Nothing quite says festive cheer like a batch of colorful, soft, and buttery cookies fresh from your oven. This Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is one of my favorites for the holidays—it’s simple, joyful, and gives you those perfect bursts of sprinkles with every bite. Trust me, once you make these, they’ll be your go-to for every holiday gathering.

The image shows a small stack of five round sugar cookies with two colors of sugar crystals on the outside: green and red. The bottom cookie is green, followed by a red cookie, then a green cookie, and another red cookie. On top is a green cookie with a bite taken out, showing a light, soft inside. The cookies have a slightly rough texture from the sugar crystals, and one broken cookie piece lies flat in front of the stack on a surface with a white marbled texture. The background is plain and light, making the colorful cookies stand out. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is more than just a festive treat. It’s a blend of creamy, tender textures with that irresistible sprinkle crunch that brings back childhood memories of holiday baking sessions. I adore how easy it is to make yet how impressive it looks on a cookie platter.

Perfect Soft Texture: Thanks to cream cheese in the dough, these cookies stay tender and moist—soft in the middle with just a kiss of golden edges.
Sprinkle Delight: The generous coating of sanding sugar and colorful sprinkles makes every cookie sparkle—literally! It’s so fun and festive.
Simple Ingredients: No complicated or hard-to-find items here; just classic pantry staples coming together beautifully.
Make Ahead Friendly: You can prep the dough days in advance, giving you flexibility when things get busy around the holidays.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe plays a key role in creating that soft, buttery bite with the perfect spread and sparkle. Here's why I recommend each and some tips to get the best cookies possible.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl of baking powder, a small white bowl of salt, a block of unsalted butter with a smooth, pale yellow surface, a rectangular piece of cream cheese with a glossy texture, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar sparkling in natural light, one whole large brown egg with a clean shell, a small white bowl containing pale golden vanilla extract, a small white bowl with clear almond extract, and a small white bowl filled with colorful round sprinkles in shades of red, blue, yellow, green, and white, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The backbone for structure; spoon & level it to avoid dense cookies.
Baking powder: Gives a slight lift without making the cookies cakey.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor, especially important in rich doughs.
Unsalted butter: Soften it to room temp for easy creaming—this adds richness and that melt-in-your-mouth feel.
Cream cheese: This is the secret ticket for softness and a subtle tang that deepens the cookie’s flavor.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps with the cookie’s spread.
Egg: Binds everything together and helps with texture.
Vanilla extract: Classic flavor enhancer that brings warmth to the dough.
Almond extract: Optional but highly recommended—it adds an exciting, nutty aroma that screams holiday!
Sprinkles: Your festive touch! Use sanding sugar, nonpareils, or jimmies for that charming sparkle and crunch.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how versatile this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe can be. While I stick to the sprinkles in the original recipe, you can mix it up to match your holiday vibe or dietary needs. I’ve tried a few twists and also love hearing about how friends customize it!

Variation: Once, I swapped almond extract for orange zest and it gave a lovely citrusy brightness that felt fresh but still festive.
Dietary Change: Using dairy-free cream cheese and vegan butter works surprisingly well if you need a vegan option.
Sprinkle Swap: Play with seasonal sprinkles — red and green sanding sugar for Christmas, or pastel colors for other occasions.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

A white rectangular tray is filled with four groups of colorful sugar cookies in red, green, and white colors. One group has red sugar crystals covering the round cookies, another group is covered with green sugar crystals, and the third group has white icing with red and green sprinkles on top. The fourth group is coated with small round red, green, and white sprinkles. In the middle of the tray, a cookie is broken in half, showing a light yellow inside. A woman's hand is holding the tray from the right side, with another woman's hand visible at the bottom holding it. Surrounding the tray, there are two white round plates with more cookies; one plate has a cookie with a bite taken out. All sits on a white marbled surface with a red and white cloth partially visible at the bottom left. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Whisk the Dry Ingredients

Start by whisking together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. This ensures even distribution so each cookie rises just right without any salty or baking powder pockets. Setting this aside early lets you move smoothly through the next steps.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Cream Cheese

Using a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and cream cheese on high speed until smooth and creamy, usually about 2 minutes. This combo is key for softness, so don't rush—make sure no lumps remain for the smoothest dough.

Step 3: Add Sugar, Egg, and Extracts

Next, add granulated sugar and beat together until fluffy and combined. Then, mix in the egg, vanilla, and almond extracts. Scrape the bowl with a spatula to make sure everything blends evenly—a small step that saves you from uneven baking!

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

On low speed, add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. The dough will be thick—don’t overmix or your cookies might turn out tough. Once done, cover tightly and chill the dough for at least an hour; this resting step makes shaping easier and helps cookies hold their shape.

Step 5: Roll and Coat in Sprinkles

Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. Roll the dough into 1 Tablespoon-sized balls, then roll each ball in your chosen sprinkles. Placing them evenly spaced ensures they bake beautifully without merging.

Step 6: Flatten and Bake

Gently press the dough balls down with the back of a glass or measuring cup just slightly—this gives them a nice shape but keeps some fluffiness inside. Bake for about 12-13 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden. Let them cool on the sheets a bit before transferring to racks.

Top Tip

From my many batches over the years, these tips have helped me bake the best Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe every time. The difference is in the details, and you'll notice the improvement right away.

Room Temperature Matters: Make sure your butter, cream cheese, and egg are all at room temp. This helps them blend perfectly without lumps and creates a smooth dough.
Chill the Dough Well: Don’t skip chilling! Cold dough handles and rolls easier and keeps the cookies thick and soft when baked.
Sprinkles First: Roll the dough balls in sprinkles before baking so they stick well and don’t burn in the oven.
Don’t Overbake: Watch closely in the last few minutes and remove when edges are just tinged golden, or they’ll lose that soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Christmas Sprinkle Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like my Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe just as they are—let those vibrant sprinkles take center stage. But for special occasions, a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate makes them feel extra festive without overpowering the sprinkles’ crunch.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with classic holiday drinks like hot cocoa, spiced cider, or even a peppermint mocha. They’re also wonderful alongside a tray of assorted holiday sweets, offering a soft, sweet contrast to fudgy or nutty treats.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I arrange these sprinkle cookies on a tiered cake stand with some fresh evergreen sprigs and cranberries tucked in for a festive touch. Gift-wrapping batches in clear cellophane bags tied with a ribbon also makes for a delightful homemade gift everyone appreciates.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, usually stacked with parchment paper between layers to keep sprinkles intact. They've stayed perfectly fresh and soft for about a week this way—long enough to enjoy during the hustle and bustle.

Freezing

This dough freezes beautifully—just shape the dough balls, freeze them on a tray, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When you’re ready, bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. The sprinkles hold up nicely, too!

Reheating

If they lose a bit of their freshness, I gently rewarm the cookies in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes—this revives the softness and makes the sprinkles pop again without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I omit the cream cheese?

While cream cheese adds softness and flavor, you can make these cookies without it by increasing the butter slightly. The texture will be less tender but still tasty.

What if I don’t have almond extract?

Almond extract adds a lovely nutty note but isn’t mandatory. You can skip it or substitute with an extra half teaspoon of vanilla extract for a simpler flavor.

How do I prevent the sprinkles from burning?

Rolling the dough balls in sprinkles right before baking helps them stick and protects them. Also, baking at 350°F and watching carefully to remove as soon as edges turn golden prevents burning.

Can I make these gluten-free?

You can substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend cup-for-cup, but results may vary slightly. Adding a teaspoon of xanthan gum helps with texture if your blend doesn’t already include it.

Final Thoughts

Making this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe has become a little tradition for me—it’s such a joyful way to bring color and sweetness to the holiday table. These cookies remind me of cozy afternoons spent with family, laughter, and lots of messy sprinkles on our cheeks. I can’t wait for you to try them yourself and make some happy holiday memories in your kitchen, too!