Holiday Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are as simple as they come, but in Canada they’ve become a holiday tradition — not just for eating, but for decorating together. Rolled, cut into pumpkins for Halloween or stars and trees for Christmas, they were as much a family project as a treat. For kids, it was all about the colours, sprinkles, and mess, while for parents it was about the joy of gathering around the table. Easy, festive, and endlessly customizable, sugar cookies are the blank canvas of Canadian holiday baking.

Prep Time: 25 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling)

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Makes: About 24 cookies

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp milk

For decorating

• Royal icing or glaze

• Sprinkles, coloured sugar, or candies

Method

• Prep oven: Preheat to 180°C (350°F). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

• Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

• Cream butter & sugar: In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and milk; beat until smooth.

• Combine: Gradually stir dry mixture into wet until a dough forms.

• Chill: Divide dough in half, wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour to firm up.

• Shape: Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Cut into shapes for the season.

• Bake: Place on baking sheets and bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely before decorating.

Variations

• Citrus touch: Add 1 tsp lemon or orange zest to the dough for brightness.

• Maple glaze: Swap vanilla glaze for a simple maple syrup glaze.

• Soft centres: Bake on the lower end of the time range for softer cookies.