Nothing says cozy winter vibes like baking a batch of cheerful snowman cookies. This Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe is my favorite go-to for holiday gatherings because these cookies aren’t just adorable — they’re soft, flavorful, and fun to decorate. Let me walk you through making these festive favorites you'll want to bake every year.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I adore this recipe because it blends classic sugar cookie simplicity with a whimsical snowman shape that’s perfect for decorating—something even kids get excited about. The combination of vanilla and a hint of almond extract gives these cookies a warm, inviting flavor that fills your kitchen with holiday spirit.
- Perfect Texture: These cookies are soft but firm enough to hold their shape beautifully, making decorating a breeze.
- Delicious Flavor Boost: Adding almond extract takes the flavor up a notch, creating a subtle, irresistible nuance.
- Easy Decorating: The royal icing dries smooth and sets nicely, so your snowmen look charming and professional.
- Great for Gifting: Once decorated and set, they keep fresh for days and freeze well, so you can prepare ahead for holiday treats and presents.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Getting the right ingredients is crucial here—each one plays an important role to achieve that perfect cookie consistency and flavor. Plus, I always recommend using fresh, high-quality vanilla and almond extracts for that extra pop.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure and ensures the cookies hold their shape when rolled and cut.
- Baking powder: Just a touch to lift the cookies slightly, helping with that delicate crumb.
- Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors and balances the richness.
- Unsalted butter: Softened to room temperature for creamy texture and rich flavor; unsalted lets you control the saltiness.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and contributes to a tender bite.
- Large egg: Binds ingredients nicely and adds moisture for softness.
- Pure vanilla extract: Classic flavor base that complements the almond extract beautifully.
- Almond extract (optional): A little goes a long way to give the cookies their signature cozy, nutty flavor.
- Royal icing & gel food coloring: For decorating and bringing those snowmen to life with vibrant colors.
Make It Your Way
I love how flexible this cookie recipe is. Whether you want to switch things up with flavors or adapt for allergies, you can customize these cookies to fit your style without losing any of the fun.
- Flavor swaps: I’ve tried this recipe with coconut extract instead of almond and it’s fantastic for a tropical twist. Peppermint extract also makes a refreshing holiday treat!
- Dietary tweaks: For gluten-free, replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend—just be sure it contains xanthan gum for structure.
- Decorating fun: If royal icing feels intimidating, try buttercream with less sugar for a soft finish, but remember they won’t dry as hard for stacking or gifting.
- Shape swaps: While I adore the snowman cutter for festive vibes, these doughs work wonderfully with any cookie cutters you have on hand.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients and Cream Butter & Sugar
Start by whisking together your flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set it aside. Then, grab your mixer and beat the softened butter with sugar on high until it’s super creamy—about two minutes. This step is key to a tender cookie, so don’t rush it. Adding the egg, vanilla, and almond extract comes next, mixing just until combined, making your kitchen smell like holiday magic.
Step 2: Combine and Chill the Dough
Mix the dry ingredients into the wet on low speed to avoid overworking your dough. It will feel a bit soft—that’s perfect. If it’s too sticky to roll, adding a tablespoon of flour helps. Split the dough in two, roll each out to about ¼-inch thickness between floured parchment papers, stack the sheets, cover, and chill in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours. This keeps your dough firm and easier to handle.
Step 3: Cut and Bake Your Snowmen
Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Carefully peel apart the dough layers—if they’re sticky, a gentle shimmy with your hand underneath helps. Use your snowman cookie cutter to cut shapes, re-rolling scraps as you go. Arrange cookies about 3 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment. Bake for 11-12 minutes until edges just start to brown. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely. Patience here pays off in perfectly baked cookies.
Step 4: Decorate with Royal Icing
Mix up your royal icing and divide it into small bowls for white, red, black, and orange colors. I find it easiest to start with a piping bag fitted with a medium tip to outline and flood the cookie in white, letting that set chilled before adding details. Then, add the red scarves, black hats, eyes, and buttons, and finally the orange carrot noses with a fine tip. Give them about 2-3 hours at room temperature to fully set—your snowmen will be picture-perfect!
Top Tip
From baking dozens of batches, I’ve learned that chilling the dough properly and using floured parchment for rolling are game-changers. These simple steps prevent sticking and help your cookies keep their adorable snowman shape without spreading or cracking during baking.
- Proper Dough Chilling: Don’t skip the fridge time. A well-chilled dough is easier to roll and cuts cleanly, resulting in sharper cookie edges.
- Parchment Layering: Rolling the dough between parchment sheets stops dough from sticking and means less flour, which keeps your cookies tender.
- Pick the Right Icing Tips: Using specific Wilton tips (#1 for details, #4 or #5 for flooding and scarves) makes decorating so much smoother—and prettier!
- Don’t Overbake: Baking just until edges start to turn light golden ensures soft cookies that hold shape and stay moist.
How to Serve Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I keep the garnishes simple but festive: royal icing colors do all the talking, but you might sprinkle on a little edible glitter or sparkling sugar to make those snowmen sparkle under holiday lights. Tiny silver dragees can add a subtle festive touch for buttons if you want to switch things up.
Side Dishes
These sweet snowmen pair perfectly with hot cocoa, a cozy chai latte, or classic eggnog. For a party, I like to serve them alongside spiced nuts and mini fruit tarts for a festive cookie platter that guests love.
Creative Ways to Present
One of my favorite holiday traditions is arranging these cookies standing up in a decorative tin filled with shredded paper or tissue so they look like a winter forest of snowmen. Wrapping individually in cellophane with a holiday ribbon turns them into charming homemade gifts too.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually store leftover sugar cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and fresh for about five days this way. If you’re planning to keep them longer, the fridge works well—just bring them back to room temp before serving for the best flavor and texture.
Freezing
Freezing is a lifesaver! I freeze both plain and decorated cookies successfully. Just wait until the icing is fully set, then layer with parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. For the dough itself, prepare it until divided and shaped into disks, then wrap and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge before rolling and cutting.
Reheating
Since these cookies taste best at room temperature, I don’t recommend heating in the microwave. If you want a warmth boost, 10 seconds in a low-temp oven (250°F) wrapped lightly in foil can help without drying them out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough up to step 3, then divide it into disks, wrap, and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the fridge before rolling out.
No worries! This recipe works with any cookie cutter you like, from stars to hearts. The dough is versatile and sturdy enough to hold its shape no matter what design you choose.
Make sure your butter is at room temperature but not overly soft or melted, chill your dough thoroughly before baking, and don’t skip the parchment paper or silicone baking mats to maintain cookie shape.
Yes, you can! Store-bought royal icing or decorating gels work fine if you’re short on time, though homemade royal icing often gives you better control for piping and smoother finishes. Just make sure the icing sets fully before stacking.
Final Thoughts
I have so many fond memories baking these snowman sugar cookies with family and friends—there’s something special about the process of creating, decorating, and sharing these cheerful little guys. I hope you enjoy making this Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe as much as I do. Trust me, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be making batches year-round because they’re just that delightful. Happy baking!
Print
Snowman Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delightfully festive Snowman Sugar Cookies with a soft texture and rich flavor, decorated with royal icing in vibrant colors to create charming snowman designs. Perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 2 and ¼ cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus more as needed for rolling and work surface
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¼ or ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional, but makes the flavor outstanding)
For Decorating
- Royal Icing
- Red, black, and orange gel food coloring
Instructions
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: Whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract if using, then beat on high speed until well combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the bowl sides and bottom, then mix again to ensure thorough incorporation.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until combined. If the dough feels too soft or sticky for rolling, incorporate an additional tablespoon of flour.
- Divide and Roll Dough: Split the dough into two equal portions. Place each onto a lightly floured parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each portion evenly to about ¼-inch thickness. Dust with flour as needed to prevent sticking.
- Layer and Chill: Lightly dust one rolled dough with flour, cover with parchment paper, then place the second rolled dough on top. Cover everything with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours or up to 2 days to firm the dough for easier cutting.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Cut Cookies: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Carefully peel off the top layer. Using a snowman cookie cutter, press into the dough to cut shapes. Re-roll scraps and continue cutting until all dough is used. Place cookies 3 inches apart on baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned around the edges. Rotate baking sheets halfway through baking if your oven has hot spots.
- Cool Cookies: Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
- Prepare Colored Icing: Divide royal icing into four portions: leave one white, mix red gel food coloring into the second, black into the third until dark gray, and orange into the last bowl to desired shades.
- Decorate Cookies: Using a piping bag fitted with Wilton #5 or #4 tip, pipe white icing borders and fills on cookies, leaving space for decorations. Chill in refrigerator to set icing.
- Add Details: With separate piping bags fitted with Wilton #1 tip, pipe red scarves, black hats, eyes, mouth, and buttons, and use orange for noses. Allow icing to set completely at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
- Serve or Store: Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for longer storage. Decorated cookies stay soft for about 5 days covered at room temperature or up to 10 days refrigerated.
Notes
- Freezing: Plain or decorated cookies freeze well up to 3 months. Freeze after icing sets, separated by parchment paper in a freezer container. Thaw in refrigerator or at room temperature.
- Cookie Dough Freezing: Dough can be frozen up to 3 months before rolling. Divide dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap and freeze. Thaw in refrigerator and bring to room temperature before rolling out.
- Flavor Variations: Substitute almond extract with maple, coconut, lemon, or peppermint extract. Add spices like pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon for seasonal flavors.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Use butter that is cool to the touch and egg at room temperature for best mixing results.
- Decoration Tips: Use couplers on piping bags to switch between colors with the same tips easily. Allow white icing to set before adding colored details.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
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