If you’re searching for a festive treat that brings the joy of the holidays right into your kitchen, the Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies Recipe is an absolute delight. These charming sugar cookies, shaped like holly leaves and dotted with bright red berries, are buttery, sweet, and perfectly spiced with a hint of almond and vanilla. The gleaming green and red icing not only makes them look irresistible but adds a delightful texture and flavor that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Whether for a holiday party, sharing with loved ones, or just enjoying a cozy afternoon, this recipe captures the spirit of the season in every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best things about this Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies Recipe is how straightforward and essential the ingredients are. Each one plays a vital role, from creating the soft, tender cookie base to delivering the iconic holiday colors and delightful flavors that make these cookies truly special.
- All-purpose flour (2 ¾ cups): This forms the soft, sturdy base that makes the cookies perfectly tender yet firm enough to hold their shape.
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise just enough to be light and airy without spreading too much.
- Baking powder (½ teaspoon): Adds lift and helps with texture, so your cookies aren’t dense.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances the other flavors beautifully.
- Unsalted butter, softened (1 cup): Adds richness and a melt-in-your-mouth quality every sugar cookie should have.
- Granulated sugar (1 ½ cups): Sweetens the dough and helps give that classic crisp yet tender bite.
- Egg (1 large): Binds everything together and contributes to the cookie’s soft texture.
- Pure vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Brings warm, inviting aroma and depth to the cookie flavor.
- Almond extract (½ teaspoon): Adds a subtle nutty note that perfectly complements the vanilla.
- Green and red gel food coloring: Essential for getting those iconic holiday colors on your cookies and icing without altering the flavor.
- Powdered sugar (2 cups): For silky-smooth icing that hardens to a beautiful, glossy finish.
- Milk (2 tablespoons): Loosens the icing to the perfect consistency for decorating.
- Light corn syrup (1 tablespoon): Gives the icing its signature shine and smooth texture.
- Vanilla extract for icing (½ teaspoon): Enhances the sweetness and flavor of the glaze.
How to Make Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Dry Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure your cookies bake evenly without sticking. In a medium bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients — flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt — for that perfectly balanced structure in your cookies.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with the granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes. This step is key for achieving a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture in your sugar cookies.
Step 3: Add Egg and Extracts
Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until everything is smooth and well incorporated. These extracts bring warmth and complexity, making each cookie taste like a little holiday hug.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to over-mix here because you want to keep your cookies tender, not tough.
Step 5: Tint and Roll the Dough
Divide your dough into two portions: tint one with green gel food coloring for the holly leaves, and leave the other plain or tint it red for the berries — whichever you prefer. Roll each portion out on a lightly floured surface until about ¼ inch thick.
Step 6: Cut and Bake
Use holly leaf and small round cookie cutters to create your festive shapes, spacing them about an inch apart on your prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges begin to show a light golden hue, then let them cool completely on wire racks before decorating.
Step 7: Make and Apply Icing
Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth and glossy. Divide and tint your icing with green and red gel food coloring as desired. Decorate your cooled cookies with the green icing for the leaves and red icing for the berries. Allow the icing to set fully before storing or serving.
How to Serve Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
To give your Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies Recipe that extra festive touch, try garnishing with a tiny sprinkle of edible glitter or coarse sanding sugar. These add a magical sparkle that catches the light beautifully during holiday gatherings.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with warm beverages like spiced apple cider, peppermint hot chocolate, or your favorite tea. The comforting warmth balances the sweet, buttery cookie perfectly, creating a cozy snack everyone will love.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your holly and berry cookies on a rustic wooden board or a festive platter layered with fresh evergreen sprigs to highlight the holiday theme. You could also stack them with a bright red or green ribbon tied around for a charming gift presentation.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After your Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies Recipe is baked and decorated, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days, making them perfect for preparing ahead of festivities.
Freezing
If you want to make these cookies in advance, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and place inside a freezer-safe bag or container. They freeze well for up to 2 months and can be thawed gently at room temperature without losing their delightful texture or flavor.
Reheating
Since these cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature, there’s no need to reheat. However, if you prefer a softer bite, warm them briefly in a low oven (about 300°F) for 3 to 5 minutes to freshen them up without melting the icing.
FAQs
Can I use different colors of icing for this recipe?
Absolutely! While green and red are traditional for holly and berries, feel free to use any colors you like to match your holiday décor or personal style.
What can I substitute for almond extract?
If you’re not a fan of almond extract or have allergies, simply increase the vanilla extract by a teaspoon or add a tiny splash of lemon extract for a fresh twist.
Do I need to chill the dough before rolling?
Chilling is optional but recommended if the dough feels too soft to handle. A 30-minute chill in the fridge makes rolling easier and helps the cookies hold their shape better during baking.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
You can experiment by substituting the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking flour blend, but results may vary. It’s best to test a small batch first for texture and taste.
How long does the icing take to set?
Icing typically takes about 1 to 2 hours to fully harden at room temperature. For a glossy, layered finish, wait until the base coat is dry before adding additional details.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about making and sharing the Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies Recipe during the holiday season. It’s not just about the sweet, buttery treat but also the joy of crafting something beautiful and festive with your own hands. I hope you give this recipe a try and that it brings as much happiness to your kitchen as it does to your plate. Happy baking!
Print
Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate the holidays with classic Holly and Berry Sugar Cookies, featuring soft, buttery sugar cookie dough tinted festively with green and red gel food coloring. These charming cookies are perfectly decorated with smooth homemade icing, bringing festive colors and flavors to your holiday table. Easy to bake and delightfully delicious, they make an excellent treat for Christmas and winter celebrations.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Food Coloring
- Green gel food coloring
- Red gel food coloring
Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. This step incorporates air for tender cookies.
- Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until the dough is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix only until just combined to avoid overworking the dough, keeping the cookies tender.
- Color the Dough: Divide the dough into two portions. Tint one portion green using gel food coloring for the holly leaves. Leave the other portion plain or tint it red for the holly berries.
- Roll and Cut Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough portion out to about ¼-inch thickness. Use holly leaf cookie cutters for the green dough and small round cutters for the berries. Place cutouts 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies start to turn golden. This ensures a perfect balance of softness and structure.
- Cool Completely: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to wire racks. Allow them to cool completely before decorating to ensure icing adherence.
- Prepare the Icing: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth. Divide this icing and tint portions green and red with gel food coloring as desired for decorating.
- Decorate Cookies: Using the colored icings, decorate the cooled cookies with green for holly leaves and red for berries. Allow the icing to set completely before storing or serving.
Notes
- If the dough feels too soft to roll, chill it for 30 minutes before rolling out to make it easier to handle.
- For a glossy finish on your cookies, allow the first layer of icing to dry completely before adding any detailed decorations on top.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to 5 days.
- Cookies can be frozen, either decorated or undecorated, for up to 2 months; thaw completely before serving.
