If you’re ready to bring some festive sparkle to your holiday baking, this Festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Picture soft, buttery cookies bursting with vibrant red and green dough, coated in joyful Christmas sprinkles that sing holiday cheer in every bite. These cookies are wonderfully easy to make yet impressively eye-catching, perfect for sharing with family, gifting to friends, or enjoying by the fireplace. Let’s dive into the magic of crafting these colorful holiday treats that will quickly become a beloved tradition.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe plays a starring role, combining basic pantry staples with festive touches to create the perfect cookie texture and flavor. From the creamy tang of cream cheese to the cheerful pop of colorful sprinkles, these simple components come together effortlessly to form mouthwatering holiday joy.
- 17.5 ounce bag sugar cookie mix: This mix forms a reliable and sweet base, saving time without compromising homemade flavor.
- 4 ounce (½ 8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened: Adds richness and keeps the cookies soft and tender.
- ¼ cup (½ stick) salted butter, softened: Brings buttery flavor and helps with dough consistency.
- 1 large egg: Acts as a binder to hold all the ingredients together.
- Red food coloring: Gives half the dough a bright, festive red shade.
- Green food coloring: Colors the other half of the dough a vibrant green for classic Christmas hues.
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles: These create delightful texture and an irresistible holiday look on each cookie.
How to Make Festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Get Your Oven and Baking Sheet Ready
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s perfectly hot when your cookies go in. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat to keep the cookies from sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
Step 2: Mix Your Cookie Base
In a large bowl, blend the sugar cookie mix, softened cream cheese, softened butter, and egg using either a hand or stand mixer. Beat everything until you get a soft, cohesive dough — it should come together smoothly without any lumps or dry spots.
Step 3: Divide the Dough for Coloring
Split the dough evenly into two separate bowls. This is where the magic starts, as you’ll turn one half into a vibrant red and the other into a festive green to bring those holiday colors alive.
Step 4: Color One Portion Red
Add red food coloring to one bowl and mix thoroughly until the dough has a rich, even red color. Don’t be shy with the color here; the more vibrant, the more festive your cookies will be!
Step 5: Color the Other Portion Green
To the second bowl, add green food coloring and mix just as well, getting a lively, consistent green hue that perfectly complements the red dough.
Step 6: Shape and Sprinkle Your Cookies
Pour your Christmas sprinkles into a shallow bowl for easy rolling. Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, form the dough into balls. Gently roll each ball in the sprinkles to coat completely, then space them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet to give them room to spread while baking.
Step 7: No Worries About Flattening
The dough is naturally soft, so it’s normal for the balls to flatten a bit before baking. This is exactly what you want, so don’t worry if they lose shape slightly at this stage.
Step 8: Bake to Perfection
Bake your cookies for 8 to 11 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the edges start to firm up and the tops no longer collapse when you gently touch them. The smell of baking sugar and butter will start to fill your kitchen — pure holiday bliss!
Step 9: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They taste fantastic both warm and completely cooled, so feel free to dive right in or save some for later.
How to Serve Festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
For extra festive flair, try dusting your cookies lightly with powdered sugar or drizzling them with white chocolate. These small touches add elegance and depth to the cheerful sprinkle coating.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with a warm mug of cocoa, spiced apple cider, or even a cup of robust coffee. The creamy drinks complement the sweet, buttery cookie flavors and make for a cozy holiday snack or dessert.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your cookies in colorful tin boxes with tissue paper for heartfelt homemade gifts, or create a holiday cookie platter by mixing these sprinkle cookies with gingerbread or peppermint treats. Adding a festive ribbon around a stack of these cookies instantly transforms them into a party-ready centerpiece.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep leftover Festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. This will help maintain their soft texture and keep the sprinkles fresh and crunchy.
Freezing
If you want to prepare ahead of time, these cookies freeze beautifully! Lay them flat in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months.
Reheating
To refresh frozen or stored cookies, warm them in a preheated 300-degree oven for about 5 minutes. This brings back that fresh-baked softness and enhances the buttery notes. Just be sure not to overheat, or they might become too crisp.
FAQs
Can I use homemade sugar cookie dough instead of the mix?
Absolutely! While the sugar cookie mix keeps things easy, homemade dough works wonderfully too. Just make sure to soften your cream cheese and butter for a smooth blend and add festive colors as directed.
How can I make the colors more vibrant?
Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for more intense reds and greens. Add a little at a time until you reach your desired shade—this helps you avoid watery dough consistency.
What if I don’t have cream cheese?
Cream cheese adds moisture and softness, but you can substitute with an equal amount of softened butter or use sour cream for a slight tangy twist—though results may vary slightly.
Can I use other sprinkles?
Definitely! Mixing in multi-colored, silver, or even holiday-shaped sprinkles will personalize your cookies and make them as fun and festive as you like.
Do these cookies need to be refrigerated?
No refrigeration is necessary. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their perfect texture and flavor.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about sharing a plate of beautifully colored, soft sugar cookies that radiate holiday joy. This Festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe brings classic flavors and cheerful colors together in a way that feels like a warm holiday hug. I can’t wait for you to try this recipe and make it a regular part of your seasonal celebrations. Happy baking and happy holidays!
Print
Festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Christmas sprinkle cookies. These colorful sugar cookies are soft, chewy, and perfectly coated in vibrant red and green sprinkles, making them a delightful treat for family gatherings and holiday parties.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 17.5 ounce bag sugar cookie mix
- 4 ounce (½ 8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (½ stick) salted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
Coloring and Decoration
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the cookies from sticking during baking.
- Mix Dough: In a large mixing bowl, use a stand or hand mixer to cream together the sugar cookie mix, softened cream cheese, softened butter, and the egg. Beat thoroughly until a soft, cohesive dough forms, ensuring all ingredients are well combined.
- Divide Dough: Split the dough evenly into two separate bowls to prepare for coloring the dough into two festive colors.
- Color Red Dough: Add red food coloring to one of the bowls and mix until the dough achieves a deep, uniform red hue. Be sure to blend well so the color is consistent throughout.
- Color Green Dough: To the second bowl, add green food coloring and thoroughly mix until the dough is evenly green, ensuring full color integration.
- Shape and Coat Cookies: Pour the sprinkles into a shallow bowl. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, shape dough from each colored bowl into balls. Gently roll each ball in the sprinkles to fully coat it. Place the coated balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Prepare for Baking: Note that the dough is naturally soft, and cookie balls may flatten slightly before baking, which is normal and expected.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 11 minutes, or until the edges begin to firm and the tops no longer collapse when lightly touched, indicating the cookies are done.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes to firm up slightly, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely or serve warm for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use room temperature cream cheese and butter for easier mixing and better dough consistency.
- Adjust food coloring quantity to achieve desired vibrancy without altering dough texture.
- Spacing cookies about 2 inches apart prevents them from merging during baking.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a crispier texture, bake an additional 1-2 minutes, monitoring closely to avoid overbaking.
