Why do my sugar cookies spread too much?

That usually means the dough wasn’t chilled long enough. Always refrigerate rolled-out dough before cutting.

Can I use regular sugar instead of Truvia®?

Yes! Substitute cup for cup with granulated sugar for the same sweetness and texture.

How thick should I roll the dough?

About ¼ inch thick. This gives the perfect balance between soft and crisp.

How long does the icing take to set?

Usually about 1–2 hours at room temperature. You can speed it up by placing the cookies in the refrigerator.

Can I make this dough ahead of time?

Absolutely. The dough keeps well in the fridge for 2 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Can I use this same dough for different holidays?

Yes! It’s the ultimate all-season sugar cookie base. Just change your cutters and icing colors for Valentine’s Day, Easter, or Halloween.

Holiday Sugar Cookies – We Are Recipes

Holiday Sugar Cookies

Recipe by Liliya

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No reviews

Total Time32 minutes
Yield30 cookies 1x
DietVegetarian

These Holiday Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and full of classic vanilla flavor — the kind that melts in your mouth and looks beautiful with colorful icing and sprinkles. The dough rolls out perfectly, holds its shape when baked, and stays tender for days. Whether you’re baking for Christmas, Thanksgiving, or just to celebrate the season, these sugar cookies are a festive favorite that everyone loves decorating and eating.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Sugar Cookies:

2¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sweetener (or sugar)
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Icing:

1 cup powdered sweetener (or confectioners’ sugar)
1 tablespoon milk of choice (adjust for texture)
Optional: gel food coloring, sprinkles for decorating

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Instructions

Whisk dry ingredients. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Cream butter and sweetener. In a stand mixer, beat softened butter and sweetener for 2–3 minutes until light and creamy.
Add egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth and fluffy.
Combine wet and dry ingredients. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. If dough feels sticky, add 1–2 tablespoons flour.
Roll and chill. Divide dough in half, roll each portion between parchment paper to ¼ inch thick, and refrigerate for 1–2 hours (or up to 2 days).
Preheat oven. Set to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cut and bake. Use cookie cutters to shape dough. Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are set but not browned.
Cool completely. Transfer cookies to a rack and cool fully before decorating.
Make the icing. Whisk powdered sweetener with milk until smooth. Adjust consistency as needed, and add food coloring if desired.
Decorate. Spread or pipe icing on cookies, add sprinkles, and let set for at least 1 hour before storing.

Notes

Always chill dough to help cookies hold their shape.
Use gel food coloring for icing — it won’t thin the glaze.
Bake on cool cookie sheets to avoid spreading.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 95 kcal
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 45mg
Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 11g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 1g
Cholesterol: 20g

Find it online: https://wearerecipes.com/holiday-sugar-cookies/