Nothing says holiday magic quite like biting into a soft, buttery cookie shimmering with colorful sprinkles. This Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is one of my absolute favorites to bake each season because it's both fun and easy, delivering that perfect balance of creamy sweetness and festive crunch. You’ll love how these cookies brighten up any holiday spread!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I first made these Christmas Sprinkle Cookies when I wanted something that felt special but wasn’t complicated. What blew me away was how the cream cheese in the dough makes the cookies incredibly soft and tender while the sprinkles add that joyful pop of color and crunch.
- Soft, Creamy Texture: Thanks to cream cheese blended with butter, these cookies stay delightfully tender and never dry out.
- Festive Sparkle: A generous coating of sprinkles transforms simple sugar cookies into holiday showstoppers.
- Simple Ingredients: You likely already have most of what you need in your pantry, making this an easy last-minute bake.
- Perfect for Gifting: They keep well and look so cheerful, they’re a crowd-pleaser in cookie tins or party platters.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient plays a role in delivering that moist, tender crumb and festive vibe. Here’s what you need and why these particular items matter for making the magic happen.

- All-purpose flour: This forms the cookie’s structure. Spooning and leveling it ensures you don’t add too much flour, which can make cookies tough.
- Baking powder: Gives the cookies a little lift so they aren’t flat and dense.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- Unsalted butter: The richness in butter creates the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Cream cheese: This is my secret to soft, creamy cookies that practically melt in your mouth.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens evenly and helps with the cookie’s body.
- Egg: Binds ingredients and contributes a slight chewiness.
- Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and depth to the flavor.
- Almond extract: Adds a subtle nutty fragrance that’s perfect for the holidays.
- Sprinkles: These are the star of the show—choose whichever festive colors or types you love for a fun crunch and bright pop of color.
Make It Your Way
One of the best parts about this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to play around with the flavors and decorations to suit your style. Over the years, I’ve tweaked it depending on who I’m baking for or what sprinkles I have on hand.
- Variation: I once swapped out the almond extract for peppermint extract to give my cookies a minty holiday kick, and they were a hit at my family party.
- Dietary tweaks: You can use gluten-free flour blends if needed, but watch your baking time closely as they might brown faster.
- Sprinkle mix: I love combining nonpareils with sanding sugar for a mix of textures—but you can also switch to just one type for a simpler look.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients Just Right
I like to whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until they're fully combined. This ensures that every bite has an even texture and rise. Take your time with this step because it’s the base that keeps your cookie dough balanced and lump-free.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Cream Cheese to Silky Perfection
Using your mixer, beat the softened butter and cream cheese on high until you get a smooth, creamy blend—about 2 minutes. This part is key for that ultra-soft crumb. Then, mix in the sugar until everything is light and fluffy before adding your egg and extracts. Don't rush—scraping the bowl often is how you make sure every bit is incorporated.
Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Carefully
Switch the mixer to low speed before adding the dry ingredients to your wet mixture. Mixing gently prevents overworking the dough, which can make your cookies tough. The dough will feel thick—that’s good! Cover it tightly and chill it for at least an hour. When I’ve left it for days, I let it warm up a bit before rolling to make handling easier.
Step 4: Roll, Coat, Flatten, and Bake
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. Roll cookie dough into tablespoon-sized balls, then roll them generously in your sprinkles. I always pour my sprinkles into wide bowls for easier coating. Place cookies 2 inches apart, then gently press down with the back of a glass for that classic flattened shape. Bake for 12-13 minutes until edges are just turning golden—you’ll know when they’re ready because the centers should still be soft.
Step 5: Cool and Enjoy Every Sparkly Bite
Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. That little wait lets them set up perfectly without losing their softness. Trust me, these are best enjoyed with a warm cup of cocoa or tea in hand during those cozy winter evenings.
Top Tip
After making this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe many times, I’ve learned a few little tricks that help these cookies turn out amazing every single time. These tips will save you time and headaches, making your baking smoother and your cookies extra delicious.
- Don't Skip Chilling: Chilling the dough is essential. It firms up the fats so the cookies spread evenly while baking rather than running into each other.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, cream cheese, and egg are at room temperature before mixing—it helps everything blend beautifully and gives a better texture.
- Roll Evenly: Use a cookie scoop or measuring spoon to ensure uniform cookie sizes—this guarantees even baking.
- Watch Baking Time: Edges should only be lightly browned—if you bake longer, the cookies can become dry, losing their soft charm.
How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Garnishes
I keep it simple with colorful sprinkles right on the cookie surface—it’s festive and gives enough sparkle. Occasionally, I like to dust them lightly with powdered sugar for a snowy effect, which adds a pretty, seasonal touch without hiding the colors.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a hot cup of eggnog or spiced chai tea. For holiday parties, I serve them alongside rich hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, which is a perfect cozy combo that everyone raves about.
Creative Ways to Present
For gifting, I love stacking these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons. You can also arrange them in festive tins or on cookie trays layered with parchment and greenery sprigs for that classic holiday look that guests appreciate.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay nice and soft for up to a week. I try not to stack them too tightly to keep their shape intact and sprinkles looking fresh.
Freezing
These cookie dough balls freeze beautifully! I roll and sprinkle them, then flash freeze on a baking sheet before transferring to a ziplock bag. When ready to bake, thaw for about 30 minutes at room temperature and bake as usual. This is a lifesaver during busy holiday weeks.
Reheating
If you want to refresh your cookies a bit, pop them in a warm oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes to soften them up. Warm cookies feel freshly baked again, and the sprinkles regain some crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! This Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe works well with sanding sugar, jimmies, nonpareils, or a mix—just pick your favorite colors and textures.
Yes! The dough can be chilled for 1 hour up to 3-4 days. Just let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before rolling if it’s been refrigerated for more than a couple of hours.
Cream cheese is key for this recipe’s texture, but you can substitute with an equal amount of softened butter for a more traditional sugar cookie—expect a slightly firmer texture.
To reduce sprinkle bleeding, use high-quality sprinkles meant for baking and avoid overly wet dough surfaces. Rolling dough balls before chilling helps keep sprinkles in place during baking.
Final Thoughts
Every holiday season, I look forward to the simple joy of baking this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe and sharing the sparkle with friends and family. It’s one of those recipes that feels nostalgic but never gets old. If you’re hoping to add a burst of color and extra coziness to your festive treats this year, these cookies are the perfect way to do it—easy to make, delightful to eat, and downright magical to share. Give them a try and watch smiles light up around your kitchen!
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Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 32 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Christmas Cookie Sparkles are super soft and creamy cream cheese sugar cookies rolled in colorful sprinkles, perfect for holiday celebrations. The dough is chilled for a tender texture, then baked to a delightful lightly browned finish and sprinkled with festive decorations.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups (375g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 and ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 ounces (57g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Topping
- ¾ cup (150g) sprinkles (sanding sugar, nonpareils, and/or jimmies)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl until fully combined. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Cream Butter and Cream Cheese: Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened unsalted butter and cream cheese on high speed for about 2 minutes until relatively smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar and Flavorings: Add the granulated sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture, beating until combined and creamy. Then add the egg, pure vanilla extract, and almond extract. Continue beating on high speed for about 1 minute until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing.
- Combine Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together. The dough will be thick.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 3-4 days. If chilled longer than 2-3 hours, allow the dough to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling to soften.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
- Form and Coat Cookies: Roll tablespoon-sized balls of chilled dough. Roll each ball in sprinkles thoroughly to coat. Place the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Gently press each ball slightly flat with the back of a measuring cup or drinking glass.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 13 minutes or until the edges are very lightly browned.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheets for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store Cookies: Store the cookies covered at room temperature to keep fresh for up to 1 week.
Notes
- For best texture, ensure butter and cream cheese are softened to room temperature before mixing.
- Dough can be prepared up to 3-4 days in advance, making it great for holiday planning.
- Allow dough to warm slightly before rolling if it becomes too hard from chilling.
- Use a variety of colored sprinkles like sanding sugar, nonpareils, and jimmies for a festive look.
- If you don't have almond extract, you may omit it or substitute with an equal amount of vanilla extract.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg



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