Soft, Chewy Christmas Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp almond extract (optional, but makes them taste like a bakery did the work;)
• 2 cups flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• Holiday sprinkles, colored sugar, or whatever looks festive

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Cream butter and sugar until smooth and slightly fluffy.
• Mix in egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
• Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until it forms a soft dough.
• Roll into balls, flatten slightly, and coat with sprinkles or sugar.
• Bake 8–10 minutes — pull them when the edges just barely set.
• Cool a few minutes before moving (or eat one too soon and accept your fate..;).

Tips & Variations

• Add sprinkles before baking for a unique look
• For soft cookies, don’t wait for color — pale is perfect.
• Use room-temperature butter, not melted. (Melted butter makes them lose shape and spread too much.)
• For an extra rich flavor, brown half your butter before mixing (then cool it slightly before adding).
• A quick brush of melted butter or glaze when they come out adds that bakery shine.
• Store in an airtight container with a slice of bread — keeps them soft for days!

If you love soft, chewy Christmas cookies, check out these epic soft, chewy & spiced gingerbread cookies and these chewy, no-fuss Eggnog Cookies!