Red and green sugar cookies are a simple Christmas treat everyone loves. They bake up soft and chewy with a sweet, crunchy sugar coating that feels extra festive. Sugar coated cookies are fun for parties, gifting, or holiday snacking.
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If your holiday baking list needs one more easy cookie, these red and green sugar cookies are a must. They're soft, chewy, and coated in sparkly sugar that makes them pop on any Christmas tray. They disappear fast every time I make them.
Every holiday season, I love adding a new treat to our cookie rotation, and these instantly earned their spot next to the peppermint Oreo cookies. The colorful sugar coating gives them such a fun, festive look without any extra decorating.
I used red and green sanding sugar for a classic holiday look, but the best part is how easy they are to make. They bake in minutes and stay soft for days, which makes them perfect for busy December schedules.
Whether you need something simple for parties, cookie trays, or a cozy night with Nutella hot chocolate and a Christmas movie, these cookies are a guaranteed hit.
Why You'll Love Sugar Cookies With Colored Sugar
- Festive colors. Rolling them in colored sanding sugar makes them look holiday-ready without extra work.
- Soft and chewy. These cookies stay tender in the center with lightly crisp edges that everyone loves.
- Quick and easy to make. The dough comes together in minutes, then roll, chill, and bake.
- Perfect for parties or gifting. These colorful cookies brighten up cookie plates and make great edible gifts.
Main Ingredients
You probably already have everything you need for this sugar cookie recipe in your pantry. This will make last-minute holiday baking a breeze. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full, printable recipe with measurements.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds a rich flavor to the dough. Take your butter out of the fridge 30 minutes ahead of baking. It should be soft, but still cold.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together and adds moisture to the dough.
- All-Purpose Flour: Stabilizes the dough and controls the cookies' spreading. Spoon and sweep or use a kitchen scale to avoid adding too much flour to the dough.
- Leaveners: The combination of baking soda and baking powder allows the cookies to spread and puff slightly.
- Colored Sugar: I used red and green sugar for the holidays, but you can use any color you like. Most craft stores have a variety of colors to choose from. The larger crystals give the basic sugar cookie a fun little crunch on the outside.
How To Make Red and Green Sugar Cookies
Here is a short overview of the steps to make these red and green Christmas cookies. The complete recipe is at the bottom of the post.
- Make the sugar cookie dough. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract, then add the dry ingredients until the dough comes together.
- Shape and coat. Roll the dough into small balls and coat each one generously in red and green sanding sugar.
- Bake in a preheated oven. Place the dough balls on a cookie sheet and bake until they are puffed and set around the edges. They'll finish setting and fall as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy texture.
- Cool before serving. Place the cookies on a cooling rack and let them come to room temperature before placing them in a container.
These chewy sugar cookies pair perfectly with a peppermint mocha or an eggnog latte.
Add them to holiday dessert trays along with homemade Reese's trees, Christmas blondies, and funfetti sugar cookie bars for a colorful and festive spread.
Storing and Freezing
On the Counter: Keep these holiday cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.
In the Freezer: Freeze baked cookies for up to two months. The unbaked dough balls (without sugar) can be frozen on a tray, then wrapped in plastic wrap, and kept in the freezer for 2 months. Roll them in sanding sugar right before baking.
BruCrew Tips
- Use coarse sanding sugar for the best sparkle.
- For even more shimmer, add edible glitter to the bowl of colored sugar before you roll the dough.
- Use an airbake pan or a baking tray fitted with parchment paper to keep the cookies from spreading too much.
- Don't overbake! Pulling them out while they're still slightly soft keeps the centers chewy.
- If your kitchen is warm, chill the dough for 15-20 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
Cookie Variations
- Make Grinch cookies by adding a large red heart sprinkle to the green dough balls before baking.
- Add a little peppermint or almond extract for a fun flavor twist.
- Roll them in silver and gold sanding sugar for New Year's Eve.
- Mix holiday sprinkles into the dough before rolling in regular granulated sugar.
- Turn them into cookie sandwiches with vanilla buttercream frosting.
More Christmas Cookies
- Red Velvet Blossoms
- Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
- Peppermint Snowball Cookies
- Molasses Crackle Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies
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Recipe
Red and Green Sugar Cookies
Red and green sugar cookies are a simple Christmas treat everyone loves. They bake up soft and chewy with a sweet, crunchy sugar coating that feels extra festive. They are fun for parties, gifting, or holiday snacking.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour (240g)
- ¼ cup red sanding sugar
- ¼ cup green sanding sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth and creamy. Add egg and vanilla and mix again.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. Use a 1-tablespoon scoop to make 30 even scoops.
- Roll the dough into balls, then roll half of them in red and half in green.
- Place 12 balls on an airbake pan and bake for 7 minutes. Remove and let the cookies rest on the hot pan for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a sheet of parchment on the counter. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Notes
- Use coarse sanding sugar for the best sparkle.
- For even more shimmer, add edible glitter to the bowl of colored sugar before you roll the dough.
- Use an airbake pan or a baking tray fitted with parchment paper to keep the cookies from spreading too much.
- Don't overbake! Pulling them out while they're still slightly soft keeps the centers chewy.
- If your kitchen is warm, chill the dough for 15-20 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 143Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 58mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 0gSugar: 13gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
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