10 Fun Recipes Inspired by the Classic Sugar Cookie

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With all the complex Christmas cookie recipes at our fingertips, choosing one as simple as a sugar cookie may not be your first instinct. But just because your cookie isn’t sprinkled with chocolate chips or colored sprinkles doesn’t mean it won’t satisfy your sweet tooth! The many sugar cookie-inspired recipes in Ree Drummond’s repertoire are proof of this. Think: classic cookies like Ree’s favorite sugar cookies, plus creative Christmas treats like sugar cookie fudge and a sugar cookie martini that takes chewing out of the equation.

Whether you’re looking for a festive Christmas dessert to add to your cookie platter or a simple snack to enjoy with tea, the sugar cookie-inspired recipes on this list have you covered! Here you’ll find sugar cookies that suit all flavors and textures, including ultra-soft sugar cookies with crispy edges and brown butter-infused sugar cookies with an almost caramel flavor. Even chocolate lovers can find at least one sugar cookie they like, thanks to Ree’s Chocolate Sugar Cookies that get their rich flavor and hue from cocoa powder. Don’t forget to leave some for Santa!

Soft sugar cookies

These unpretentious sugar cookies may look simple, but they are an explosion of texture and sweet vanilla flavor. They have everything you could want in a sugar cookie, including a chewy center and delicately crisp edges.

Get Ree’s Soft Sugar Cookie recipe.

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Sugar Cookie Biscotti

Here’s a sugar cookie inspired recipe that goes beyond the Christmas cookie plate! Perfect for dipping in your morning coffee or just snacking on at midday, this biscotti is loaded with rainbow sprinkles and topped with a sweet vanilla frosting.

Get the Sugar Cookie Biscotti recipe.

Sugar Cookie Martini

This Christmas you can enjoy your sugar cookies and drink them too! This creamy cocktail calls for three different spirits: vanilla vodka, Irish cream liqueur, and butterscotch schnapps. It even has a sprinkle covered edge.

Get the Sugar Cookie Martini recipe.

Sugar Cookie Fondant

If you want to satisfy your sugar cookie cravings without turning on the oven, look no further than this fudge! In addition to the usual white fondant base of sweetened condensed milk, white chocolate chips, heat-treated sugar cookie mix, and butter, this recipe calls for crushed shortbread cookies for a burst of buttery flavor.

Get the recipe for Sugar Cookie Fudge.

Cut-out sugar cookies

For a customizable cookie recipe that will stand out on your holiday dessert platter, try your hand at these cut-out sugar cookies! Use cookie cutters to shape each cookie into a star, cowboy boot, or Christmas tree, then decorate with royal icing.

Get Ree’s cut-out sugar cookie recipe.

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Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars

These fudgy dessert bars combine two classic Christmas treats: peppermint bark and sugar cookies! The addition of cream cheese gives them their incredibly soft texture.

Get the recipe for Ree’s Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars.

Brown Butter Sugar Cookies

You may have heard of brown butter chocolate chip cookies, but what about brown butter sugar cookies? The addition of browned butter adds a nutty depth to these sugar cookies that makes them overflow.

Get Ree’s Brown Butter Sugar Cookie recipe.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

You don’t have to choose between sugar and chocolate chip cookies! If you crave the simplicity of sugar cookies with an added element of richness, try these unconventional cookies featuring a sprinkle of unsweetened cocoa powder.

Get Ree’s Chocolate Sugar Cookie recipe.

Sugar cookies

This cookie recipe donated by a member of Ree’s church is her favorite for a reason! They are delicious but light enough to eat by the handful.

Get Ree’s favorite sugar cookie recipe.

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies

These doughy cookies are sugar, pumpkin spice and all goodness! They’re topped off with a thick layer of pumpkin frosting and sparkling sugar for a festive vibe.

Get the recipe for Pumpkin Sugar Cookies.

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