No Chill Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Need a quick holiday dessert hack? Try these Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies! A festive 5-ingredient recipe with easy frosting that saves time and stress.
If you need a last-minute Christmas treat that looks adorable but takes almost no effort—these Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies are for you. They’re sweet, festive, and ridiculously easy to make. Like, “I forgot about the cookie exchange” easy. You know the kind.
These cookies are perfect for busy moms, tired parents, or anyone who just doesn’t want to deal with flour all over the counter this time of year or remembering the chilling dough. Let’s make something cute and simple, shall we?
What Are Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies?
Basically, they’re the best of both worlds. You start with a sugar cookie mix, add a couple simple ingredients, and end up with cookies that taste homemade—without the stress.
They’re soft, buttery, and perfectly festive with their swirls of red, green, and white frosting. You can make a batch in under 30 minutes (yes, really!). No chilling, rolling, or cutting required.
Think of them as your secret holiday baking hack. 🎅
Ingredients You’ll Need
You don’t need much for these little cuties! Just a few simple things:
- 1 package sugar cookie mix
- Ingredients listed on the mix (mine needed butter and watter but others use an egg too)
- 1 (16 oz) can vanilla frosting
- Red food coloring
- Green food coloring
That’s it! No grocery store scavenger hunt required.
How to Make Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies
These cookies are so easy, even the kids can help (and honestly, they’ll love frosting duty!).
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (or whatever your mix recommends).
- Mix together your cookie mix, and called for ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir until the dough forms.
- Scoop dough into small balls and place them on a baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden.
- Cool completely on a wire rack. (This part’s important—warm cookies make frosting slide right off.)
- Divide about 2–3 tablespoons of frosting into two small bowls. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one, and green to the other.
- Spoon each color into small zip-top bags. Snip a tiny corner off each.
- Frost cookies with a smooth layer of white frosting, then drizzle red in one direction and green in the other for that classic Christmas vibe.
So fun, right? They look like something you’d buy from a bakery, but no one has to know you made them in under half an hour. 😉
Where to Take (or Serve!) These Cookies
These are perfect for:
- School parties – because they’re colorful, cute, and kid-approved.
- Cookie exchanges – they stand out but take no time at all.
- Office treats – when you need to bring “something festive” but don’t have time to bake from scratch.
- Family movie nights – especially with a cup of hot cocoa and a Christmas movie marathon.
- Gifts for neighbors – wrap a few in a clear bag with a ribbon for an easy, thoughtful surprise!
Basically, anywhere people love cookies (so… everywhere).
Variations to Try
Want to switch things up? Here are some fun ideas:
- Sprinkles! Add red and green sprinkles on top for a little extra sparkle.
- Different frosting flavors. Try peppermint frosting or buttercream for a new twist.
- Shapes. Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters if you want festive shapes.
- Color swaps. Doing a winter theme instead of Christmas? Try blue and white frosting for a “snow day” vibe.
- Flavor twist. Add a splash of almond extract or a bit of cinnamon to the dough for extra flavor.
- Reindeer Sugar Cookies: Check out this hack for a super simple way to dress up these cookies.
There’s no wrong way to decorate these. Just have fun with it!
Storage + Make Ahead Tips
These cookies store really well. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
You can also make them ahead! Bake the cookies, let them cool, and store them unfrosted. Then, frost the day you plan to serve them. That way, they look fresh and pretty when it’s go time.
Want to freeze them? Go for it! Just layer them with parchment paper between cookies, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw before frosting or serving.
Common Questions About Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies
Can I use homemade sugar cookie dough?
Absolutely! If you have a favorite sugar cookie recipe, use it instead of the mix or use my sugar cookie dough recipe. The decorating part stays the same.
What kind of frosting works best?
Canned vanilla frosting is great, but you can use any white frosting you love. Cream cheese frosting also tastes amazing here.
How can I make these gluten-free?
Just use a gluten-free sugar cookie mix. Everything else stays the same!
Can I skip the food coloring?
Yep! You can just use white frosting and sprinkle on crushed candy canes or red and green sugar for an easy twist.
Do I have to chill the dough?
Nope! That’s the beauty of this recipe. Straight from bowl to oven—no fridge time needed. 🙌
Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package Sugar Cookie Mix plus ingredients called for: mine one called for a stick of butter and one egg
- 1 16 oz. Can vanilla frosting
- Red & Green food coloring
Instructions
- Add the package of cookie mix, butter, and water in a medium mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
- Form dough into small balls and place on baking sheet.
- Cook according to package (about 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees F).
- Let cool.
- Remove about 2-3 tbsp of frosting into two different small bowls for the red frosting and the green frosting.
- Add a few drops of of the food coloring to the small bowls of frosting and mix until desired shades or red and green,
- Add the colored frosting into two small zip-lock bags and cut a small piece of the corner out.
- Frost the cooking with the white frosting.
- Then drizzle a little of the red in one direction and the green frosting in the opposite direction onto each cookie.
- Enjoy.
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Wrap-Up
And there you go—festive, easy, and totally crowd-pleasing Shortcut Christmas Sugar Cookies that save you time and make you look like the mom who has it all together (even if you’re still wrapping gifts at midnight).
Whip up a batch this weekend! You’ll love how quick and delicious they are—and your family will think you spent hours baking.
Want more quick and festive holiday ideas like this one? 🎅✨
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More Christmas Recipes to Try:
- Reindeer Crackers and Cheese
- Christmas Tree Charcuterie
- Christmas Tree Cakes
- Present Brownies
- Candy Cane Puff Pastry
- Santa Hat Cupcakes
- Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
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Hi there!
I’m Emily, a mom and wife with a passion for crafting, celebrating holidays, and creating memorable moments. From Idaho to the world, The Benson Street is a treasure trove of easy, fun DIY projects, delightful printables, and delicious recipes. With over a decade of experience in blogging and a love for all things seasonal, I’m here to share my tips, ideas, and occasional mishaps. Join me in adding a dash of joy and creativity to every day! Read more…
