Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Introduction
Celebrate the holidays with these festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies. Soft, colorful, and coated in cheerful sprinkles, they’re a delightful treat for any holiday gathering or cozy afternoon snack.
Ingredients
- 17.5 ounce bag sugar cookie mix
- 4 ounce (½ 8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (½ stick) salted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, use a stand or hand mixer to cream together the sugar cookie mix, softened cream cheese, softened butter, and egg. Beat until combined and a soft dough forms.
- Step 3: Divide the dough evenly in half, placing each half into separate mixing bowls.
- Step 4: Add red food coloring to one bowl and mix until the dough turns a deep red color.
- Step 5: Add green food coloring to the other bowl and mix until the dough is uniformly green.
- Step 6: Place the Christmas sprinkles in a shallow bowl. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, form balls of dough, gently roll them in the sprinkles, and then place them on the prepared baking sheet. Leave about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
- Step 7: Note that the dough is soft and the balls may flatten slightly; this is normal and expected.
- Step 8: Bake for 8 to 11 minutes, or until the edges begin to firm and the cookie does not collapse when you gently touch the top.
- Step 9: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Enjoy them warm or cooled.
Tips & Variations
- For extra flavor, try adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the dough before dividing and coloring.
- If you prefer softer cookies, reduce the baking time slightly, checking closely to avoid overbaking.
- Swap Christmas sprinkles for other holiday-themed toppings like crushed candy canes or colored sugar for a unique twist.
- To keep the colors vibrant, avoid overmixing the colored dough once the food coloring is added.
Storage
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen in a sealed container for up to 2 months. To reheat, warm gently in a microwave for 10-15 seconds or enjoy at room temperature.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of food coloring?
Yes, you can use gel or liquid food coloring according to your preference. Gel tends to give more vibrant colors without adding extra liquid to the dough.
What if I don’t have cream cheese?
Cream cheese adds moisture and softness. You can try substituting with an equal amount of unsweetened yogurt or sour cream, but the texture may vary slightly.
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Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 18-21 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These festive Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are soft, colorful, and perfect for holiday celebrations. Made with a sugar cookie mix combined with cream cheese and butter, this dough is split and dyed red and green, then rolled in bright Christmas sprinkles for a cheerful seasonal treat. The cookies bake quickly and offer a tender texture with a delightful sprinkle crunch.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 17.5 ounce bag sugar cookie mix
- 4 ounce (½ 8-ounce package) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (½ stick) salted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
Coloring
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
Topping
- ½ cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix the dough: In a large mixing bowl, use a stand or hand mixer to cream together the sugar cookie mix, softened cream cheese, softened salted butter, and a large egg. Beat until all ingredients are thoroughly combined and a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough: Split the soft dough evenly into two separate bowls for coloring.
- Color the dough red: Add red food coloring to one bowl of dough. Mix well until the dough achieves a deep, uniform red color.
- Color the dough green: Add green food coloring to the other bowl. Mix until the dough turns a consistent green shade throughout.
- Prepare cookies for baking: Pour the Christmas sprinkles into a shallow bowl. Using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out dough balls from each colored dough. Gently roll each ball in the sprinkles to coat, then place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Note dough texture: The dough is soft and the balls may flatten slightly on their own; this is normal and expected during baking.
- Bake the cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 8 to 11 minutes. Watch for cookies to start firming at the edges and feel set when gently touched on top without collapsing.
- Cool and serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 3 to 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Enjoy them warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese and butter to ensure smooth mixing with the cookie mix.
- Adjust the amount of food coloring to achieve your preferred intensity of color.
- Spacing cookies 2 inches apart helps prevent them from sticking together as they spread slightly during baking.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the sugar cookie mix with a certified gluten-free cookie mix.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-11 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, holiday cookies, sprinkle cookies, sugar cookie mix, festive cookies, red and green cookies
