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Festive, easy, and fun…Holly Jolly Santa Cookies – Tis’ the Season! Simple vanilla sugar cookies shaped into the cutest, fattest little Santas, made effortlessly by shaping the dough into round balls. Frosted with a deliciously sweet whipped cream cheese frosting and you’ll have yourself the most perfect Christmas cookie. Fun to bake, delicious to eat, a great homemade gift, and a festive addition to your holiday cookie box!

overheard photo of Holly Jolly Santa Cookies

As I write this the snow is falling outside my NYC hotel room, and well, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This is so cheesy, but New York in December, and with white fluffy snow, is the most magical experience. I am so happy it decided to snow on my last day here in the city. I’ll be home by the time you read this, and back in the deep, deep Colorado snow. But I’m feeling extra thankful that I was able to see NYC this time of year…and in snowy winter weather too. Next year I’m bringing my mom and little Asher with me. It’s always better with family, especially those two Christmas loving freaks. They would be loving every minute of this snowy, Christmas scene.

Anyway, it feels very fitting to be writing this post as the snow falls. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, these cookies are cute wintry cookies…and of course, delicious. Something about a fat little Santa covered in sweet frosting (and even some chocolate candies too) is always adorable.

Those of you who’ve been following HBH since the VERY early days, there’s a slight chance you’ll remember these cookies. I shared a version of this recipe only a month and a half into HBH’s inception. While looking back through old content a few weeks ago, I stumbled across this recipe.

The crazy thing about developing so many new recipes is that sometimes I forget about the old (and really GOOD) recipes I’ve created. Even though the photos of these cookies were horrid, I still found them to be so cute. And I remember Asher having so much fun helping me bake them. So I’m bringing one of my favorite cookies back to life. And while it is a slightly decadent cookie, I love them so much.

dough balls lined up before assembling

(cookie dough balls lined up and ready to assemble)

assembling the Santa cookies

(assembling the red parts of Santa)

As you all know, I am no professional when it comes to decorating sweets. BUT I still love to make my desserts, especially the holiday ones, as cute and festive as possible. Enter these easy, rolly, polly, Santa cookies.

The idea is to take simple sugar cookie dough, roll it into tiny balls, attach them together into a “Santa” body, and bake. If you use the photos as guides, it’s the easiest sugar cookie you will make. Not to mention, so much fun! No stress, no pulling out your hair, just fun. Exactly what holiday baking should be.

Holly Jolly Santa Cookies before baking

Here is how you make these Holly Jolly Santa Cookies.

Start with the dough. I used my favorite sugar cookie dough that’s heavy on the butter…and vanilla. I died half of the dough red using food coloring and kept the other half of the dough plain. If you can find a great natural red food die, I would highly recommend using that. Sadly I’ve yet to find one that works well. If anyone has found one they use and love, please let me know!

Once the dough is died, it’s literally as simple as rolling each dough into multiple balls. Again, if you look through the photos you will most likely understand the process much, much easier. You need five white dough balls and five red dough balls to make one Santa.

overhead photo of Holly Jolly Santa Cookies after baking on baking sheet

Attaching the pieces…

This is the step that you might think will be tricky, but it’s actually so easy. To make each Santa, just gently push the dough balls together. Once again, use the photos as guides. Nothing needs to be shaped perfectly or lined up just right. As long as you have a rough body formed, the cookies bake up like adorable fat Santas.

Promise.

Once you have your Santas formed, add mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons, then bake! The process of rolling the balls will take a little time, but to me, this is easier than cutting out shapes…and I think they are way cuter, not to mention a little more unique. Because let’s be real, everyone is making your basic sugar cookies this time of year. Bake something a little different!

overhead photo of Holly Jolly Santa Cookies

Decorating is easy.

Since the cookies themselves are already so cute, decorating is EASY. I used a sweet, creamy, whipped cream cheese frosting to add a layer of excitement to each bite. The frosting is used for Santa’s beard, hat, and hands, but my recommendation? Keep a small bowl of the frosting aside for adding to each cookie while eating. The frosting is SO GOOD and the cookie is made even better with a bit of additional frosting spread all over our little Santas.

For Santa’s nose, I use a mini red M&M. Simple, easy, and so cute.

These cookies make a delicious addition to any holiday party, cookie plate, or even cookie gift box. And if you have young kids these are a must bake before Christmas. They’ll have so much fun attaching the pieces since it’s something they can easily do all by themselves!

I’m really hoping to be able to set aside time one of these days before Christmas to do a baking day with Asher. These are the perfect cookies to make with her!

overhead photo of Holly Jolly Santa Cookies

If you make these holly jolly Santa cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Jolly Santa Cookies

Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 14 Santa Cookies
Calories Per Serving: 691 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Ingredients

Cream Cheese Buttercream

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
    2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. Add the flour, and salt, beat until combined, and the dough begins to form a ball.
    3. Remove 1 cup of the dough and set aside. With the remaining dough, add in 1 teaspoon red food coloring, adding more if needed for better color. Keep in mind that the color will darken over time.
    4. From the red cookie dough, make 1 (1-inch) ball and 5 (1/2-inch) balls. From the plain cookie dough, make 1 (3/4 inch) ball and 5 (1/4-inch) balls. You will have a body, head, hat, four red arms and four white hands and a white ball for the top of the hat. I find it easiest to make all the parts first, then assemble.
    5. On the prepared baking sheet, place the red 1-inch ball, gently flatten until 1/2 inch thick. Attach four of the red 1/2-inch balls for arms and legs. Next, attach the plain 3/4-inch ball for a head, gently flatten until 1/2 inch thick. Attach the plain 1/4-inch balls for hands and feet. Shape the remaining red 1/2-inch ball into a triangle for a hat and attach it. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging the cookies 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Add chocolate pieces for eyes and buttons (see above photos for visuals, this will help!).
    6. Transfer to the oven and bake the Santa's for 12-15 minutes, until lightly golden
    7. To make the frosting. Add the butter and the cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer and whip until extra light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat together until whipped, about 2 more minutes.
    8. To decorate. Transfer half the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small tip. Or, take a ziplock bag and snip a very small portion of the corner off the bag. Use the bag to go around Santa's face, arms, and legs. Put a small dot on the tip of his hat and then place one red mini M&M on his face as his nose.

Notes

Storing: the frosting will set up, but it's best to store these cookies in a single layer in an airtight container. If using these cookies to fill a cookie box, place a piece of wax or parchment paper between each cookie to help protect them, then carefully stack the cookies, or line them up side by side. 
Freezing: unfrosted cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw, then decorate as directed. 
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horizontal photo of Holly Jolly Santa Cookies

This post was originally published on December 13, 2019
4.15 from 1109 votes (1,022 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  2. 4 stars
    Such a cute recipe. However, I did not have enough of the white dough to make more than 6 santa cookies, I would suggest reserving 2 cups of the dough and adding food coloring later on if you need more red. I only got 6 santa cookies and had 2 sets of the red balls left with no white dough to use. Really, the most I would have gotten if I had the proper ratio of dough would have been maybe 9 cookies.

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    I am a novice baker and I made these at high altitude (9,600) and they were hands down the cutest! It is an investment in time, but they came out beautifully and people love them.

    Reply

    1. Hey Caroline,
      This makes 14 Santa cookies. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  5. 5 stars
    Another AMAZING recipe! I was a little worried about the taste of the cookie because sometimes cute cookies compromise the good taste but NOT WITH THESE. Wow, the sugar cookie is just so yummy. The frosting is so simple yet SO perfect. I’m keeping it for ALL my frosting recipes form now on.
    I ran into a few issues though that I need to change next time.
    First, the dough got warm and super sticky so next time Ill put the batter in the fridge for a few moments before rolling into the balls.
    Secondly, I need to put the pieces together better because my poor santa’s arms/legs/head was coming off.
    Finally, I need to do something to make them less crumbly. Maybe I need to add a little moisture? Overall, PERFECT recipe and all user error on my end. I can’t wait to make these again for my family on christmas.

    Reply

  6. 5 stars
    Just baked this with my daughter and we had a blast assembling the Santas! We added a belt, gloves and shoes to use more frosting. So adorable and yummy! ?

    Reply

  8. These are just darling. For me though, the dough needs more sugar. There isn’t much icing on it, so I think they taste a little blah. But they are fun to make, and cute as can be!

    Reply

    1. Hey Deanna,
      I used a Wilton 32. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan

      Reply

  10. I just made these – they’re adorable and thanks for the creative idea! A few things – it looks from your photos like you’ve rolled the white 1/4” in sugar before baking? This is not noted in the recipe but I did so for the cute texture effect you have in your pics. Second, I used Whole Foods brand 365 natural food coloring and really wish I hadn’t. It’s apparently made from radishes, spirulina and turmeric amongst other things – and it tastes and smells strongly like radishes, spirulina and turmeric. ? Even adding a couple of teaspoons of almond extract didn’t disguise the strong taste. I’ll go mainstream next time on the food coloring!

    Reply

    1. Hey Tiffany,
      Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try! I did not roll the dough in sugar before baking. So sorry you did not like the Whole Foods food coloring. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  11. Hi Tieghan,
    I can’t wait to make these over winter break! Just a few questions..
    1. how much is 1 cup of butter? Is it 200g or 150g
    2. would using salted butter and then adding the 1/2 teaspoon of salt make it too salty? Could I use I salted butter? (Wasn’t sure, so I figured I should ask)
    3. Any recommendations for food coloring brands?

    Thank you so much in advance and I so appreciate the metric measurements converter you added to the recipe!!

    Reply

    1. Hey there,
      1 cup of butter is equal to 227 grams. Totally fine to use salted butter, that is actually what I prefer to use. I like to get my food coloring from Whole Foods. I hope this helps! Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

    1. Hey Kelly,
      If your dough is too soft you can pop it into the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

    1. Hey Kristen,
      I like Cup4cup GF flour. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

    1. Hey Raquel,
      So sorry your cookies were dry, I need a little more info to help though:) Was there anything you adjusted in the recipe? Could they have been over-baked? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan

      Reply

  15. Do you use the cream cheese frosting if you are going to put them in a cookie box? Do you need to keep them refrigerated then?

    Reply

    1. Hey Kay,
      Yes you can use the cream cheese frosting and you do not need to keep them in the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other question. Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply