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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

  1. Hello,
    How long will these keep for? I just made them today (Dec. 19) and would like to deliver them in about a week to family. Should I frost them now or before delivering?

    Reply

    1. Hey Amanda,
      I would frost these before delivering, I would also keep them in the freezer if you don’t plan to deliver until next week. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  2. Well these were the cutest things ever. I tried a short cut and bought the dough. They turned out flat and unrecognizable. I can’t wait to try your recipe and hope they turn out better. You are very talented.

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    These cookies are delicious! Perfect level of sweetness. Could not recommend enough! They really put you in the holiday spirit and are a fun activity to do with friends or family.

    Reply

  4. Hi!! Can you make the dough ahead of time? I want to make the dough the day before so the next day we can just decorate!

    Reply

    1. Hey Taylor,
      Yes, totally fine, just keep covered in the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  5. 5 stars
    Turned out so good! Only adjustment I’ll be making next time is 1/4 teaspoon of salt instead of 1/2. About half way through rolling the balls, I discovered that rolling a handful into a log at the right thickness and then cutting pieces to then roll made it so much quicker to get the smaller pieces assembled.
    Thank you!! So fun!

    Reply

  6. 5 stars
    I made these yesterday and loved them so much that I made them as snowmen today. Cute but think the santas are cuter! I posted a pic on Instagram. Thanks again!

    Reply

    1. Hey Zory,
      I’ve not tried this but you certainly could! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

  8. 5 stars
    These turned out adorable!!!. Time consuming but not difficult!! Love all your recipes (via blog, Instagram and your cook book) and this was no exception!! ( I did a double batch and got 24 out of it.) Thank you thank you!!!! My girls (your age) and I are a huge fan of yours!!! I tell everyone about you!

    Reply

  9. 3 stars
    So, these cookies are adorable and from the reviews that I read it is all about how cute they are. They turned out quite cute but they took way more than an hour, the taste is nothing special at all and the portion of one cookie is too much. We had 3 generations making this recipe together and we enjoyed it but it was a ton of work for what turned out to be 10 cookies that weren’t that flavorful.

    Reply

    1. Hey Maureen,
      Thanks for giving the recipe a try, sorry the flavor wasn’t there for you. Is there anything I can help with, most readers love this cookie:) Happy Holidays! xTieghan

      Reply

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

      Reply

  11. 2 stars
    Is there something i’m missing in this recipe? I have made it twice and the Santa cookies have been flat as a pancake and melted into mush. I tried to chill the dough the second time to keep the shape, but still no luck 🙁 I wanted to make these so bad since they are adorable, but did not turn out at all

    Reply

    1. Hey Serena,
      So sorry you are having issues with the recipe. Is there anything you could be adjusting? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan

      Reply

  15. 5 stars
    They are so adorable and surprisingly easy! My kids loved making them and eating them! This is such a cute cookie to give to people!

    Reply