Sugar cookies are a simple and classic holiday treat. Cutout cookies can be a lot of work, but this drop sugar cookie recipe tastes great and will save you time. Everyone needs a plate of Christmas drop cookies! Make these for Christmas or change up the sprinkles for any other holiday.
If I had to pick any dessert I wanted, cookies would probably not be my first choice. I love creamy-filled pastries and simple desserts like fruit and whipped cream. I'd take a fruit cobbler over a brownie any day.
But for some reason, during the holidays, my love for cookies is much stronger than the rest of the year. Something about eating a cookie and listening to Christmas music or watching a movie in front of the twinkling tree brings out my holiday spirit.
During the holidays, I say bring on the cookies! So it's time to make some Drop Sugar Cookies for Christmas!
What Are Drop Cookies?
My family loves sugar cookies, so they are always the first to be made in our house. They are also the first ones to be eaten.
Traditional sugar cookies are made from chilled dough that's rolled out and cut with cookie cutters. While it is fun to roll out cookies and decorate them, I can be artistically challenged when it comes to cookie decorating. I also don't have the patience to roll out and decorate dozens of cookies. I want my cookies fast and quick!
That's where drop cookies come in. These Christmas drop cookies are simple and easy to make. Simply drop spoonfuls of dough onto a cookie sheet and bake. No refrigeration or cookie cutters are required!
Ingredients Needed For This Drop Sugar Cookie Recipe
- Salted Butter – bring the butter to room temperature before beginning the recipe.
- Sugar – plain white sugar adds lots of sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract – Adds a little sweetness and a depth of flavor.
- Egg – Bring the egg to room temperature.
- Flour – I used all purpose flour but you could substitute a cup-for-cup gluten free flour.
- Sprinkles for Decorating – Red and green are perfect for Christmas but you can use different colors and styles for any holiday or occassion.
How To Make Drop Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium size mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Add vanilla and egg and beat until smooth.
- Slowly add the flour and mix until blended. Do not overmix.
- Refrigerate dough for at least 20 minutes.
- With a small cookie scoop, scoop one inch balls on lined cookie sheet leaving one inch of space in between. Dip the tops in colored sprinkles.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until bottoms start to brown and cookies are set. Cool for 5 minutes before setting on cooling rack. Cool for 10 more minutes.
- Store in an airtight container.
Why You'll Love Christmas Drop Cookies
This recipe is very forgiving. There is no sifting or weighing the flour. There is not a lot to measure. The dough gets mixed in a bowl, dropped on a cookie sheet and covered with sprinkles. They bake for a short time and come out perfect.
These drop sugar cookies are a bit cake-like, and we love them that way. I always use parchment paper on my baking sheet so that they don't brown too quickly. Sprinkles are easy, but if you feel like icing them instead, that can be done after they are baked. I make them small so you can just pop them in your mouth.
These are just good simple cookies that we like to leave for Santa. Actually, Santa expects some with a cold glass of milk. So easy to make and eat!
More Holiday Treats
- Festive Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Peppermint Sandwich Cookie Brownies,
- Saltine Cracker Toffee
- Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats?
If you need an easy holiday cookie, this is it. Actually, I make these all year round. Use appropriate sprinkles for Valentine's Day, Halloween, Fourth of July or any time to bake a festive cookie.
Happy holiday baking!
If you like this drop sugar cookie recipe, please leave a 5-star rating.
Drop Sugar Cookies for Christmas
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 ¼ cup flour
- sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium size mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Add vanilla and egg and beat until smooth.
- Slowly add the flour and mix until blended. Do not overmix.
- Refrigerate dough for at least 20 minutes.
- With a small cookie scoop, scoop one inch balls on lined cookie sheet leaving one inch of space in between. Dip the tops in colored sprinkles.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until bottoms start to brown and cookies are set. Cool for 5 minutes before setting on cooling rack. Cool for 10 more minutes.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
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Lecy | A Simpler Grace
I love sugar cookies and will be making some this weekend. I always let my nieces and nephews do the decorating with sprinkles. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Heather
I recently tried to make cut out sugar cookies and it was an epic fail. I need to try these!
Lori Geurin
Even though I try to avoid sugar most of the time, I do love a good sugar cookie and will make an exception for special occasions. These look so delicious!
bella
Yumm these look so good, I love Christmas cookies they are he best!
Amanda
Can you believe I've never had a drop cookie before? Clearly I need to start baking!
Eileen Kelly
These are absolutely delicious cookies. Fun and festive and perfect to make with my niece.
Jenni
These cookies are so great! So simple to make and so delicious!
Whitney
These are fabulous! I love how easy they are to make, way better than most other sugar cookie recipes!
Linda
Forget Christmas, I'll make these cookies any time of the day especially when it only requires 5 ingredients.