Get ready to fill your home with the sweet smell of Christmas cheer! This Santa sugar cookies recipe is perfect for the holiday season. These cookies are not only fun to make, but they're also a joy to decorate. They'll surely bring a smile to your face - and your taste buds too!
This recipe calls for a few special ingredients that may not be readily available in your pantry. These include red and white decorating cookie icing, which you can find in the baking aisle of your local supermarket. They are used to give Santa's hat, face and beard their distinct look. Red candy-coated chocolate pieces and semisweet chocolate morsels are used for Santa's nose and eyes respectively. You'll also need the original Pam® no-stick cooking spray to ensure your cookies don't stick to the baking sheet.
Ingredients for Santa Sugar Cookies
Flour: A staple ingredient for any baking recipe, providing the structure for our cookies.
Baking powder: This is used as the leavening agent to help our cookies rise.
Salt: A small but essential ingredient that enhances the flavors of other ingredients.
Butter: It adds richness and moist texture to the cookies.
Sugar: It sweetens the cookies and helps in turning them golden brown.
Eggs: They bind all the ingredients together.
Vanilla and almond extract: These give our cookies a lovely, aromatic flavor.
Red and white decorating cookie icing: Used for coloring and decorating our Santa sugar cookies.
Red candy-coated chocolate pieces: They serve as Santa's nose.
Semisweet chocolate morsels: These will be used for Santa's eyes.
Reddi-wip original dairy whipped topping: This will be used to top Santa's beard.
One reader, Court Angelo says:
These Santa sugar cookies are a hit! The recipe was easy to follow, and the cookies turned out delicious. The festive decorations made them perfect for the holidays. I received so many compliments, and they were gone in no time. Can't wait to make them again next Christmas!
Techniques Required for Perfect Santa Sugar Cookies
How to prepare the cookie dough: Combine the dry ingredients and beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Divide the dough into portions and refrigerate until firm.
How to roll out the dough: Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to a ¼-inch thickness using a floured rolling pin.
How to cut out the cookies: Use a 5-inch Santa face cookie cutter to cut out the cookies from the rolled-out dough.
How to decorate the cookies: Use red and white icing to fill in the hat, brim, and beard. Place a red candy for the nose and mini chocolate morsels for the eyes. Top the beard with whipped cream just before serving.
How To Make Santa Sugar Cookies
Get into the holiday spirit with these Santa Claus-shaped sugar cookies that are perfect to be eaten with a nice cup of hot chocolate.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 3cupsall-purpose flour
- 1tspbaking powder
- ½tspsalt
- 1cupbutter,softened
- 1½cupsgranulated sugar
- 2eggs
- 1½tspvanilla extract
- 1½tspalmond extract
- PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
- 7ozred decorating cookie icing,2 pouches
- 7ozwhite decorating cookie icing,2 pouches
- 22red candy-coated chocolate pieces
- 44semisweet chocolate morsels
- Reddi-wip® Original Dairy Whipped Topping
Instructions
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Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
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Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
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Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extracts; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until well blended.
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Divide the dough into 3 portions; wrap each tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough for 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled and firm enough to handle.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
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Spray baking sheets and 5-inch Santa face cookie cutter with cooking spray; set aside. Roll out 1 portion of dough to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin.
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Cut out cookies with a prepared cutter. Transfer with a metal spatula to the baking sheet, placing 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough portions, spraying cutter with additional cooking spray as needed.
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Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are browned lightly. Cool on baking sheet 1 minute before removing cookies and placing on wire racks to cool completely.
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Use red icing to fill in the hat, leaving the tip of the hat blank.
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Use white icing to fill in the tip of the hat, the brim of the hat, the beard and to make 2 dots in the center of the face for the eyes.
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Place a red candy centered between the eyes at the top of the beard for the nose and a mini morsel on each white dot to make eyes.
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Top beard with whipped cream just before serving.
Nutrition
- Calories: 679.71kcal
- Fat: 32.33g
- Saturated Fat: 17.49g
- Trans Fat: 0.46g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 9.44g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.22g
- Carbohydrates: 95.01g
- Fiber: 3.28g
- Sugar: 73.26g
- Protein: 5.79g
- Cholesterol: 47.79mg
- Sodium: 156.53mg
- Calcium: 88.21mg
- Potassium: 254.83mg
- Iron: 2.29mg
- Vitamin A: 114.08µg
- Vitamin C: 0.26mg
Technique Tip for Decorating Santa Sugar Cookies
To ensure your sugar cookies have a consistent shape and bake evenly, it's crucial to chill the dough thoroughly before rolling and cutting. This helps the butter in the dough to harden, preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking. Additionally, using a floured rolling pin and surface can prevent the dough from sticking, making it easier to cut out your Santa shapes. Remember to work quickly once the dough is out of the refrigerator, as it will start to soften as it warms up. If the dough becomes too soft to work with, simply return it to the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up again.
Time-Saving Tips for Making Santa Sugar Cookies
Chill the dough: Chilling the cookie dough will make it easier to handle and roll out, as well as prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
Use pre-made icing: Save time by using pre-made cookie icing for decorating instead of making your own from scratch.
Organize your workspace: Before you start baking, make sure your ingredients and tools are organized and easily accessible to save time and minimize stress during the process.
Batch baking: Consider baking multiple batches of cookies at once to maximize oven usage and save time overall.
Plan ahead: Read through the entire recipe and plan your steps in advance to streamline the cooking process and avoid any last-minute confusion.
Substitute Ingredients For Santa Sugar Cookies Recipe
all-purpose flour - Substitute with gluten-free all-purpose flour: This substitute is suitable for those who have gluten sensitivities or allergies. It can be used in a 1:1 ratio for regular flour in most recipes.
baking powder - Substitute with baking soda: Baking soda can be used as a substitute for baking powder by using a smaller amount and adding an acidic ingredient, such as buttermilk or yogurt, to activate it.
butter - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil can be used as a dairy-free alternative to butter in baking. It adds a subtle coconut flavor to the cookies.
granulated sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar can be used as a lower glycemic index alternative to granulated sugar. It has a similar sweetness and can be used in a 1:1 ratio.
eggs - Substitute with applesauce: Applesauce can be used as a vegan-friendly substitute for eggs in baking. Use 1/4 cup of applesauce for every egg in the recipe.
vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract can be used as a substitute for vanilla extract to add a nutty flavor to the cookies.
almond extract - Substitute with lemon extract: Lemon extract can be used to add a citrusy flavor to the cookies, providing a refreshing twist to the original recipe.
red decorating cookie icing - Substitute with homemade royal icing: Royal icing can be made at home using powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. It provides a smooth, glossy finish for decorating cookies.
white decorating cookie icing - Substitute with cream cheese frosting: Cream cheese frosting can be used as an alternative for decorating cookies, providing a rich and tangy flavor.
red candy-coated chocolate pieces - Substitute with red and white sprinkles: Red and white sprinkles can add a festive touch to the cookies and provide a crunchy texture.
semisweet chocolate morsels - Substitute with dark chocolate chips: Dark chocolate chips can be used as a substitute for semisweet chocolate morsels, providing a richer and slightly less sweet flavor.
reddi-wip® original dairy whipped topping - Substitute with homemade whipped cream: Homemade whipped cream can be made using heavy cream and powdered sugar, providing a fresh and creamy topping for the cookies.
Creative Ways to Present Santa Sugar Cookies
Elevate the cookie: Place the Santa sugar cookies on a pristine white plate, ensuring they are evenly spaced and presented in a visually appealing manner.
Incorporate festive colors: Surround the cookies with vibrant red and green garnishes, such as fresh strawberries and mint leaves, to enhance the holiday theme.
Add a touch of elegance: Dust the plate with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar to create a delicate and refined presentation.
Utilize artistic plating: Arrange the cookies in a circular pattern, with a dollop of whipped cream in the center, and delicately drizzle the remaining red and white icing in an artistic manner around the plate.
Create a whimsical scene: Place the cookies on a bed of edible candy cane pieces and chocolate shavings to add a playful and festive element to the presentation.
Incorporate edible garnishes: Garnish the plate with small clusters of cranberries and pomegranate seeds to add a pop of color and a burst of flavor to the overall presentation.
Highlight the cookies: Place a single cinnamon stick next to the cookies to add a warm and aromatic element to the presentation, enhancing the overall sensory experience.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making Sugar Cookies
- Mixing bowl: A large, round bowl used for combining ingredients and mixing batters or doughs.
- Rolling pin: A cylindrical tool used to flatten and shape dough for cookies, pastries, and other baked goods.
- Baking sheet: A flat, metal sheet used to bake cookies, pastries, and other baked goods in the oven.
- Metal spatula: A flat, thin, and flexible tool used for lifting and transferring cookies and other baked goods.
- Cookie cutter: A tool used to cut cookie dough into various shapes, such as Santa faces for the sugar cookies recipe.
- Electric mixer: A kitchen appliance used to mix, beat, and whip ingredients for baking and cooking.
- Plastic wrap: A thin, transparent plastic film used to wrap and store cookie dough in the refrigerator.
- Cooking spray: A non-stick spray used to grease baking sheets and prevent cookies from sticking.
- Wire racks: Metal racks used to cool baked cookies and other goods by allowing air to circulate around them.
- Red icing: A decorative icing used to fill in the hat and add details to the Santa sugar cookies.
- White icing: A decorative icing used to fill in the tip of the hat, the brim of the hat, the beard, and to make the eyes of the Santa sugar cookies.
- Red candy-coated chocolate pieces: Small, round chocolate candies used to create the nose of the Santa sugar cookies.
- Semisweet chocolate morsels: Small chocolate chips used to create the eyes of the Santa sugar cookies.
- Whipped cream: A light, fluffy topping used to decorate the beard of the Santa sugar cookies just before serving.
How To Store and Freeze Homemade Sugar Cookies
Allow the santa sugar cookies to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. This will prevent them from becoming soggy or sticking together.
Place a layer of parchment paper or wax paper between each layer of cookies to prevent them from sticking together and to maintain their shape.
Store the cookies in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. They will keep fresh for up to 1 week at room temperature.
If you want to keep the cookies for a longer period, you can freeze them:
- Place the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 1-2 hours).
- Once frozen, transfer the cookies to a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag, separating each layer with parchment paper or wax paper.
- Label the container or bag with the date and contents.
- Frozen santa sugar cookies will keep for up to 2-3 months.
To thaw frozen cookies, remove them from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. If you've stored them with whipped cream, it's best to add fresh whipped cream after thawing.
If you plan to decorate the cookies later, store the undecorated cookies in an airtight container or freeze them until you're ready to decorate. Decorate the cookies with icing and toppings just before serving for the best results.
How To Reheat Leftover Santa Sugar Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the santa sugar cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 5-7 minutes, or until they are warm and slightly crisp around the edges. This method is best for restoring the texture and flavor of the cookies, making them taste almost as good as freshly baked.
If you prefer a softer texture, wrap the cookies in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 10-15 seconds. The moisture from the paper towel will help soften the cookies without making them soggy. Be careful not to overheat them, as they can become too soft and lose their shape.
For a quick and easy method, place the santa sugar cookies on a microwave-safe plate and heat them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds. This method is suitable when you're in a hurry, but keep in mind that the cookies may not be evenly heated and could become slightly chewy.
If you have a few extra minutes, try reheating the cookies in a toaster oven. Preheat the toaster oven to 300°F (150°C) and place the cookies on the rack. Heat for 3-5 minutes, or until they are warm and crisp. This method is an excellent alternative to using a conventional oven, especially if you only have a few cookies to reheat.
For a unique twist, try crumbling the leftover santa sugar cookies over a bowl of vanilla ice cream or yogurt. The combination of the warm, crispy cookies and the cool, creamy base creates a delightful contrast of textures and flavors. This method is perfect for repurposing cookies that may have become slightly stale or lost their original shape.
Random Fact about Santa Sugar Cookies
The Santa sugar cookies recipe is a delightful way to add a festive touch to your holiday baking. These cookies are not only delicious but also a fun activity for the whole family. They can be a great addition to any holiday gathering or as a special treat for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Is Making Santa Sugar Cookies at Home Economical?
The cost-effectiveness of this santa sugar cookies recipe largely depends on the availability and cost of ingredients. While the recipe requires standard baking staples, the additional cost of decorating icing and candy-coated chocolate pieces may impact its affordability. However, the joy and festive spirit these cookies bring may outweigh the cost. Considering the enjoyment and the yield of approximately 22 cookies, the approximate cost for a household of 4 people is around $10-$15. The overall verdict rating for this recipe is 8/10, factoring in taste, presentation, and the overall holiday experience it provides.
Are Santa Sugar Cookies Healthy or Unhealthy?
This recipe for Santa sugar cookies is not particularly healthy. The main ingredients are flour, sugar, and butter, which are high in calories, carbohydrates, and saturated fat. The recipe also includes additional sugary elements like icing and candy pieces, further increasing the calorie and sugar content. While the cookies may be a festive treat, they should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
To make the recipe healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Reduce the amount of sugar in the dough and opt for a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup
- Replace some of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour to increase fiber content
- Use a lower-fat butter alternative, such as coconut oil or Greek yogurt
- Decrease the amount of icing and candy decorations or use healthier options like fresh fruit or nuts
- Serve smaller portion sizes to control calorie intake
By making these adjustments, you can create a more nutritious version of the Santa sugar cookies that still captures the holiday spirit. Remember, it's all about balance – enjoying festive treats in moderation while maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.
Editor's Opinion on This Festive Holiday Treat
The Santa sugar cookies recipe is a delightful and festive treat for the holiday season. The combination of almond and vanilla extracts adds a rich and aromatic flavor to the cookies, while the decorative icing and candy-coated chocolate pieces bring the jolly Santa face to life. The recipe's clear instructions make it easy to follow, and the end result is a charming and delicious addition to any holiday gathering. The use of whipped cream as the beard adds a playful and unexpected touch, making these cookies a whimsical and enjoyable dessert for both kids and adults.
Enhance Your Santa Sugar Cookies Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
Alternative Holiday Cookie Recipes to Try
Appetizers and Main Courses to Complement Santa Sugar Cookies
Why trust this Santa Sugar Cookies Recipe:
This recipe is a trusted classic, perfected over time by experienced chefs. The combination of butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract creates a rich and aromatic flavor profile. The step-by-step instructions ensure a foolproof baking experience, and the use of high-quality ingredients like granulated sugar and semisweet chocolate morsels guarantees delicious results. With its delightful presentation and delightful taste, these cookies are a festive addition to any holiday celebration.
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