🎅 Christmas Santa Suit Sugar Cookie Cutouts Recipe 🎅

Introduction

There’s no holiday quite as magical as Christmas, and nothing brings the festive spirit to life like baking a batch of adorable Santa Suit Sugar Cookie Cutouts! These cookies are not only delicious but also a lot of fun to decorate. With a classic sugar cookie base and vibrant royal icing, these cookies are sure to become a holiday tradition. I had a blast making these with my family; everyone loved creating their own Santa faces, and they were a huge hit at our holiday gathering!

Ingredients

For the Sugar Cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Royal Icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons meringue powder
• 4-5 tablespoons water (adjust for consistency)
• Red gel food coloring

For Decoration:

• Red sanding sugar
• White sanding sugar
• Pink and black nonpareils (for cheeks and eyes)
• Small red candies or mini M&Ms (for Santa’s nose)
• Piping bags and small round piping tips

Instructions

1. Make the Sugar Cookies:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
• Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using), and mix until well combined.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until a dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
• Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

1. Roll and Cut the Cookies:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness.
• Use a Santa face or round cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place them on prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.

1. Prepare the Royal Icing:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Mix on low speed until the icing reaches a smooth, pipeable consistency.
• Separate the icing into two portions. Tint one portion with red gel food coloring for Santa’s hat.
• Transfer the white and red icings to piping bags fitted with small round tips.

1. Decorate the Cookies:

• Outline and Flood Santa’s Hat: Use the red icing to outline and fill the top section of each cookie for Santa’s hat. Immediately sprinkle red sanding sugar over the wet icing to cover the hat completely. Shake off any excess and let it set.
• Add Santa’s Beard and Hat Trim: Use the white icing to outline and fill the bottom half of the cookie for Santa’s beard and the trim of the hat. While the icing is still wet, sprinkle white sanding sugar on the beard and hat trim. Let it set.
• Create Santa’s Face: Leave a small section between the beard and hat un-iced for Santa’s face. Once the icing has set, use a small dot of white icing to attach pink nonpareils for cheeks, black nonpareils for eyes, and a red candy or mini M&M for Santa’s nose.
• Add Final Details: If desired, use a small amount of white icing to pipe a smile below the nose. Let the cookies sit until all the icing is completely dry.

Nutrition Facts

• Servings: About 24 cookies
• Calories per serving: 150

Preparation Time

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Chill Time: 1 hour
• Bake Time: 8-10 minutes
• Total Time: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes

How to Serve

• Serve on a Festive Platter: Display the cookies on a holiday-themed platter for a beautiful centerpiece.
• Pack as Gifts: Wrap in clear bags with ribbon and give as gifts to friends and family.
• Enjoy with Milk: Serve with a cold glass of milk, especially for Santa!
• Add to Cookie Boxes: Include these cookies in a holiday cookie assortment box.
• For Santa’s Snack: Leave a few out on Christmas Eve as a treat for Santa.

Additional Tips

1. Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough helps keep the cookies from spreading during baking.
2. Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel food coloring produces vibrant colors without affecting the icing consistency.
3. Adjust Icing Consistency: Add a few drops of water if the icing is too thick, or a bit more powdered sugar if it’s too thin.
4. Let Cookies Cool Completely: Decorate only when cookies are fully cooled to prevent icing from melting.
5. Use Nonpareils Carefully: These tiny decorations are delicate; handle with care when adding to the cookies.

Recipe Variations

• Chocolate Santa Cookies: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolate-flavored base.
• Mint Icing: Add a few drops of peppermint extract to the icing for a holiday twist.
• Sprinkle Variation: Use green sanding sugar along with red for a more festive look.
• No-Bake Option: Try decorating store-bought sugar cookies if short on time.
• Colorful Santa Faces: Experiment with different colors for Santa’s hat or beard for a fun twist.

Serving Suggestions

• Holiday Cookie Exchange: Perfect for holiday parties or cookie exchange events.
• Gift Boxes: Include in holiday gift boxes along with other homemade treats.
• Christmas Dessert Table: Add to your Christmas dessert table for a festive look.
• Office Treat: Share at the office for a festive holiday treat.
• Hostess Gift: A wonderful homemade treat to bring along as a hostess gift.

Freezing and Storage

• Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• Freezing the Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
• Freezing Baked Cookies: Freeze undecorated cookies for up to 2 months; decorate after thawing.
• Freezing Decorated Cookies: Store in layers with parchment paper between them; allow to thaw completely before serving.
• Refrigeration: Refrigeration is not recommended, as it can affect the texture of the cookies.

FAQ

1. Can I make the dough ahead of time?
   Yes, you can make the dough up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate it until ready to use.
2. Can I freeze the dough?
   Yes, wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
3. Can I use different cookie cutters?
   Absolutely! You can use any festive shapes you like.
4. Can I skip the almond extract?
   Yes, the almond extract is optional and can be omitted.
5. What if I don’t have meringue powder?
   Meringue powder is essential for royal icing; however, egg whites can be used in place of meringue powder.
6. Can I use regular food coloring?
   Gel food coloring is recommended for vibrant color without affecting consistency.
7. How long does it take for the icing to dry?
   The icing takes about 1-2 hours to dry completely.
8. How do I make icing stiffer?
   Add more powdered sugar to thicken the icing if needed.
9. Can I use store-bought icing?
   Yes, but homemade royal icing provides a better consistency for detailed decorating.
10. How do I store decorated cookies?
    Store in an airtight container at room temperature, layered with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Conclusion

These Christmas Santa Suit Sugar Cookie Cutouts are festive, delicious, and bring holiday cheer to any gathering! The tender, buttery sugar cookies topped with bright and beautiful royal icing make them a joy to decorate and even more enjoyable to eat. Perfect for creating holiday memories with loved ones, these cookies add a delightful touch to any Christmas celebration. Grab your ingredients and cookie cutters, and get ready to bake a batch of Santa-inspired joy this holiday season!

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