These Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies are made with brown butter for the best flavor, and loads of holiday sprinkles to make them extra festive. They're a small batch, simple to make, and no chilling required.
These Christmas sprinkle sugar cookies are perfect for when you want something quick, cozy and cheerful. They bring all the sweet, buttery flavor without any fuss. Just mix, bake and enjoy!
For more holiday cookie recipes, try my Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies or my Chocolate Peppermint S'mores Cookies.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Cute & Festive: I love how holiday sprinkles can turn anything into something extra cute and seasonal.
- Brown Butter: This really helps elevate the flavor of these cookies.
- Easy to Make: You can make these cookies in less than an hour, and no need for a mixer.
Ingredient Notes
Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Butter: You will brown the butter for these cookies.
- Sugars: I love using both granulated and brown sugar to give these cookies the perfect chewy texture with crisp edges.
- Vanilla: I would highly suggest using vanilla bean paste in this recipe if you have it on hand.
- Sprinkles: Jimmie sprinkles (as pictured) are my favorite to use in baked goods because they hold up well and the color doesn't bleed.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Start by browning the butter. You'll take ½ cup of butter and melt in a medium saucepan, and then continue to cook past the point of boiling. You will do this over medium heat, past the point of the butter foaming, until it turns a nice golden brown, and has a nutty smell. Make sure you are stirring and watching it, because it will turn from perfectly brown to burnt fairly quickly. Once finished browning, pour into a bowl and allow to cool completely. Or you can throw into the freezer for 10 minutes to speed it up.
- Step 2: Beat together browned butter and sugars until combined. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix again.
- Step 3: Slowly mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg, being careful not to over mix.
- Step 4: Fold in holiday sprinkles.
- Step 5: Scoop the dough into large balls, I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop for these. Roll in granulated sugar.
- Step 6: Place cookie dough balls on your lined baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 10-13 minutes. You're looking for a light golden brown around the edges. Be careful not to over bake, or you will lose the chewy factor we are going for.
Expert Baking Tips
- If you'd rather not brown the butter I'd suggest using my regular Sprinkle Sugar Cookie recipe.
- I love sprinkling a little extra sugar on the top of these cookies after they're done baking for some extra sparkle.
- I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don't have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.
FAQ
Yes, but they might bleed a bit into the dough.
Yes, these cookies work great with a gluten free 1:1 ratio flour.
That would be great! I think 1 cup of semi-sweet or white chocolate would be delicious.
Storing & Freezing
Christmas sprinkle sugar cookies will remain fresh if stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can also prep the cookie dough in advance and store it in the fridge for about a week.
You can freeze your cookies in an airtight container for 2-3 months with them remaining fresh. You can also freeze the cookie dough balls if you would like to bake them one at a time.
Other Popular Recipes to Try
For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment if you make them and love them as much as I do!
Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup (113.5 g) salted butter browned and cooled
- ½ cups (100 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (55 g) brown sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1½ teaspoon (1.5 teaspoon) vanilla this is a good time to use vanilla paste
- 1¼ cups (175 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt
- ⅛ teaspoon (0.13 teaspoon) nutmeg
- ¼ cup (40 g) holiday jimmie sprinkles
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar for rolling cookies in
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Start by browning the butter. You'll take ½ cup of butter and melt in a medium saucepan, and then continue to cook past the point of boiling. You will do this over medium heat, past the point of the butter foaming, until it turns a nice golden brown, and has a nutty smell. Make sure you are stirring and watching it, because it will turn from perfectly brown to burnt fairly quickly. Once finished browning, pour into a bowl and allow to cool completely. Or you can throw into the freezer for 10 minutes to speed it up.
- Beat together browned butter and sugars until combined. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix again.
- Slowly mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg, being careful not to over mix.
- Fold in holiday sprinkles.
- Scoop the dough into large balls, I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop for these. Roll in granulated sugar.
- Place cookie dough balls on your lined baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 10-13 minutes. You're looking for a light golden brown around the edges. Be careful not to over bake, or you will lose the chewy factor we are going for.
Sandy
I love these small batch cookies! Browned butter makes them extra flavorful and the chewy texture is my favorite! So cute with the Christmas sprinkles!
Brooklyn
Cutest festive Christmas cookies! I don’t love nutmeg so I personally wish I would have left it out! They are a warm spiced sugar cookie with the nutmeg and browned butter flavor
Ashley Poynor
Delicious chewy sugar cookie with brown butter and vanilla bean paste make these cookies a favourite.
Arica
Browned butter really makes these delicious. Be careful adding a tablespoon or two of water if batter seems dry, one spoonful can be too much and some of my cookies baked really flat. They still tasted and looked pretty great though. Also, try to find vibrant sprinkles. I used the Watkins Christmas sprinkles and they baked up really dull looking.
Emily
These cookies were absolutely delicious! The brown butter was the perfect touch to set them apart. I used off brand sprinkles so the color didn’t hold up as well but it didn’t distract from the flavor. 10/10 recommend!
Lynzee
So fun and festive I had to use a different festive sprinkle but yummy nonetheless.
Andrea Philipsek
These are the best sugar cookies I’ve ever had. I absolutely love the brown butter flavor and I think the vanilla bean paste adds some richness as well. The small batch is perfect. Thank you for a great recipe!! Already planning for Valentines sprinkles!
Erin M.
These are easy and delicious! Great recipe!
Ashlee Mayfield
Holy cow! These are soooo good. Best sugar cookie I’ve ever made. The browned butter and nutmeg make it next level amazing!
Debbie Wronka
Family loved these and said the reminded them of egg nog! Such warm flavors with brown butter, vanilla bean paste and touch of nutmeg! Definitely will make these again!
Lonna
The brown butter and nutmeg make these warm & festive. Will definitely continue making this recipe!
Kim
Simple, easy and delicious! Definitely worth browning the butter ahead of time.
Adrienne
What a perfect simple holiday cookie! I love the nuttiness from the browned butter and the addition of the sprinkles for a festive vibe. They are easy to make and delicious!
Stephanie Wright
Delicious and easy!
Joan
Love the brown butter flavor. Definitely worth the time to brown the butter. The sprinkles are a fun touch.
Katie B
The perfect Christmas cookie! So basic yet loaded with flavor. Browning the butter was worth the extra step and took these to another level. Our dough was a smidge on the dry side so added a tablespoon of water and they baked up great. Can’t go wrong with this one!
Giada S
Easy to make and full of flavor, these cookies are soft, buttery, and festive thanks to the sprinkles. Perfect for a quick holiday treat. 🍪🎄
Rachel
I needed cookies for Santa. These were perfect. You had me a brown butter. Will be making again.
Elisa M.
A simple cookie that is both festive and tasty!
Andrea
Brooke has a way of taking recipes you’ve had before and elevating them. The brown butter, hint of nutmeg and vanilla paste made these cookies next level. My kids loved picking which sprinkles to mix in. Will definitely be making these again-and doubling the batch because we always want more.
Shauna Phillips
Made these for our ward Christmas party and they were the first to disappear. They had such a good flavor!