If you’re looking for a festive, fun, and utterly delicious treat to brighten up your holiday season, you’ve just found it! I’m excited to share this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe with you – the ultimate sugar cookie that’s buttery, crisp, and absolutely perfect for decorating with all the tacky, colorful, and whimsical icing designs you can dream up. Trust me, these cookies are fan-freaking-tastic and instantly became a holiday tradition in my kitchen. Keep reading, because once you try this, you’ll want to bake a batch every year!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Buttery and Crisp Texture: These cookies bake up crisp on the edges with a soft center, giving the perfect chew every time.
- Ideal for Decorating: The dough holds its shape beautifully, so your ugly sweater designs come out sharp and adorable.
- Simple Yet Flavorful Ingredients: With a hint of almond and classic vanilla, this recipe tastes just like holiday magic.
- Perfect for Holiday Fun: Baking and decorating these cookies is a festive activity the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe calls for classic baking staples — no fancy stuff, just ingredients you probably already have on hand. Each one plays a key role in making the cookies tender yet sturdy enough for all the fun decorating you’ll do.
- Unsalted Butter: Using room temperature butter gives you the creamiest dough and the best cookie texture.
- Granulated Sugar: It sweetens the dough perfectly and helps those edges crisp up nicely.
- Large Eggs: Eggs bind everything together and add richness; using room temperature eggs helps them mix smoothly.
- Egg Yolks: Extra yolks make these cookies extra soft and tender on the inside.
- Vanilla Extract: Classic flavor booster that warms up the whole cookie.
- Almond Extract: Just a touch adds a subtle nutty twist that makes these cookies stand out.
- All-Purpose Flour: The structure-builder for your cookies; sift it for lump-free mixing.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
- Baking Powder: Gives just enough lift to keep cookies from being too dense.
Variations
I love how versatile this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe is! You can easily tweak it to fit your tastes or dietary needs without losing that classic holiday feel. Plus, it’s a great base to get creative with seasonal flavors.
- Gluten-Free Version: I swapped in a gluten-free flour blend once, and while the texture was slightly different, it still held the shapes and tasted lovely.
- Spiced Up: Sometimes I add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg into the dough to give a cozy holiday twist.
- Mini Cookies: When short on time, I make smaller sweater cookies – they bake faster and are perfect for cookie swaps.
- Vegan Substitute: Using vegan butter and egg replacers can work, though I recommend testing a small batch first.
How to Make Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
Start by whipping your room temperature butter and granulated sugar together in a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer) until the mixture is comfortably fluffy and well combined—about two minutes. This is the secret to that melt-in-your-mouth texture, so be patient and let the mixer do its magic!
Step 2: Add Eggs and Extracts
Next, turn your mixer down to low and add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time, making sure each one is fully incorporated. Then scrape down the sides of your bowl to get any stuck bits. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts last—they bring that special holiday aroma you’ll love.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients and Make the Dough
In a separate bowl, sift together your flour, salt, and baking powder. Slowly add this to the wet ingredients about a cup at a time while mixing on low until you get a smooth, soft dough. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and pop it into the fridge for at least an hour—this chills the dough so it’s easier to roll out and cuts down on spreading when baking.
Step 4: Roll, Cut, and Bake Your Cookies
When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F. Flour your surface lightly and roll the chilled dough out evenly. Use a sweater-shaped cookie cutter if you have one, or freehand a shape about the size of your hand—the bigger the sweater, the more room for decorations! Bake them for 6-8 minutes, keeping an eye on the edges to prevent burning. Let them cool on the sheet for a bit before moving them to a cooling rack to firm up completely.
Step 5: Decorate and Enjoy!
This is the best part! Whether you’re using royal icing, sprinkles, edible markers, or candy bits, have fun turning these cookies into your ugliest (and most beautiful) Christmas sweaters. Your family and friends will be so impressed, and honestly, I love seeing how creative everyone gets with these cookies.
Pro Tips for Making Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe
- Chill Your Dough Well: Don’t skip the refrigeration step—it makes rolling easier and ensures your cookies keep their shape while baking.
- Use Parchment Paper: I always bake these on parchment to prevent sticking and for easier cleanup.
- Watch Your Bake Time: These cookies bake fast! Pull them out when the edges just start to brown for that perfect crisp-chewy combo.
- Get Creative with Decor: Let your imagination run wild—thick royal icing layers and colorful sprinkles are a holiday staple here.
How to Serve Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
When I decorate these Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies, I love adding colorful royal icing to mimic knit patterns, complete with little dots, zigzags, and stripes. Sprinkles, mini candy canes, and edible glitter add festive flair and a touch of whimsy. You can even use edible markers to draw tiny holiday-themed motifs like snowflakes and reindeer—it’s so much fun!
Side Dishes
These cookies pair beautifully with cozy drinks like hot cocoa, eggnog, or mulled cider. I also enjoy serving them alongside a simple fruit platter or a cheese board when hosting holiday parties—the sweet and savory combo is a crowd-pleaser every time.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday gatherings, I like to arrange these Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies on a festive platter surrounded by pine sprigs and fairy lights. Wrapping individual cookies in clear cellophane tied with ribbon turns them into cute edible gifts. Hosting a cookie decorating party? Set up a “decorate your own sweater” station with colorful icings, sprinkles, and candies—that always makes for delicious memories.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Wrapped up this way, they stay fresh and crisp for up to a week. If they start to soften, just pop a slice of bread in the container overnight—it helps keep the cookies perfectly moist yet crisp!
Freezing
Frozen dough is a lifesaver for busy holiday seasons. I freeze this cookie dough in discs wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then thaw it overnight in the fridge when I’m ready to bake. You can even freeze baked cookies—just layer them between parchment paper in an airtight container to prevent sticking. They thaw in minutes and taste like fresh-baked!
Reheating
If you have leftover cookies that lost a bit of their crispness, reheating in a warm oven (about 300°F for 5 minutes) brings back that freshly baked texture. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t overbake. Perfect warm cookies are just a few minutes away!
FAQs
-
Can I use this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe without almond extract?
Absolutely! While the almond extract adds a nice subtle twist, you can simply leave it out or replace it with an equal amount of vanilla extract if you prefer. The cookies will still taste delicious.
-
How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much while baking?
Make sure to chill the dough thoroughly before rolling and cutting your cookies. Also, avoid using too much butter or not enough flour, and try not to over-handle the dough. Baking on parchment paper on a cool baking sheet helps too!
-
Can I make this recipe by hand without a stand mixer?
Yes! You can cream the butter and sugar using a sturdy spoon or whisk, but it will require a bit more elbow grease. Just be patient and make sure the butter is very soft and at room temperature to make the mixing easier.
-
How long do these cookies keep their best flavor and texture?
Stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, these sugar cookies taste best within a week. For longer storage, freezing is your friend!
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe brings joy not just in eating but in the whole baking experience—from mixing the dough to decorating the crazy sweaters. It’s become a highlight of my holiday season, and I’m confident once you try it, it will be for you too. Whether you’re baking solo or making it a family affair, these cookies add so much fun, flavor, and festive spirit to any gathering. So go ahead and get those messy icing tubes ready—let’s make the ugliest, most delightful Christmas sweaters ever!
Print
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 83 minutes
- Yield: 15 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies are the ultimate festive treat featuring buttery, crispy sugar cookies shaped like cozy sweaters and perfect for holiday decorating fun. This recipe uses classic sugar cookie ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, combined with a hint of almond extract for extra flavor. These cookies bake quickly at 350°F, making them easy to prepare for your holiday celebrations and ideal for decorating with colorful icing or sprinkles.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 ½ cups (3 sticks or 340g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add Eggs: With the mixer running on low speed, add the eggs and egg yolks and mix until fully incorporated into the creamed butter and sugar.
- Scrape Bowl: Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- Add Extracts: Turn the mixer back on low and add the vanilla and almond extracts, blending them into the wet ingredients.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder to ensure a smooth, clump-free mixture.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture about a cup at a time, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together completely.
- Chill Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least one hour to firm up and make rolling easier.
- Preheat Oven: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll Out Dough: On a floured surface, roll the chilled dough to your desired thickness.
- Cut Out Cookies: Use a sweater-shaped cookie cutter or freehand cut your cookies as large as your hand for an adorable ugly Christmas sweater shape.
- Bake Cookies: Place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake for 6 to 8 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning at the edges.
- Cool and Decorate: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet until firm enough to transfer, then move them to a cooling rack. Have fun decorating with your favorite icings and toppings!
Notes
- The BEST sugar cookie recipe ever—rich, buttery, and crisp with just the right texture for decorating.
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
- Chilling the dough is important to prevent spreading during baking and to make cutting shapes easier.
- Use a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Watch the cookies closely during baking as thinner edges can burn easily.
- Let the cookies cool completely before decorating to avoid melting your icing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 396 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
