Pudding Cookies with Sprinkles

4.56 from 365 votes
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Christmas sprinkle pudding cookies are soft, chewy, and easy to make in under 30 minutes with no chill time. A tasty and easy Christmas sprinkle cookie recipe for your Christmas party.

The instant vanilla pudding mix in the cookie dough gives these Christmas cookies a rich vanilla flavor and incredible softness that will make them the hit of any cookie exchange.

Soft christmas sprinkle cookies on large white plate and a smaller serving on small white plate with cup of coffee next to it

This recipe will make about 60 cookies, making it perfect for a crowd.

However, if you prefer a variety of cookies you can use this same pudding cookie dough to make 4 different varieties of Christmas cookies: jam thumbprint cookies, soft frosted Christmas cookies, hidden kiss cookies, and these yummy sprinkle cookies.

Round cookies with red, green and white sprinkles stacked on a serving plate

Ingredients

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Two sticks of butter, bowl of flour, bowl of shortening, 2 eggs, box of vanilla pudding mix, bowl of granulated sugar, baking powder, bottle of vanilla, and red, white, and green sprinkles scatted all around

You will need:

  • Butter & shortening – I like to use a combo of unsalted butter and shortening for this recipe.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract – Use 100% pure vanilla extract for best taste.
  • All-purpose flour
  • Vanilla pudding mix – A 3.4 ounce box of instant vanilla pudding mix. Make sure you don’t grab cook & serve pudding my mistake, it is not the same and won’t work for this recipe. 
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Christmas sprinkles – We used a red, green, and white sprinkle mix like this one, but you can use any color that you prefer.

How to Make

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below. 

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set them aside.

Step 2: Using a stand mixer or hand mixer and large bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy (4-5 minutes).

Step 3: Beat in eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding mix.

Large mixing bowl and electric mixer with creamed sugar and butter and pudding mix, egg, and vanilla extract added.

Step 4: In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture, a little at a time, mixing between additions.

Handheld electric mixer on the side of a large mixing bowl with butter mixture and dry ingredients being gradually added.

Step 5: Place sprinkles in a small, shallow bowl. Using a cookie scoop or a heaping Tablespoon, scoop cookie dough out and roll in your hands to form a ball. Place the dough ball in the bowl of sprinkles and roll to coat in sprinkles. Place onto prepared cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.

2 image collage. On left: sprinkles on plate with ball of dough in center. On right, sprinkle-covered dough balls on cookie sheet 2 inches apart.

Step 6: Bake for 12-15 minutes or until set and lightly golden brown around the edges. Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool fully.

Soft vanilla pudding cookies with Christmas sprinkles on white serving platter

Storage

Store fully cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze the cookies for up to 3 months.

FAQ

Why does this recipe call for butter and shortening? Can I use just one or the other?

I prefer to use a combination of butter and shortening for these pudding cookies. The shortening helps prevent the cookies from overspreading in the oven while the butter gives the cookies that real butter flavor. That said, you can use 1 cup of butter and skip the shortening, but the cookies will spread more and come out flatter. They will still taste yummy though!

Can I freeze the cookie dough?

Yes, to freeze the pudding cookie dough wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer baggie. IT will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight before baking.

Can you roll these out and use cookie cutters?

Unfortunately, these cookies would not hold their shape well enough to be good cut-out cookies. You would need a recipe with a sturdy dough like these cut-out sugar cookies or shortbread cookies.

Sprinkle pudding cookies stacked 3 cookies on top of one another, with one cookie leaning on its side.

More Christmas Cookie Favorites

Recipe
Soft vanilla pudding cookies with Christmas sprinkles on white serving platter
Recipe
4.56 from 365 votes

Christmas Sprinkle Pudding Cookies

Author: Jaclyn
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 27 minutes
Christmas sprinkle pudding cookies are soft, full of rich vanilla flavor, and easy to make in under 30 minutes with no chill time.

Ingredients
 

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ¼ cup shortening
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 3.4 ounces instant vanilla pudding mix one box
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup Christmas sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
  • Using a stand mixer or hand mixer and large bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy (4-5 minutes).
  • Beat in eggs, vanilla, and instant pudding mix.
  • In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture, a little at a time, mixing between additions.
  • Place sprinkles in a small, shallow bowl. Using a cookie scoop or a heaping Tablespoon, scoop cookie dough out and roll in your hands to form a ball. Place the dough ball in the bowl of sprinkles and roll to coat in sprinkles. Place onto prepared cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until set and lightly golden brown around the edges. Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool fully.

Notes

Storage: Store fully cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage freeze cookies for up to 3 months.
Make ahead: The cookie dough can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake, up to 3 days. Or the cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 91kcal
Soft vanilla pudding cookies with Christmas sprinkles on white serving platter

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Christmas pudding cookies with sprinkles, incredibly soft (pinterest image)

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Recipe Rating




99 Comments

    1. They are just finished making mine. I didnt have vanilla instany pudding but I did have chocolate and let me tell u amazing!

  1. Just made these with my son and this will be are new Christmas cookie and anytime cookie recipe Thanks for sharing

    1. Great question! Jimmies are your best option, I have found that they melt and bleed less than other types of sprinkles and keep the cookies nice and soft. Nonpareils work too, but they will add a bit of a crunch.

      What kind of sprinkles were you wanting to use?

  2. Great tasting very festive easy cookies wish I could post a picture. I used sprinkles/jimmies I need more then a cup probably around cup and half but I made sure they were coated for a Christmas look I purchased my sprinkles off Amazon red, green, lime green and white they are beautiful! Thank you for the recipe. My 2.5 yr old loves them too!

  3. I made these tonight for a cookie exchange. I had to hide them from my bf so he wouldn’t eat them all. Super good!
    I also tried the jam version, but the jam spread across the top of the cookie. I did chill them first. I’m thinking maybe the indention should have been deeper.. Still good!

  4. What could use use in place of shortening? I do not have any but I have some cold solid coconut oil

    1. I would just replace with the same amount of butter. The cookies may spread a bit more in the oven, but you could help combat that by chilling the dough for a few hours (or overnight) if possible.

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