Looking for an easy holiday treat? Try these Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies. They start with a simple sugar cookie mix, come together fast, and look so festive with their red and green drizzle. These will be a new go-to cookie for the family!

These easy Christmas cookies are great for when you need a quick dessert without spending hours in the kitchen. The best part? You can decorate them as simply or as festively as you’d like, and they always turn out adorable. These may be the perfect recipe to make with the kids or maybe you are looking for an idea for cookies for Santa- these just may be it.

Why I Love These Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies

Just a few ingredients & budget friendly
Perfect for the holidays
Fun and kid-friendly
Quick & easy for the hectic holiday season

I know these aren’t anything fancy- but if you know me- I love some shortcut recipes…sometimes it’s just necessary. PLUS if you aren’t any good at decorating cookies- these are perfect lol. They are festive and taste great. But feel free to check out my how to decorate Christmas cookies post, too.

Ingredients Needed for this Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe

🎅 Sugar Cookie Mix – This is what makes the whole recipe feel almost too easy. Just open the bag, mix it up, and you’re basically halfway to fresh cookies.

🎅 Butter (called for on this package) – Adds that homemade vibe without any actual extra work. It helps the cookies bake up soft and golden.

🎅 Water – Just enough to bring everything together. The dough comes together fast and feels super smooth to roll.

🎅 Vanilla Frosting – This is your simple, ready-to-go frosting that makes decorating a breeze. It’s the perfect base for all the fun drizzle.

🎅 Red Food Coloring – A couple drops and suddenly you’re in full holiday mode. It gives you that bright festive red that pops on the cookies.

🎅 Green Food Coloring – The holiday twin to the red. This one brings that cheerful green drizzle that makes the cookies look extra cute on any holiday plate.

How to Make Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies

Step 1: Mix the Dough. Add the cookie mix, butter, and water to a bowl. Stir until the dough comes together. It should look smooth and easy to roll.

Step 2: Roll the Cookies. Scoop small portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place them on a baking sheet. Leave a little space between each one.

Step 3: Bake. Bake according to the package directions. Most mixes take just a few minutes. Once the edges look slightly golden, take them out. Let them cool completely before frosting.

Step 4: Make the Colors. Scoop a little frosting into two small bowls. Add red food coloring to one and green to the other. Stir until the colors look right. Add each color to its own zip-top bag and snip a tiny corner.

Step 5: Decorate. Spread the white frosting on each cooled cookie. Drizzle the red frosting one way. Drizzle the green the other way. They look festive with almost no effort.

Additions & Substitutions

Swap the vanilla frosting for cream cheese frosting if you want a tiny bit of tang.
Add sprinkles on top after drizzling for extra holiday sparkle.
Use gel food coloring for brighter, stronger colors with fewer drops.

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