Embrace the Festive Fun: Delicious Ugly Sweater Christmas Sugar Cookies with Dreamy Buttercream Frosting

Step into the most wonderful time of the year with a batch of cookies that are as charmingly quirky as they are utterly delicious! Our melt-in-your-mouth Ugly Sweater Christmas Sugar Cookies, generously frosted with luscious buttercream, are destined to be the star of all your holiday gatherings. The “ugly sweater” trend has swept the nation, becoming a beloved part of holiday celebrations, and now it’s time to bring that same playful spirit to your baking. Get ready to create edible works of art that are high-priority for any festive occasion!

If you’re looking for more holiday baking inspiration, you might also enjoy these White Chocolate Buttercream Frosted Cupcakes, delightful Christmas Cookie Bars, festive M&M Christmas Cookies, and our irresistible Christmas Peppermint M&M Fudge Cookies!

Pssst! Are you gearing up for a Holly, Jolly Christmas? Perhaps you’re attending an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party or starting a fun new family tradition that incorporates these wonderfully ridiculous holiday jumpers? Whatever your festive plans, bringing a tray of these charming ‘Ugly Sweater’ Buttercream Frosted Christmas Cookies is guaranteed to be a huge hit. They’re not just a treat for the taste buds; they’re also a fantastic conversation starter and ice-breaker at any party or family gathering, sparking smiles and laughter all around.

It’s truly amazing how popular (and sometimes pricey!) those ugly sweaters have become. The uglier and more outlandish, the more sought after they seem to be! But beyond the cost, it’s the sheer joy and communal laughter they inspire that makes them a beloved part of the Christmas season. These cookies capture that very essence – a celebration of festive fun, a little bit of whimsy, and a whole lot of deliciousness. They’re the perfect edible tribute to a quirky holiday tradition that brings people together.

Buttercream Frosting Versus Royal Icing: A Sweet Debate

When it comes to decorating Christmas cut-out sugar cookies, many bakers face the classic dilemma: buttercream frosting or royal icing? While royal icing is renowned for its smooth, precise finish and ability to create intricate designs that harden beautifully, for our ‘Ugly Sweater’ cookies, we wholeheartedly champion buttercream. Here’s why buttercream is the ultimate choice for these festive treats:

Buttercream offers a distinct character that royal icing simply can’t replicate. It provides a soft, rich, and incredibly creamy texture that perfectly complements the tender sugar cookie beneath. The slightly less “perfect” look of buttercream, with its charming swirls and natural imperfections, actually enhances the “ugly sweater” theme. It’s less about flawless execution and more about playful creativity, allowing each cookie to have its own unique, handcrafted appeal. This isn’t just about baking; it’s about embracing the spirit of the holidays, where warmth and homemade charm often take precedence over polished perfection.

For many, buttercream on sugar cookies simply embodies the essence of Christmas. The rich flavor and yielding texture make them incredibly satisfying and utterly irresistible – you might find yourself reaching for “just one more” much faster than with royal icing! But ultimately, how you choose to decorate is entirely up to you. Feel free to use frosting, royal icing, and a liberal sprinkle of festive toppings. The most important thing is to have fun creating these delightful ugly sweater sugar cookie designs with your family and friends, making memories along the way!

Gather Your Ingredients for Festive Baking

Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Dough Recipe

• sugar
• unsalted butter, softened
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• almond extract (optional, but adds a lovely depth of flavor)
• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• salt

Dreamy Buttercream Frosting Recipe

• butter, softened
• powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar), adjust to desired sweetness and consistency
• vanilla extract
• milk or heavy whipping cream, for ideal spreadability
• food coloring, optional for vibrant designs
• pinch of salt, balances the sweetness

Crafting Your Perfect Sugar Cookie Dough

Creating the perfect base for your ugly sweater cookies is key to their deliciousness. Follow these steps for a tender, flavorful cookie dough that holds its shape beautifully.

1. In a large bowl, begin by whisking together your dry ingredients: the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and a touch of salt. This ensures they are well combined before adding to the wet ingredients. Set this mixture aside for later.
2. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and smooth. This step is crucial for incorporating air and creating a tender cookie.
3. Next, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until the mixture becomes wonderfully fluffy, usually about 2 minutes. Then, beat in the vanilla extract and almond extract (if using). The almond extract adds a delightful, subtle complexity that truly elevates the sugar cookie flavor.
4. With your mixer set to low speed, gradually incorporate the reserved flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten too much, resulting in tough cookies. The dough will be quite stiff at this point.
5. Divide the stiff dough in half. Shape each half into a flattened disk, approximately one inch thick. This makes the dough easier to handle and roll out later.
6. Wrap each dough disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling the dough is essential; it prevents the cookies from spreading excessively during baking, ensuring they maintain their fun ugly sweater shapes. You can refrigerate the dough for up to 3 days, making it perfect for preparing ahead of time.

Rolling the Dough & Cutting Sweater Shapes

Now comes the fun part: bringing your ugly sweaters to life! This section focuses on preparing your dough for cutting and getting those perfect holiday shapes.

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Ensure it’s fully preheated before placing cookies inside for even baking.
2. Lightly flour a clean work surface and your rolling pin. Take one chilled dough disk and roll it out evenly to about ¼ inch thickness. If the dough becomes too warm and sticky, return it to the refrigerator for a few minutes.
3. Using your desired cookie cutters (ideally ugly sweater shapes, but any festive cutter will do!), cut out your cookie shapes. Carefully transfer them to baking sheets lined with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
4. Once all cookies are on the baking sheets, refrigerate them again until firm. This extra chilling step is a secret weapon against spreading, helping your cookies maintain their crisp, defined edges during baking.

Baking Your Festive Cookies to Perfection

Baking these cookies correctly ensures they are tender on the inside and just lightly crisp on the edges, making them the ideal canvas for your buttercream creations.

1. Place the chilled cookie sheets into the preheated oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn a light golden brown. Be careful not to overbake, as this can make the cookies dry and crumbly. They should still be slightly soft in the center when removed from the oven.
2. Once baked, remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for a few minutes. This allows them to firm up before handling.
3. Carefully transfer the slightly cooled cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Ensure they are fully cool before frosting, otherwise, your beautiful buttercream will melt!

Whipping Up the Dreamy Buttercream Frosting

This rich and creamy buttercream is what takes these cookies from great to absolutely unforgettable. Its spreadable texture is perfect for both simple frosting and more detailed “ugly sweater” designs.

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and powdered sugar. Start by mixing on low speed with an electric mixer to avoid a cloud of sugar! Gradually increase the speed as the ingredients combine.
2. Stir in the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of milk or heavy whipping cream.
3. Continue beating, gradually adding just enough additional milk (a few drops at a time) until the frosting reaches a smooth, creamy, and easily spreadable consistency. If your frosting seems too thick, add a tiny bit more milk. If it becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar until the desired consistency is achieved. The perfect buttercream should be light and airy, yet firm enough to hold its shape when piped.

Frosting and Decorating Your Ugly Sweater Cookies

Here’s where the real creativity begins! Unleash your inner holiday designer and turn these plain sugar cookies into whimsical ‘ugly sweater’ masterpieces.

1. Once your buttercream is ready, consider dividing it into several portions. For a classic Christmas palette, I recommend coloring one portion green, another red, and leaving the third portion white. You can use gel food coloring for vibrant, rich hues without altering the frosting consistency too much.
2. Transfer your colored frostings into pastry bags fitted with decorative tips, or simply snip a small hole into the corner of a sturdy Ziploc bag for a simple piping tool. Now, let your imagination run wild! Pipe away, creating everything from deliberately “ugly” patterns to surprisingly cute sweater designs. Think stripes, polka dots, zigzags, mismatched patterns, and festive motifs.
3. Embellish your cookies with an array of edible decorations. Add colorful candies, festive sprinkles, edible glitter, or mini chocolate chips. Outline your sweater designs with contrasting colors or create fun, bold patterns. The goal is to be creative and have fun with your own unique ideas! Remember, when it comes to ugly sweaters, there’s no such thing as “too much” or “too silly.”
4. After decorating, place your cookies back on a baking sheet or tray and allow the frosting to set slightly before stacking them. This prevents smudging and keeps your designs intact. Once the frosting is firm, you can transfer them to an airtight container.

Storing Your Festive Cookie Creations

To keep your delicious ugly sweater cookies fresh and delightful, proper storage is key. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If you need to store them for longer, they can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Just be sure to separate layers with parchment paper to protect the frosting designs!

You’ve now got all the tips and tricks to make these incredible ‘Ugly Sweater’ Buttercream Frosted Christmas Cookies! To get started, all you really need is an Ugly Sweater Christmas Cut-Out cookie cutter. While I found mine on Amazon, these festive cutters are often available at many stores that stock general baking supplies and cookie cutters, especially during the holiday season. Don’t worry if you can’t find an exact ugly sweater shape; feel free to use any Christmas-themed cookie cutters you have! The true magic lies in the experience of making, baking, and sharing these delightful Christmas cookies, infused with our fun ugly sweater sugar cookie ideas. Happy baking!

More Christmas Cookie Ideas to Spark Your Holiday Joy

• 12 Christmas Cookies – Bake Me, Eat Me, Gift Me!
• Best Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• Holiday Oreo Cream Cheese Cookies
• Butter Pecan Snowball Cookies
• Triple Chocolate Mocha Peppermint Crunch Cookies
• Soft Sugar Cookies
• White Chocolate Peppermint & Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

‘Ugly Sweater’ Buttercream Frosted Christmas Cookies Recipe

Author: Kim Lange

Delicious, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookies, frosted with yummy buttercream frosting make these cookies high-priority for all your holidays! And…ugly sweaters are the rage, so let’s do this!

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Chill Time: 1 hr

Course: Dessert

Keyword: buttercream frosting, christmas, cookies

Ingredients

Cut-Out Sugar Cookie Dough

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon butter extract (optional, for extra butter flavor)
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Buttercream Frosting

• 1 and 1/3 cups unsalted butter, softened (if using salted butter, omit added salt)
• 6 cups powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar), adjust more depending on personal preference
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4-5 tablespoons milk or heavy whipping cream
• Food coloring (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Sugar Cookie Dough

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes, then beat in the vanilla, butter, and almond extract (if using).
3. With the mixer on low, gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated (the dough will be stiff).
4. Divide dough in half and make each dough ball into a flat disk about an inch thick.
5. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.

When Ready, Make the Cutout Cookies

1. Heat oven to 350° F (175°C).
2. On a floured surface, roll out each disk ¼ inch thick.
3. Cut into shapes and place on parchment-lined baking sheets; refrigerate until firm.
4. Bake until just beginning to brown, 10-12 minutes.
5. Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Buttercream Frosting

1. In a medium bowl, mix powdered sugar and softened butter with an electric mixer on low speed until combined.
2. Stir in vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of the milk.
3. Gradually beat in just enough remaining milk or heavy whipping cream to make the frosting smooth and spreadable. If the frosting is too thick, beat in more milk, a few drops at a time. If the frosting becomes too thin, beat in a small amount of powdered sugar.
4. Divide frosting into desired groups for coloring. For example, use green, red, and white for a classic Christmas theme.
5. Place frostings into pastry bags (or use Ziploc bags with a small corner snipped) and pipe cute or “ugly” sweater designs. Decorate with candies, sprinkles, or stripes – get creative!
6. Place frosted cookies on a baking sheet to let the frosting firm up before stacking or placing in an airtight container.

Notes

It’s okay if you don’t have almond and butter extract; the cookies will still be delicious.