Name: Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 1 h 23 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups (3 sticks or 340g) unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 2 large egg yolks; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons almond extract; 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon baking powder

Alright, friends, if you’re anything like me and love everything cozy and kitschy about the holidays, you’re going to flip for this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe. These aren’t just any sugar cookies—they’re buttery, crisp, and decorated with whimsical ugly sweater designs that bring all the festive feels. I promise, once you try these, your cookie game will never be the same. Plus, baking these is an absolute blast, especially if you have little helpers or just want to channel your inner holiday artist!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Buttery & Crispy Texture: These cookies have the perfect balance that melts in your mouth without being too soft or hard.
Easy to Decorate: The sturdy cookie base holds up beautifully, making your ugly sweater designs pop and stay put.
Family-Friendly Fun: Decorating these with loved ones is a holiday tradition in my house – it’s pure joy and creativity wrapped in sugar.
Reliable & Simple Ingredients: You’ll love how straightforward the recipe is, with ingredients you likely have on hand already.

A cookie shaped like a long-sleeve sweater lies on a white cloth over a checkered fabric. The cookie is covered with smooth red icing forming the sweater base. On the chest area, there is a detailed reindeer face made with different icing colors: brown for the face and snout, black for the eyes and antlers, and a bright red shiny nose. The edges of the sweater are outlined with a thin red icing line. The whole scene is on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies, Christmas cookie decorating ideas, holiday baking recipes, festive holiday cookies, simple Christmas cookies

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every ingredient in this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe plays its part perfectly. I always use room temperature butter and eggs to make sure the dough comes together silky smooth, which helps the cookies bake up just right.

Flat lay of a soft mound of unsalted butter, two smooth whole brown eggs, two golden egg yolks in a small white ceramic bowl, a small white ceramic bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl with clear almond extract, a small white ceramic bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl of fine salt, and a small white ceramic bowl of baking powder, all arranged in perfect symmetry, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies, Christmas cookie decorating ideas, holiday baking recipes, festive holiday cookies, simple Christmas cookies

Unsalted butter: Go for high-quality, unsalted butter at room temp—it makes the cookies rich and lets you control the saltiness.
Granulated sugar: Classic white sugar gives a great sweetness and helps achieve that crispy edge we all love.
Eggs: Room temperature eggs blend better for smoother dough and positive cookie texture.
Vanilla extract: The backbone of warm flavor—never skip the vanilla.
Almond extract: This little addition gives just the right hint of festive nuttiness, elevating the flavor finesse.
All-purpose flour: The base that holds it all together; be sure to sift it to avoid lumps in the dough.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor depth.
Baking powder: Gives a slight rise without losing that essential crispness.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love how this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe lends itself to all kinds of fun twists depending on your mood and the occasion. Don’t hesitate to get creative with your designs or even flavors—you’ll find it super easy to make these your own.

Gluten-Free Version: I swapped all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour once, and they turned out surprisingly great—just be sure to add a bit more chill time so the dough isn’t too sticky.
Flavor Swaps: Try swapping almond extract for peppermint extract for an extra Christmassy kick—my kids adored that twist!
Mini Sweaters: I like making smaller cookies for parties—perfect bite-sized treats that are quicker to bake and let you decorate a whole batch in no time.
Royal Icing Decorations: Use royal icing for detailed designs, or opt for simple colored sugar sprinkles if you want the decorating to be fuss-free and still festive.

How to Make Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy

This step is where the magic starts! Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream your room-temperature butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy—about 2 minutes. This helps air get incorporated for that perfect texture. Don’t rush it! Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice to make sure everything blends evenly.

Step 2: Add Eggs and Extracts

Keep the mixer on low and add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time to keep your dough silky and well-mixed. After that, pour in the vanilla and almond extracts. The almond extract is what gives these cookies a unique, festive flavor that I absolutely love.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix In

In a separate bowl, sift together your flour, salt, and baking powder—this keeps everything light and avoids lumps. Then, add the dry mixture to your wet ingredients a cup at a time with the mixer on low. The dough will start coming together, so be patient and don’t overmix.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

I discovered that chilling the dough for at least an hour makes rolling and cutting so much easier, plus it helps prevent spreading when baking. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge—very low effort with big rewards!

Step 5: Roll Out and Cut Shapes

Sprinkle your work surface generously with flour. Roll the chilled dough out to about ¼ inch thick. For the sweaters, you can go big—like I do, roughly the size of your hand—or smaller if you want bite-sized fun. If you have a sweater-shaped cookie cutter, perfect! Otherwise, a knife and your creativity work just fine.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Bake your cookies at 350°F (175°C) for 6 to 8 minutes. Keep a close eye on them because the edges can brown quickly—that’s your cue to pull them out. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes first; they firm up just enough to transfer to a rack without breaking.

Step 7: Decorate and Enjoy!

This is the most fun part—decorate your cookies with frosting, sprinkles, and edible markers to match those wild ugly sweater designs! I love how decorating brings out the kid in everyone and makes the whole baking session a festive party.

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Pro Tips for Making Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe

Perfect Dough Consistency: The dough should be soft but not sticky; if it feels too sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time.
Avoid Overbaking: Cookies continue to bake on the sheet after coming out of the oven, so it’s okay if they look slightly underdone.
Even Thickness Matters: Roll the dough as evenly as possible, using rolling pin guides if you have them, to prevent uneven baking.
Cool Completely Before Decorating: This keeps frosting from sliding off and ensures crisp cookies stay that way.

How to Serve Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe

The image shows two decorated sweater-shaped cookies placed side by side on a white marbled surface. The cookie in the foreground is a bright red sweater with a reindeer's face in the center, featuring brown, black, and red icing for the antlers, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Behind it, the second cookie is a white sweater decorated with a festive pattern of green Christmas trees, red and yellow bands, and small snowmen in white icing with black and orange details. In the background, slightly out of focus, there are small Santa Claus figurines adding a festive touch. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies, Christmas cookie decorating ideas, holiday baking recipes, festive holiday cookies, simple Christmas cookies

Garnishes

I love garnishing my ugly sweater cookies with colorful royal icing piped fine for sweater “stitching,” plus sprinkles and edible glitter for that classic kitsch factor. Bright green and red sugar crystals, little candy beads, and tiny edible pearls work wonders to make each cookie feel like a mini festive masterpiece!

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm mug of spiced hot cocoa or a glass of buttery eggnog to take your holiday gathering up a notch. I also love serving them alongside a cheese and fruit platter for a sweet-and-savory contrast that surprises guests in the best way.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting or party trays, I like arranging the decorated cookies standing upright around a centerpiece or layering them in decorated tin boxes with parchment. For a brunch or cookie exchange, set up a DIY decorating station so guests can customize their own “ugly sweaters” – it never fails to bring laughter and creativity!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper to keep them crisp but fresh for up to a week. If you find the edges soften over time, just pop them in a warm oven for a few minutes to crisp back up—trust me, it works wonders.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully—either baked or unbaked dough. For the dough, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before rolling. For baked cookies, freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag to avoid breaks.

Reheating

If your cookies have softened from storage, pop them into a 300°F oven for 5 minutes to freshen them up. I do this before decorating leftovers for that just-baked feel every time. Avoid microwaving, which can make them chewy.

FAQs

Can I use a hand mixer instead of a stand mixer?

Absolutely! A hand mixer works just as well for creaming the butter and sugar. Just take your time and scrape the bowl frequently to make sure everything blends evenly.
What if I don’t have a sweater cookie cutter?

No worries! You can freehand the sweater shape with a knife or use a shape like a mitten or stocking for variety. The fun plus the flavor make any shape a winner.
Why do I need to chill the dough?

Chilling the dough relaxes the gluten, making it easier to roll out and preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking, so your sweater designs stay sharp.
Can I substitute almond extract with another flavor?

Yes! Peppermint or lemon extracts make great alternatives, adding a fresh twist to the classic sugar cookie base. Just use the same quantity for balanced flavor.
How do I store decorated cookies without ruining the icing?

Once the icing is fully set and hardened (usually a few hours), store cookies in a single layer in an airtight container to avoid smudging. You can use parchment paper between layers if stacking.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies Recipe has become one of my absolute holiday favorites because it’s more than just a recipe—it’s an experience. From the buttery dough to the colorful, quirky decorating, every step reminds me of laughter-filled kitchen moments with family and friends. Whether you’re baking for a party, gifting, or just treating yourself, these cookies never disappoint. I can’t wait for you to try them and maybe even start your own annual “ugly sweater cookie” tradition!