Festive Hanukkah Christmas Cookies

Featured in: Garden-Inspired Meals

Light, airy cookies blend Hanukkah and Christmas traditions in one delightful treat. The dough combines classic flour, baking powder, and soda, creamed with butter and sugar, then enriched with eggs, vanilla, and a hint of almond. Once baked to golden puffs, they're dusted with powdered sugar while warm for a frosty finish. Colorful blue, silver, red, and green sprinkles evoke both holidays, making each batch festive and inviting. Simple steps, easy prep, and joyful touches make these cookies lovely for sharing at gatherings or gifting. Enjoy their sweet flavor, soft texture, and cheerful presentation!

Updated on Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:17:00 GMT
Light and fluffy Festive Hanukkah Puffed Christmas Cookies dusted with powdered sugar.  Pin
Light and fluffy Festive Hanukkah Puffed Christmas Cookies dusted with powdered sugar. | toastybasil.com

Light, airy cookies blending Hanukkah and Christmas traditions, finished with a snowy dusting of powdered sugar and festive sprinkles. Celebrate both holidays with these irresistible treats that are sure to brighten your dessert table.

I first made these cookies for a December family gathering where we celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. The cheerful sprinkles and soft bite made them a favorite with kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour: 1 1/4 cups (160 g)
  • Baking powder: 1/2 teaspoon
  • Baking soda: 1/4 teaspoon
  • Salt: 1/4 teaspoon
  • Unsalted butter (room temperature): 1/2 cup (115 g)
  • Granulated sugar: 2/3 cup (135 g)
  • Eggs (large, room temperature): 2
  • Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
  • Almond extract (optional): 1/4 teaspoon
  • Powdered sugar (for dusting): 1/2 cup (60 g)
  • Blue and silver Hanukkah sprinkles: 2 tablespoons
  • Red and green Christmas sprinkles: 2 tablespoons

Instructions

Prep Oven:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Sugar:
Cream the butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
Incorporate Eggs and Extracts:
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then mix in vanilla and almond extracts.
Combine Mixtures:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing just until combined (do not overmix).
Shape Cookies:
Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
Bake:
Bake for 10–12 minutes, until puffed and just starting to turn golden at the edges.
Cool and Dust:
Let cookies cool 5 minutes on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar while slightly warm.
Add Sprinkles:
Sprinkle half the cookies with blue and silver sprinkles and half with red and green sprinkles. Allow to cool completely.
Delightful Festive Hanukkah Puffed Christmas Cookies topped with colorful sprinkles and sweetness.  Pin
Delightful Festive Hanukkah Puffed Christmas Cookies topped with colorful sprinkles and sweetness. | toastybasil.com

These cookies always spark joy at our Hanukkah and Christmas celebrations. We love gathering everyone to decorate them together with sprinkles before serving.

Required Tools

Mixing bowls, electric mixer or whisk, baking sheets, parchment paper, cooling rack, cookie scoop or tablespoon

Allergen Information

Contains wheat (gluten), eggs, dairy. May contain nuts if almond extract is included. Always check sprinkle and extract labels for hidden allergens.

Nutritional Information

Each cookie: 95 calories, 4.2 g fat, 13 g carbohydrates, 1.3 g protein

A batch of Festive Hanukkah Puffed Christmas Cookies, perfect for holiday gatherings and sharing. Pin
A batch of Festive Hanukkah Puffed Christmas Cookies, perfect for holiday gatherings and sharing. | toastybasil.com

Finish each batch with a generous dusting of powdered sugar for that perfect snowy effect. These cookies are best enjoyed fresh with and family and friends!

Recipe Q&A

Can I make these cookies ahead of time?

Yes, they keep well in an airtight container for up to 4 days, so you can prepare them in advance.

What extracts work best for flavoring?

Vanilla adds classic sweetness, while almond or lemon zest provides fresh notes for variation.

How do I get perfectly puffed cookies?

Creaming the butter and sugar well and using fresh baking powder and soda ensure a light, airy result.

Are there allergen concerns?

Contains wheat, eggs, dairy, and may include nuts with almond extract. Always check labels on sprinkles.

Can I use different sprinkles or decorations?

Absolutely! Feel free to use your favorite sprinkle colors or swap in edible glitter for extra shine.

Festive Hanukkah Christmas Cookies

Airy cookies unite holiday flavors, dusted with sugar and decorated festive sprinkles for cheerful gatherings.

Prep duration
25 min
Cooking duration
12 min
Complete duration
37 min


Skill level Easy

Origin American / Jewish Fusion

Yield 24 Portions

Dietary specifications Vegetarian

Components

Dry Ingredients

01 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
04 1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

01 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
02 2/3 cup granulated sugar
03 2 large eggs, at room temperature
04 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Festive Touches

01 1/2 cup powdered sugar, for dusting
02 2 tablespoons blue and silver Hanukkah sprinkles
03 2 tablespoons red and green Christmas sprinkles

Directions

Step 01

Prepare Baking Equipment: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 02

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.

Step 03

Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes using an electric mixer.

Step 04

Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla and almond extracts. Mix until fully incorporated.

Step 05

Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Do not overmix.

Step 06

Shape Dough: Drop heaping spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon. Space each about 2 inches apart.

Step 07

Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until puffed and edges are lightly golden.

Step 08

Cool and Finish: Let cookies cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack. While still warm, dust with powdered sugar.

Step 09

Decorate: Sprinkle half of the cookies with blue and silver Hanukkah sprinkles and the remaining half with red and green Christmas sprinkles. Allow to cool completely.

Necessary tools

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack
  • Cookie scoop or tablespoon

Allergy information

Review each component for possible allergens and if uncertain, we recommend consulting with a healthcare professional.
  • Contains wheat (gluten), eggs, and dairy (butter). May contain nuts if almond extract is included.
  • Check sprinkle and extract labels carefully for hidden allergens.

Nutrient breakdown (per portion)

These values are provided as a general guide and shouldn't replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 95
  • Fat: 4.2 g
  • Carbs: 13 g
  • Protein: 1.3 g