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Decorated Christmas sprinkle cookies cooling on a wire rack with green icing trees and red sprinkles.

Easy Christmas Sprinkle Cookies with Frosting

Made with a soft sugar cookie dough and finished with frosting and festive sprinkles, these Christmas sprinkle cookies are a holiday classic for a reason. The dough uses simple pantry staples and chills before baking, which helps the cookies bake up thick and tender every time. Decorate them simply or go all out with piping and sprinkles, they’re perfect for cookie trays, gifting, or baking with kids during the holidays.
Prep Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 31 minutes
Servings 36
Calories 177kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup jimmies

FROSTING

  • ¾ cup butter softened
  • 2 ¼ cups confectioner's sugar
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light, about 2 minutes. Add egg, egg yolk and vanilla and beat until well combined.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture on low speed and mix until just combined. Gently mix in the jimmies, just enough to mix into the dough without causing them to bleed. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours.
  • Remove from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 325º. Let the cookie dough sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes until it is easy enough to scoop.
  • Form the dough into balls using a cookie scoop. Bake for 11-12 minutes until the edges are slightly browned, the centers will appear soft. Allow to cool on the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Frosting: With a hand mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, cream, vanilla and salt and mix on low speed until combined then increase speed and mix for 3 minutes until it's smooth. Add more sugar or cream if too thick or thin. Remove a small portion and add green food coloring.
  • Once the cookies are cooled, frost and decorate with a design and add more sprinkles.

Notes

  • If making large cookies with a regular sized ice cream scoop it will make 24 cookies.
  • Use can use a baggie with the corner cut out to pipe the frosting.
  • If the frosting is too soft, put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes.
  • Add red and green sprinkles after piping the Christmas tree.
  • For something different, crush some candy canes and add to the top of the cookies.
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