Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies

There’s nothing quite like the combination of sweet sugar cookies and a little creative holiday fun. These Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies are colorful, customizable, and full of personality. Use my easy decorating tips to create cookies that are every bit as charming as they are delicious.

Every year, I like to have one baking project that’s just plain fun, and these Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies are exactly that. There’s no pressure for perfection here, just the joy of mixing colors, piping frosting, and letting creativity take over. Whether your sweaters turn out “ugly,” adorable, or somewhere in between, that’s part of the magic. It’s all about enjoying the process and making something that brings a smile to your face.

I’ve made a lot of Christmas cookies over the years, but these continue to hold a special place in my heart. They combine the nostalgia of my mom’s classic sugar cookie recipe with the lighthearted spirit of the holidays. Turn on some Christmas music, gather your favorite sprinkles and piping bags, and settle in for an afternoon that’s equal parts baking and memory-making. I promise, these sweet little sweaters are every bit as fun to decorate as they are to eat.

I found this sweater cookie cutter on Amazon and thought it’d be perfect for Christmas and the colder months here in PA (January through March).

Oh, and fun fact, these cookies make it into Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Ideas Magazine back in 2018!

Why You’ll Love the Recipe

• They’re just plain fun. There’s something so joyful about creating these colorful little sweaters. Each one turns into its own tiny work of art, and no two will ever be exactly the same. Whether you go bold and bright or classic and cozy, decorating these cookies feels like a craft project that you can eat.
• It’s a great way to get creative. With this recipe, you get to play with colors, patterns, and textures. Use frosting, sprinkles, candies, or even edible glitter to make your designs pop. This is the perfect project to do with friends, family, or kids. It’s all about the creativity, not perfection.
• The cookies are soft, buttery, and delicious. Made from my mom’s tried-and-true sugar cookie recipe, they bake up tender and flavorful every time. The lightly sweet frosting adds just the right touch of creamy richness to balance it all out.
• They make the holidays feel extra special. These Ugly Sweater Cookies bring instant cheer to any cookie tray or dessert table. They’re festive and fun whether you’re gifting them, serving them at a party, or saving a few for yourself with a cup of cocoa.

Ingredients

These ugly sweater cookies are quite simple to make, with a sugar cookie base and buttercream frosting topping. There are a few twists to make these as flavorful and delicious as they look.

You can find exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Cookie Ingredients:

• All-Purpose Flour: I’m sticking with the basics for this recipe!
• Baking Soda: This leavening agent makes the cookies soft and fluffy.
• Vegetable Shortening: Instead of butter, shortening makes these cookies super tender and soft to bite into.
• Sugar: You can’t have a sugar cookie without sugar. White sugar works best for a classic cookie.
• Eggs: Large eggs, please!
• Buttermilk: Rather than regular milk, buttermilk adds a pleasant tang to the cookie and also adds more flavor thanks to its fat content.

Frosting ingredients:

• Vegetable Shortening: Since we cover these cookies with a lot of icing, we want to ensure the icing keeps well while piping. Shortening helps the icing keep its shape.
• Butter: You need butter for buttercream frosting! For this recipe, you’ll want unsalted.
• Confectioner’s Sugar: The base of the icing. If your frosting isn’t thick enough, add a hint more of confectioner’s sugar.
• Food Coloring: You need these to make all the fun designs. Make a plan ahead of time for your cookie design so you know you have the right colors ready to go.
• Vanilla: A splash of vanilla gives a subtle flavor to the icing.
• Milk: Just a hint of milk is used in the icing. You can use a non-dairy alternative, but it may affect the flavor slightly.

How To Make

Despite their complicated look, the cookies are simple to make. (They do require a little time and creativity.)

1. Begin by preparing the cookie dough. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the vegetable shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined, add half of the dry ingredients. Begin to mix and pour in the buttermilk. Then add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least four hours or overnight.
3. After your dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

1. On a well-floured surface, roll out about a quarter of the dough to a 1/8 – 1/4-inch thickness, depending on your preference. Cut out the dough using a sweater-shaped cookie cutter. (You’re going to need a sweater cookie cutter.) Transfer each cut out to an ungreased cookie sheet.

2. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the first sign of browning appears on the surface of the cookies. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cutting board or your counter top to cool completely.
3. While the cookies cool, prepare your frosting in whatever colors you like. With a mixer, cream together the vegetable shorting and butter. Slowly add the confectioner’s sugar, one cup at a time. Mix in the vanilla extract. Add milk as needed for a smoother consistency. Divide the frosting into smaller bowls and add gel food coloring to achieve the desired colors.

4. Place the frosting in a piping bag with the desired tip. A small star tip is great for the sweater texture, and a round tip is recommended for details and dots.
5. Once your cookies have cooled, use the prepared piping bags to create designs on your sweater cookies.
6. Allow the frosting to set before packing and storing the cookies in an airtight container.

They are pretty adorable, right? While the piping does take some time (and your hand may cramp up a bit), the results are totally worth it.

And although they aren’t really ugly sweaters, you can dress them up any way you’d like! Have fun!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?

Yes! The dough can be made up to three days in advance. Just keep it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, let it rest at room temperature for about 10–15 minutes so it’s easier to roll out.

How can I make the frosting colors look really vibrant?

Gel food coloring works best for bright, bold hues. Start with a little and build up slowly until you reach the color you want. You can also let tinted frosting sit for 10–15 minutes. The colors often deepen as they rest.

How should I store the decorated cookies?

Once the frosting has set, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Separate layers with parchment paper to keep the designs looking neat. They’ll stay fresh for about a week .. if they last that long!

More Festive Cookies You’ll Love

• Buddy’s Kitchen Sink Cookies
• Cherry Walnut Snowball Cookies
• Chocolate Striped Peanut Butter Shortbread Cookies
• Gingerbread Cookie Bars
• Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

So, if you’re looking for a unique winter treat, a Christmas cookie delight, or something quirky for Valentine’s Day, or just an excuse to bake, give these Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies a try! If you try this recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below.

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Ugly Sweater Cookies / Sweater Weather Cookies

These Ugly Sweater Cookies make the perfect holiday / Christmas cookie recipe!

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: christmas, cookie, dessert, holiday

Servings: 4 dozen

Ingredients

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup buttermilk

Frosting

• 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
• 7 cups (2 pounds) confectioner’s sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2-3 tablespoons milk as needed
• Gel food coloring
• Piping bags and tips small star tip and round tip

Instructions

• Begin by preparing the cookie dough. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the vegetable shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined, add half of the dry ingredients. Begin to mix and pour in the buttermilk. Then add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least four hours or overnight.
• After your dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
• On a well-floured surface, roll out about a quarter of the dough to a 1/8 – 1/4-inch thickness, depending on your preference. Cut out the dough using a sweater-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer each cut out to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the first sign of browning appears on the surface of the cookies. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cutting board or your counter top to cool completely.
• While the cookies cool, prepare your frosting*. With a mixer, cream together the vegetable shorting and butter. Slowly add the confectioner’s sugar, one cup at a time. Mix in the vanilla extract. Add milk as needed for a smoother consistency. Divide the frosting into smaller bowls and add gel food coloring to achieve the desired colors.
• Place the frosting in a piping bag with the desired tip. A small star tip is great for the sweater texture, and a round tip is recommended for details and dots.
• Once your cookies have cooled, use the prepared piping bags to create designs on your sweater cookies.
• Allow the frosting to set before packing and storing the cookies in an airtight container.

Notes

*I like to use a variety of colors when creating these cookies, so I double this recipe. Typically that will leave me with extra frosting, but I’d rather have extra in order to have fun with my designs without fear of running out.