Merry & Bright Sprinkle Cookies

Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are the quintessential treat for the festive holiday season. Imagine soft, tender, and perfectly chewy cookies, generously adorned with a kaleidoscope of colorful sprinkles. Each bite promises a delicious burst of joy, making them an irresistible indulgence for both young and old. These delightful confections are more than just a dessert; they’re an invitation to create cherished memories and spread holiday cheer.

This Christmas Cookie recipe stands out for its incredible simplicity, making it one of the easiest Christmas Desserts you can whip up. Forget the hassle of rolling out dough – this recipe streamlines the baking process beautifully. All you need to do is combine the ingredients and form the dough into neat balls, a task so straightforward that even beginner bakers will feel confident. It’s a truly fuss-free approach to holiday baking, allowing you more time to enjoy the magic of the season without compromising on flavor or festivity.

For years, these vibrant sprinkle cookies have been a beloved tradition in my family. My children eagerly anticipate their turn to help, especially when it comes to rolling the dough in the myriad of colorful sprinkles. It’s a wonderful activity that brings everyone together in the kitchen, filling our home with laughter and the sweet aroma of baking. Beyond these charming sprinkle cookies, we also love exploring other festive treats that are equally simple and delicious. For even more inspiration, you might enjoy these 55 Christmas Cookie Recipes with Few Ingredients, designed to make your holiday baking effortless.

The joy of baking during the holidays is truly unparalleled, and a well-stocked recipe box is key to creating a magical atmosphere. In addition to these delightful sprinkle cookies, our holiday repertoire often includes other cherished family favorites such as chewy Christmas Cowboy Cookies, adorable Candy Cane Sleighs, and deliciously whimsical Grinch Brownies. If you’re in the mood for a show-stopping cake that’s surprisingly easy, our festive Christmas Bundt Cake is always a hit. These recipes are designed to add sparkle, flavor, and effortless fun to your holiday celebrations.

Why You Will Absolutely Love These Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

These Christmas Sprinkle Cookies aren’t just another holiday treat; they’re a delightful experience waiting to happen. From their irresistible texture to their vibrant appearance and sheer simplicity, here’s why they’re destined to become a beloved staple in your festive baking repertoire:

• Soft, Chewy, and Oh-So-Fluffy: The texture of these cookies is truly a dream come true for any cookie lover. They boast an incredibly soft and fluffy interior, coupled with a delightful chewiness that makes each bite feel like a luxurious indulgence. This perfect balance ensures they practically melt in your mouth, leaving you craving another. The inclusion of cream cheese in the dough is the secret to this tender crumb, setting them apart from many traditional sugar cookie recipes. They maintain their wonderful texture even days after baking, making them ideal for holiday gifting or leisurely enjoyment.
• Made with Everyday Pantry Staples: You’ll be pleased to know that this recipe primarily calls for ingredients you likely already have on hand in your kitchen. There’s no need for special trips to specialty stores; just gather a few common items like flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, along with a block of cream cheese and a bottle of vanilla. This convenience makes spontaneous holiday baking a breeze, allowing you to whip up a batch whenever the festive spirit strikes, without any last-minute grocery runs. It truly embodies the spirit of simple, joyful home baking.
• Perfectly Festive for Any Holiday Gathering: With their cheerful burst of color from the sprinkles, these sugar cookies are inherently and unmistakably festive. Their vibrant red, green, and white coating makes them an absolute showstopper at any holiday party, cookie exchange, or family gathering. They instantly elevate your dessert platter with their joyful aesthetic, signaling holiday cheer and inviting everyone to indulge. Beyond their visual appeal, their classic taste makes them a crowd-pleaser for all ages. They’re also a fantastic and thoughtful edible gift, beautifully presenting the spirit of the season. If you’re participating in a cookie exchange, these will surely be a standout and garner rave reviews. For even more ideas that are just as easy and impressive, explore our collection of Christmas Cookie Recipes with few ingredients.

Essential Ingredients for Irresistible Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Crafting these delicious Christmas Sprinkle Cookies begins with a selection of common yet high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that perfect soft, chewy texture and rich, comforting flavor that makes these cookies so special. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each ingredient matters:

• All-Purpose Flour: This is the fundamental structural component of our cookies. For accurate measurement and to prevent a dense or dry cookie, remember to spoon the flour into your measuring cup rather than scooping directly from the bag. This technique prevents over-packing the flour, ensuring a lighter, more tender final product.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: A key flavor enhancer, pure vanilla extract is essential for that classic, comforting cookie taste. I highly recommend using pure vanilla over imitation for the best, most authentic flavor that truly shines through and complements the other ingredients beautifully in these delightful cookies.
• Unsalted Butter: Ensure your butter is softened completely to room temperature. This is crucial for proper creaming with the sugar and cream cheese. When butter is at the right temperature, it whips up light and fluffy, incorporating air into the dough which contributes significantly to the cookie’s tender texture and rich mouthfeel.
• Cream Cheese: Also softened to room temperature, cream cheese is the secret ingredient that gives these cookies their incredible softness, a delightful subtle tang, and a unique chewiness, distinguishing them from traditional sugar cookies. It adds a luxurious richness and helps maintain moisture.
• Large Eggs: Standard large eggs act as a binder, holding all the ingredients together, and contribute significantly to the cookie’s structure, moisture, and richness. Like the butter and cream cheese, it’s best if eggs are at room temperature for better emulsion with the creamed butter and sugar mixture.
• Granulated Sugar: This provides the primary sweetness for the cookies and plays a role in achieving that signature slight crispness around the edges while maintaining a soft interior.
• Cornstarch: A crucial addition for achieving an exceptionally soft, almost melt-in-your-mouth texture. Cornstarch helps to prevent excessive gluten development in the flour, ensuring your cookies remain perfectly plush and tender.
• Baking Soda: Our primary leavening agent, baking soda reacts with the acidic cream cheese to create a slight lift in the cookies, resulting in a wonderfully soft and airy texture.
• Salt: Just a touch of salt is essential to balance the sweetness of the sugar and sprinkles. It enhances all the other flavors in the cookie dough, bringing out their best characteristics and preventing the cookies from tasting overly sweet.
• Red, White, and Green Round Sprinkles (Nonpareils): These vibrant sprinkles are what make these cookies truly festive and visually appealing! Nonpareils are highly recommended because they are small, firm, and hold their shape and color exceptionally well during both the rolling process and baking, providing that iconic colorful coating. You’ll need a generous amount for rolling the dough balls to get that beautiful, full coverage.

You can find the precise measurements for each ingredient in the detailed recipe card at the bottom of this post. Having all your ingredients prepped and ready will make the baking process even more enjoyable and efficient, setting you up for cookie success!

Creative Variations and Additions to Personalize Your Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

While the classic Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are perfect as they are, there’s always room for a little creativity and customization! These simple variations allow you to tailor your cookies to suit different occasions, holidays, or personal taste preferences, making them even more special and versatile.

• Amplify the Sprinkle Fun: For true sprinkle enthusiasts who believe more is always better, don’t just stop at the exterior! Consider mixing about ¼ to ½ cup of sprinkles directly into the cookie dough before you chill it. This adds an extra, delightful pop of color and texture throughout the entire cookie, making every bite a celebration. When incorporating sprinkles directly into the dough, I highly recommend using nonpareils or jimmies. These types of sprinkles are specifically designed to be bake-stable and are far less likely to bleed their vibrant color into the dough during mixing and baking, thus maintaining their distinct appearance much better than softer sanding sugar.
• A Touch of Peppermint Perfection: Infuse your cookies with a delightful and refreshing holiday twist by incorporating peppermint extract. This simple flavor swap perfectly captures the essence of winter festivities. To do this, replace one teaspoon of the pure vanilla extract with peppermint extract. So, you would use 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in total. This combination introduces a cool, crisp, and refreshing flavor that perfectly complements the rich cookie base, reminiscent of candy canes and snowy winter cheer, without being overpowering.
• Seasonal Sprinkle Transformations: One of the absolute best features of this basic cookie recipe is its incredible adaptability for year-round enjoyment. You can effortlessly change the color of the sprinkles to match any season, holiday, or special occasion you’re celebrating. Imagine pastel sprinkles for a charming Easter treat, vibrant orange and black for a spooky Halloween delight, patriotic red, white, and blue for a Fourth of July barbecue, or even school colors for a graduation party or sports event. This remarkable versatility ensures these delicious and easy-to-make cookies can be a hit all year round, not just exclusively at Christmas! Let your imagination guide your sprinkle choices for endless fun.

Easy Step-by-Step Instructions for Festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Making these festive cookies is a straightforward and enjoyable process that even novice bakers will find rewarding. Follow these detailed steps precisely to achieve perfect, soft, and beautifully sprinkle-coated treats every time. Remember, having all your ingredients prepped and at room temperature before you begin will ensure the smoothest baking experience!

Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Ensure these dry ingredients are well combined and evenly distributed, as this is crucial for consistent cookie texture. Set this bowl aside for later use.

Step 2: Cream Wet Ingredients. In a separate large mixing bowl, using either a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the softened butter, softened cream cheese, and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed for approximately 3-5 minutes until the mixture is visibly light, fluffy, and pale in color. This step incorporates essential air into your dough. Then, add in the large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, followed by the pure vanilla extract. Continue mixing until everything is just combined and smooth.

Step 3: Incorporate Dry into Wet. Reduce your mixer speed to low. Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients (from Step 1) into the wet mixture. Mix only until the flour is just incorporated and no visible streaks of dry flour remain in the dough. Be very careful not to overmix at this stage, as overmixing can develop gluten and result in tough, less tender cookies.

Step 4: Chill the Dough. Cover the bowl containing your freshly prepared cookie dough tightly with plastic wrap or a secure lid. Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 1-2 hours. Chilling is a critical step that helps to firm up the dough, making it much easier to handle when forming balls, and significantly reduces the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring they hold their shape beautifully.

Step 5: Prepare Sprinkles. While your cookie dough is chilling in the refrigerator, pour your vibrant festive red, white, and green nonpareil sprinkles into a shallow bowl or plate. This setup makes the subsequent rolling process much simpler and ensures quick, even coverage of each cookie dough ball.

Step 6: Scoop the Cookie Dough. Once the dough is sufficiently chilled and firm, use a cookie scoop (approximately 1 tablespoon in size) to portion out individual amounts of dough. This step is key for ensuring uniform cookie size, which promotes even baking across the entire batch.

Step 7: Form Dough Balls and Preheat. Gently roll each scooped portion of dough between your clean palms to form smooth, approximately 1-tablespoon sized balls. Aim for consistency in size and shape for optimal baking results and a neat appearance. At this point, also preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets.

Step 8: Roll in Sprinkles. Place each perfectly formed dough ball into the shallow bowl filled with sprinkles. Roll the balls around, gently pressing if needed, until they are completely and generously coated with the festive sprinkles. This step is always a favorite for kids, adding a fun, interactive element to the baking process!

Step 9: Arrange on Baking Sheet. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats – this prevents sticking and ensures even baking. Carefully place the sprinkle-coated cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced approximately 2 inches apart. This spacing allows for proper airflow and prevents the cookies from merging as they expand during baking.

Step 10: Bake to Perfection. Transfer the baking sheets to your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 9-12 minutes. The goal is for the edges of the cookies to be just set and very lightly golden, while the centers still look slightly soft or even somewhat underbaked. It is crucial not to overbake these cookies, as they are best when slightly soft for that desired chewy and tender texture. Overbaking will result in a dry cookie.

Step 11: Initial Cooling on Baking Sheet. Once baked, carefully remove the cookies from the oven. Resist the urge to move them immediately! Let them rest on the hot baking sheet for 5-10 minutes. This essential initial cooling period allows the cookies to continue cooking slightly, set further, and firm up, preventing them from crumbling or breaking apart when you eventually transfer them.

Step 12: Complete Cooling and Serve. After the initial cooling period on the baking sheet, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely to room temperature. Once fully cooled, they are ready to serve and enjoy! These vibrant and undeniably delicious cookies are perfect for sharing with family and friends or savoring yourself with a warm cup of cocoa.

Pro Tips for Perfect Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Every Time

Achieving bakery-quality Christmas Sprinkle Cookies is easier than you think with a few expert tips and tricks. Paying close attention to these details will ensure your cookies are consistently soft, perfectly chewy, and beautifully coated with sprinkles, making your holiday baking efforts shine.

• Measure Flour Accurately with the Spoon and Level Method: This is arguably the most common baking mistake, and it can significantly impact your cookie’s texture. Instead of scooping flour directly with your measuring cup (which compacts it), gently spoon the flour into the measuring cup until it overflows. Then, use the flat edge of a knife or a straight spatula to level off the top. This method prevents over-packing of flour, which is crucial for achieving a tender, moist cookie instead of a dry, dense, or crumbly one.
• Ensure All Ingredients are at Room Temperature: For optimal mixing and a perfectly smooth, emulsified dough, it is absolutely vital that your butter, cream cheese, and eggs are softened to true room temperature. When ingredients are at room temperature, they combine seamlessly, creating an airy, well-blended base that incorporates and holds air effectively. This aeration directly contributes to the cookies’ incredibly soft and fluffy texture. Cold ingredients, on the other hand, will not combine properly, leading to a lumpy dough and potentially dense, inconsistent cookies.
• Do Not Overmix the Cookie Dough: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mix only until they are just combined and no visible streaks of dry flour remain. This is a crucial step! Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can result in tough, hard, and less tender cookies, straying far from the desired soft and chewy texture. Always use a low speed on your mixer and stop mixing as soon as the flour is fully incorporated.
• Allow Baked Cookies to Set on the Baking Sheet: It’s incredibly tempting to move freshly baked cookies immediately to a cooling rack, but resist this urge! When hot, these cookies are very delicate and prone to breaking. Letting them cool on the baking sheet for an essential 5-10 minutes allows them to continue cooking slightly, firm up, and set properly. This significantly reduces the risk of them crumbling or breaking apart when you transfer them to a wire rack for complete cooling.
• Avoid Overbaking for Ultimate Softness and Chewiness: Keep a very close eye on your cookies in the oven. The key to a soft, irresistibly chewy cookie is to take them out when the edges are just barely set and a light golden color, but the centers still look slightly soft or even a little underbaked. Don’t worry if they seem too soft; they will continue to cook and firm up as they cool on the hot baking sheet, achieving that perfect tender interior. Overbaking is the quickest way to end up with dry, crispy cookies.
• The Crucial Importance of Chilling the Dough: Do not skip the chilling step for this recipe! Because these cookies rely on softened cream cheese and butter, the dough can be quite soft, sticky, and difficult to handle at room temperature. Refrigerating it for a minimum of 1-2 hours makes it much firmer and significantly easier to scoop and roll into perfect dough balls. Furthermore, chilled dough helps prevent excessive spreading in the oven, ensuring your cookies maintain a nice, plump shape and a more desirable thickness.
• Prepare Your Baking Pans Properly: To ensure your cookies bake evenly, don’t stick to the pan, and maintain their shape, always prepare your baking sheets diligently. Lining them with either silicone baking mats or parchment paper not only prevents sticking but also helps to distribute heat more evenly across the cookies, contributing to consistent baking results. An added bonus is that this preparation makes cleanup significantly easier, which is always a welcome relief during busy holiday baking!

Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

More Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes to Try This Holiday Season

If you’ve fallen in love with the delightful simplicity and festive charm of these Christmas Sprinkle Cookies and are eager to expand your holiday baking repertoire, you’re in luck! There are so many wonderful and easy Christmas cookie recipes that are sure to bring even more joy to your kitchen and your taste buds. Here are some more fantastic options that are tried-and-true favorites, perfect for sharing and celebrating:

• Festive Christmas Cowboy Cookies: A hearty and deliciously robust twist on a classic, packed with oats, chocolate chips, and a hint of holiday spice, making them an incredibly satisfying treat.
• Classic Christmas Sprinkle Cookies: The very recipe you’re enjoying now, a timeless favorite that captures the essence of holiday cheer with its soft texture and vibrant sprinkles.
• Easy Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies: Simple yet charming sugar cookies cut into festive Christmas tree shapes, perfect for decorating with icing and sprinkles for a personalized touch.
• Whimsical Christmas Pinwheel Cookies: These stunning spiral cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat, featuring contrasting colors that create a beautiful, festive design in every slice.
• The Best Christmas Cake Mix Cookies Recipe: An incredibly easy and versatile cookie recipe that uses a convenient cake mix base, allowing for endless flavor combinations and quick preparation for busy bakers.

Each of these recipes offers a unique flavor profile and baking experience, guaranteeing a delightful and diverse array of treats for your holiday table. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, these easy options will help you create delicious memories. Happy baking, and enjoy the wonderful aromas and tastes of the season!

Now it’s truly your turn to create these fabulous Christmas sugar cookies with sprinkles! We are confident you’ll adore the delightful combination of their soft, chewy texture and the festive crunch of the sprinkles. They are sure to become a cherished part of your holiday traditions. Once you’ve baked a batch and experienced the magic, please take a moment to leave a star rating and share your comments below. Your feedback helps other aspiring bakers, and we absolutely love hearing about your delightful baking experiences!