These sourdough sugar cookies are delicious with their crisp edges and soft centers and they are perfect for your Christmas cut outs.

Jump to Recipe

This year Christmas has really snuck up on me. I’m finally getting all of our Christmas decorations in place and feeling able to slow down to enjoy this magical season with my family.

And you know we can’t celebrate Christmas without decorating some cut out sugar cookies! This is one of my favorite holiday traditions, and it is even more special now that I get to do it with my own children.

Why You’ll Love This Sugar Cookie Recipe

Delicious: This recipe has all of the characteristics you love about sugar cookies, but with the added benefits of sourdough. You can roll them out and cut right away, or long ferment them in the fridge.
Uses up discard: Sometimes having excess sourdough discard can feel overwhelming trying to use it up. This is an easy recipe to do such.
Quick and easy: This recipe is simple to follow and quick to mix up.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Butter: Softened and unsalted
Sugar: Granulated white sugar
Eggs: Room temp is best
Sourdough Discard: Discard or active starter will work for this recipe
Almond Extract: This adds a great flavor to the dough, but you could also use vanilla extract
Flour: I use unbleached all purpose four
Baking Soda
Salt: Optional

How to Make Sourdough Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add in the eggs and mix until well combined.
Add almond extract and sourdough discard and mix until combined.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little at a time and mix only until just incorporated.
Now you can wrap the dough with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to long ferment, or go ahead and roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface.
Use cookie cutters to cut out the cookies and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges begin to golden.
Cool completely before icing.

How to Make Royal Icing

In a medium bowl, combine powered sugar, water, and meringue powder.
Mix with a hand mixer until peaks form.
Add coloring if desired.
Add icing into a piping bag with a tip (or a ziplock bag and place a small cut on the corner).

Tips for Making Sourdough Sugar Cookies

Do not over mix the dough. Once the flour is added into the mixture, stir until just combined.
If royal icing is too thick, add 1 teaspoon of water at a time until it is the right consistency.
If you want a dye free option for your icing, try ColorKitchen food coloring.

Shop Recommended Tools

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission off of them with no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Sourdough Sugar Cookies