Name: Grandma Lucy's Sugar Cookies for Christmas
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 72 medium cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup butter flavored shortening; 2 cups granulated sugar; 4 large eggs; 7-8 cups of all-purpose flour +1 more for rolling; 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons vanilla; 1 cup of milk; 1 tablespoon white vinegar; 1/2 cup butter (at room temperature); 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream (at room temperature); 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 2.5-3 cups powdered sugar

These softChristmas Sugar Cookiesare easy to make, hold their shape, and are perfect for holiday decorating!

My mother-in-law Lucy makes the BEST sugar cookies.There are very few things that Thomas pulls the “but they aren’t like my mom’s” card on when it comes to my cooking, but sugar cookies is one of those recipes. I’m so excited to share her formerly secret recipe with you today because it’s one she’s been making for years and years and we all love it best.

Grandma Lucy sugar cookies are the stuff childhood memories are made of. AND you don’t have to chill the dough before rolling them out BUT you can if you want to make the dough ahead of time (win-win!). These aren’t justChristmas sugar cookiesin our world either, Grandma makes them for most major holidays and invites all the grandkids over to decorate them with her. You’ve never seen such a mess!

Looking for more Christmas cookies?Try thesesoft gingerbread cookies, or theseamazing chocolate chip cookies!

Soft and tender Christmas sugar cookies that are sweet and keep their shape very well and are perfect for decorating; Grandma Lucy's secret recipe!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These cookies are thick, puffy, super soft, and keep their shape perfectly.
You can decorate them with simply with sprinkle and sanding sugar or you can go all out with icing. Either way they’re delicious!
Butter flavored shortening helps the cookies to be tender but still keep their shape.

Ingredients

For the cookies

Butter Flavored Shortening
Granulated Sugar
Eggs
All-Purpose Flour:for the dough and extra for rolling
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Salt
Vanilla
Milk
White Vinegar

For the frosting

Butter
Heavy Cream
Vanilla Extract
Powdered Sugar

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Grandma Lucy’s Christmas Sugar Cookies

Step #1.Cream sugar and shortening until fluffy. Add the eggs and combine, then add the vanilla and combine.

Step #3.Roll out 1/4 of the dough on a generously floured surface until 1/4-1/2″ thick. Cut out with cookie cutters and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Step #2.Add three cups flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Stir together the milk and vinegar, then mix into dough. Add four more cups of flour and mix until dough is tacky and not gloopy.

Step #4.Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough, gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go. Cool and decorate as desired.

Recipe FAQs

How do you roll the dough without it sticking to the rolling pin?

Make sure you get a little flour on the rolling pin and flour the surface before rolling out the dough.

How do you cut the dough without it sticking to the cutter?

Press straight down firmly with the cookie cutter, and pick it straight back up. Don’t wiggle or move it around much. If you find the dough is sticking, press the cutter into some flour so it becomes more nonstick. You can also put your cookie cutters in the freezer for 10 minutes to chill them and make the surface less sticky.

How do you transfer the cut dough without breaking the shape?

Use a thin and sturdy spatula (like a metal spatula) to safely transfer cookie dough shapes to the baking sheet.

How do you tell if the cookies are done baking?

They’re done when the cookies are golden-brown in the center, about 10 minutes.

holiday decorated sugar cookies iced next to a glass jug of milk

Expert Tips

You can make the dough in advance and let it sit in the fridge a few hours or overnight until you are ready to bake them.
You can press sprinkles or colored sugars into the uncooked cut cookies before baking and then bake as directed.This is a simple way to add a few decorations without much work on your part.
Because we make this cookie recipe all year long, we LOVE this101 Cookie Cutter set.It has it all! Plus, you can’t beat the price (around $10). It makes a fun gift idea, too.
Want to change up the flavor just a bit?I love to add 1 teaspoon vanilla and then add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract and 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract. Delicious!
For thicker and softer cookies, roll the dough out into a 1/2 inch thickness.For thinner cookies that are crispier,roll it out to 1/4 inch thickness.

iced sugar cookies on a white plate decorated in holiday style

How do you store soft sugar cookies?

Because these are extra fluffy and soft, it’s best to store them in/on something like a baking sheet or a baking dish. Then cover the dish well with a lid or plastic wrap. They can be stacked, but not more than 2 high. If you need to stack more than 2 cookies, you’ll want to place a piece of parchment paper in between. These cookies also freeze well. Store and freeze before adding icing for best results. Thaw and ice right before eating, gifting, or sharing these cookies.