If you want to bring instant holiday cheer to your kitchen, Festive Green Sugar Cookies are the answer! These irresistible cookies burst with buttery flavor, subtly sweet almond and vanilla notes, and that playful pop of green everyone loves on a cookie platter. With an effortless dough, dazzling sprinkles, and just the right amount of crunch and chew, you have a whimsical treat that’s perfect for Christmas baking parties or a cozy afternoon by the fire. There’s something utterly delightful about baking a batch—not only do they wow visually, but they disappear just as quickly once served!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic behind Festive Green Sugar Cookies lies in classic pantry staples, with a couple of fun twists. Each ingredient has a role: boasting flavor, creating melt-in-your-mouth texture, or giving our cookies that iconic bright-green hue.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure for thick, tender cookies that hold their shape beautifully.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies spread ever-so-slightly and bake up with perfectly soft centers.
- Baking powder: Lends a bit of extra lift for that touch of fluffiness.
- Unsalted butter (softened): The secret to rich, irresistible flavor—be sure it’s at room temperature for easy creaming.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps create those lightly crispy edges we all love.
- Large egg: Binds the dough and adds lovely tenderness.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses the dough with warm, comforting flavor.
- Almond extract (optional): Adds a festively nutty twist—if you’re an almond fan, don’t skip this!
- Green food coloring: The star ingredient for that unmistakable festive hue—adjust the amount until you reach your desired shade.
- Festive sprinkles or sanding sugar: For crunch, sparkle, and a holiday spirit that’s impossible to resist.
How to Make Festive Green Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheets and Preheat the Oven
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C), then line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This step is quick but essential for even baking and easy cookie removal. Trust me, a little parchment paper works absolute magic for cookies that look bakery-perfect and slide right off without fuss.
Step 2: Whisk Together Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and baking powder until perfectly combined. This ensures that your leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the dough, meaning each cookie will rise to pillowy, golden-edged perfection.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This takes 2–3 minutes of mixing and is absolutely worth it—creaming creates tiny air pockets that give Festive Green Sugar Cookies their signature soft centers.
Step 4: Add Egg and Flavorings
Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) until the mixture is fully blended. This step introduces all that luscious holiday flavor and acts as the dough’s main source of moisture. Don’t hesitate to substitute peppermint extract if you crave a wintery twist!
Step 5: Add Green Food Coloring
Now comes the fun! Add a few drops of green food coloring. Mix until the color is evenly distributed, then assess—keep adding a drop or two until you hit that cheery shade of green that says “holiday spirit.” This is where Festive Green Sugar Cookies get their show-stopping personality.
Step 6: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add your whisked dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid over-mixing, as you want the cookies to stay soft and tender. Scrape down the bowl to make sure no flour pockets remain—nobody wants a clumpy cookie!
Step 7: Shape and Roll in Sprinkles
Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough, roll them into balls, and then give each one a happy roll in festive sprinkles or sanding sugar. The sprinkle coating not only looks beautiful, but it adds a satisfying hint of crunch with every bite.
Step 8: Bake and Cool
Arrange the cookie dough balls on your prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between them. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes—watch for edges just starting to turn golden, with centers set but still slightly soft. Let them cool a few minutes on the sheets before moving them to a wire rack. This helps prevent crumbling and gives the cookies just the right texture.
How to Serve Festive Green Sugar Cookies
Garnishes
The finishing touches can take your Festive Green Sugar Cookies from cute to magical. Try an extra sprinkle of sanding sugar right as they come out of the oven for even more sparkle, or drizzle with melted white chocolate and scatter a few star-shaped sprinkles on top for fairy-tale flair.
Side Dishes
These cookies shine next to a mug of hot cocoa, a frothy latte, or a glass of chilled milk. For a festive cookie platter, serve alongside peppermint bark, cranberry bars, or spiced gingerbread for a spread that highlights every holiday flavor.
Creative Ways to Present
Festive Green Sugar Cookies look fabulous on a simple white plate, but why not go bold? Stack them in clear jars tied with ribbon for edible gifts, or arrange them in star patterns on a party tray. For an extra-special touch, use snowflake or Christmas tree cookie cutters and display them in themed shapes at your next gathering!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your Festive Green Sugar Cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. If your kitchen is especially dry, tuck a slice of white bread in with the cookies to maintain their softness—it really works!
Freezing
These cookies freeze beautifully! Place fully cooled cookies in a single layer in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper. They’ll keep their flavor and texture for up to three months. If you’d rather bake fresh, freeze the unbaked dough balls before rolling them in sprinkles, then bake from frozen (just add an extra couple of minutes to the bake time).
Reheating
Warm up Festive Green Sugar Cookies by popping them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 2–3 minutes, or microwave for 10 seconds for that just-baked-homey flair. Be sure to reheat only what you’ll enjoy right away to preserve ideal texture.
FAQs
Can I use gel food coloring instead of liquid?
Absolutely! Gel food coloring is more concentrated, so you’ll need less to achieve the same vibrant green. Start with just a dab, mix well, and adjust until the dough looks perfect for your Festive Green Sugar Cookies.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can substitute a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. Make sure your baking powder and any added sprinkles are gluten-free, too, for completely safe Festive Green Sugar Cookies.
How do I keep the cookies soft for several days?
Store the cookies in an airtight container with a slice of white bread—this old baker’s trick helps maintain lovely softness. Avoid refrigerating, as that can dry them out and diminish flavor.
Can I double or halve the recipe?
Definitely! This recipe scales up or down with no trouble. For doubling, use larger mixing bowls and plan for a couple more baking sheets. For halving, simply cut each ingredient in half—you’ll still get perfectly delicious Festive Green Sugar Cookies.
What’s the best way to get the dough evenly green?
Add food coloring before the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly so the color is distributed throughout the butter-sugar mixture. If a few streaks remain, mix briefly before adding flour, but don’t overmix after combining wet and dry for the softest cookies.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a cheerful project that guarantees big smiles, it’s time to make Festive Green Sugar Cookies. With their gorgeous color, playful sprinkles, and melt-in-your-mouth texture, these cookies charm at first sight and taste even better. I hope you’ll try baking a batch and make them part of your holiday traditions for years to come!
Print
Festive Green Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Festive Green Sugar Cookies are perfect for the holiday season. With a hint of almond and a burst of green color, these sweet treats will brighten up any dessert table.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- Green food coloring
- Festive sprinkles or sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using. Mix in green food coloring.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
- Form dough: Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of dough and roll into balls.
- Add decorations: Roll each ball in sprinkles or sanding sugar.
- Bake: Place on baking sheets and bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are golden.
- Cool: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- You can adjust the intensity of the green color by adding more or less food coloring.
- For a peppermint twist, replace almond extract with peppermint extract.
- Chill and roll out the dough for holiday-themed cookie cutters.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
