by Amber · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments
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These easy Christmas cut out cookies are the last sugar cookie cut-out recipe you'll ever need. Made with just 3 ingredients with zero resting time, these buttery shortbread cookies melt in your mouth and will become a new family tradition!
These are the best Christmas cut out cookies, and I promise your whole family will love them!!!
I also would bet money you have the 3 ingredients (optional 4th) in your pantry right this very minute, and you can pull the dough together in 10 minutes flat.
What do you need to make the easiest Christmas cut-out cookies ever?
- Butter
- Sugar
- Flour
- Vanilla Extract (optional)
Easy Christmas Cut Out Cookies
I bake and decorate these Christmas cookies with my niece and nephews every year, and this is the shortbread cookie recipe I always use. I've made them at least 10 times over the past few years, and they have never once lost their shape or given me any issues.
These cookies will go straight from cutting to the baking sheet with no resting time needed which is a huge winner for Mrs. Lazypants right here.
I also love this recipe because it calls for cutting the dough in half and rolling out one section at a time. I like to roll out one half for icing and then I fold in sprinkles into the dough of the second half because that's all the decorating cut out Christmas cookies really need! Again...Hi! Lazy pants.I also use metal cookie cutters because they just seem to work so much better for me.
Want to decorate Gingerbread houses too? Check out this Gingerbread house recipe (with free printable templates).
EASY CUT-OUT SUGAR COOKIE ICING
I usually make a traditional buttercream for frosting the Christmas cut-out cookies, you know, as they put on those melt-in-your-moth super soft and delicious Lofthouse cookies? But it's hard to decorate with that kind of rosting.
I was hunting for a simple sugar cookie icing that didn't require egg whites, meringue powder, or any other ridiculousness. Who has time to go hunting for meringue powder?!? Luckily, this sugar cookie icing is everything it needs to be: simple to make, easy to pipe, and tasty without being too sweet.
It is made with just 5 simple ingredients (again, stuff you already have in your pantry), and it's crazy easy to work with. It flows beautifully while piping, adds a beautiful sheen to the shortbread cookies, and hardens perfectly so they can be stacked into containers and given as gifts!
Easy Christmas Cut Out Cookies | Easy Cut Out Sugar Cookies
Amber
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Ministry Meal
Servings 2 dozen
Calories
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Easy Sugar Cookie Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoon light corn syrup
- 2-3 tbsp whole milk
- ¼ tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
or extract of choice - Gel Food coloring
Instructions
To Make the EasyChristmas Cut Out Cookies:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Gradually add in flour, about ¼ cup at a time, until dough pulls together. Divide dough in half. Leave one half of shortbread dough in the bowl and place the other half on a lightly floured surface.
Roll out first portion of dough to ¼ inch in thickness. Dip cookie cutters in flour, and cut out shortbread cookies into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on a non-greased baking sheet.
Stir in ¼ cup nonpareil sprinkles to the remaining dough and stir until evenly distributed. Repeat step 3 with the second portion of dough.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until slightly browned. Remove to wire racks and allow to cool completely before icing.
To Make the Easy Sugar Cookie Icing:
In a large bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, corn syrup, 2 tablespoon milk, and vanilla until well combined and no lumps remain.
Lift up the whisk and see if the icing ribbons down and disappears back into the bowl. Stir in milk ½ tablespoon at a time if icing appears too thick. If icing seems too thin, add in more powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Evenly separate icing into small bowls and add in 1-2 drops gel food coloring until desired color is reached.
Notes
Shortbread Cookies adapted from Taste of Home
Nutrition
Serving: 0gCarbohydrates: 0gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgPotassium: 0mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 0mgIron: 0mg
Keyword easy christmas cookies, easy cut out cookies, shortbread cookies
Tried this recipe? Let us know!Mention @slimpickinskitchen or use or tag #slimpickinskitchen
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Margo says
Can I use any other kind of milk then whole? Like soy or buttermilk.
Reply
Amber says
Yes! Any milk should do, although if using a plant based milk I’d start off using a tablespoon at a time just to be safe
Reply
Janet says
How long would these cookies keep? I am thinking of making them for a spring sweet treat for our kid's teachers. If I can make a bit in advance, it would be wonderful!
Thanks! Can't wait to make with our littles!
Reply
Amber says
These are technically shortbread cookies so they should keep on the counter in an air-tight container for a week and, if refrigerated, would last up to 10 days. However, I would not ice them and then store them. I’d save icing for the last minute.
Reply
Let's taco 'bout it!
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