My Mini Chefs

  • Browse Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Browse Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Christmas

Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies (with sprinkles!)

Published: Jul 28, 2022 · Modified: Oct 28, 2024 by Belle Tipps · This post may contain affiliate links for which I may earn a small commission.

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

These Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies are an easy and delicious soft and chewy sugar cookie recipe. There's no need to roll any dough or cut out shapes. Simply shape the cookie dough into balls and decorate with festive holiday sprinkles.

christmas drop sugar cookies on a plate decorated with red and green sprinkles
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Recipe Yield
  • How To Make Drop Sugar Cookies
  • Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions
  • Recipe Notes
  • How To Store Sugar Cookies
  • Recipe
  • Recipe Reviews

Cutout sugar cookies can be a lot of work, especially during the busy holiday season when you can easily burn out on cooking. These Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies will save you lots of time and are so delicious that they'll still be a hit with kids and adults!

They are a delicious old-fashioned cookie that can't be beat. You probably have the ingredients on hand already, so they are great for down-to-the-wire Christmas baking. You can never go wrong with a simple, festive soft sugar cookie! For Thanksgiving and fall festivities, we've turned this basic dough into chocolate chip pumpkin cookies and soft pumpkin sugar cookies.

Make them a few days ahead of your next holiday party and you'll still have perfectly delicious cookies! Christmas drop sugar cookies are great for cookie exchanges, gifting and of course, as a treat for Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve.

I personally think they are best washed down with a big mug of peppermint hot chocolate or creamy hot cocoa.

Why You'll Love These Cookies

  • This cookie recipe uses the perfect ingredient ratio to keep them chewy and soft for days.
  • Use the cookie dough recipe as a base for any cookie-making occasion. Just change the sprinkle colors and you're set!
  • Freeze the dough up to 6 months ahead of time!
  • Or, freeze the cookies for 6 months before Christmas!
  • They are simple and require no cutouts or icing.
  • Easy for kids to make with your or own their own.

What Are Drop Cookies?

A drop cookie simply means that the cookie batter has been dropped onto a baking sheet using a spoon, ice cream scoop or your hands.

Ingredients

To make them you need:

  • Christmas sprinkle assortment: use jimmies, sugar sprinkles or any fun Christmas variety like these.
  • All-purpose flour: this recipe is specifically written for all-purpose flour so don't substitute with others.
  • White sugar: any type of white sugar works or coconut sugar.
  • Milk: I prefer whole or reduced fat dairy milk, but plant-based milks are also an option.
  • Vanilla extract: this gives the cookies a lot of flavor!
  • Eggs: large eggs are perfect, at room temperature.
  • Butter: unsalted is preferable but if all you have is salted then that is fine but you should reduce the salt by a little.
  • Salt: both iodized or regular table salt. Don't use sea salt or other specialty salts.
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda

You'll need a stand mixer or electric hand mixer and large mixing bowl, baking sheets, and parchment paper.

christmas drop sugar cookies on a plate decorated with red and green sprinkles

Recipe Yield

3 dozen drop style sugar cookies!

This recipe makes a large batch of cookies, perfect for Christmas parties and Christmas dessert. You can reduce the yield as much as you'd like, but keep the ingredient proportionate.

How To Make Drop Sugar Cookies

STEP 1: Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, cream room temperature butter and white sugar on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute.

STEP 2: Add the vanilla extract and room temperature eggs. Beat for an additional minute, then add all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat for 1-2 minutes, until the dry ingredients have been completely mixed into the wet and the dough ball is mostly smooth (it will be a bit crumbly at this point). Add the milk and beat on low speed until evenly combined and dough is smooth and soft. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour.

STEP 3: Line baking sheets with parchment paper (for easy clean up!) and pour sprinkles into bowls. Once the dough has chilled, scoop about 1-2 tablespoons of dough depending on how big you want the cookies and shape into a ball. Roll the cookie dough balls in the sprinkles and place at least 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° Fahrenheit for 6-9 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to brown.

STEP 4: Remove baking sheet from the oven and immediately transfer cookies to a cooling rack. If they are kept on the baking sheet the bottoms will continue to cook and may burn.

christmas drop sugar cookies on a plate decorated with red and green sprinkles

Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions

You can do a couple things to make your cookies ahead of time.

Option 1: Make the dough ahead of time and bake the cookies later. The dough can be kept in the fridge, covered, for about 2 weeks. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months then thawed a few days in the fridge before baking.

Option 2: Bake the cookies ahead of time and freeze them for up to 6 months. This could be a great summer baking project with the kids so you'll be ahead of the game come the busy Christmas rush.

To freeze sugar cookies, wrap them in plastic and then store in freezer safe storage bags for extra protection again freezer burn.

Recipe Notes

  • The dough should chill for at least 1 hour before cooking. Warm dough is harder to work with and might cause the cookies to spread more than you want. I like to chill mine overnight or make it a few days before I need it.
  • I suggest checking the cookies periodically during the first batch. Ovens are not all the same, so yours may need more or less time. I always remove mine when I think they look almost done but maybe need a few more minutes. They never need a few more minutes. I take them out at that point.
Should You Flatten Cookies Before Baking Them?

There is no need to flatten drop sugar cookies before baking them. Round dough balls will spread into fat risen cookies rather than big flat ones.

What Should I Do If My Sugar Cookie Dough Is Too Dry?

If the cookies are crumbly after the milk has been added and the dough has been mixed for at least 1 minute, add more milk 1 teaspoon at a time until a soft and smooth dough ball has formed.

How Do You Keep Sugar Cookies Soft?

The trick to keeping these cookies soft is to bake them until the edges barely begin to brown. They will continue to bake a few minutes once you remove them from the oven, so this is really important. If you leave them in the oven until they look completely cooked, they will harden and will no longer be that delicious soft sugar cookie we are going for.

How To Store Sugar Cookies

Counter: soft sugar cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Longer than this and they will begin to harden.

Freezer: this recipe keeps in the freezer for up to 6 months. Wrap in plastic and put into freezer safe bags.

I usually make one huge batch in the beginning of December, freeze them in baggies by the dozen, and then defrost them when the parties start. Then I have Christmas cookies ready to go without having to continually make batches!

More Fun Christmas Recipes

  • Homemade Chocolate Christmas Candy
  • Christmas Tree Brownies
  • Christmas Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
  • 2 Ingredient Fudge (3 Flavor Options)

Follow us!

For more delicious recipes, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram! And if you loved this recipe make sure to give it a star rating!

Recipe

christmas drop sugar cookies on a plate decorated with red and green sprinkles

Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies

These Drop Style Christmas Sugar Cookies are an easy and delicious soft and chewy sugar cookie recipe. There's no need to roll any dough or cut out shapes. Simply shape the cookie dough into balls and decorate with festive holiday sprinkles.
4.94 from 66 votes
Pin Share Tweet SaveSaved! Print
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 8 minutes mins
Chilling Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 28 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36
Calories 114 kcal

Equipment

  • stand mixer or electric hand mixer
  • baking sheet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1½ cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoon milk
  • 2 cups festive Christmas sprinkles

Instructions
 

  • Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, cream the softened butter and white sugar on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute.
  • Add the vanilla extract and room temperature eggs. Beat for an additional minute, then add all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat for 1-2 minutes, until the dry ingredients have been completely mixed into the wet and the dough ball is mostly smooth (it will be a bit crumbly at this point). Add the milk and beat on low speed until evenly combined and dough is smooth and soft. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour.
  • Line baking sheets with parchment paper and pour sprinkles into bowls. Once the dough has chilled, scoop 1-2 tablespoons of dough depending on how big you want the cookies and shape into a ball. Roll the cookie dough balls in the sprinkles and place at least 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° Fahrenheit for 6-9 minutes or until the edges just begin to brown.
  • Remove baking sheet from the oven and immediately transfer cookies to a cooling rack.

Notes

Sprinkles can be added into the batter with the flour if desired. Use about ½ cup. 
Yield: 3 dozen sugar cookies.
Storing: soft sugar cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Longer than this and they will begin to harden.
Freezer Storage: this recipe keeps in the freezer for up to 6 months. Wrap in plastic and put into freezer safe bags.

Nutrition

Serving: 3ozCalories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 43mgPotassium: 17mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 175IUCalcium: 14mgIron: 0.5mg
Did You Try This Recipe?Mention @myminichefs or tag #myminichefs!

RELATED POSTS

  • bunny paw cookies on a cooling rack
    Bunny Paw Cookies
  • cream cheese filled crescents on a baking sheet
    Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Danish
  • cheese quesadilla cut into slices on a white plate with guacamole and salsa
    Cheese Quesadilla
  • egg and cheese burrito wrapped in foil
    Egg and Cheese Burrito

More Kid-Friendly Christmas Recipes

  • Christmas eggnog cupcakes decorated with a wreath
    Eggnog Cupcakes
  • baked ziti without meat on a gray plate
    Meatless Baked Ziti
  • 4 cheese mac and cheese in a bowl
    4 Cheese Mac and Cheese
  • southern baked mac and cheese in a casserole dish
    Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • X
  • Threads

Comments

    4.94 from 66 votes (65 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Amy Liu Dong says

    August 13, 2022 at 12:12 am

    5 stars
    I love how easy, delicious, and cute these cookies I will def make this for the kids!

    Reply

Welcome to My Mini Chefs! Me and my two kids are here to give you lots of great cooking inspiration and recipes - food made with kids in mind! Whether you've got a picky eater or a little one who will try anything once, you'll find something delicious here.

More about us →

New Recipes

  • cinnamon ice cream in an ice cream tub
    Cinnamon Ice Cream

  • milkshake cookie topped with icing, whipped cream and sprinkles
    Crumble Funfetti Milkshake Cookies (copycat recipe)

  • bitten Oreo brownie on a white plate
    Oreo Brownies

  • sliced smores pie in a pie plate
    S'mores Pie

Trending Now

  • cheese quesadilla cut into slices on a white plate with guacamole and salsa
    Cheese Quesadilla

  • mini pizzas on a white plate
    Easy Mini Pizzas

  • pizza popper being pulled off a plate
    Pizza Poppers

  • buttered spaghetti image
    Butter Spaghetti

  • air fryer frozen chicken nuggets in a basket
    Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Nuggets

  • baked ziti without meat on a gray plate
    Meatless Baked Ziti

  • carrot raisin muffins in a stack
    Carrot Raisin Muffins

  • 3 ingredient banana pancakes in a stack topped with banana and blueberry
    3 Ingredient Banana Pancakes

Footer

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




Stuck on what to say? Here are some suggestions:

This worked exactly as written, thanks!
My family loved this recipe! We can't wait to make it again.
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe. It turned out great!
I made a few modifications, but it still turned out wonderful.

Or write in your own words:

A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.