Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

Christmas sprinkle cookies bring a magical touch to holiday baking with their joyful colors and delightful texture. These soft, chewy treats are perfect for sharing with loved ones or adding a festive sprinkle to your holiday cookie trays. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, they make the perfect sweet indulgence for the season.

The charming specks of vibrant sprinkles inside each cookie add a fun surprise and festive flair, while the chewy texture invites you to savor every bite. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, this easy dough comes together quickly, making it a wonderful holiday baking activity for all ages.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour (1 ½ cups / 187.5 g): Provides structure and balance to the cookie base while ensuring a tender chew.
• Baking soda (½ teaspoon / 2 g): Helps cookies rise slightly and contributes to a soft texture.
• Baking powder (½ teaspoon / 2 g): Works alongside baking soda to create a light, airy crumb.
• Fine sea salt (½ teaspoon / 3 g): Enhances sweetness and balances overall flavor perfectly.
• Unsalted butter (½ cup / 113.5 g), melted and cooled: Adds richness and moisture for a tender, chewy bite.
• Granulated sugar (½ cup / 100 g): Sweetens and helps create that classic cookie texture.
• Light or dark brown sugar (¼ cup / 55 g), packed: Adds depth of flavor and chewiness due to molasses content.
• Vanilla extract or paste (1 tablespoon / 13 g): Infuses warm, aromatic notes enhancing the overall taste.
• Egg (1 large, room temperature): Binds ingredients and adds moisture for soft cookies.
• Christmas sprinkles (½ cup / 80 g), plus extra for topping: Festive colorful accents that bring joyful holiday spirit to each bite.

Instructions

Combine Wet Ingredients

Mix melted butter with granulated and brown sugar in a large bowl using a silicone spatula until smooth and well combined. Then beat in the egg and vanilla until fully incorporated, creating a glossy, homogenous base that will hold the dry ingredients together.

Prepare and Add Dry Ingredients

Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl to evenly distribute leavening agents. Gradually add this dry mix into the wet ingredients, gently folding until mostly combined. This careful mixing prevents overworking the dough, ensuring soft, tender cookies.

Fold in Sprinkles and Chill Dough

Fold in Christmas sprinkles gently so they are well dispersed without bleeding color excessively. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes (or up to 2 days) to allow it to firm up for easier handling and enhanced flavor development.

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets

Set your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking. Preparing trays ahead ensures a smooth workflow once the dough is ready.

Portion Dough and Arrange on Sheets

Using a medium cookie scoop (2-3 tablespoons), portion dough and place mounds spaced at least 3-4 inches apart to allow spreading. Even spacing encourages uniform shape and browning during baking.

Bake Cookies Until Golden

Bake one tray at a time for 9-11 minutes until edges are lightly golden and centers are mostly set but still soft. This timing locks in moisture resulting in the perfect chewy texture once cooled.

Create Perfectly Round Cookies (Optional)

While cookies are still warm, gently press a large circular cutter or mug over each cookie in a circular motion to achieve a precise round shape. Decorate tops with extra sprinkles using your hands or tweezers for a festive finish.

Cool Completely Before Serving

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack to cool fully. This prevents breaking and allows flavors to settle, enhancing the overall eating experience.

Storage Tips

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain their soft texture. For longer storage, freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months or freeze raw cookie dough balls and bake fresh as needed.

Serving Suggestions

Pair these Christmas sprinkle cookies with a warm cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea to enhance the festive mood. They also make charming edible gifts when wrapped with holiday ribbons and tags.

FAQs

Can I substitute sprinkles with other mix-ins?

Yes, while sprinkles provide festive color, you can swap them with chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit to customize your cookies.

Why is chilling the dough necessary?

Chilling firms up the dough for easier handling and reduces spread during baking, which keeps cookies soft and thick.

How can I make my cookies crispier?

For crisper edges, bake cookies a minute or two longer but watch carefully to avoid overbaking and drying out.

Can I prepare the dough in advance?

Absolutely! Dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for longer storage before baking fresh cookies.

What if I don’t have a cookie scoop?

You can use two spoons or a tablespoon measure to portion the dough evenly instead of a scoop.

Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Soft Chewy

These soft and chewy Christmas sprinkle cookies are easy to make, requiring minimal prep and perfect for holiday baking with festive sprinkles and a tender texture.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 9 minutes mins

Total Time 14 minutes mins

Course cookie, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 people

Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

• 1 kitchen scale or measuring cups (optional)
• 1 measuring spoons (optional)
• 1 large mixing bowl
• 1 silicone spatula
• 1 medium cookie scoop (2-3 tablespoon capacity)
• 2 cookie sheets
• 1 parchment paper
• 1 tweezers (optional, for placing sprinkles)

Ingredients

  

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 187.5 g
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 g
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 g
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt 3 g

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled (113.5 g)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar 100 g
• 1/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar 55 g
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or paste 13 g
• 1 large egg room temperature

• 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles 80 g, plus extra for topping

Instructions

 

• In a large bowl, mix melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with a silicone spatula until smooth.
• Add the egg and vanilla extract to the mixture and stir until fully combined.
• Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients and mix until mostly combined.
• Fold in the Christmas sprinkles gently.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 days.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Use a cookie scoop to portion 2-3 tablespoon-sized dough balls on the prepared baking trays, spaced 3-4 inches apart.
• Bake one sheet at a time for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and centers are mostly set.
• Optionally, shape freshly baked warm cookies by gently rotating a large round cutter or mug on top to create perfect circles.
• Top the cookies with additional sprinkles using your hands or tweezers.
• Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Notes

• Weighing ingredients ensures accuracy and better results.
• Store cooled cookies airtight at room temperature up to 5 days.
• Freeze baked cookies or dough for up to 3 months.
• Reheat frozen cookies in microwave at 10-second intervals.