two inches between them because they *will* spread a little into lovely, soft rounds. No flattening needed! Pop them in the oven for 9 to 11 minutes. You want the edges set, but the centers should still look a tiny bit soft. Let them sit on the hot pan for five minutes before you transfer them to a rack to cool completely. If you need to whip up some amazing sides for your holiday table, I have a killer honey butter skillet corn recipe that’s always a huge hit right alongside those sweet treats!

Tips for Perfect No Roll Sugar Cookies Christmas Success

Even though these No Roll Sugar Cookies Christmas are designed to be super simple, I always have a couple of little tricks up my sleeve to guarantee they don’t spread into flat little puddles. Listen, if your kitchen is warm—and let’s be real, holiday baking puts high heat into most kitchens—you absolutely need to chill that dough for about 30 minutes before scooping. This firms up the butter just enough to give you a better shape when they hit the oven. Don’t skip that! Also, remember my note about the brown sugar? That’s your best friend for softness, but if you accidentally overmix the dough after adding the flour, they can still end up a bit tougher than we want.

If you’re aiming for that perfect, slightly puffy round, make sure your dough balls are rolled consistently! It’s worth the extra minute to scoop them all to the same size. If you want to check out a completely different but equally reliable technique, you might enjoy my guide to the easy classic French apple tart—sometimes a structured dessert is just what the holidays call for!

Making christmas sprinkle sugar cookies for a Family Friendly Holiday Baking Event

This is where these christmas sprinkle sugar cookies really shine! If you’re looking for a Kids Christmas Cookie Recipe that won’t end in tears of frustration, this is it. Since there’s absolutely no tricky piping or waiting for royal icing to dry, this is the perfect activity to involve the little ones.

The kids can take the lead on portioning the dough and rolling those colorful balls in the extra festive sprinkles. Seeing those bright red and green colors pop right out of the mixer is just pure joy! Because we skip the decoration step, these are also the absolute champion for feeding a crowd. Seriously, these are my go-to for the neighborhood cookie exchange because they just look so celebratory right out of the oven. They’re the ultimate Best Christmas Cookie Exchange Recipe because they are guaranteed *soft* and look amazing stacked high in tins. If you’re looking for another delightful, low-fuss holiday treat, you have to try my Christmas gooey butter cookies—they are dangerously good!

Storage and Keeping Your Chewy Christmas Cookies Fresh

Baking these perfect Chewy Christmas Cookies is only half the battle, right? You need them to stay just as soft and buttery on day five as they were fresh out of the oven! Luckily, because these are drop cookies and not thinly rolled cutouts, they hold onto moisture really well. The key to keeping them perfect is airflow control—or rather, the lack thereof!

You must use an airtight container, period. If you just leave them out on a plate, that wonderful moisture evaporates too quickly, and they turn into little cracker versions of their former selves. I find a sturdy, latching container works best. Layer a sheet of parchment paper between layers of cookies if you make a big batch, just to stop them from sticking horribly together, though these soft balls usually stack okay.

Keep the container sealed tightly at room temperature; don’t put them in the fridge! Cold air dries baked goods out faster, and we absolutely do not want that. Stored correctly, these should stay beautifully soft for at least a whole week. If you’re looking for something that doesn’t even require an oven to store (or bake!), you should definitely check out my recipe for the easy no-bake eclair cake recipe—it’s a LIFESAVER in December!

Serving Suggestions for Simple Holiday Dessert Ideas

These bright, buttery cookies don’t need much accessorizing, honestly. They are perfectly delicious just as they are, which makes them perfect for last-minute gatherings. For simple holiday dessert ideas that feel extra cozy, I always serve them alongside a big pitcher of hot chocolate—the warmth of the drink balances the buttery richness of the cookie so nicely.

If you are hosting a party and need something that feels a bit fancier without adding more work, a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream tucked next to three or four cookies makes a stunning plate. Or, if you’re leaning into the season, they pair beautifully with something tangy, like my cranberry pomegranate margarita recipe for the grown-ups. Quick, easy, festive—that’s the goal!

Frequently Asked Questions About christmas sprinkle sugar cookies

I always get questions about these cookies because people are usually suspicious that something this easy can be this delicious! I pulled together the things I hear most often so you can feel totally confident grabbing that mixing bowl. We want this to be your favorite Quick Christmas Cookie Recipe, not a source of confusion!

Can I use granulated sugar instead of brown sugar in this christmas sprinkle sugar cookies recipe?

That’s a great question that gets right to the heart of the texture! You absolutely *can* use all granulated white sugar if that’s what you have. But—and this is a big but!—the cookies will definitely change. Granulated sugar doesn’t hold moisture the way brown sugar does. If you swap it out entirely, you’re going to end up with a flatter, crisper cookie, more like a traditional cutout sugar cookie. We are aiming for that soft, almost melt-in-your-mouth center, and the molasses in the brown sugar is what gives us that incredible chewiness!

What is the best way to store these cookies to keep them soft?

Remember what I said about airtight containers? That’s step one. The best trick, if you’re making them for a big event and want them soft for almost two weeks, is to place one slice of plain white bread in the container with the cookies. You just lay the slice right on top, seal it up, and the cookies actually draw moisture from the bread as it stales over time. It sounds wild, but it works like magic to keep these my favorite Chewy Christmas Cookies! Just make sure you swap out the bread every few days if you’re storing them long-term. If you’re just whipping up a batch for tonight, feel free to check out some easy appetizers and snacks to serve alongside them!

Estimated Nutritional Data for These Festive Christmas Baking Treats

Whenever I whip up a batch of these vibrant christmas sprinkle sugar cookies, I know they taste like pure holiday indulgence, but it’s always good to have a rough idea of what you’re serving! Remember, these numbers are just estimates since every sprinkle blend and brand of butter can vary just a tiny bit. These cookies are definitely made for enjoying, especially when you’re doing some serious Festive Christmas Baking!

  • Calories: 160
  • Total Fat: 8g
  • Total Carbohydrates: 20g (Sugar: 12g)
  • Protein: 2g

So go ahead, enjoy a couple, guilt-free! They’re essential for any good cookie platter. Speaking of easy wins, if you need a fantastic breakfast item that’s just as simple, you have to try my recipe for the ultimate fluffy banana pancakes!

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Soft and Chewy Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies (No-Roll Style)

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Bake these easy, soft, and chewy Christmas sprinkle cookies. This simple recipe delivers buttery flavor and festive color without the need for rolling or cutting dough, making it perfect for quick holiday baking.

  • Author: emilyharrison
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 11 min
  • Total Time: 26 min
  • Yield: 24 cookies 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles (red, green, and white jimmies or nonpareils)
  • 1/4 cup extra Christmas sprinkles for rolling

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Stir in 1/2 cup of the Christmas sprinkles into the dough until they are evenly distributed.
  7. Place the remaining 1/4 cup of sprinkles into a shallow dish.
  8. Scoop the dough into rounded tablespoons. Roll each dough ball lightly in the extra sprinkles to coat the outside.
  9. Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between them. You do not need to flatten them.
  10. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers look slightly soft. These cookies will spread into soft rounds.
  11. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • For the softest cookies, use light brown sugar instead of all white granulated sugar; the molasses adds moisture.
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes before scooping if your kitchen is warm; this helps prevent excessive spreading.
  • These cookies are excellent for cookie exchanges because they look festive without needing frosting.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 160
  • Sugar: 12
  • Sodium: 95
  • Fat: 8
  • Saturated Fat: 5
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 20
  • Fiber: 0
  • Protein: 2
  • Cholesterol: 30

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