Description
Soft, buttery sugar cookies coated in festive red and green sprinkles, stacked with creamy, colorful buttercream frosting. These Layered Holiday Sprinkle Cookies are the perfect Christmas treat, adding color and cheer to your holiday dessert table. Simple to make and even more fun to share, these cookies are a must-have for the season!
Ingredients
For the Sprinkle Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 225g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 & ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Christmas-colored sprinkles (red, green, and white, for coating)
For the Buttercream Frosting (Optional):
- ¼ cup (½ stick / 60g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (130g) powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
- Red and green gel food colorings
- Additional sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
1. Make the Cookie Dough
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until a smooth dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
2. Roll and Coat in Sprinkles
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough and roll it into a smooth ball.
- Roll each ball in Christmas-colored sprinkles, pressing gently to coat evenly.
- Place the sprinkle-coated balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
3. Bake the Cookies
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges look set but the centers remain soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Make the Buttercream Frosting (Optional)
- In a bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
- Gradually mix in the powdered sugar, stirring until smooth.
- Add the vanilla extract and salt, then add milk, one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
- Divide the frosting into two bowls. Use red gel coloring for one bowl and green gel coloring for the other.
5. Assemble the Layered Cookies
- Spread or pipe a small amount of frosting onto the bottom of one cookie. Place another cookie on top, pressing gently to sandwich them together.
- Optionally, decorate the tops of the cookies with piped frosting and more sprinkles.
Notes
- Soft Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven when the edges are set but the centers are still soft for a tender texture.
- Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze them (without frosting) for up to 1 month.
- Custom Colors: You can use any food coloring or sprinkles to match your holiday theme.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American