If you are anything like our Nana, Christmas is your favorite time of year. And nothing screams Christmas like Nana’s sugar cookies baking in the oven. At Nana’s, you will find Christmas decor in every room, a tree filled with ornaments, and a Hallmark Christmas movie playing at any time of day. But the real magic of the season comes from her old-fashioned sugar cookies—soft, chewy, and perfect for decorating.
These easy Christmas sugar cookies are a no-fail sugar cookie recipe for decorating, making them ideal for holiday baking. Whether you enjoy them plain or topped with icing, they are sure to become a family tradition, just like they have in ours.
Why You’ll Love This Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe
- ✔ Soft and chewy texture – These homemade sugar cookies with sour cream have a melt-in-your-mouth texture that sets them apart from crunchy cut-out cookies.
- ✔ Easy to roll and cut – The dough is perfect for making Christmas cookie shapes with cookie cutters.
- ✔ Classic holiday sugar cookie recipe – Passed down for generations, these cookies make any occasion special.
- ✔ Best sugar cookie dough for rolling – Holds its shape without spreading too much.
Equipment Needed for Baking Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Mixing bowls
- Hand or stand mixer
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters (for holiday shapes)
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
Ingredients for Nana’s Sugar Cookies
For the Cookies:
- ½ cup Crisco
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Cake Batter Flavor (or substitute vanilla or almond extract)
For the Icing:
- Powdered sugar
- Milk
- Flavoring of choice (vanilla, almond, or cake batter flavoring)
How to Make Soft and Chewy Sugar Cookies
🧈Step 1: Cream the Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine Crisco, sugar, egg, and cake batter flavoring. Beat until light and fluffy—this is key for achieving soft sugar cookies.
🥣Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
🥄Step 3: Add Sour Cream and Mix
Stir in the sour cream, blending well. This secret ingredient makes these the best sugar cookie recipe for cutouts, keeping them tender while holding their shape.
👨🍳Step 4: Roll and Cut Your Christmas Sugar Cookies
Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to about ½-inch thickness. Use holiday-themed cookie cutters (like trees, stars, or snowflakes) to cut the dough into festive shapes.
🥠Step 5: Bake the Best Holiday Sugar Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the cookies on the sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just set. Do not overbake—this keeps them soft. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating.
🥛Step 6: Make the Best Icing for Sugar Cookies
In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar with a little milk, adding just enough to create a thick, spreadable consistency. The icing should be thick enough to cling to a spatula without running off. Add vanilla, almond, or cake batter flavoring for extra depth.
🍴Step 7: Decorate and Enjoy Your Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
Spread or pipe the icing onto the cooled cookies. Add sprinkles or colored sugar for a festive touch. These cookies pair perfectly with hot cocoa or a warm cup of coffee.
Tips for the Best Christmas Sugar Cookies
✔ Chill the dough – If your dough is too soft, refrigerate it for 30 minutes before rolling it out. This makes cutting shapes easier.
✔ Don’t overbake – The cookies should be set but not browned. They will continue to firm up as they cool.
✔ Use high-quality flavoring – McCormick Cake Batter Flavoring gives a bakery-style sugar cookie taste, but almond extract or vanilla works great too.
✔ Get creative – Use holiday sprinkles, edible glitter, or colored icing to decorate.
How to Store Homemade Sugar Cookies
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Refrigerator: Keep in the fridge for up to a week if decorated with icing.
- Freezer: Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before decorating.
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Nothing brings the magic of Christmas like a warm batch of Nana’s sugar cookies. Whether you’re baking with your kids, grandkids, or simply treating yourself, these classic Christmas sugar cookies are sure to fill your home with love and holiday cheer.
Have you tried Nana’s famous sugar cookies? Let me know in the comments and share your favorite holiday baking traditions!
Nana’s Sugar Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Hand or stand mixer
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie cutters
- Baking sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Cooling Rack
Ingredients
Instructions
For the Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350℉
- In a large mixing bowl, combine Crisco, sugar, egg, and cake batter flavoring. Beat until light and fluffy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Stir in the sour cream and mix well until a soft dough forms.
- Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to about ½-inch thickness. Use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to cut the dough into festive shapes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cookies on the sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are just set. Do not overbake! Let the cookies cool completely before decorating.
For the Icing
- In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar with a little bit of milk, adding just enough to create a thick, spreadable consistency. The icing should be thick enough to cling to a spatula without running off. Add flavoring of choice for extra depth.
- Spread or pipe the icing onto the cooled cookies and let it set before storing.
Thank u so much for posting Nana’s Christmas Cookie Recipe !! I watched your video and I can’t wait to make them with my granddaughter and possibly my great granddaughter too. They look delicious. I could almost smell their goodness when u took them out of the oven. God Bless and Merry Christmas to u and your family !!!
Nanas cookies looks so good. I watched the video and her dough looked so soft.
Hi Kelly, Big Daddy & Family,
I loved watching you spend time with your in laws Kelly. Big Daddy your parents seem like wonderful people. Nana your home is gorgeous!! I am certainly going to try these cookies!! Hope your Family has a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!!! Melissa Doney from MARYLAND!!!
I watched the live Facebook the other day. I enjoyed watching and Nana is a beautiful lady. The picture of her holding her Christmas cookies is beautiful. Her Christmas tree is gorgeous. I’m gonna make the cookies with my grandchildren. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas 🎄
I am making these this year instead of mine, they look so good. Thanks for sharing recipe.
So enjoyed watching y’all making the cookies on the live . Merry Christmas to all of the Munson’s
Loved watching you as a family making memories doing Christmas cookies . Thank you for letting us be part of your family
Are you on fb with this page to follow or just the website.
We are on facebook as The Sugar Shack. My profile picture is me wearing a red dress and laughing. My hair is a little darker than it is now.
I recommend 3/4 of sour cream or 2 eggs if you live in a higher elevation, mine turned out very dry according to recipe directions and I did add more sour cream. This happens to all doughs where I live.
Made these cookies and everyone loved them ty for sharing the recipe 😊