Soft Christmas Cut Out Sugar Cookies

These Christmas Cut Out Sugar Cookies are incredibly soft and thick, and they’re decorated with an easy vanilla icing and festive sprinkles. Cut out cookies are always a must for Christmas, and the recipe includes make ahead tips!

Author: Flavor the Moments

Meal Type: Peanuts Free

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: HARD

Prep. Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 48 servings

Calories: 69 kcal per serving

Ingredients

2 sticks - unsalted butter
1 cup - granulated sugar
2 - eggs
1 tsp - pure vanilla extract
3 ¼ cups - all purpose flour
1 tsp - baking powder
¼ tsp - salt
2 cups - powdered sugar
2–4 tablespoons - hot water
1 tsp - light corn syrup
1 tsp - pure vanilla extract

Instructions

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until smooth.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt with a whisk. Add to the butter mixture, beating just until combined.
Scrape half of the dough onto a large sheet of plastic wrap. Flatten into a disk, wrap, and place in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour or use within 3 days. Repeat with the other half of the dough. If freezing, also wrap in aluminum foil and place in the freezer for up to one month.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Working with one disk of dough at a time, roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4" thickness for thick, soft sugar cookies, or 1/8" for thinner, crispier cookies.
Cut into desired shapes using lightly floured cookie cutters. Place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet about 1 1/2" apart. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, or leave plain and ice after they’re baked.
Bake for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges. Be careful not to over bake — the cookies are done as soon as the tops feel dry. Cool completely on a wire rack.
For the Vanilla Icing, sift the powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons of hot water, corn syrup, and vanilla until continue to stir until smooth. Add more hot water one tablespoon at a time if necessary.
Spread the icing over the tops of the cooled cookies, or pipe it with a pastry bag fitted with a fine tip. Immediately sprinkle with sanding sugars, and decorate with the candies of your choice.
Let the cookies stand at room temperature until the icing has set, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

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