Craving something festive, sweet, and simple? These Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are soft, buttery, and topped with fluffy whipped frosting plus colorful sprinkles. They’re a cheerful treat everyone will love baking and sharing this season.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
These Christmas Sprinkle Cookies bring holiday cheer in every bite. The dough bakes into soft, slightly chewy cookies that taste buttery and sweet without being too heavy.
What sets them apart is the smooth whipped frosting that spreads easily and makes each cookie feel indulgent yet light. Because the sprinkles are baked right into the dough, every bite has a pop of color, making them look as good as they taste.
You’ll also love how easy the recipe is to follow, even if you’re not a frequent baker. They chill quickly, bake evenly, and decorate beautifully. Best of all, they’re freezer-friendly and can be made ahead, which makes them perfect for gifting or holiday gatherings. With just a little effort, you’ll have cookies that are fun, festive, and absolutely irresistible.
Festive and Fun
Bright sprinkles baked into the dough make every cookie feel like a party, with the same cheerful spirit that spiced pumpkin cookies bring in fall. Topped with more sprinkles, they’re eye-catching on any Christmas dessert table.
Perfectly Soft with a Whipped Frosting
The cookies stay tender thanks to chilled dough, and the whipped frosting adds a creamy, cloud-like finish that balances the sweetness.
Easy to Customize with Different Sprinkles
Swap in Valentine’s sprinkles, rainbow jimmies, or pastel colors for any occasion. One recipe gives you endless possibilities.
Family-Friendly and Freezer-Friendly
Kids will love decorating them, and you’ll love that they store well in the fridge or freezer for make-ahead convenience.
Ingredients You’ll Need For Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
For the Cookies
You’ll need all-purpose flour for structure, with baking powder and baking soda to give the cookies lift. Salt enhances flavor and keeps them from tasting flat. Butter provides richness, while a mix of white and light brown sugar adds sweetness and a touch of chewiness. One egg and pure vanilla bring the dough together, while colorful Christmas sprinkles add a festive crunch. Remember to use the spoon-and-level method for flour so your cookies stay soft, not dry.
For the Whipped Frosting
The frosting starts with slightly cold butter, which helps create a whipped texture when beaten. Sifted powdered sugar blends in smoothly without clumps. Vanilla extract deepens the flavor, while a pinch of salt cuts through the sweetness. Heavy cream is the key to a light, fluffy finish. Beating at high speed makes the frosting airy and easy to spread.
Decoration
Extra sprinkles on top add crunch and sparkle. They also make the cookies more playful and festive, so don’t skip them.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the Cookie Dough
Start by sifting flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sprinkles into a bowl. In a separate large bowl, beat butter with both sugars on high speed for 2 minutes until light and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla, then beat again for 1 minute. On low speed, mix in the dry ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix.
Chill the Dough
Cover and chill the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. This step is essential because cold dough keeps cookies from spreading too much during baking.
Bake the Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop out dough (about 1 tablespoon per cookie), roll into balls, and place 6 on each sheet for proper spacing. Bake for 13–15 minutes until edges are set but centers look soft. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Make the Whipped Frosting
In a clean bowl, beat butter on high speed for 3 minutes until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low at first. Once combined, beat in vanilla, salt, and heavy cream. Turn speed to high and whip until light and fluffy.
Frost and Decorate
Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting on each cooled cookie. Add extra sprinkles on top, then let them set before serving or storing.
Baking Tips for Best Results
Always chill the dough before baking. If you skip this step, the cookies may spread too thin. Use parchment paper instead of silicone mats, as it helps cookies bake evenly with crisp edges. For flour, spoon into the measuring cup and level it off to prevent using too much. If you live at high altitude, add 1 extra tablespoon of flour to balance air pressure differences. For the frosting, make sure the butter is only slightly cold. Whipping at high speed is what gives the frosting its light, spreadable texture. Adding a pinch of salt balances sweetness, so don’t leave it out. These simple steps will give you bakery-style cookies every time.
Recipe Notes and Variations
This recipe makes 18 cookies but can be doubled easily if you’re baking for a crowd. For other holidays, swap Christmas sprinkles with rainbow for birthdays, pink and red for Valentine’s, or pastels for Easter. If you prefer a less sweet option, you can enjoy the cookies without frosting—they’re still buttery and festive thanks to the sprinkles baked inside. You can also experiment with flavor by adding a touch of almond extract to the dough or using a chocolate frosting instead of vanilla for a twist.
Storing and Freezing
Because of the frosting, these cookies should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. They’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 30 days. Place them in a single layer, then thaw at room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
Other recipes you may enjoy
- Cranberry Nut Bread for Christmas Morning
- Best Toffee Ever for Easy Homemade Gifting
- Vanilla Christmas Cookies Everyone Loves
- Cranberry Orange Snowball Cookies
Conclusion
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are everything holiday baking should be: simple, colorful, and absolutely delicious. With soft centers, fluffy frosting, and playful sprinkles, they’re cookies that make people smile. If you’re usually a fan of spiced pumpkin cookies, these will give you the same warm joy with a bright holiday look. Whether you serve them at a party, give them as gifts, or bake them with kids, they’re bound to become a new tradition in your kitchen. For more festive ideas, don’t forget to check out my boards on Pinterest.
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Wire rack
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles (Jimmies only)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup white granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsalted butter, slightly cold (for frosting)
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (for frosting)
- ½ teaspoon salt (for frosting)
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
- Extra sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sprinkles together in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, beat butter with both sugars on high speed for 2 minutes until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, then beat another minute.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet on low speed until just combined. Cover and chill dough for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Scoop 1-tablespoon dough balls, roll smooth, and place 6 per sheet. Bake 13–15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Beat slightly cold butter on high for 3 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla, salt, and cream. Beat until fluffy.
- Spread frosting on cooled cookies and top with extra sprinkles.
