Ugly Christmas Sweater Cookies
I made ugly Christmas sweater cookies, which will be the centerpiece for the dessert table at our upcoming Christmas party.
I made bridal gown cookies for my daughter-in-law’s bridal shower, placed them in cellophane bags, and hung them on a doll clothes rack for a centerpiece. Since then, I’ve been looking for another way to use this fun idea. What better holiday theme than ugly Christmas sweaters?
Ugly Christmas Sweater Sugar Cookies: A Fun and Festive Treat
Ugly Christmas sweaters have become a pop culture icon during the holiday season, so I decided to capture their quirky charm as sugar cookies. These colorful, whimsical cookies are the perfect centerpiece for our dessert table at this year’s Christmas party.
The History of Ugly Christmas Sweaters
I love finding creative ways to make holiday treats stand out every year.
Ugly Christmas sweaters weren’t always considered “ugly.” Their roots trace back to the 1950s when brightly patterned sweaters featuring holiday motifs were marketed as “Jingle Bell Sweaters.” These sweaters were warm, cheerful, and perfect for family gatherings.
It wasn’t until the 1980s, with the rise of TV sitcoms, that the over-the-top holiday sweater started gaining its kitschy reputation. Characters like Bill Cosby’s Dr. Huxtable in The Cosby Show and Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation made gaudy sweaters a holiday staple.
By the 2000s, ugly Christmas sweaters became a cultural phenomenon, thanks to the rise of themed parties and competitions. What started as a joke evolved into a beloved tradition, with designers creating intentionally outrageous sweaters featuring lights, pom-poms, and even sound effects.
Today, ugly Christmas sweaters are a symbol of festive fun and humor, inspiring everything from fashion lines to cookie designs—like the ones I made this year!
How I Made Ugly Christmas Sweater Sugar Cookies
Making these cookies was not only a blast but also a great way to combine baking with holiday creativity. Here’s how you can make your own:
Supplies Needed
- Sugar Cookie Dough: Use your favorite recipe or a store-bought mix.
- Sweater Cookie Cutter: Available online or at craft stores.
- Royal Icing: For decorating.
- Food Coloring: Red, green, white, and any other festive colors.
- Piping Bags and Tips: For precision decorating.
- Small Decorations: Edible glitter, sprinkles, and candies for embellishments.
- Mini Plastic Bags: To display the cookies.
- Doll Clothes Racks: Available online or in toy stores.
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Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Bake the Sugar Cookies
Start by rolling out the sugar cookie dough and using the sweater-shaped cookie cutter to create your designs. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake according to your recipe’s instructions. Allow them to cool completely before decorating.
2. Prepare the Royal Icing
Divide the royal icing into small bowls and add food coloring to create a variety of festive shades. Keep the consistency slightly thick for outlining and details, but thin it out with water for flooding larger areas.
3. Decorate the Sweaters
This is where the fun begins! Using piping bags with small tips, outline the sweater shapes in icing and let it set. Then, flood the interiors with your chosen colors and let them dry.
Once the base layer is dry, unleash your creativity! Add zigzags, polka dots, snowflakes, reindeer, or even tiny candy canes to mimic classic ugly sweater patterns. Use edible glitter and sprinkles for extra pizzazz.
I did struggle a bit with this step. I wanted to make cute, ugly Christmas sweaters. There is a fine line, and I redid a few of them as they were too cute. Hehe.
4. Package the Cookies
Place each in a mini paper bag once the cookies are decorated and dry. Fold the top of the bag to secure the cookie, leaving a small amount of the sweater design visible if possible. Use a hole punch to cut a hole at the top of each bag.
5. Assemble the Display
Hang the cellophane bags on a doll clothes rack to create a playful, eye-catching centerpiece. Arrange the racks on the dessert table, surrounded by holiday lights or faux snow, for a magical touch.
Why I Love These Cookies as a Centerpiece
The ugly Christmas sweater sugar cookies bring so much joy to the table—literally and figuratively. Hanging them on the clothes rack adds height and interest to the dessert display, making it the party’s focal point. Guests love the interactive element of “shopping” for their cookies, and the designs spark plenty of conversation and laughter.
Just like the wedding dress cookies, this display is unique and memorable. It’s not just a dessert; it’s an experience!
The Best Sugar Cookies
This sugar cookie recipe is my go-to recipe every time. It's almost flawless!
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten free 1 to 1 or measure to measure flour)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoons milk
- 1 TBL lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar; add the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated.
- With the mixer running, add the egg, milk, lemon, and vanilla; mix until incorporated. Transfer the dough to a work surface. Shape it into two discs, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.
- On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes and transfer to prepared baking sheets, leaving an inch in between. Leftover dough can be rolled and cut once more.
- Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes; do not allow to brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
- Decorate with Buttercream or Royal Icing.
Royal Icing
Ingredients
- Royal Icing
- 5 tbsp warm water
- 3 tbsp Meringue Powder (with vanilla)
- 4 cups Powdered sugar
Instructions
- To make Royal Icing, beat all ingredients together until icing forms peaks (about 8 minutes with a heavy-duty mixer, 10 - 12 minutes with a hand mixer).
- If you want the icing to outline and fill, use the 10-second rule. The test is done by dragging the tip of a knife across your frosting, about 1" deep. If the surface of the icing smooths over in roughly ten seconds, it's ready for use.
- Add additional water until the desired thickness is reached.
- What's so great about this thicker icing is using the same icing for the outline and filling in the design.
Tips for Success
- Plan Ahead: Decorating sugar cookies can be time-consuming, so spread the process over a few days. Bake the cookies on one day and decorate them the next.
- Practice Designs: If you’re new to decorating, practice your sweater patterns on parchment paper before icing the cookies.
- Keep It Playful: Ugly Christmas sweaters are meant to be fun and over-the-top, so don’t stress about perfection.
- Provide Variety: Include a mix of “classic” ugly sweater designs and some wild, creative ones to appeal to everyone.
A Hit at the Christmas Party
These cookies are guaranteed to be the star of any holiday party. Not only do they taste delicious, but their whimsical designs bring out the festive spirit in everyone. Guests will marvel at the creativity and thoughtfulness behind the display, and the cookies themselves make fantastic take-home favors.
Get Inspired
Ugly Christmas sweater sugar cookies are a reminder that holiday traditions don’t always have to be serious or formal. Sometimes, the best moments come from embracing the quirky and unexpected. Whether you’re hosting a party, looking for a fun family activity, or want to bake something cheerful, these cookies are the perfect way to celebrate the season.
I’d love to see how your cookies turn out! Share your creations in the comments or tag me on Instagram. Let’s spread the joy of ugly Christmas sweater cookies together.
Blogger’s Best Christmas Cookie Recipes
Here are some great Christmas cookie recipes from my favorite blogger friends.
Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies | Tatertots and Jello
Dark Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies are the embodiment of Christmas cheer, featuring a fudgy chocolate center, creamy white chocolate, and refreshing crushed candy canes—perfect for cookie exchanges, neighbor gifts, and holiday parties.
Snowman Snowball Cookies | Finding Lovely
These classic snowball cookies make festive snowman when stacked and decorated to holiday perfection.
Christmas Tree Cookies | Happy Happy Nester
Christmas Tree Cookies are a must-have for the holiday season, adding festive charm to any dessert table. These 3D standup black chocolate cookies take holiday baking to a whole new level, creating a stunning visual and delicious treat all in one. Whether baking a sugar cookie Christmas tree or assembling a cookie Christmas tree centerpiece, there are endless ways to get creative.
Old-Fashioned Holiday Spritz Cookies | Most Lovely Things
We made a tradtional favorite. Spritz butter cookies dipped in chocolate with festive sprinkles.
Hot Cocoa Cookies | My Sweet Savannah
These Hot Cocoa Cookies are a cozy treat that combines the rich flavors of cocoa and cinnamon with gooey chocolate chips and marshmallows. Soft and chewy, these cookies are topped with shaved chocolate for an extra touch of indulgence. Perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa or as a festive dessert!
Happy baking and Merry Christmas!
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A Home to Share, by Leslie Saeta
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Leslie! Your ugly Christmas sweater cookies are the cutest!! Your guests will love them!! You know who else would love ugly Christmas sweater cookies? Jimmy Fallon!! Pinned!!
Haha you’re so right about that! Thank you! I was happy with them ☺️
How totally darling! You are so creative! Thanks for sharing this adorable idea, and Happy Holidays!
Aw thanks so much Barbara! Hope you’re having a very happy holiday season!
These are adorbs!! I remember at Haven you were telling us about the bridal shower cookies at Haven last summer. The display rack is perfect!