last updated on October 29, 2026
Welcome to my 12 Days of Holiday Cookies! We are starting off strong with these Christmas sprinkle cookies. They are soft and chewy and bring instant joy. They remind me of funfetti cookies, so their alternate name is Jesus’ birthday cookies, haha.
For the past several years, I’ve done a 12 Days of Christmas Recipes series. This year, as I was deciding which recipes to make, the only things that came to mind were cookies. SO we are doing just cookies, and I could not be happier about it! I have so so many good cookies coming your way in the next month before Christmas, so buckle up.
ingredients needed
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups flour (180 grams)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sprinkles
how to make christmas sprinkles cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Cream the butter and sugars together. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, add the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar to a bowl. Mix together for about 2-3 minutes, until fully combined.
- Add the wet ingredients. Add in the egg and vanilla. Mix until combined.
- Add in the dry ingredients. Add in the flour (I like to measure with a kitchen scale), baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until just combined.
- Add the sprinkles. Add the sprinkles and mix on low until fully incorporated.
- Shape the dough balls. Using a large cookie scoop (about 1/4 cup), shape the dough into balls. Transfer them to a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Top each ball with a few extra sprinkles.
- Bake. Bake the cookies for 7-9 minutes, until the edges are just set. If you are making smaller cookies, reduce the baking time. Start checking the cookies at 5 minutes, and take them out when the edges are set.
- Remove and cool. When the cookies are done, allow them to cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Enjoy!
faqs
For these cookies, we mix the sprinkles directly into the dough before scooping the cookies onto the baking sheet and baking them.
Use any sprinkles! This recipe was originally shared as a Christmas recipe, but any color of sprinkles would work! (I personally think they would be so cute with rainbow sprinkles!)
Although these cookies share some traits with Italian sprinkle cookies (i.e., they’re covered in sprinkles), most Italian sprinkle cookies (or Italian wedding cookies) are drop cookies with an additional sweet glaze. I would say these cookies are closer to Mexican sprinkle cookies, or galletas de grageas.
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christmas sprinkle cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups flour 180 grams
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Add the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar to a bowl. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, mix the butter and sugars for 2-3 minutes, until fully combined.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix until fully combined. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until just combined — until no streaks of flour remain. Add the sprinkles and mix on low until they're distributed throughout the dough.
- Use a large cookie scoop (about 1/4 cup) to scoop the dough. Transfer the dough balls onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Top each dough ball with a few extra sprinkles (optional). Bake for 7-9 minutes, until the edges are just set (it might still look slightly doughy in the centers, this is perfect).
- If you are making smaller cookies, adjust the bake time down. Start checking the cookies at 5 minutes, and remove from the oven when the edges are set.
- Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Does this recipe work well for cut outs?
no, as these cookies spread quite a bit. but i will be sharing a recipe for cut out sugar cookies soon!!
I measured the flower in grams as preferred by the recipe. What I ended up getting were basically butter sticks with sprinkles. When you make them personally do you measure or weigh flour? Weighing did not work for me
hi! i’m so sorry these didn’t turn out for you. i always measure my flour, which is why i provide the measurement in grams. what do you mean by them being butter sticks? did the dough feel dry?
i just made these and did my measurements in cups. if you add another 1/4 to 1/2 cup of flour they turn out much better!
girllll please link the sprinkles xoxo
i got them from target!! here is the link!
I have made four batches in the past three days! This recipe is my new favorite and super easy to follow. I have noticed a difference in different flours. What is the best to use?
hi!! i’m so glad you love these! i use all-purpose.
Do you think I could freeze them before baking, or would that make the sprinkles’ color bleed too much?
i think it would be fine to freeze them! the sprinkles may bleed a bit, but i don’t think it would be super noticeable.
Would it be possible to freeze the dough and bake when needed?
yes, totally! just scoop the dough first then keep them in an airtight container.
Super delicious, easy and fun cookie! I doubled the batch and found the dough a tiiiiiny bit salty when I used salted butter, so next time I just wouldn’t double the amount of added salt. But that’s just my preference 🙂
hi! so glad you enjoyed these!! i definitely prefer my sweets more salty, so i’m glad you were able to adjust for your preferences!
Can you substitute the parchment paper for aluminum?
hi! i wouldn’t recommend it. aluminum foil gets hot in the oven, so it will make your cookies crispier on the bottom than you want. if you don’t have parchment paper you can use a non-stick baking sheet liner or just lightly grease your pan!
My cookies didn’t spread like yours?. They were dome shaped
hi! i would make sure you’re not over-measuring your flour. i highly recommend using a kitchen scale and weighing out your flour, or if you don’t have a scale, lightly scoop your flour into the measuring cup and gently level the top. too much flour will make the cookies not spread like they’re supposed to!
Hi! Is the butter salted or unsalted? I’m really excited to make these! Thank you!
hi! i usually use salted, but you can use either. i don’t think it makes a big enough difference so i don’t specify! just use whatever you have on hand.
This recipe is delicious! I noticed however some of my cookies, even after cooking for 9 minutes, would fall apart on the cooling rack. I’m wondering if this was because I measured 180g flour but that was no where near 1 1/2 cups of flour! Interesting because the receipt says 1 and 1/2 cups but 180 g next to it. Which one is correct? Thanks in advance!
hi! according to most baking sources on the internet, one cup of flour is 120 grams. people frequently over measure when using measuring cups because they pack it in so i always suggest weighing the flour because it is more consistent! so 1 1/2 cups and 180 grams are the same, and both are correct.
Hi!!! is there a preferance for type of butter, salted or unsalted, for this recipe?
either works!! i use salted, but i don’t think it makes a huge difference which one you use, so just use whatever you have on hand!
Thank you so much!!
1/4 of cookie dough per cookie?
i use a 1/4 cup sized cookie scoop for these! you are more than welcome to use whatever size you want, i was just telling you what size i use and suggest for these cookies!
I’m making these today and I already know I’m gonna be obsessed! I just want to say, the print recipe button is hard to find. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m looking on my computer or what, but just wanted to bring it to your attention! Can’t wait to taste these 🙂
hi! yes, my print button is not displaying properly, sorry about that. i’m working on fixing it!
This recipe is amazing!!!
I made these with King Arthur’s gluten free flour and they were absolutely delicious!
yay i’m so glad you loved these!! and glad they worked with the gf flour! king arthur’s gf is my fav!
Should I used salted butter or unsalted butter in this recipe?
you can use either! i usually use salted, but it won’t make a big difference either way. just use what you have!
So good! But mine were not flat they were very raised but I followed the measurements. Any ideas what I could do next time?
hi! how did you measure your flour? it seems like you probably had too much flour if they were very raised. i would recommend weighing your flour with a kitchen scale! or if you don’t have a kitchen scale, lightly scoop the flour into your measuring cup, then gently scrap it off the top, being careful to not pack it in. i hope this helps!
Super easy to make. I made small cookies and they took about 5 minutes in the oven. This is possibly my new favorite sugar cookie recipe!
YAY so glad you loved these!!!
should i use light or dark brown sugar
you can use either! just use whatever you have on hand.
Honestly, these are the best cookies I have ever made. Seriously SO delicious. I wish I doubled the recipe! They taste similar to pillsbury holiday cookies, at least that was my husbands review. Highly recommend! I’m excited to try other cookie recipes from the site.
YAY this makes me so happy!! and yes i totally agree that they taste like the pillsbury holiday cookies haha. so glad you enjoyed these! <3
How do you soften your butter? Can it be too soft or not soft enough?
hi! the easiest way is to leave it out on the counter for about an hour. if you are in a hurry, you can put it in the microwave on defrost for 15 second intervals until it is soft!
We made these for the first time tonight and they are amazing. The sugar cookie base is incredible. These will be a regular in our Christmas cookie box but likely also year round with different color sprinkles.
yay i’m so glad you loved these!!
I’ve made these cookies four times in the last month! They are a HUGE hit at all my Christmas gatherings!! And so easy to make. THANK YOU!
yay this makes me SO happy!!! so glad they were such a hit!
After making these and my kids requesting them always I need to try every recipe on your blog. These are delicious. When I was pregnant with my second I bought these style cookies consistently from Costco.. these blow them out of the water . Thank you!
YAY so glad you and your kids love these!!
best sugar cookies I’ve ever made & will be my go to recipe moving forward 🙂 making them again to bring into work for Halloween on Thursday! Swapped in halloween sprinkles instead and also added white chocolate chips when I made them last week for a movie night.
hi! so glad you loved these!!! love that you can swap in any sprinkles to celebrate any holiday!
Best sugar cookies ever! So easy and delicious, will definitely make again!! 🙂
yay so glad you loved these!!
I made these cookies last year and they were so good! A quintessential holiday sugar cookie that actually tastes and looks good! My son loved helping me make these. Will be making them again this year and having these cookies be a new Christmas tradition:)
yay that makes me so happy!! so glad these have become a family tradition!
I made these today, however they didn’t really spread like I expected, an advice?
hi! i would make sure you’re not over-measuring your flour. i highly recommend using a kitchen scale and weighing out your flour, or if you don’t have a scale, lightly scoop your flour into the measuring cup and gently level the top. too much flour will make the cookies not spread like they’re supposed to!
I made these earlier this week and they were phenomenal!!! They will now be my go to sugar cookies!!
YAY so glad you loved these!!!
Just wondering, how much butter would it be in grams?
Thank you!
113 g!
been using this recipe since last year and they always come out perfectly. Best sugar cookie recipe there is. Thank you!!
YAY that makes me so happy! so glad you love these <3
Hi! Can you freezer these cookies once done or even freeze the dough? I’m trying to make many things and would love to be able to make some things ahead of time.
Thanks!
hi! yes, you totally can. i’d recommend freezing the dough. scoop out the dough as instructed, then put the dough balls flat on a plate, then covered with plastic wrap, into the fridge. then after a couple hours, transfer the hardened doughballs to a ziploc bag or airtight container and into the freezer! they’ll stay good in the freezer for a few months. then when baking, you can bake them straight from the freezer, just add a few extra minutes of bake time. let me know if you have any other questions!
I made this as one of the recipes this year for my Christmas cookie boxes. These cookies are amazing – they have a great texture with the crunch of the sprinkles and beautiful flavor that isn’t too sweet. Thanks for the recipe!
AHH so glad you love these and so honored they made it into the cookie boxes!! <3
so excited to try! my friend made these and they were delicious! is it okay to put the dough in the fridge over night then bake the next day…?
yes, you can definitely put the dough in the fridge overnight! i’d recommend scooping out the dough into balls first, then putting them in the fridge overnight. otherwise the dough will be very chilled and hard to scoop.
These cookies are actually my crack they are so good. I started making these, I believe, last Christmas and since then have made so many batches but just with regular sprinkles. These are my all time favorite cookies and my go to cookie recipe. I just finished a batch and immediately ate two cookies and it is taking all my willpower to not eat the rest. Thank you thank you thank y out for making this amazing recipe, and to everyone else, YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!!!
yay!!!! so so so glad you love these!! they really are the perfect cookie for any holiday by just switching out the sprinkles!!
Do you have recommendations for high altitude? I’m excited to try this!
depending on how high altitude you are, you may need to add a touch more flour! if the flour is feeling really sticky or they’re baking too flat, add a couple more tablespoons of flour and that should do the trick!
Hands down best sugar cookie recipe!! Simple, easy recipe that yields delicious cookies. This is a new staple in our house for Christmas, not to mention everyone I’ve made them for asks for the recipe. Thank you!!
yay i’m so glad you love these!! plus you can add different sprinkles and make them for any holiday 🙂
These are delicious! I am making them for a cookie party and was thinking of adding a buttercream/cream cheese frosting to elevate it even more and stand out. What would you recommend? Thank you!
hi! you could definitely do that! if you just want a simple icing you could combine powdered sugar and a splash of milk. otherwise i’d probably recommend a cream cheese frosting with these! you could use this recipe for the frosting.
I tried making these and they turned out super flat. Would you have any advise on how to fix it?