Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are a festive and fun treat perfect for the holiday season. Soft and colorful, they’re easy to make with a cream cheese base and decorated with bright red and green dough rolled in holiday sprinkles. They’re sure to brighten up any cookie platter!
Ingredients
- 17.5 ounce bag sugar cookie mix
- 4 ounce (½ 8-ounce package) cream cheese (softened)
- ¼ cup (½ stick) salted butter (softened)
- 1 large egg
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, use a stand or hand mixer to cream together the sugar cookie mix, cream cheese, butter, and egg. Beat until combined and a soft dough forms.
- Step 3: Divide the dough in half and place each half in a separate mixing bowl.
- Step 4: Add red food coloring to one bowl and mix until the dough reaches a deep red color.
- Step 5: Add green food coloring to the second bowl and mix until the dough is uniformly green.
- Step 6: Place the sprinkles in a shallow bowl. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, form balls of dough, gently roll them in the sprinkles, and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Step 7: Don’t worry if the dough balls flatten slightly—they are soft dough and this is normal.
- Step 8: Bake for 8 to 11 minutes or until the edges begin to firm and the cookie doesn’t collapse when you gently touch the top.
- Step 9: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Enjoy warm or cooled.
Tips & Variations
- For extra festive flair, try mixing in some mini chocolate chips before rolling the dough balls in sprinkles.
- If you don’t have red or green food coloring, try using natural alternatives like beet juice or spinach powder.
- Use different holiday-themed sprinkles or colored sugar to customize your cookies.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them soft, add a slice of bread to the container. Reheat briefly in the microwave if you prefer warm cookies.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use homemade sugar cookie dough instead of mix?
Yes, you can substitute homemade sugar cookie dough, but keep in mind that the cream cheese helps keep these cookies soft and tender.
Why is the dough so soft?
The cream cheese and butter make the dough soft, which results in tender cookies. It’s normal for the dough balls to flatten slightly when baking.
PrintChristmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
These festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are a delightful treat perfect for the holiday season. Soft sugar cookie dough is divided and tinted with vibrant red and green food coloring, then rolled in colorful Christmas sprinkles before baking to golden perfection. The addition of cream cheese in the dough adds a subtle tang and tender texture, creating irresistibly soft and flavorful cookies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 17.5 ounce bag sugar cookie mix
- 4 ounce (½ 8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (½ stick) salted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
Coloring and Decoration
- Red food coloring, as needed
- Green food coloring, as needed
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cookie removal and cleanup.
- Combine dough ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use a stand or hand mixer to cream together the sugar cookie mix, softened cream cheese, softened butter, and egg until a soft, uniform dough forms.
- Divide dough: Separate the dough evenly into two mixing bowls to prepare for coloring.
- Color the dough red: Add red food coloring to one bowl and mix thoroughly until the dough reaches a deep red hue.
- Color the dough green: Add green food coloring to the other bowl and mix until the dough is uniformly green.
- Form and coat cookies: Place the Christmas sprinkles in a shallow bowl. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop balls of dough and gently roll each ball in the sprinkles to coat. Place each sprinkle-coated dough ball on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Note on dough texture: The dough is fairly soft, so it is normal if the balls flatten slightly before baking; this will not affect the final cookie texture.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 11 minutes, or until the edges begin to firm and the tops no longer collapse when gently touched.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy the cookies warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Soft cream cheese in the dough contributes to a tender, chewy texture.
- Because the dough is soft, handle gently when rolling in sprinkles to avoid sticking or flattening too much.
- You can adjust the amount of food coloring to achieve your desired intensity of red or green.
- Cookies are best enjoyed within a few days when stored in an airtight container.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
Keywords: Christmas cookies, sugar cookies, sprinkle cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, cream cheese cookies
