Name: No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 3 h 18 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick); ½ cup granulated sugar; ½ cup light brown sugar, packed; 1 large egg; 2 tablespoons cream or half-and-half; 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract (clear imitation preferred); 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons cornstarch; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste); ¾ cup red, green, and white jimmies (sprinkles), plus more for topping

Jump to Recipe· 4.9 from 8 reviews

Nothing says holiday magic quite like a soft, chewy cookie bursting with festive colors and flavors. If you’re hunting for an easy, crowd-pleasing treat that doesn’t require the daunting rolling and cutting process, then you’re in for a real treat with my No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe. These cookies are quick to whip up, ridiculously tasty, and their colorful sprinkles bring that perfect holiday sparkle to any cookie tray. Trust me, once you try these, they’ll be your go-to Christmas cookie every year.

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Why This Recipe Works

No-Roll Convenience: Skips the tedious rolling and cutting step, saving you time and mess in the kitchen.
Chilled Dough Magic: Refrigerating the dough for a few hours prevents spreading, ensuring thick, tender cookies every time.
Sprinkle Fun: Packed with festive sprinkles inside and on top, these cookies are as joyful to look at as they are to eat.
Soft & Chewy Texture: The combination of brown sugar, cornstarch, and cream creates that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth cookie experience.

No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies, Christmas Sprinkle Cookies, No-Roll Holiday Cookies, Easy Christmas Cookies, Festive Cookie Recipes - A white plate filled with twelve round cookies stacked in a slightly overlapping way. Each cookie is light golden brown with a soft texture and topped with colorful sprinkles in red, green, and white, scattered evenly across the surface. The cookies have visible darker spots where chocolate chips or similar small ingredients are baked inside. The plate sits on a white marbled surface, adding a clean, bright background to the image. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe combines simple pantry staples with a few special touches that make the cookies stand out in flavor and texture. Sifting through the ingredients, you’ll notice each one has a role that contributes to the final perfect bite.

No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies, Christmas Sprinkle Cookies, No-Roll Holiday Cookies, Easy Christmas Cookies, Festive Cookie Recipes - Flat lay of a small mound of unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of packed light brown sugar, one large uncracked brown egg, a small white ceramic bowl of cream, a small white ceramic bowl of clear imitation vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl of cornstarch, a small white ceramic bowl of baking soda, a small white ceramic bowl of salt, a small white ceramic bowl filled with red, green, and white jimmies sprinkles, all arranged symmetrically on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Using softened unsalted butter allows you to control saltiness and creates that rich, creamy base for the dough.
Granulated Sugar: Gives crispness to the cookie edges, balancing the softness.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture for chewiness and a hint of caramel flavor.
Egg: Provides structure and richness, binding everything together.
Cream or Half-and-Half: This unexpected addition tenderizes the dough and keeps the cookies soft.
Vanilla Extract: I use clear imitation vanilla because it brings that nostalgic bakery taste reminiscent of old-fashioned holiday cookies.
All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of the cookie, offering structure without toughness.
Cornstarch: This little helper adds softness by preventing too much gluten formation.
Baking Soda: Gives a slight lift without puffing up too much, perfect for a soft chew.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances sweetness.
Jimmies (Red, Green, and White Sprinkles): Festive, colorful, and add subtle crunch with every bite.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

I like to think of this No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe as a flexible canvas, ready for your unique spin. Whether you swap sprinkles for mini chocolate chips or add a pinch of cinnamon, customizing these cookies to your taste is part of the fun.

Variation: I once experimented by adding orange zest and white chocolate chips, which gave the cookies a lovely citrusy brightness perfect for holiday mornings.
Dietary Swap: To make these gluten-free, I swapped the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend, which worked beautifully without compromising texture.
Seasonal Twist: Changing the sprinkles to match other holidays – like pastel colors for Easter – instantly reinvents this recipe year-round.

Step-by-Step: How I Make No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Creaming the Butter and Sugars

Start by placing your softened butter in a bowl—ideally with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for ease—and add the granulated and light brown sugars. Beat everything on medium-high speed until it’s beautifully creamy and combined, about 3 to 4 minutes. Don’t rush this step; well-creamed butter and sugars create air pockets that help give the cookies a tender texture.

Step 2: Adding the Egg, Vanilla, and Cream

Scrape down the sides of the bowl to keep things even, then add your egg and clear imitation vanilla extract (trust me, that stuff really amps up the nostalgic flavor). Beat again until it’s well combined, then mix in the cream or half-and-half. The batter might look slightly grainy at this point, and that’s totally normal – no need to worry.

Step 3: Mixing in Dry Ingredients

Switch to low speed and add your flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until everything is combined—overmixing here can toughen the dough, so keep it gentle.

Step 4: Folding in the Sprinkles

Finally, with the mixer still on low, fold in your jimmies for about 30 seconds. You want just enough mixing so the sprinkles are evenly distributed without breaking them up and turning your dough into a rainbow mess.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

This is a key step often skipped but crucial for success. Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop (or your hands if you’re feeling old-school), form about 17 equal dough mounds. Place them on a large plate or tray, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours — or up to 5 days. Chilling firms up the dough, prevents spreading, and deepens the flavors. Don’t bake these unchilled, or you’ll end up with flat cookies that don’t have that cozy softness we all crave.

Step 6: Bake with a Sprinkle Pop

Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your baking sheet with a Silpat or a light spray of cooking oil. Flatten each chilled mound gently to about half its height, place them spaced at least 2 inches apart, and press a generous pinch of extra sprinkles on top of each cookie. Bake for about 8 minutes. Look for edges that have set and tops that are just done, even if the center is a little glossy — they’ll firm up perfectly as they cool. Resist the temptation to overbake.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy!

Once out of the oven, let your cookies cool completely on the baking sheet. I never transfer mine to a wire rack because these cookies hold their shape well and cooling on the pan avoids breakage. Then grab a mug of hot cocoa, and get ready for compliments galore!

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Pro Tips for Making No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Soft Butter is Key: Make sure your butter is softened but not melty; this ensures proper creaming and dough consistency.
Don’t Skip the Chill: Chilling dough is non-negotiable for achieving thick, soft cookies that won’t spread out too much in the oven.
Clear Vanilla for Nostalgia: Using clear imitation vanilla extract adds a lovely bakery flavor that reminds me of my childhood holidays.
Handle with Care: When adding sprinkles, fold gently to avoid color bleeding or breaking down the sprinkles.

How to Serve No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I love pushing the sprinkle theme even further by topping each cookie with extra festive jimmies right before baking. Sometimes, I’ll dust a tiny bit of powdered sugar afterward for an elegant snowy effect, but nothing beats the joyful crunch and color of a good sprinkle topping during the holidays.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with classic holiday drinks — think hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, or a spiced latte. If you’re serving a brunch or dessert tray, adding some fresh fruit or a simple cream cheese spread on the side balances the sweetness nicely.

Creative Ways to Present

For a festive party, I love arranging these cookies on a tiered stand layered with holly leaves or tiny pine sprigs. Wrapping stacks with red and green ribbon also makes them a perfect homemade gift. Another favorite? Serving them in clear cellophane bags tied with glittery twine for an easy takeaway treat.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually keep my baked cookies stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. They stay soft and fresh, but if you notice them drying out, a slice of bread placed inside the container will help restore moisture overnight — a classic trick that works wonders.

Freezing

The dough also freezes beautifully. I scoop the dough balls onto a tray and flash freeze them, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When I want fresh cookies later, I just bake them straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the bake time. This way, no holiday craving goes unmet!

Reheating

If you want to enjoy these cookies warm, a quick 10-15 second zap in the microwave does the trick without turning them too soft. Alternatively, warming them in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes revives their fresh-baked charm without drying.

FAQs

Can I use regular vanilla extract instead of clear imitation vanilla?

Absolutely! Regular vanilla extract works just fine and adds a warm, classic flavor. I prefer clear imitation vanilla in this recipe because it provides that nostalgic, bakery-style taste without browning the dough, but you won’t go wrong with either choice.
Why does the dough need to chill for so long?

Chilling the dough solidifies the butter and allows the flavors to meld. Most importantly, it prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking, resulting in thick, soft cookies rather than thin, crispy disks.
Can I skip the sprinkles inside the dough and just add them on top?

Yes, you can! However, adding sprinkles inside the dough adds pops of color and texture throughout each bite. If you only top them, the sprinkle effect is mostly visual, which is lovely but less fun in terms of texture.
What can I substitute for cornstarch?

If you don’t have cornstarch, you can use arrowroot powder or tapioca starch as substitutes in equal amounts. These help keep the cookie tender, so make sure to include something similar for the best texture.

Final Thoughts

This No-Roll Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my holiday baking lineup because it’s so easy yet incredibly charming. I remember the first time I made them — the kitchen instantly felt warm and festive, and my family couldn’t get enough! I hope you give this recipe a try and enjoy that same joy of simple, colorful homemade cookies. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or yourself, these cookies promise smiles with every bite.