22 Christmas Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas for Fun and Festive Treats

Christmas is the perfect time to gather loved ones and create sweet memories in the kitchen, and decorating sugar cookies is a delightful way to embrace the holiday spirit.

From classic festive shapes like stars and snowflakes to intricate designs adorned with colorful icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter, the possibilities are endless.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying your hand at cookie art for the first time, this guide is packed with creative ideas to elevate your treats.

Discover tips, techniques, and inspiration to make your Christmas sugar cookies the star of your holiday celebrations—both delicious and Instagram-worthy!

Snowflake Sparkle Cookies

These dazzling treats shimmer like fresh snow on a winter morning. Delicate snowflake shapes are adorned with sparkling sugar crystals that catch the light beautifully.

Candy Cane Stripes

Swirly red and white stripes bring candy cane magic to sugar cookies. These playful patterns add a festive pop to holiday cookie platters.

Edible Glitter Frosting

Add some sparkle to your Christmas cookies with edible glitter frosting! This magical topping transforms plain sugar cookies into dazzling treats that shine like freshly fallen snow.

Assorted Christmas Designs

This festive spread features sugar cookies shaped like Christmas trees, ornaments, mittens, and snowflakes. Vibrant green and red icing creates classic designs, while intricate snowflake piping and sprinkles add texture.

Holly Leaf Accents

Sprinkle some holiday magic onto your sugar cookies with adorable holly leaf accents! These charming green leaves and bright red berries add a festive pop to any cookie design.

Charming Santa Cookies

These delightful cookies feature Santa faces with fluffy white beards and festive hats, alongside Christmas trees adorned with garlands, stars, and colorful sprinkles. Achieve these designs using piped royal icing, textured sanding sugar for snow effects, and small star-shaped decorations for added charm.

Ornament Designs

This assortment includes snowflakes, wreaths, and Christmas trees adorned with delicate icing patterns and sprinkles. Achieve these looks with smooth royal icing bases, piped details in festive colors, and finishing touches like edible glitter and nonpareils to create eye-catching, professional-style holiday treats.

White and Gold Elegance

Sugar cookies adorned with shimmering gold accents and pristine white frosting create a dazzling display fit for a winter wonderland soirée.

Festive Polka Dots

Sprinkle some holiday cheer with festive polka dots on your sugar cookies! These playful circles add a pop of color and fun to any Christmas cookie design.

Peppermint Swirl

Create a charming candy cane-inspired design on your sugar cookies with swirls of red and white frosting. This festive pattern brings a sweet, minty twist to your holiday cookie platter.

Red and Green Color Block

Create cheerful Christmas cookies with bold red and green color blocks. Divide each cookie into sections and frost with vibrant red and green royal icing for a festive, graphic look.

Vibrant Christmas Trees

This collection highlights colorful Christmas tree cookies in red, green, and white, accented with sparkling sugar, sprinkles, and piped garlands. Pair them with candy canes, wreaths, and snowflakes for variety.

Sugar Pearl Embellishments

Tiny sugar pearls add a touch of elegance to Christmas cookies. These shimmery little spheres transform plain sugar cookies into dazzling treats fit for a winter wonderland party.

Classic Holiday Cookies

This elegant platter showcases intricately decorated cookies featuring wreaths, snowflakes, holly, and Christmas trees. Delicate piped designs, vibrant colors, and gold accents add sophistication.

Minimalist Cookie Designs

These delicate snowflake cookies are decorated with fine white icing details, evoking a frosty winter charm. A touch of shimmer adds subtle elegance. Use precision piping to create intricate snowflake designs, and pair them with tree-shaped cookies for a cohesive, nature-inspired holiday presentation.

Intricate Elf Cookie Design

The centerpiece elf cookie boasts a cheerful face, a glittering hat, and a shimmering green collar accented with snowflakes.

Chocolate Drizzle

Give your sugar cookies a delightful makeover with a playful chocolate drizzle!

Melt some dark or milk chocolate and use a spoon or piping bag to create fun zigzag patterns across the tops of your cookies.

Candy Cane Christmas Tree

These festive tree-shaped cookies shine with smooth green icing, sparkling snowflake patterns, and playful mini candy cane accents. Smaller tree cookies add texture with piped garlands and sprinkles. Use edible gold stencils, sanding sugar, and real candy canes to achieve these cheerful holiday treats.

Tartan Plaid

Get ready to cozy up with these adorable tartan plaid sugar cookies!

Use red and green royal icing to create crisscrossing lines that mimic the classic Scottish pattern.

Simple White Sugar Cookies

These minimalist cookies feature smooth white icing with subtle red, green, and gold dot accents. Snowflake and tree shapes stand out beautifully amidst sprigs of fresh rosemary, creating a rustic holiday vibe. Use a piping tip for dots and pair with greenery for an organic touch.

Elegant Lace Icing

Delicate swirls and intricate patterns transform plain sugar cookies into edible works of art with elegant lace icing.

This dainty decoration technique adds a touch of sophistication to any Christmas cookie platter.

Sprinkle-Perfect Christmas Cookies

These festive cookies pop with vibrant red, green, and white sprinkles atop smooth icing and piped frosting details. Starburst wreaths and tree designs add variety. Use sanding sugar, nonpareils, and frosting stars to replicate these playful yet polished holiday treats for a cheerful centerpiece.