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Festive Christmas Icebox Cookies Recipe

4.6 from 92 reviews

These Easy Christmas Icebox Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring a buttery, soft sugar cookie dough studded with festive red, green, and white sprinkles. Perfect for slicing, baking, and sharing, these cookies offer a simple yet festive option for holiday baking with a smooth vanilla-flavored frosting to finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup red, green, and white Christmas sprinkles

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting

  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate large bowl, cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing well until fully incorporated.
  2. Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Carefully fold in the Christmas sprinkles to evenly distribute them without overmixing the dough.
  3. Shape the dough: Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a log approximately 2 inches in diameter. Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm to make slicing easier.
  4. Preheat and slice: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice into ¼-inch thick rounds using a sharp knife. Place the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spaced about 2 inches apart.
  5. Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  6. Make the frosting: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more milk or powdered sugar if necessary.
  7. Decorate the cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a thin layer of the frosting on each cookie. Allow the frosting to set before serving or storing.

Notes

  • For best results, chill the dough thoroughly to make slicing easier and ensure the cookies hold their shape.
  • Use room temperature butter to ensure smooth creaming with the sugar.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • You can customize the sprinkles to match any holiday or celebration theme.
  • If frosting is too runny, add more powdered sugar; if too thick, add a tiny bit more milk.

Keywords: Christmas cookies, icebox cookies, sugar cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, easy cookie recipe, sprinkles cookies