Need a fun and festive holiday treat this season? These Almond Christmas Sprinkle Cookies are chewy, pillowy cookies decked out with bright red and green for the holidays. They're a delicious twist on traditional sugar cookies!
If you like traditional sugar cookies, I think you will LOVE these almond cookies!
I make soft, chewy almond cookies all year long. But when the winter holidays come around, it's time for these fun and festive Almond Christmas Sprinkle Cookies!
Nothing says the holidays like festive cookies that sparkle with cheer. And almond Christmas sprinkle cookies are soft and buttery with a subtle almond flavor that pairs beautifully with the crunch of colorful sprinkles.
Their playful look and melt-in-your-mouth texture make them perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday dessert tables, or as a homemade gift that feels both nostalgic and unique.
Ready to add some extra cheer to your holidays? Let's get started!
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🌟 Why this recipe works
Ready for this fun twist to your holiday cookies? Here's a few reasons why we love making these cookies every Christmas -- and why we think you'll love them, too!
- Easy baking recipe - If you've made sugar cutout cookies before, these are even easier! You just scoop, roll, and bake! Perfect for beginning bakers and pros alike.
- Simple ingredients - You can find all the ingredients you need to make these cookies in almost any local grocery store.
- Fun and festive - The bright classic Christmas sprinkles in red, white, and green add extra cheer to any holiday table this season.
- Delicious flavor twist - Their almond flavor adds a sophisticated note that sets them apart, while their soft centers and crisp edges ensure they’ll be a crowd-pleaser.
🛒 Ingredient notes
- Almond extract: The star of this recipe, almond extract adds a rich, nutty aroma that elevates the cookies. A little goes a long way!
- Cake flour: Contributes to a light, tender crumb due to its lower protein content compared to all-purpose flour.
- Unsalted butter: Essential for a buttery, tender crumb. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps the cookies spread slightly during baking.
- Cornstarch: Helps create a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture by reducing gluten development in the dough.
- Baking powder: Adds lift to the cookies, ensuring they’re slightly puffy with a soft center.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors. Use kosher salt for even distribution.
- Egg: Adds richness and helps bind the dough.
- Sprinkles: Choose festive, high-quality sprinkles that hold their color during baking. You can use jimmies (the longer, thinner sprinkles), non-pareils (the cute little dot sprinkles), or sugar sprinkles. They all look and taste amazing with these cookies!
✅ Step-by-step instructions
Here are some step-by-step photos to show you how to make these easy Christmas cookies! You'll find more detailed instructions, along with ingredient measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
- In a stand mixer bowl, cream the unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy
- Mix in the egg.
- Add the almond extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until combined.
- Form the dough into a disc, wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator.
- After chilling, remove from the refrigerator and roll dough into 1-inch balls, then coat with sprinkles.
- Place on baking sheets and lightly press down on the cookies with the bottom of a glass or even the palm of your hand. Bake for 7-9 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before serving.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Yes, but the flavor will shift to a more traditional sugar cookie profile.
We have not tested this exact recipe with gluten-free flour. However, you can try to substitute with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour for best results.
Remove them from the oven as soon as the edges are lightly golden for a soft texture.
Store almond sprinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze the baked cookies in a single layer before transferring them to a freezer bag. They’ll keep well for up to three months.
🍽 Serving ideas
We love making and serving these festive Christmas cookies! They always put a smile on everyone's face.
- Holiday gatherings - Arrange the cookies on a decorative platter surrounded by other holiday treats like Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Shortbread Cookies, Pistachio Shortbread Cookies, and Soft Gingerbread Cookes for a stunning centerpiece.
- Everyday enjoyment - Serve with coffee, tea, or peppermint hot cocoa for a cozy snack.
- Delicious food gifts - Wrap up cookies in festive holiday cookie boxes to give as food gifts or cookie exchanges.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
Did you know you can pair wines with Christmas cookies? In general, you'll want to pair these cookies (and most other holiday desserts) with wines that are slightly sweeter than the desserts themselves. Here are two wine pairings for almond sprinkle cookies:
- Prosecco: The light, bubbly notes of Prosecco complement the cookies' almond flavor and festive appearance.
- Moscato d'Asti: This sweet, slightly fizzy wine pairs beautifully with the buttery sweetness of the cookies.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
- Stand mixer - Use either a stand mixer or a hand mixer and large mixing bowl to make the cookie batter.
- Baking sheets - You'll need two baking sheets. Plus, it helps to line each cookie sheet with either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Cookie scoop - A medium cookie scoop helps keep the cookies a uniform size.
- Wire rack - A cooling rack helps the cookies cool down faster.
More cookie recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Almond Christmas Sprinkle Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ teaspoons almond extract
- 2¾ cup cake flour
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Hershey's sugar cookie kisses
- colorful baking sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large bowl, sift together the cake flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar for 3 to 4 minutes, until the mixture is light yellow and creamy.
- Add the eggs to the mixer, beating in one at a time. Then add the almond extract and mix for 30 seconds.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients mixture to the wet mixture in the mixer until just ingredients are fully combined.
- Shape the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper, and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350° degrees.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, portion out dough and roll the dough into balls.
- Place the baking sprinkles in a shallow bowl. Roll the balls in the sugar until completely covered. Place on cookie sheets about an inch or two apart. Using the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass, press down on the top of each cookie to flatten them down a bit (cookies will not spread much while baking).
- Bake at 350°F for 7-9 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the pan for about 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- After 5 minutes of cooling, place one Hershey's sugar cookie kiss in the center of each cookie. Allow to set before enjoying or storing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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