The Best Christmas Cutout Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and hold their shape perfectly for decorating! This easy, no‑fail recipe creates classic sugar cookies that roll out smoothly, bake evenly, and taste just as good as they look!

You’ll Never Need Another Sugar Cookie Recipe!

When my Grandma tried this recipe for the Best Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies, she instantly fell in love! The dough comes together in just a few minutes, it’s so easy to work with, and doesn’t require chilling! It rolls out beautifully and bakes the most perfect tender cookies!

We have Katrina’s Kitchen to thank for this recipe! It pairs perfect with my Mom’s Cream Cheese Frosting!

My husband lurked around the kitchen like a shark circling bait when these beauties were on the counter. At one point he picked up a candy cane, turned it upside down into a ‘J,’ and tried convincing me he was supposed to eat it because it was for ‘Justin!’ HA!

Later I accidentally broke one and gave it to him… he asked me to break another one! He’s ridiculous.

Why this Recipe Works:

• The Butter to Flour Ratio Creates Structure Without Dryness – Using enough flour to support the dough, without overdoing it, ensures the cookies don’t spread while still baking up tender and soft.
• No Chill Dough – I love how these cookie bake perfectly without chilling the dough!
• Rolling to an Even Thickness Ensures Consistent Baking – Even thickness means all cookies bake evenly – no overdone edges or under baked centers.
• Cream Cheese Frosting Balances Sweetness Perfectly – The slight tang from cream cheese offsets the sweetness of the cookies and powdered sugar, creating a rich, smooth frosting that spreads easily and tastes incredible.

Looking for more Christmas cookie recipes? Everyone loves Toffee Butter Pecan Cake Mix Cookies, Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies, and Peanut Butter Blossoms, too!

Ingredients You Need for the Cutout Cookies:

• 1 cup Butter (Softened) – Provides rich flavor and creates a tender, buttery cookie base.
• 1 cup Sugar – Sweetens the dough and helps the cookies brown lightly.
• 1 tsp Vanilla – Adds classic sugar cookie warmth and depth.
• 1/2 tsp Almond Extract – Enhances flavor and gives that signature bakery-style taste.
• 1 Egg – Binds the dough and adds structure.
• 3 cups Flour – Forms the foundation of the cookies and helps them hold their shape.
• 2 tsp Baking Powder – Gives the cookies a soft lift without spreading too much.
• 1/2 tsp Salt – Balances the sweetness and brings out the flavors.

And the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 (8 oz) Cream Cheese (Softened) – Creates a smooth, slightly tangy frosting that pairs perfectly with sweet cookies.
• 1/2 cup Butter (Softened) – Adds richness and helps the frosting whip up light and creamy.
• 3 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar – Sweetens and thickens the frosting for easy spreading.
• 1 tsp Vanilla – Completes the frosting with a warm, classic flavor.

How to Make the Best Christmas Cutout Sugar Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup softened butter and 1 cup sugar together until smooth.
3. Beat in 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp almond extract, and 1 egg until well combined.
4. In a separate small bowl, whisk together 3 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
5. Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the wet. If the dough looks crumbly, keep mixing. The dough should be pulling away from the sides of the bowl.
6. If the dough still looks too dry or stiff, transfer it to a floured surface. Wet your hands and finish kneading the dough by hand.
7. Divide the dough into workable batches, roll out to 1/4″ onto a floured surface, and cut out shapes with desired cookie cutters. You want these to be on the thicker side.
8. Bake for 6-8 minutes.
9. While cooling, make the cream cheese frosting by beating together 1 (8oz) softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup softened butter, 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla until you reach frosting consistency.
10. Decorate cookies with frosting and sprinkles.

More Christmas Cookies:

• White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies
• Reindeer Cake Mix Cookies
• Gingerbread Man Cookies
• Christmas Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Christmas Sprinkle Cake Mix Cookies