Celebrate the holidays with these six easy cut-out cookie recipes perfect for frosting, decorating, and gifting. From Funfetti and Cookie Butter to Pistachio and Ricotta cookies, these Christmas cookies bake beautifully and taste amazing for every December occasion.
Cut-out cookies are the heart of every December baking tradition. Whether you are frosting Christmas cookies with your kids or preparing pretty batches for bake sales, these cookie recipes are fun, festive, and full of flavor. Over the years, I have tested many versions of cut-out sugar cookies, and these six recipes have become my favorites. Each one has its own taste and texture, but all roll out beautifully, hold their shape in the oven, and are perfect for decorating with royal icing or buttercream frosting.
Funfetti Cut-Out Cookies
a celebration in every bite. These colorful cookies are filled with sprinkles and have soft, easy-to-roll-out sugar cookie dough. They are ideal for kids to help with. Just grab your favorite cookie cutters and let everyone pick a shape. The dough comes together quickly in a standing mixer, and after chilling in plastic wrap, it is ready to roll and bake. Once cooled on a wire rack, spread on your favorite frosting recipe and top with extra sprinkles for the ultimate party cookie.
Ricotta Cut-Out Cookies
Made with a smooth mixture of ricotta cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and all-purpose flour, these cookies bake up tender and slightly cake-like. They are perfect for December gatherings because they stay soft for days when stored in an airtight container. You can top them with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and milk or use royal icing for a smooth finish.
M&M Cut-Out Cookies
It’s a fun twist on the classic. The colorful candies melt just slightly in the oven, creating little pockets of chocolate in every bite. They are a hit with kids, and they look festive on any Christmas cookie tray. Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper for easy cleanup, and use a spatula to transfer each cookie onto your baking sheet before baking.
Pistachio Cut-Out Cookies
These cookies offer a nutty and slightly salty balance that pairs beautifully with sweet frosting. The dough combines finely chopped pistachios with vanilla and powdered sugar, resulting in a smooth texture that is easy to roll out. Bake cookies in small batches and let them cool completely on a wire rack before decorating. These elegant cutouts are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges or as a homemade gift wrapped in single layers separated by parchment paper.
Cookie Butter Cut-Out Cookies
These cookies are rich, buttery, and filled with warm spice flavor. The cookie butter gives them a cozy, gingerbread-like taste, but the texture is more like a traditional sugar cookie. When rolled out on a lightly floured surface and baked until golden, they make a fantastic base for royal icing decorations. You can also dust them with powdered sugar for a simple finish that highlights their flavor.
Cookies and Cream Cut-Out Cookies
Combine classic sugar cookie dough with crushed chocolate cookies for a fun twist. The result is a rich chocolate-speckled dough that tastes like a cross between a sugar cookie and an Oreo. Roll out the mixture with a rolling pin, use your favorite cookie cutters, and bake on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Once the cookies cool to room temperature, drizzle with white icing for a cookies-and-cream look that is both pretty and delicious.
Each of these cut-out cookie recipes proves that decorating cookies can be just as enjoyable as eating them. From colorful sprinkles to creamy frosting, every batch brings the magic of the season to your kitchen. So grab your standing mixer, a measuring cup, and your favorite spatula, and start baking. When December rolls around, these will be the cookies your friends and family ask for again and again. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temperature, and they will stay soft for days if they last that long.
