Name: Santa Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 42 min
Yield: 14
Cuisine: Christmas
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1 large egg, at room temperature; 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon red food coloring; mini chocolate chips; mini red chocolate-coated candies; 1/2 cup (1 stick) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature; 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

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Santa Cookies bring instant holiday cheer to the kitchen with their bright red dough, playful shapes and festive decorations that feel just as fun to make as they are to eat.

Each Christmas Cookie transforms into a jolly little Santa, complete with chocolate candy details and creamy frosting that adds both personality and sweetness.

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Perfect for baking with kids, cookie swaps, or adding something extra special to a Christmas dessert spread, these Santa Cookies turn a classic sugar cookie base into a memorable holiday tradition worth repeating year after year.

Keep the fun with the family with my Favorite Children’s Santa Books, Night Before Christmas Board Book, Free Santa Claus Coloring Page and of course, the Best Christmas Movies of All Time!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
What To Serve Along With These Santa Cookies
Santa Cookies Ingredients
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
How To Make Santa Cookies
More Santa-Themed Recipes

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Santa Cookies turn classic sugar cookie dough and creamy frosting into an adorable, festive treat that feels extra special during the holidays.

Fun, hands-on decorating: Shaping the dough into Santa figures and adding chocolate candies makes this recipe interactive and memorable.
Soft, flavorful cookies: Butter, brown sugar and vanilla create a tender cookie with rich flavor.
Festive visual appeal: Red food coloring, mini chocolate chips and red chocolate candies bring Santa to life.
Creamy homemade frosting: Butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar whip into a smooth frosting that’s perfect for piping details.
Perfect holiday tradition: These cookies feel made for baking with family and celebrating the season.

This recipe delivers charming cookies that taste as good as they look and make any holiday spread feel extra magical.

A special thanks to Maple Hill for this wonderfully festive recipe.

What To Serve Along With These Santa Cookies

Santa Cookies pair beautifully with festive holiday recipes that balance their sweet, buttery flavor and playful presentation.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate: The rich cocoa and cool peppermint complement the sweetness of the cookies while reinforcing the holiday theme.
Sugar Cookie Bark: A crisp, chocolatey treat adds texture contrast to the soft, frosted cookies.
Gingerbread Cookies: Warm spices like ginger and cinnamon deepen the holiday flavor profile alongside the vanilla-forward Santa Cookies.
White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge: Its creamy texture and minty crunch echo the frosting while adding indulgent variety to a dessert spread.
Cranberry Orange Loaf: The bright citrus and tart cranberry notes balance the richness of the cookies.
No-Alcohol Eggnog: Smooth, spiced eggnog flavors pair naturally with the buttery dough and cream cheese frosting.
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: A simple, classic pairing that lets the decorated cookies shine while adding a cool, creamy contrast.
Holiday Punch or Milk: A festive punch adds brightness, while cold milk keeps things classic and kid-friendly.

Together, these recipes create a cheerful holiday dessert table that highlights the charm of Santa Cookies while offering a mix of flavors, textures, and festive favorites.

Santa Cookies Ingredients

Prep time: 30 minutes
Bake time: 12–15 minutes
Total time: About 45 minutes
Servings: 14 cookies

Maple Hill Salted Butter
brown sugar
vanilla extract
egg
all-purpose flour
salt
red food coloring
mini chocolate chips
mini red chocolate-coated candies

Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

Here are the essential kitchen tools you need to make these festive Santa Cookies with creamy frosting.

Large mixing bowl: to mix the cookie dough ingredients.
Hand mixer: to cream the butter, sugar and frosting smoothly.
Measuring cups and spoons: for accurate ingredient portions.
Rubber spatula or spoon: to scrape down the bowl and mix dough evenly.
Two baking sheets: to bake the cookies in batches.
Parchment paper: to line the baking sheets and prevent sticking.
Small bowls: to separate plain and red dough if needed.
Wire cooling rack: to cool cookies completely before decorating.
Medium mixing bowl: to prepare the frosting.
Piping bags: to decorate Santa’s details with frosting.
Small round piping tip: for outlining arms and legs.
Small star piping tip: for Santa’s beard, hat trim and hands.

With these tools on hand, decorating these adorable Santa Cookies will feel just as fun as enjoying them.

How To Make Santa Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat until combined. Add flour and salt; mix until dough begins to form ball.

Remove 1 cup dough and set aside. Add red food coloring to remaining dough.

From red cookie dough, make one 1-inch ball and five 1/2-inch balls. From plain cookie dough, make one 3/4-inch ball and five 1/4-inch balls.

On prepared baking sheet, place red 1-inch ball and gently flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attach four red 1/2-inch balls for arms and legs. Attach plain 3/4-inch ball for head and gently flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attach plain 1/4-inch balls for hands and feet. Shape remaining red 1/2-inch ball into triangle for hat and attach. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Add chocolate candies for eyes and buttons.

Bake 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden.

To make frosting: In medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and powdered sugar; mix until combined.

To decorate: Place half of frosting in piping bag with small tip to line Santa’s arms and legs. Place other half in second piping bag with small star tip to add Santa’s beard, hat and hands. Put small dot of icing between eyes and beard and place red mini chocolate-coated candy on face for nose.

More Santa-Themed Recipes

Discover more Santa-themed recipes that add festive fun and holiday cheer to your kitchen.

Santa Cookies

Yield: 14

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 42 minutes

Santa Cookies bring instant holiday cheer to the kitchen with their bright red dough, playful shapes and festive decorations that feel just as fun to make as they are to eat.

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon red food coloring
mini chocolate chips
mini red chocolate-coated candies

Frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat until combined. Add flour and salt; mix until dough begins to form ball.
Remove 1 cup dough and set aside. Add red food coloring to remaining dough.
From red cookie dough, make one 1-inch ball and five 1/2-inch balls. From plain cookie dough, make one 3/4-inch ball and five 1/4-inch balls.
On prepared baking sheet, place red 1-inch ball and gently flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attach four red 1/2-inch balls for arms and legs. Attach plain 3/4-inch ball for head and gently flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attach plain 1/4-inch balls for hands and feet. Shape remaining red 1/2-inch ball into triangle for hat and attach. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Add chocolate candies for eyes and buttons.
Bake 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
To make frosting: In medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and powdered sugar; mix until combined.
To decorate: Place half of frosting in piping bag with small tip to line Santa's arms and legs. Place other half in second piping bag with small star tip to add Santa's beard, hat and hands. Put small dot of icing between eyes and beard and place red mini chocolate-coated candy on face for nose.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 579Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 16gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 245mgCarbohydrates: 84gFiber: 1gSugar: 53gProtein: 5g

Nutrient values are only estimates provided by online calculators. Various factors can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.