Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
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Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are a delightful treat for the holiday season that are quick and easy to make! Simply use your favorite sugar cookie mix, add cream cheese, then bake and decorate with frosting and festive Christmas sprinkles!
Sprinkle Cookies Are So Easy!
- Quick and Easy: easy Christmas dessert to make with a no-cut and no-roll recipe
- Festive: get in the holiday spirit by decorating sprinkle cookies in bright holiday colors
- Delicious: soft sugar cookies mixed with cream cheese make the best baked cookies
- Perfect Gift: need a gift that's sure to impress? This is it!
Sprinkle cookies are fun to bake with the kids, or an easy recipe for your annual Christmas party. They're drop-style cookies that don't require rolling or cutting, so they come together in less than 30 minutes!
For more holiday fun, make my Candy Cane Pie filled with real peppermint candy canes, or a batch of White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels that make the perfect hostess gift.
Ingredients
Making Christmas sprinkle cookies is an fun way to start a favorite holiday tradition! See recipe card at the bottom of this page for quantities.
Sugar Cookies
- cream cheese - best to use the full fat version
- unsalted butter - soften to room temperature
- sugar cookie mix - Betty Crocker brand is what I used
- egg - use a large egg for best results
- vanilla extract - adds a nice touch of vanilla flavor
Frosting
- cream cheese - full fat, brick style type
- unsalted butter - salt is added separately
- powdered sugar - adds sweetness
- vanilla extract - can substitute peppermint or almond extract if desired
- salt - just a pinch works well
- food coloring - use your favorite colors, or go with green and red as shown.
- sprinkles - the pearl type of sprinkles works well in this recipe
How to Make Sprinkle Cookies
1 - Beat Cream Cheese: Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until creamy.
2 - Add Mix: stir in the sugar cookie mix, vanilla and large egg on low speed until just combined.
3 - Scoop Cookies: Using a scooper, scoop 2 tablespoon balls of dough on the baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches between cookie dough balls.
4 - Flatten Dough: Flatten each ball of dough with a spatula or the bottom of a glass.
5 - Bake in Oven: Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12 minutes until the edges start to turn barely brown.
6 - Cool Before Frosting: Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before moving them to a wire cooling rack. Make sure they are completely cooled before frosting.
Adding Frosting and Sprinkles
1 - Beat Cream Cheese: Using an electric mixer (or stand type), beat the cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl until creamy.
2 - Add Vanilla: Add the vanilla, a pinch of salt and powdered sugar, then beat until creamy again.
3 - Add Color: Divide the frosting into 2 separate bowls. Add just a few drops of food coloring to each bowl and mix well.
4 - Spread Frosting: Using a butter knife or spatula, spread frosting on cooled cookies in alternating colors.
5 - Add Sprinkles - While the frosting is still wet, top the cookies with sprinkles. Let frosting set for 20 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
- Some types of sprinkles may bleed into the frosting when refrigerated. If you don't plan to refrigerate your cookies, then you can use any type of sprinkles you like.
- Make sure you don't overbake your sprinkle cookies. They should be pale with barely golden edges when removed from the oven. They will continue to bake while cooling on the baking sheet.
- For best results, don't skimp on cream cheese. Use full fat, brick style cream cheese (like Philadelphia brand) for this recipe since it replaces half of the butter.
- To make sure you have uniform cookies, be sure to use a scoop or measuring spoon that equals 2 tablespoons.
Customize It!
- Use holiday cutters to make different shapes if desired.
- Mix up the flavor by adding peppermint or almond extract.
- Change the colors for other holidays like Easter and Thanksgiving!
- Use another type of frosting like chocolate or strawberry.
- Experiment with different type of sprinkles and edible decorations.
Recipe FAQs
Some recipes require adding sprinkles before baking. But, when using frosting, it's best to add sprinkles after baking (before the frosting cools).
Most grocery stores carry sprinkles (ad) in all shapes and sizes, but you can also find the pearl type on Amazon.
McCormick makes a good quality food coloring (ad) that you can find in your local grocery store, or purchase through Amazon.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these delicious Christmas sprinkle cookies with Non Alcoholic Christmas Punch or Easy Crockpot Wassail at your holiday parties. Or, try pairing them with savory appetizers like Pigs-in-a-Blanket Wreath, delicious Sour Cream Sausage Balls, or a Classic Cream Cheese Ball.
If you're planning a Christmas party or afternoon with the kids, serve sprinkle cookies with other fun treats like Santa's Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Storage and Freezing
- Make dough ahead up to 2 days in advance and keep wrapped dough in the refrigerator until time to bake.
- Store leftover sprinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep in the refrigerator for a week.
- It's best to store cookies in a single layer so they won't bleed on each other, especially if refrigerated. If not refrigerated, you can stack them once the frosting is completely dry.
- Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. The easiest way to freeze is to place cookies on a baking sheet and put in freezer for 30 minutes. Once they are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container.
More Holiday Recipes
If you love this delicious sprinkle cookies recipe, get ready for the holidays with more fun treats...
Recipe Card
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- 2 ounces cream cheese (full fat and room temperature)
- ¼ cup butter, unsalted (room temperature)
- 17.5 ounces Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 6 ounces cream cheese (full fat and room temperature)
- ¼ cup butter (unsalted)
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 drops food coloring (any color you desire)
- ½ cup sprinkles
Instructions
Sugar Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a sheet pan or cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until creamy.
- Mix in the sugar cookie mix, vanilla and large egg on low speed until just combined.
- Using a scooper, scoop 2 tablespoon balls of dough on the baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches between cookie dough balls.
- Flatten each ball of dough with a spatula or the bottom of a glass.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges start to turn barely brown.
- Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before moving them to a wire cooling rack. Make sure they are completely cooled before frosting.
Frosting
- Using an electric mixer (or stand type), beat the cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl until creamy.
- Add the vanilla, a pinch of salt and powdered sugar, then beat until creamy again.
- Divide the frosting into 2 separate bowls. Add just a few drops of food coloring to each bowl and mix well.
- Using a butter knife or spatula, spread frosting on cooled cookies in alternating colors.
- While the frosting is still wet, top the cookies with sprinkles. Let frosting set for 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
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- Some types of sprinkles may bleed into the frosting when refrigerated. If you don't plan to refrigerate your cookies, then you can use any type of sprinkles you like.
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- Be sure to test the sprinkles on one cookie before making an entire batch. Refrigerate them to see how they react when cold.
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- Make sure you don't overbake the cookies. They should be pale with barely golden edges when removed from the oven. They will continue to bake while cooling on the baking sheet. Check at 10 minutes just to be sure!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
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What a great way to get in the holiday spirit! Can't wait to make these beautiful cookies for my neighborhood cookie swap this year.
Thanks Delores! Merry Christmas!