There’s something undeniably joyful about biting into a cookie that’s crunchy on the edges, soft inside, and bursting with colorful sprinkles. This Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe brings that magic to your holiday baking with a little cream cheese twist that makes every bite melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made my fair share of holiday cookies, but these Christmas Sprinkle Cookies have a special place in my kitchen and heart. The cream cheese adds a subtle richness that balances perfectly with the sugary crunch of sprinkles, making them unforgettable—and yes, irresistible.
- Soft Yet Crisp Texture: The butter and cream cheese combo creates cookies that are soft and tender inside with a pleasantly crisp edge.
- Colorful Fun: Rolling them in sprinkles adds festive charm and a delightful crunch that’s perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Simple Ingredients: You probably have most of these staples in your pantry, making it easy to bake without a special shopping trip.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The dough chills really well, so you can prep days in advance and bake fresh cookies whenever holiday cheer strikes.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Every ingredient in this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe plays a crucial role, and I love how they come together so seamlessly. Basic staples with a few special twists make these cookies taste special without fuss.
- All-purpose flour: The sturdy base that gives these cookies structure but keeps them tender when combined with the cream cheese.
- Baking powder: Adds a gentle lift to prevent these from turning out dense or flat.
- Salt: Just a pinch to highlight all the sweet flavors without being salty.
- Unsalted butter: The star that adds richness and helps build that perfect cookie texture.
- Cream cheese: This little secret keeps the cookies moist and gives them a subtle tang that cuts through the sweetness.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetness is key, and this sugar also helps create a slight crunch along with the sprinkles.
- Egg: Binds everything and helps deliver tender cookies.
- Vanilla extract: Elevates the flavor with a warm, comforting note.
- Almond extract: Optional but highly recommended—it adds a delicate layer of flavor that feels so festive.
- Sprinkles: Choose your favorites—sanding sugar, nonpareils, or jimmies—to add sparkle and texture.
Make It Your Way
I love to play around with this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe depending on the occasion or the mood. You’ll enjoy the freedom to add your own twist, whether it’s swapping extracts or choosing your sprinkles.
- Variation: Sometimes I swap the almond extract for peppermint extract—instantly giving the cookies a cool holiday vibe that's surprisingly delightful with the cream cheese base.
- Dietary tweaks: For a gluten-free version, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend, but be sure to chill the dough a little longer to firm up.
- Sprinkle swaps: Mix and match festive shapes or colors to match your holiday theme. I once made them with gold and red sanding sugar for a classy Christmas party—they disappeared fast!
- Cookie shapes: While this recipe works beautifully for simple round cookies, I've also used cookie cutters on slightly chilled dough for fun shapes that are perfect for gifting.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Dry Ingredients
Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. This helps evenly distribute the leavening for a consistent rise. I usually do this while my mixer is warming up—makes the most of my time!
Step 2: Beat Butter and Cream Cheese Until Smooth
Using a stand or hand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and cream cheese on high speed for about 2 minutes. You want it smooth and creamy—no lumps here. This step is key for that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Step 3: Add Sugar, Egg, and Extracts
Next, mix in the granulated sugar until fluffy, then beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts. Scrape down the bowI to make sure everything combines evenly—the batter should feel rich and creamy.
Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mix and blend on low speed just until combined. The dough thickens here—don’t overmix or you’ll make the cookies tough! Cover it tightly and chill for at least an hour; I sometimes keep mine in the fridge for a couple of days which also helps deepen the flavor.
Step 5: Shape and Sprinkle
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. Roll tablespoon-sized dough balls, then roll each in your sprinkles until fully coated. Place them on the sheet spaced about 2 inches apart—you’ll want room for gentle spreading.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake for 12-13 minutes until the edges are just starting to brown. This timing keeps the interiors soft and tender. Let them cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. I find that cooling on the sheets first really helps the cookies hold their shape and prevents breakage.
Top Tip
From my experience baking these cookies, a few simple tweaks have saved me from common pitfalls and really taken this recipe to the next level.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Always bring butter, cream cheese, and eggs to room temperature. It helps everything blend smoothly, making the dough silky and more manageable.
- Don’t Skip Chilling: I learned the hard way that skipping the chill results in cookies that spread too thin and lose that thick, soft texture.
- Use a Light Hand Mixing Dry Ingredients: Mixing too vigorously after adding flour can develop gluten, making your cookies tough instead of soft and tender.
- Press Gently After Rolling: Lightly flatten dough balls with the back of a glass—not too firmly—to keep the sprinkle coating intact and the cookie shape unevenly perfect.
How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually stick with classic multi-colored sprinkles—nonpareils and sanding sugars—to keep things bright and joyful. But I’ve also used crushed candy canes on top for a peppermint twist. Honestly, the cookies are so pretty on their own, I keep garnishes simple so the sprinkles stand out.
Side Dishes
Serve these cookies alongside a mug of rich hot cocoa or spiced apple cider for a cozy holiday pairing. I’ve found their sweetness balances perfectly with warm drinks and even a simple glass of milk.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I like arranging the cookies in a festive tin lined with parchment paper sprinkled with a few edible glitter flakes. Wrapping individual cookies in cellophane tied with a holiday ribbon also makes charming favors that everyone loves.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, keep your Christmas Sprinkle Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. I usually find they stay soft and fresh for about a week, though they’re often gone sooner in my house!
Freezing
The dough freezes beautifully if you want to prepare ahead. Just roll dough balls and freeze on a lined tray before transferring to a freezer bag. You can also freeze baked cookies by layering them with parchment in an airtight container. Bake or thaw and enjoy whenever you’re ready.
Reheating
To refresh stored cookies, pop them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This warms them through and slightly revives the texture without drying them out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The cream cheese is a key ingredient in this recipe because it adds moisture and a slight tang, which balances the sweetness beautifully and creates a tender, soft crumb. If you skip it, the cookies won’t have quite the same texture or flavor, but you could try substituting with an equal amount of softened butter for a different, though less rich, result.
You can use any sprinkles you like! I recommend sanding sugar, nonpareils, or jimmies as they add both color and texture. For a festive look, mix different types and colors. Just avoid very large or irregular-shaped sprinkles that may burn or not stick well to the dough.
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh for up to one week. They maintain their soft texture and the sprinkles keep their crunch, so you can bake in advance and enjoy them throughout the holiday season.
Absolutely! One of the best things about this recipe is that the dough can be chilled for up to 3-4 days before baking. Just be sure to let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before rolling if it has been refrigerated for longer than a few hours to make shaping easier.
Final Thoughts
These Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe have become a holiday tradition for me and my loved ones. The way they combine classic cookie comfort with a fun, festive look always brings smiles. I hope you’ll find yourself happily baking and sharing them as much as I do—because nothing quite says “holiday spirit” like cookies that sparkle as much as your memories do.
Print
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 32 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Christmas Cookie Sparkles are super soft and creamy cream cheese sugar cookies rolled in colorful sprinkles. Perfectly festive with a tender texture and a light almond and vanilla flavor, they make delightful holiday treats that stay fresh for a week.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (375g), spooned and leveled
- 1 and ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (16 Tbsp; 226g), softened to room temperature
- 2 ounces full-fat brick cream cheese (57g), softened to room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Toppings
- ¾ cup sprinkles (150g) including sanding sugar, nonpareils, and/or jimmies
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Cheese: In a large bowl, use a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to beat the softened butter and cream cheese on high speed until relatively smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Add Sugar and Eggs: Add the granulated sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture and beat until creamy and combined. Then add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract, beating on high speed until everything is fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until combined. The dough will be thick at this stage.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 3-4 days. If chilling more than 2-3 hours, let dough sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before rolling to soften.
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for best results and set aside.
- Shape and Coat Cookies: Pour sanding sugar and/or sprinkles into shallow bowls. Roll the dough into 1 tablespoon-sized balls, then roll each ball thoroughly in the sprinkles to coat. Place each dough ball 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Gently press down each ball slightly using the back of a measuring cup or drinking glass to flatten.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-13 minutes, or until the edges are very lightly browned.
- Cool: Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
- Store: Store cookies covered at room temperature, and they will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
Notes
- For best results, use full-fat brick cream cheese and soften it to room temperature before mixing.
- Chilling the dough helps to prevent spreading and enhances flavor, but if chilled too long without warming, the dough can be hard to roll.
- Use a variety of colorful sprinkles to make these cookies extra festive.
- Always line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet briefly before transferring to a wire rack to avoid breaking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
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